Bye-Bye Baby

by Morgana Phoenix

  “I love it. It looks amazing with the gray.” She went to Cole and adjusted his collar. She smoothed her hands over his shoulders before sliding them around his neck. “Is there a reason you’re looking so hot this morning?”

  Not expecting that turn in topic, Cole wasn’t quick enough to answer, which seemed to amuse Beth. She leaned up with a chuckle and kissed him deeply. The seductive bow of her body curving into his sent all the blood from one head to the other, tightening his pants and making him want to forget everything, except hauling her back into the bedroom and ending both their suffering.

  “That is not fair,” he groaned into her ear. “I’ve been trying so hard to be a good boy.”

  She nipped playfully at his bottom lip. “Well, who told you to go and do a thing like that?”

  His hands were on her before he could wrap his head around it. He dragged her to him. His mouth closed over hers and he kissed her with every ounce of pent up frustration and lust tightening the pit of his stomach. He’d spent the last five weeks fighting the urge to tear off her clothes and plunge recklessly into her willing body. He hadn’t been wholly ignorant to the looks she’d been giving him, or the way she’d press into him at night. But it hadn’t been his lack of interest that kept him firmly resistant.

  It was fear.

  It was the crippling uncertainty that once they completed the deed, she would leave. Like the only thing keeping her there, keeping her with him was reaching that moment. And while he was in enough pain to make a lesser man weep, losing her was infinitely worse.

  “I need to get little man to school and get to work myself.”

  He saw the flicker of confusion and hurt dance behind her eyes even as he pulled away. But he didn’t let it draw him back. He couldn’t.

  Instead, he put all his focus in getting Damon ready and off to school.

  Sloan dropped Calla off at school and waited for Cole to do the same with Damon. Willa beamed at the sight of the boy. She tugged free of her dad’s hand and scurried off to catch Damon before he could duck into class.

  “How’s Lily?” Cole asked.

  “Miserable,” Sloan said. “I’m going to drop by the pharmacy on my way home and see if I can’t get her something to relieve the pressure.” He eyed Cole. “How are you?”

  Cole shrugged. “Nothing new here. I got a few more requests for computer repair, which I find massively entertaining. I busted my balls to become a lawyer only to spend about ninety-nine percent of my time fixing computers.”

  “Maybe that’s your calling.”

  Cole snorted. “Could be at this point.”

  Sloan nodded. “It’s something to think about.”

  Willa came trotting back, her cheeks pink from the early morning chill. “Daddy, when do I get to go to school?”

  Sloan scooped her up. “Next year. Until then, you get to be my little buddy.”

  Willa hooked her arms around his neck. “Okay, for one more year.”

  Sloan frowned. “Hey, you told me forever!”

  The girl giggled and kissed his cheek roughly. “You’re funny.”

  Sloan squinted at her, then at Cole. “Not sure how to take that.”

  Chuckling, Cole smacked his brother on the arm, planted a kiss to Willa’s red nose and stepped away. “I got to head into work. I’ll grab Calla today and drop her off. Tell Lily I hope she gets better.”

  With a wave the group parted. Cole fished out his keys. There were a couple of places he had to stop before settling in to fiddle with the Parker’s desktop. The thing needed a motherboard, possibly more ram, or new ram. Cole hadn’t had the chance to look at it properly the day before. It also made him think that if he was going to help people, he needed to get some kind of shipping service set up to order parts. He also needed space. His office was getting too crowded and there was really nowhere to set up at home.

  His first stop was the bank to see about getting a loan for a small business. He knew there was a process. He needed to put together a plan, make a proposal, and prove opening a computer repair business was what the town needed. But he walked in without an appointment anyway. Mr. Mitchell Goode, the bank manager, had known Cole’s family since Cole’s parents were small and if anything, maybe he’d tell Cole this was a bad idea.

  The two tellers were both open, but only one had an occupant. Cole recognized the chestnut brown hair and sleek dress suit even before Georgia May Hadley turned around. Her crimson red lips bowed into an almost feline smile.

