The chiming of her doorbell roused her from her maudlin musing. When she opened her front door to Reid, her tension mounted. His face looked haggard, the cuts and bruises from his fight with Lenny more pronounced today. His mouth was set in a thin line of despondency, and that frightened her the most.
“Reid? What’s happened? What’s wrong?” she asked as she stood back to let him enter her living room.
He gave her a half smile. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to alarm you with my glum self.” He swiped a hand over his face as he lowered himself onto her couch. “I’m just tired. In addition to all the questions from the police, I’ve been to the hospital to see Fowler and downtown to talk to my father.”
She gave her head a shake and dropped onto the sofa next to him. “Whoa. What? Your father?”
He raised a puzzled glance and then huffed a short laugh. “Oh, that’s right. In the midst of all this other insanity I hadn’t told you what came of my stakeout. Eldridge is alive and planning to come home tomorrow. He wants it to be a surprise for the family.”
He went on to explain all he’d learned about the senior Colton’s scheme and how he’d enlisted the butler and his wife to aid and abet his shenanigans.
Penelope rocked back in her seat. “Well, at least your father’s story has a happy ending.”
Reid covered her hand with his. “Pen, I’m sorry about your dad. I couldn’t stop him. I—”
“No, don’t blame yourself. I... I’ll be fine. It’s just a shock. On top of all the other craziness.” He squeezed her hand, and she asked, “How was Fowler?”
“Fowler was...Fowler. Bossing the nurses around, griping about the hospital food, being a pain in the ass. But his ribs are apparently as hard as his head. The bullet stuck in his rib, saving his lung. So other than a flesh wound and broken rib, Fowler will be back at the helm of Colton Inc. in a couple weeks.”
“That’s a relief.” She tucked her hair behind her ear. “And the three gunmen?”
“Will all live and go straight to jail. With your father gone and those guys off the street, you and Nicholas are completely safe again.” He paused and looked around. “I assume the squirt is napping? He’s feeling better?”
“He’s much better. And he’s at Mother’s Day Out again. I’d hoped to finish Andrew’s office today.”
“Hey, don’t push it. You need to rest. You’ve been through a trauma.”
“What I need is closure. And to stay busy. If I think too hard about everything, I just...” Her voice cracked, and Reid drew her into his arms.
“Sweetheart, what you need is to mourn. Let it out.”
She allowed herself a few moments to weep softly against his chest, but the biggest question that needed resolution in order for her to move forward was still unanswered. Dabbing at her eyes, she raised her head and met the deep watery blue of his eyes. “Yesterday you said we needed to talk. I assume you meant about...us. Where we go from here.”
He drew a slow breath, expanding his lungs, and gave her a nod. “Right. So...”
She sat up, angling her body to face him, and Reid rubbed both his hands on the legs of his jeans. His apparent nervousness worried her. She’d known Reid wasn’t the commitment and long-term type. But that hadn’t stopped her heart from diving in.
“Pen...”
“Look,” she said, placing her fingers over his split and swollen lip to stop him. “I know that marriage and raising another man’s child is a huge responsibility. You have a good life, your freedom, the money to do whatever makes you happy. I can’t ask you to give that up for me. I understand that—”
“Hold on.” He grabbed both of her hands and squeezed hard to interrupt her. His face furrowed with consternation. “I don’t think you understand. Money doesn’t buy happiness.”
“I know. What I meant—”
“Marry me.” When she stared at him silently for several seconds, he repeated his request. “I’ve had money and freedom and a huge extended family for my whole life, but I haven’t been truly happy. I’ve been...lonely. I’ve felt adrift, without purpose or focus. Especially over the past year. But spending the past couple weeks with you and Nicholas made me see what I was really missing, what I really wanted in my life. I want you, Pen. I need you.”
Penelope blinked as a fresh rush of tears filled her eyes. His words burrowed down to her most private yearnings, her deepest vulnerability and desire. All her life she’d wanted to be wanted, to feel needed. Her father’s distance exacerbated that longing, while her animal rescue efforts only scratched the surface of her desire to have someone to care for, someone to love unconditionally. Someone with whom she could build a life of mutual trust and support with, a healthy give and take. She had a degree of that bond with Andrew, and she’d thought she’d never find that kind of love again. But now warmth bloomed in those cold empty spaces of her soul, and she searched Reid’s eyes for any hint of hesitation or reluctance.
“Are you sure? Nicholas is—”
“Great,” he finished for her. “Nicholas is precious and exhausting and smart and full of energy and in the throws of the terrible twos, and I love him. I want to be his father and watch him grow up. I want to have more children...with you.”
Emotion clogged her throat. “Reid...”
