by Vivian Arend
It was only a short drive back to the house Dana shared with her son and daughter-in-law. Laurel’s gaze darted to the side over and over, and in spite of the mass of confusion, anger, and everything else Mark’s arrival had triggered, Dana found herself amused enough to hide a smile. Her daughter-in-law had to be wildly curious at the moment but was stifling her million questions rather handily.
Or mostly stifling them.
“That’s the missing uncle? The one who left all those years ago?”
“Mark. Yes. I guess Becky’s having her baby, and he’s come out to…” Dana lost the flow of her thought for a moment.
He’s come for me wasn’t remotely on the list of things she was about to say. But that’s what he said he was there to do.
Dear Lord.
She forced herself to smile at her daughter-in-law. “He’s come for a visit. Which is going to be interesting.”
“Sounds kind of like that Chinese curse—may you live in interesting times,” Laurel said dryly.
Oh, boy. “Pretty much exactly like that,” Dana agreed.
What was a woman supposed to do with the knowledge that, after thirty-five years, one of her classmates and the younger brother of the man she’d been married to for ages, claimed to love her?
Good thing she had enough chores to distract herself until the evening. Somehow, she’d find a way to wrap her brain around this.
Mark was home. He said that he loved her.
Dana shook her head and fell into distractions like a gladiator heading into the ring.
12
After nearly three years of living with her mother-in-law, Laurel knew better than to poke when Dana pulled on her stone face.
Colemans knew how to keep secrets.
But after nearly three years of living full time with two Colemans and being totally immersed in Coleman-landia, not to mention all the years growing up as best friend to Rafe, Laurel also knew there were ways of getting results that didn’t involve trying to move unmovable stones.
As quickly as possible, she grabbed the couple of items that needed to go to her sister-in-law’s house. “I’m going to run these over to Allison. Need me to take anything else?”
A slightly dazed and distracted Dana shook her head. “I’ll get supper started while you’re gone.”
The only reason Laurel didn’t spin out of the driveway was because too much snow packed down the gravel. After fishtailing onto the secondary highway, she slowed enough to stay out of the ditch, because that would make all of her plans far more complicated.
Even while she drove, though, she used Bluetooth to put through a call in search of the first answers.
“Hey, Ms. Coleman, how are things on Angel land?” Jaxi teased.
“I need intel, stat.” Laurel got straight to the point. “Uncle Mark. Why would he and my mother-in-law be acting all awkward around each other?”
A split second of silence hung on the air before Jaxi gasped. “You saw him?”
“In Becky’s house, and Dana has never been so flustered.” Laurel slowed and checked the three-way stop before illegally rolling through the intersection. No one drove these roads but Colemans in the first place, but it was probably a good thing that cousin Anna no longer delighted in handing out tickets to her family like Halloween candy. “I know he’s been gone forever, but I didn’t think there was any really bad blood between the brothers. And I certainly didn’t know of anything that would make my mother-in-law rattled enough to be anything other than a bit surprised.”
“My father-in-law has talked about it. After Mark left, there were a few hot tempers the first time he came for a visit, but it’s been years. Mike’s been in contact with him off and on. Everything I’ve heard or seen since makes me suspect Mark would be welcomed back with open arms. Especially after everything he did for Becky.”
“That’s what I thought, but Dana never once mentioned that part. Which is strange, which is why I’m calling you.” Laurel took the turn onto Allison and Gabe’s driveway. “Okay, keep this quiet for now. I’ll let you know if I figure out anything else. Oh, and Becky’s at the hospital. You heard anything yet?”
“Nothing, but I bet I can get an update.”
“Text me,” Laurel said. “I’m at Allison’s.”
“Later, sweetie.”
Talking to the source of all information Coleman-related had been simultaneously useful and piqued Laurel’s curiosity even further.
Why had Dana acted so strangely? Especially considering the most recent thing Mark had done was give Becky a fresh start after escaping a bad situation.
Laurel marched in Allison’s front door, kicked off her boots, and headed straight to the kitchen. “I got your stuff, and I want to gossip.”
