35. Chapter 35
Chapter 35
Brynn
T he past few hours have gone by in a blur. There were so many people it was overwhelming. Every time I started to get anxious, Colt's powerful hand would find a way to comfort me. His touch on my back, arm, or shoulder helped to ground me. His strong presence made my body forget all about the anxiety coursing through it.
The touches were friendly, but my body is thrumming with need for him. Colt has made me feel more like myself than I have felt in years. I finally feel like I am in my own skin again.
Whitney comes up to me with a worried look on her face, she has been supplying us all with water and snacks today as we have had to endure the onslaught of so many mourners coming to celebrate my dad and show their love to his family. "He's here," she whispers into my ear. I give her a questioning look and that gets the attention of my brothers.
"You've got to be fucking kidding me," Blake growls from beside me. Brooks has moved to my other side, and I am now being flanked by my brothers. Colt notices the movement of my brothers and hurries over to stand in front of me.
Colt crosses his arm, feet set wide, and growls when Steven gets closer. "I think you need to leave." His voice is low and lethal. It is scary, and kinda hot to be honest. The fabric of his suit jacket is pulled so taut against his broad back it looks like it could shred at any moment.
Steven stares at him with a stunned look on his face. "I am here to give my condolences to the family. Correct me if I am wrong, but your last name is not Rutherford," Steven sneers.
I feel Brooks go to step forward and Colt puts his hand up. "You are not welcome here. You need to leave."
Steven rolls his eyes, "Get out of my way. This doesn't concern you."
Colt's entire body stiffens, "It concerns me when I know what a piece of shit you are. I am not letting you anywhere near Brynn."
Steven scoffs, "Didn't take her long to spread her legs for you, huh?" He peers over Colt's shoulder to look at me, his eyes roaming over my body like he is taking inventory of my appearance.
All of a sudden, Colt's fist makes contact with Steven's jaw right before Steven crumples to the ground. Colt leans in, his voice full of menace, "Get the fuck out of here while you can still walk. "
Steven tries to stand himself up, but he is too disoriented from the hit. I hear onlookers gasp and start to whisper. The funeral director comes into the room as he hangs up a call on his cell phone. "Mr. King, come with me." There is no arguing with his tone. Steven uses the pew and finally gets to his feet. We all watch as he is escorted out of the area.
My brothers are giving Colt a pat on the back. "I am kinda mad you got to him first," Brooks says as he throws an arm around Whitney.
"Are you okay?" Colt asks me, his hands coming to either side of my face. I nod in his grasp. He throws his arms around me and pulls me into his strong chest. I know he can probably feel the rapid beating of my heart and my shallow breaths.
"Baby, I need you to breath. In for four, out for four." I do as he says, my labored breathing finally getting under control after a few minutes. "There ya go. You are safe."
People continue to whisper, and I look around at my brothers. "I'm sorry," I whisper.
"Nope. Nothing for you to be sorry for. Let's get the rest of the town through this line so we can go home," Blake says, and he kisses me on top of the head.
The rest of the visitors make their way to us, giving us hugs and handshakes. Letting us know my dad was loved, and that they are here for whatever we might need in the future. It is overwhelming to see how loved my dad was by his community. A community I haven't been a part of for years.
I can't help but notice how many community members praise Colt for taking Steven down a notch. I love that he had my back and was going to make damn sure I was safe. I can't wait to get him home later.
Home? When did I start thinking of the cottage or Cedar Creek as home? Shit .
Once everyone has left, and the funeral director has everything he needs from us, we are finally getting to go home. Between the long visitation, service and burial, I am exhausted.
"Momma Ann has dinner waiting for us," Whitney says as we all walk out to the parking lot to get in our vehicles. I rode to the funeral home with my brothers, but I want to ride back with Colt.
"I'm going to keep Colt company on the way back," I say as I follow behind him. When I say his name, he stops his long stride and waits for me to catch up.
"You riding with me, Firecracker?" His deep voice asks as he unlocks his truck.
"Yes," I say as he opens the truck door for me and helps me climb in. I am immediately hit by the smell of his clean, spicy soap. I inhale deeply and close my eyes, reveling in the way his smell makes me feel.
Colt climbs in the truck and we start to head home .
"Thank you," I say as I look to the left and study Colt's chiseled jaw.
"I should apologize for making a scene at your dad's funeral. It was uncalled for."
"Bullshit. My dad would've done it himself. He was probably cheering you on," I say with a laugh. Laughing feels good today. "Anyway, thank you. For everything."
We have just parked in front of the main house when we see the ranch hands sitting on the porch. "What are they doing?" Colt mumbles under his breath.
He hops out of the truck and goes to stand in front of the men sitting on the porch. I can hear their faint chatter as I walk up next to Colt. "Everything okay?"
"Yes, ma'am. We just wanted to be here when you guys got home. We have been keeping an eye on everything since the whole town knew you guys were gone all day. Didn't want any trouble," Matt says as he lifts his hat and dips his head.
"Thank you, guys. Have y'all eaten?" I ask as I make my way up the porch steps.
"Yes ma'am. Momma Ann fed us. Your dinner is hot and ready inside."
"You don't have to call me ma'am," I say as I step into the house. I can hear Colt thanking the guys and telling them to hustle on home to get ready for a busy day tomorrow .
The smell of chicken pot pie floods the air as I get closer to the kitchen. Just as I suspect, I find two large chicken pot pies on the counter, steam still coming off them. I look around, but Momma Ann is nowhere to be found.
"She left a little while ago, I baked the pies for her," Callie says as she walks into the kitchen. She must have been upstairs putting Millie to bed. She hugs me tightly. "I'm so sorry. I wish someone had done for you, what you did for me, " she whispers before breaking our embrace.
I nod and hear the sounds of boots on the floor right before the rest of the crew arrives to sit down and eat dinner.
We are all stuffing our faces when Brooks says, "Man, I have missed us all being here for dinner."
"Are you planning on staying a while?" Blake asks me. I have absolutely been dreading this question, because I don't have an answer.
"I wasn't planning to stay this long," I say as I look around the table at the people I love most.
Holy shit. Do I love Colt? That can't be right. I barely know him.
"I need to check in with Gwen. I have been kind of MIA with everything going on." I take a sip of water and hope the subject changes. I peer across the table and see Colt with an unreadable expression. He dips his head and shovels in a bite of dinner.
Fuck.