“I know you think I’m a spoiled, snobby, rich SOB who doesn’t see the value of what he has, but I see you. I see what a treasure you are, and I want to spend the rest of my life cherishing you and making you happy. You give my life meaning, Pen.”
“Yes,” she squeaked from her tight throat.
“Yes?” His expression brightening with hope.
“Yes,” she said again and wrapped her arms around his neck, laughing. “I will marry you.”
He exhaled a deep breath in a rush. “Oh, thank God. You’ve just made me the happiest man on earth.”
Epilogue
Christmas morning
Reid knocked on the door to the Manfreds’ suite, and while he waited for the door to be answered, he practiced in his head the best way to express his demands.
When Aaron answered the door, he didn’t seem at all surprised to see Reid. “Good morning, Mr. Reid. I was wondering when you’d be by.”
“Well, it would have been sooner, but I had quite a bit on my plate the past few days.”
“So I understand. Is Mrs. Barrington Clark all right?”
“She will be. In time. She’s been through a lot lately, but she’s a remarkable woman. Resilient. Loving. Strong to her core.”
“And you?” Aaron asked, motioning with a hand that Reid should make himself at home in the small sitting room.
“What about me?” He claimed a straight-backed wing chair and perched on the edge of the seat.
“You’re well enough?” The older man motioned to the scrapes and bruises Reid sported from his scuffle with the gunmen.
He shrugged. “I’ll live.”
Moira walked into the room then and pulled up short. “Oh, Mr. Reid. I didn’t—” She cut herself off, frowning at him. “Good heavens! You’re injured!”
“I’m fine,” Reid said, again trying to brush off his condition. “I didn’t come to talk about me.”
“Of course, you didn’t.” Aaron sank onto the settee across from him and sighed.
“I’m obviously disappointed you two lied to the family and kept us in such a state of turmoil all these months.”
Moira bowed her head and pressed a hand to her mouth. “Mr. Reid, I’m so—”
“Let him finish, Moira,” her husband said quietly and patted the seat next to him. Once the older woman had taken her seat beside Aaron, Reid continued.
“I also understand and can appreciate your loyalty to my father. Truly I blame him for all of this. He put you in an untenable position, and you follo
wed his instructions and took care of him as thoroughly and faithfully as you always have through the years.”
Reid divided a look between the two who over the years had become more than just household staff members to his father. They were Eldridge’s friends. Family. Whether the cranky old coot realized it or not, these two were more to Eldridge than his father had any right to claim.
“Thank you,” Reid said, his voice cracking.
Aaron raised his gaze, clearly startled, and Moira looked at her husband, then back to Reid as if she’d misunderstood.
“You took care of my father, looked out for him while he indulged his selfish game of ‘Who really loves me? Who can I trust?’ Our family owes you our appreciation for that.” Reid turned up his palm, motioning to the elderly couple. “Whether he realizes it or not, you two proved you are loyal to him and care about him even when he’s acting like a snobbish child.”
“I only wish it hadn’t meant deceiving you and Mrs. Colton. It broke my heart to see her grieve,” Moira said, her hand pressed to her chest.
“What’s done is done, and I, for one, will not dwell on it any further. I will tell my father that you’ve earned a sizable Christmas bonus for your loyalty and efforts above and beyond the norm.”
“Oh, no, Mr. Reid. I don’t expect—”
“Oh, but I do!” he said with a laugh as he headed for the door. “It’s the least the old codger can do for you. Merry Christmas, Aaron, Moira. Enjoy your day off.”
With that, he left the older couple to rejoin his family. He didn’t want to miss the highlight of the family’s holiday gathering—the return of their wayward and penitent patriarch.
* * *
When Reid joined the Christmas party in progress, Josie Colton Grange, Reid’s cousin and new wife of Colton Valley Ranch’s former foreman, sat beside Penelope chatting pleasantly while Nicholas played with Josie’s almost two-year-old stepdaughters.
“I think Lily and Leigh are smitten with their new playmate,” Josie said, beaming at the children as they played with a wooden train set.
“Hey,” Tanner Grange said in a gruff tone, belied by the twinkle of affection in his eyes, “don’t go playing matchmaker with my girls. They’re not allowed to date until they’re thirty. And then only if I approve the guy.”
Fowler had been released from the hospital the night before with orders to take it easy, and he’d made himself comfortable on a chaise lounge in the corner with Tiffany at his side.
Reid slid onto the crowded sofa, pulling Pen into his lap as he did so. “You may regret saying that later, man. Our boy’s gonna have a long line of admirers chasing him. Better that your girls get their bid in early.”
Pen blinked at him, clearly startled.
“What? Don’t you think Nicholas will have lots of girlfriends?”
“Well, sure... I just... Our boy?” Her tone was more touched than accusatory.