Her sister-in-law’s dark eyes sparkled with mischief as she rose from where she’d been sitting on the couch, baby in her lap and four-year-old Micah stacking toys on the coffee table. “It’s good to know you’ve finally been totally corrupted.”
“Ha. If you think this is a recent event, you obviously weren’t paying attention back when Rafe and I were constantly seated outside the principal’s office.” Allison went to put Ariel in the playpen at the edge of the kitchen, but Laurel held out her arms. “Here. Give her to me. Auntie needs some lovin’.”
The little girl’s blondish curls stuck up every direction, and Laurel settled the one-year-old in her lap and smoothed her fingers through the soft tangles.
Allison went to unpack the groceries. “Who’s the topic of gossip?”
“Mom. Our mom—Dana. Oops.” Her phone buzzed in her pocket, and Laurel wiggled to grab it. “That should be an update from Jaxi.”
Allison had her phone out as well. “I got it. Baby girl for Becky and Trevor. I’m so glad for them.”
“Me too.” A small knot inside her tightened, but Laurel pushed the feelings aside, squeezing Ariel a little closer and concentrating on how good the news was. “Becky deserves all the joy possible.”
“Agreed.” Allison put her fists on her hips. “Now, take a step back. You want to gossip about Mom? What did she do? You never gossip about Dana, which I figured meant you’ve got the constitution of a saint, considering you live together.”
“She doesn’t usually do anything that’s gossip-worthy,” Laurel admitted. “She’s wonderful, and I love her to pieces. Which is why I want to find out—has she ever mentioned Mark Coleman to you?”
“Becky’s Uncle Mark? I mean, Gabe’s uncle, but the one who helped Becky out?” Allison shrugged. “Sure. I mean his name came up in conversations even before he dropped Becky off at his place. And what with the Colemans working together now, we’re planning on using a bunch of his territory that met the organic standards to expand operations. Gabe tried to get in touch with him a bunch of times, but he’s been sending all correspondence through Trevor. And Trevor said Mark basically told us to do anything we want, he’s okay with it.”
Which was not remotely the direction Laurel wanted this gossip to go. “But has she ever mentioned Uncle Mark outside of owning Coleman land? Like some reason that she would have to blush around him?”
Allison jerked to a stop, the bag of nuts in her hands sliding to the counter with a crash. She turned, all her attention fully on Laurel. “Okay, so this wasn’t a hypothetical question. You saw Uncle Mark and Mom, and Mom was blushing?”
“Over at Becky’s. Mom kept trying to keep me out of the way, and the instant we were done, she scooted out of there like her pants were on fire. And she didn’t do more than give me his name.”
Her sister-in-law blinked in surprise. “No hello, how are you doing, so good to see you, when are you coming over for dinner spiel?”
“None of it.” Laurel dipped her chin firmly. “That’s the part that made me suspicious.”
“I hear you, but there’s not much else I can say,” Allison admitted. She thought hard for a moment then shrugged. “Uncle Mark didn’t live in Rocky at all while I’ve been here. If Mom knows
him, it’s something from the distant past.”
Which meant if Laurel wanted to know more, she had to talk to her mother-in-law.
Or…
Ariel squirmed in Laurel’s arms. She caught hold of a strand of Laurel’s hair and tugged. “Pre’dy.”
“Careful, baby.” Laurel detached the death grip, gently easing herself free and moving Ariel far enough back she wouldn’t get tugged again. A moment later, Micah was there, holding a truck for Laurel to admire.
She spent the next half hour playing with her niece and nephew and chatting with Allison, but when she slipped away, that sense of concern had grown so strong, Laurel needed to do something with it.
It was interfering—
No. Not interfering. In a way, she was only being friendly.
Justification firmly in place, Laurel headed back to Becky and Trevor’s house on the off chance she would catch Uncle Mark there.
He was coming out the front door as she drove into the yard. He paused, confusion on his face until his eyes brightened when she met him on the front stairs. “Hello, again.”