  “Well, well, well, if it isn’t Cole McClain.” She abandoned her purse and checkbook on the counter and made her way to him. “I’ve been meaning to drop by your office.”

  Cole, ever a man of manners, offered her his best smile. “Hope everything’s all right with Mr. Hadley.”

  Her smile was just a little sharper. “Oh, everything is just perfect. I hear you’ve been having a very busy month.”

  Cole shrugged. “No busier than usual.”

  “How’s Beth?”

  “Beth is just fine.”

  Georgia May bent her head to the side like that sounded just adorable. “I am so glad to hear that. I have to confess, when I heard she came back and moved in with you, why, I was absolutely astounded by her nerve. I mean, she left you. But you two have clearly worked things out amongst yourselves. Even started a little family with that Comb boy. Poor thing. I am just appalled something like that happened in our town.”

  “Hmm.” Cole nodded. “Amazing how we overlook unpleasant things, eh?”

  Georgia May rolled her eyes as though she couldn’t agree more. “I do hope they catch his father. I’ll have you know I haven’t slept a wink since this whole business started.”

  “It’s horrible,” Cole agreed.

  Head bobbing up and down, she looked him over. “But how have you been, Cole? Being a parent must be overwhelming.”

  Cole shook his head. “It’s been wonderful. Damon’s a great kid. Beth and I are delighted to have him with us.”

  “So does this mean Beth will be moving back? I know there is no news of her transferring hospitals.”

  Annoyance that had nothing to do with her knowing so much about his business flared. He knew Beth had said she wanted to stay, but hadn’t said a word about it since and he was damn scared to death to ask her again without sounding like he was pushing.

  “We’re discussing it,” he said instead.

  “Of course,” Georgia May agreed. “Things like this take time and careful planning. Last thing you need is for her to get cold feet again and run. I can completely understand your fears.”

  Needing to get away from the woman, Cole gave her a tight-lipped smile and edged around her. “Thank you, but I should get along.”

  “Well, you take care now.”

  With a final smile, she whirled on her heels and flounced back to the counter and the teller waiting for her. Cole took a deep breath, suppressed the urge to roll his eyes, and moved towards the offices in the back.

  Mitchell Goode glanced up from behind his enormous oak desk. His round glasses made his brown eyes appear enormous against his small, hawkish face. He blinked rapidly at the sight of Cole darkening his doorway.

  “Cole?”

  Cole gave him a smile. “Hello Mr. Goode. I hope I’m not disturbing you.”

  Mr. Goode waved him towards the chairs facing his desk. “Not at all, dear boy. Not at all. What brings you?”

  Cole stepped inside and shut the door behind him. He took the offered seat and faced the man.

  “I’m hoping we can talk loans.”

  Chapter Sixteen ~ Beth

  Beth paced the apartment, occasionally wiping down this and dusting that. But there was barely three things in the whole place and she could only sweep so many times. She finally gave up and showered. She dressed quickly and warmly before leaving the apartment without a goal in mind. Part of her knew she needed to run to the store, they were nearly out of milk and maybe something for supper. Instead, she found her feet mo
ving aimlessly through town, her mind a jungle of doubts over Cole pushing her away that morning. It wouldn’t have been so strange, or hurtful if that had been the only time. But it was all he was doing lately, no matter how hard she tried. There was a small voice in her head wondering if maybe he’d changed his mind about them. He’d asked her to stay and the minute she agreed, he stopped touching her. At least touching her the way she really wanted, which confused the hell out of her, especially when his morning erection was a prominent force between them. She wondered if maybe he was worried about Damon, but she wasn’t asking him to jump her against the boy’s door. They spent the entire night wrapped around each other and she knew how to be quiet from all the times they’d done it in his dorm while his roommate slept a mere five feet away.

  It made no sense.

  Plagued by her own dilemma, Beth almost missed the figure that stepped out of the post office until she nearly walked straight into them.

  “Oh!” The figured jumped aside at the same time as Beth jerked back. Georgia May blinked, as surprised as Beth was to see her. “Beth!”