“If that’s okay with you?” Reid said in a quiet voice. “I don’t want him to forget Andrew, and I want him to learn what a great man gave him life, but...I’d like to adopt Nicholas as soon as we’re married.”
Pen’s eyes filled with happy tears, and she gave a small nod as T.C. blustered, “Whoa, whoa, whoa! What did you say? Did you just use the M word?”
Pen ducked her head trying to hide her smile, and Reid raked his hand through his hair. “I was planning to save the announcement for later, after—” He caught himself just before he spoiled the second surprise of the day.
“After what?” T.C. prodded, then with a devilish smirk added in a theatrically loud voice, assuring everyone heard. “Are you saying our confirmed bachelor, the last of the Colton brood, is taking the plunge?”
Reid glared at T.C., who returned an unapologetic grin. Shifting his gaze to Zane, he said, “Punch him for me.”
Zane jerked a nod. “Love to.” And slugged their brother in the arm, so T.C.’s cranberry martini sloshed from the glass.
Reid helped Penelope to her feet and cleared his throat as he stood next to her. “Well, I guess since The Crawler has spilled the beans,” he said using T.C.’s childhood nickname with a touch of growl in his tone, “I’ll make it official.”
Conversations in the corners of the crowded room quieted. The entire family had gathered in the ranch mansion to celebrate Christmas, a sign of how far the Coltons had come in a year. The Dallas Coltons even opened their doors to their late uncle Matthew’s children, who’d all suffered through a tumultuous, tragic, and transformative year themselves. At Colton Valley Ranch, feuds had been put to rest, new love celebrated, old wounds were on the mend, and everyone wanted to mark the changes in their lives with a joyful family celebration and feast. What better time to announce his future plans with Pen and Nicholas?
“Everyone, it gives me great pleasure to introduce you to my fiancée and future son. Pen has agreed to marry me and allow me to adopt Nicholas.”
Cheers, catcalls and applause rose in response to his announcement. His brothers slapped him on the back, and the women cooed and hurried to Pen for hugs and private congratulations.
Whitney made her way through the throng to embrace him and kiss his cheek. “Oh, darling, I’m so happy for you. If only my Dridgey—uh, your father—” she quickly corrected, and Reid smiled his thanks “—could be here to share this joy.” She gave him a strained smile. “I wish—”
Pressing her lips together and giving her head a melodramatic shake...as if she hadn’t over the past few days made it clear to everyone in self-pitying fashion how miserable her Christmas would be without her husband. Even if Reid didn’t know the truth, his mother’s endless attention-seeking complaints made it hard to be sympathetic to her sadness.
He almost told her the big surprise he was keeping from the family, but a movement at the door to the front foyer drew his attention. And the point became moot.
Placing his hands on Whitney’s shoulders, he said, “Mother, I think your wish came true. Merry Christmas.”
At her puzzled look, he jerked a nod toward the foyer.
“What’s this I hear about an engagement?” Eldridge said in a booming voice above the fray.
“Dridgey-pooh!” Whitney shrieked in glee.
Gasps, glad cries and several outbursts of “Father!” or “Eldridge!” filled the room. Reid cleared a path through the swarm of family so Whitney could fall into her husband’s embrace. “Oh, darling! You’re alive! You’re here, you’re—” Whitney paused, blinking at Eldridge.
And slapped him.
The assembled group murmured their shock.
“How dare you leave me alone with no word where you were and whether you were alive or dead!” she shrieked in ear-piercing tones. “I’ve been worried sick! Sick, I say!”
“I’m sorry, baby. I need time to get my head straight. To figure out what—”
“Oh, hush, old man! There’ll be time for explanations later.” She threw her arms around Eldridge and kissed him. “I’m just so glad you’re alive. The rest will sort itself out later.”
The rest of the family clustered around Eldridge and welcomed him home, tossing questions at him along with hugs and handshakes.
“I think we’ve been upstaged,” Pen whispered to him.
Reid snorted a laugh. “Typical Eldridge.”
Pen laid her head on his shoulder and laced her fingers with his. “Doesn’t matter. Besides, I think having Eldridge back is the best Christmas present your family could have asked for.”
He nodded his agreement and gave her a wry grin. “And six months ago, who’d have ever thought that?”
* * * * *
Don’t miss the previous titles in
THE COLTONS OF TEXAS miniseries:
RUNAWAY COLTON
COLTON FAMILY RESCUE
HIGH-STAKES COLTON
COLTON COWBOY HIDEOUT
A BABY FOR AGENT COLTON
HER COLTON P.I.
COLTON’S TEXAS STAKEOUT
COLTON BABY HOMECOMING
COLTON’S SURPRISE HEIR
COLTON COPYCAT KILLER
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Colton Christmas Protector Page 24