Laurel stuck out her hand. “Didn’t get to introduce myself before—Laurel Coleman.” She made a face as he laughed. “Yeah, you probably could’ve guessed that last part.”
“At this point, I plan to assume half the people I meet are somehow related, and I won’t go far wrong.” Mark examined her empty hands. “Did you forget to drop something off?”
Laurel paused. What was her excuse? Oh, right. “No. I thought I’d make sure there was something easy for the family to heat for supper, depending on when they get home from the hospital. Did you hear? About the baby?”
“I did. Trevor took about five messages to get all the details to me. He was so excited, he kept hitting Send before he was done typing.” Mark’s grin bloomed, and suddenly Laurel saw in him an image of what her Rafe would look like in thirty years. A handsome man, strong, yet with kindness in his eyes.
Another thought whirled by rapidly—that’s not at all what Rafe's father Ben had looked like before he passed.
“And you don’t have to worry about dinner,” Mark went on. “I figured I had the time, so I made up lasagna and left it in the fridge.”
Another unexpected jolt. “Well, that’s nice of you.”
Mark stood there, silent.
This was the moment when, given the excuse she’d offered, she should say goodbye, turn around and go home. Only—
“What did you say to Dana?” The words blurted free. Laurel kind of wanted to take them back, but now that she’d made a partial fool of herself, she figured she may as well jump with both feet and humiliate herself all the way. “After she talked to you, she was kind of upset.”
His face folded into a frown. “Well, shit.”
Honesty prevailed. “She didn’t say anything to me. And she wasn’t upset like you’d scared her or she was angry, but as if something had made her confused.”
The corner of his lips curled upward briefly. Rafe wore the same expression when he was trying not to laugh at her. “Sounds as if you know Dana pretty well to be able to pick that much up from her not saying anything.”
“There’re a lot of times ladies don’t say things because we can’t, so yeah. Maybe I can read another woman even without them using words.” Laurel wanted to stare at her toes, but she forced herself to meet Mark’s gaze. “Sorry. I’m a little outspoken at times, but if you want the honest truth, yes. I do know Dana pretty well, and I love her very much. After the hell she’s gone through, she doesn’t need anybody making her life harder just when she’s finally getting to spread her wings again.”
It was such a weird conversation, the cool weather of March barely warmed by the sun as they stood outside on the porch as if it were a summer day.
Mark’s expression changed again, no longer amusement but sheer confusion. “What are you talking about? What hell did she go through?”
Her snort was definitely rude, but Laurel no longer cared. All the warning signs she’d picked up earlier were ringing loud and clear.
This man might have been the cause of a wonderful change in Becky’s world, but that didn’t mean he had carte blanche to wade in and interfere in anyone else’s life. Not when he seemed so clueless.
Laurel’s mother-in-law deserved to be protected.
“Oh, I don’t know. The bit where she lost a son or where she lost her husband. Frankly, she lost him years before he even died and had to put up with a man who didn’t appreciate her and didn’t treat her the way he should’ve.”
For the first time she saw an echo of Rafe’s father, Ben, glaring at her as if she were the cause of his troubles. The sheer disgust the man had felt even talking to her had always shone in his eyes.
But when Mark spoke, the anger wasn’t against her. “I had no idea.”
Laurel took a deep breath and let her own anger, frustration, and confusion slide away as much as possible before she spoke again. “I’m sorry. Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything.”
“No,” he said quickly. “I’m glad you did.”
He seemed sincere. Laurel got ready to head home, pausing to give one final unasked for bit of advice. “I’m glad you’re here, for Becky’s sake, but please—you’ve been gone a long time. You need to tread carefully. The Coleman clan is wonderful, and collectively, they’re a force of nature. But sometimes the individual people need a little careful handling.”
“Thank you.” He paused for a moment before his expression hardened. “I’ll think about what you said. I’m truly glad you told me.”
A little embarrassed now that the heat of the moment had passed, Laurel was still flushed when she made it back to the house. She slipped in the side door to access the part of the house she shared with Rafe without bumping into her mother-in-law.