  Every bone in Beth’s body stiffened on impulse. “Georgia May.”

  In a town the size of Willow Creek, it was normal to run into people, whether you got along with them or not. But if there was one person Beth would gladly dive behind post boxes to avoid, it was Georgia May.

  “Why, it is just the smallest world,” Georgia May cooed. “I’m running into the McClain’s all over town today.”

  Beth tried to keep the snide bite from her tone when she spoke. “Well, that’s bound to happen when the population falls below a thousand.”

  “Yes,” was all Georgia May purred. “How does it feel to be back?”

  “It felt good,” Beth answered, deliberately using the past tense.

  If Georgia May noticed, she never showed it. “Does this mean you’ll be staying this time?”

  The jab prickled up Beth’s spine. “Cole and I are discussing it.”

  “Yes, that’s what he said.”

  Beth frowned. “You talked to Cole?”

  “Yes,” the woman said for what felt like the hundredth time. “At the bank. He seemed to be on his way to see Mr. Goode. I hope everything’s fine? I know how expensive raising a child can be.”

  How? Beth wanted to snap. The bitch didn’t have any hell spawns … thank God.

  “Nope, we’re fine. Thank you for caring.”

  “Of course!” She settled a hand on Beth’s arm and just as quickly snatched it back when Beth narrowed her eyes. “This town’s like family.”

  Whenever Beth thought of family, she always had two versions in her head. There was family the way everyone else in the world saw it. Then there was family the way the McClain’s saw it. She personally preferred the latter.

  “I should go,” she mumbled.

  Georgia May peeked at her watch beneath the sleeve of her puffy, fur coat. “Oh, so do I. Just getting some errands done before I stop by to see Josie. She and Barty have been having the worst sort of fights. Why, I’m surprised the entire town hasn’t heard them squabbling like children, which is why I must be there. It’s what a friend does.”

  Beth felt her tense mouth curve into a smile. “God bless the world for friends like you, Georgia May.”

  Beaming proudly, Georgia May wiggled her manicured fingers and trotted away.

  Beth rolled her eyes heavenward, shook her head slightly and kept on walking.

  It wasn’t until she found herself back in front of the post office that Beth realized she’d made a full circle without a single shred of progress. Her mind was as tattered as it had been when she’d left—she checked her watch—four hours earlier.

  Groaning, she stopped and stared at the steady flow of traffic, the hustle of people moving along the sidewalks and the routine of day to day life in a small town. She couldn’t believe she’d wasted all those hours and accomplished nothing.

  Turning on her heels, she began to make her way home. Maybe there was something that hadn’t been cleaned that could use her agitated attention.

  Cora Kennedy exited the Produce and More, a bag of groceries in hand. Her mane shimmered in the sunlight, a silky rain of chocolate pouring down around her shoulders and framing a perfect, heart shaped face. The light reflected off the gold frames of her sunglasses when she turned her head. Her glossy, pink lips curled upward into a brilliant smile. She raised a gloved hand and waved.

  Taken by surprise, Beth didn’t move. She also resisted the urge to look over her shoulder. Not that Cora gave her the chance.

  She sprinted over in her soft as butter boots. “Beth! Hi!”

  Surprised, Beth blinked a couple of times before finding the sense to respond. “Hi.”

  Cora shoved back her glasses, using them to restrain all that beautiful hair. Her hazel eyes glistened.

  “I heard you were back, but it is so nice to see you.”

  She and Cora had never been friends. In all the years Beth had lived in Willow Creek, they had shared possibly a handful of words. To have a near stranger be so excited to see her was a bit disturbing.

  “Thanks,” was all Beth could think to say.

  Cora seemed to realize how uncomfortable the situation had gotten, because she grimaced … and even that was perfect.

  “I’m sorry,” the woman said. “I know this might sound strange, but Cole has told me so much about you that I feel like I’ve known you forever.”

  Something hot and tense frothed in the pit of Beth’s stomach. “Really?” she bit out through her teeth. “You don’t say.”

  Cora rolled her eyes. “Well, I mean we talked about other things too, but you were always there.”