She’d barely finished washing her face and was staring out the window, taking deep breaths, when a door opened behind her.
“Sitko? What are you hiding in here for?” Rafe crossed the room in three big steps and pulled her into his arms. His tone dropped a notch, hot enough to make her skin tingle. “Not that I mind finding you in our bedroom in the afternoon.”
Coming on three years together, and no matter how often she teased, he still called her by her old nickname.
She curled her arms around his neck and eased her body against his. “Maybe I knew you’d be home early and wanted to surprise you.”
He raised a brow, gaze dancing over her cheeks, which felt a lot hotter than they should’ve. “That’s as close to a lie as you can get without lighting up like a candle. What’s up?”
It took about ten minutes to share the whole story—Laurel talked fast—and at the end of it, Rafe looked as confused as Laurel felt.
“I’m not going to even try to figure out what’s going on at this point.” Rafe stroked his fingers through her hair, leaning in to brush his lips over hers. “My mom is strong, and she’s smart. And if there’s something she needs help with, we have to trust that she’ll ask.”
“That’s not how we do things in the Coleman family,” Laurel complained. “The Coleman way is to run in, scoop people up, and help them whether they want it or not.”
“You’ve been hanging out with Jaxi too much,” Rafe said with a grin as he backed Laurel to the wall. “In the meantime, I thought maybe I could distract my wife. Considering it is the afternoon, and we both happen to be home.”
A wall of muscle pressed against her, heat rising between them.
“Your mom was in the kitchen when I got home,” Laurel whispered.
“I passed her as I came into the house. She was headed to the barn for at least an hour,” he whispered back.
Because the one bad part about sharing a house with her mother-in-law was sex. As in, being quiet during.
Laurel hurriedly undid Rafe’s shirt, sliding her fingers over the warm planes of his muscular chest. “Someday I’d like to have sex on the kitchen table,” she murmured. “Our own kitchen
table, when I’m not worried about anybody interrupting us.”
“Someday,” Rafe promised. He pushed her pants to the ground then stood and ripped her top over her head. His gaze heated as he examined her hungrily. “But for now, I’m just so thankful I get to do this.”
He dropped to his knees in front of her, one strong arm pinning her in place. Laurel leaned against the wall and let sensation rush over her as he pressed kisses along the edge of her panties.
“When did you get these?” His question was midway between a growl and a moan. He cupped her intimately, leaning back far enough to meet her eyes. “Silky purple. I like them.”
She wasn’t about to interrupt what was happening with a lengthy reminder she’d gone on another shopping trip that Ashley had been party to. No one came home without at least one naughty purchase when the woman was around.
Laurel offered the sexiest smile possible as she whispered, “Take them off me.”
“Soon.” Rafe slid his hand back and forth, gliding the sinfully soft fabric over skin that had grown hot and needy. His fingers pushed the panties gently between the folds of her sex as his thumb came down with deadly accuracy over her clit.
Somehow, she remained vertical. Maybe it was by grounding her fingers in his thick, coarse hair, the strands cool against her heated palms. Maybe it was the unyielding pressure of his forearm over her hips.
Or maybe it was the sheer electric energy that zipped through her limbs as Rafe tugged the gusset of her panties aside and put his talented mouth on her.
Tongue teasing over sensitive skin, he stole her breath away with each slow, deliberate stroke. And when he slid his fingers in and pumped lazily, Laurel gasped and moaned and rocked toward him.
A low chuckle rose even as he continued the sensual assault, and pleasure struck in one unending wave. Laurel attempted to loosen her fingers, her grip in his hair too tight, too rough. He didn’t seem to mind, though, his hands now cupping her butt. Rafe pressed his mouth even tighter against her sensitive skin and pushed her orgasm into overdrive.
The echo of blood pounding in her ears still remained when she opened her eyes to discover she was flat on her back in their bed. Rafe grinned from where he lay beside her. One hand possessively cupped her breast as he leaned up on the other elbow and stared into her eyes.