  “That is just … awesome,” Beth retorted with all the venomous sarcasm she could throw into the word awesome. “Thanks for that. You really made my day.”

  Cora blinked rapidly. “Oh, well, good! I’m glad. And like I said, I’m really happy you’re back. Cole really missed you.”

  “Yeah?” Beth folded her arms. “Did he tell you this before, after, or during the time you had your tongue down his throat?”

  Cora jolted like Beth had reached over and smacked her. “He told you about that?”

  Beth laughed sharply. “Uh, no. I had the pleasure of seeing it with my own two eyes when I came back to say yes to the man who asked me to marry him.”

  “Oh…” Cora’s pretty peaches and cream complexion turned dissolved from crimson to pale. “Beth…”

  “Don’t oh Beth me!” Her temper took hold of her senses like wildfire. “My sheets hadn’t even cooled before you made your move.”

  Cora’s eyes darted frantically from side to side. Beth couldn’t tell if she was trying to find a way out, or was hoping someone would jump in to save her. Neither happened.

  “That isn’t what happened,” Cora protested. “I was working the day shift and he walked in mad as a wet cat. I poured him a few drinks and he told me what happened.” She peered imploringly at Beth. “The kiss meant nothing.”

  “Nothing?” Her growl made the woman jump. “You were straddling his lap like some … some…”

  “I wasn’t!” Cora said quickly. “I leaned over and kissed him. It lasted all of five seconds. Maybe ten. But he pushed me away and said something about me not tasting like you. Sean Clarke was there. You can ask him. He drove Cole to his brother’s house and we never talked about it again.”

  As good as parts of that made Beth feel, her mad refused to subside. “Do you make it a habit of kissing your customers?”

  “Lord no!” Cora said loudly. “Had it been anyone else, I would have just left him to drown in his whiskey. But I don’t think I’d ever seen Cole McClain in the pub. Plus he looked so damn broken. I felt bad for him.”

  Beth arched a brow. “You couldn’t have felt too bad considering you were trying to seduce him into your bed only minutes after he proposed to me.”

  Cora puffed up like a beautiful chicken. “Now you listen to me, Bet
h Doan. I ain’t no home wrecker. When I kissed that man, you were on your way outta town and by all means out of his life. He was a single man as far as legotests go.”

  As much as she wanted to snatch up a brick and beat the woman bloody, Beth couldn’t help seeing the truth and feeling about two inches tall.

  “Logistics,” she mumbled, fire dying.

  Cora blinked. “What?”

  “I think you mean as far as logistics go…”

  Cora frowned. “That’s what I said. Now, I’ll kindly ask you not to go spreading that I went and stole your man, because I am in a very happy relationship with Joey and I don’t want that ruined because of some meaningless kiss I had with a single man nearly a decade ago.”

  Beth refrained from pointing out that decade meant ten years and nodded.

  “It didn’t mean a damn thing to either of us,” Cora went on. “Cole’s a great guy, don’t get me wrong, but he ain’t the one for me and I love my Joey and Cole’s just about over the moon about you.” She squared her shoulders. “I really hope things work out for you both.”

  She marched away before Beth could even open her mouth to apologize. She was still stinging from the tongue lashing when she found herself outside of Cole’s office. There was no recollection of making the journey, yet there she was, staring at the dull, brown sign hanging over the glass door.

  Without giving herself time to think, she shoved open the door and stepped inside. The cramped little waiting area was empty. The door leading into Cole’s office stood ajar. She could hear someone moving around back there.

  “Come in!” She heard him call out.

  Moving through the narrow hall, she stopped just in the doorway and watched as he popped the keyboard off a laptop.

  He stood behind his desk, shirt sleeves rolled up. There were tiny screws and other pieces littering his tabletop and he looked completely in his element.

  Blue eyes lifted from his task and fixed on her face. They widened in surprise.

  “Hey!”

  She moved deeper inside and cast an amused glance towards the small tower of computers crammed into one corner. Colorful post-it notes were stuck on each one, labeling them with the owner’s names.