Chapter Ten
Colton
After a restless night’s sleep, I’m up far too soon, but I can at least get an early start on the day.
Fridays are the busiest, with guests checking in for the weekend, so our staff has a quick turnaround to get the cabins clean and ready.
It’s my job to make sure supplies stay stocked, regularly check each one for maintenance, and submit work orders for anything that needs repairs.
I typically do inventory on Mondays after the busy weekends, but with Amelia and Lily getting sick, I had Bellamy do it for me. So now I need to double-check the storage rooms to make sure we won’t run out before the next order arrives.
When I left the house, it was still quiet, so I filled Remy’s food and water dishes, made a pot of coffee, and then headed to the Branch Haven.
I should work a few hours this weekend to catch up on what I missed earlier in the week, but I’d much rather spend time with Amelia and the kids than be glued to my desk.
After an hour of counting shit, I check my phone and am shocked to see a text from the woman sleeping in my bed.
Just not with me in it.
Amelia
Where are you?
Colton
The Branch Haven. Everything okay?
Amelia
Yes, we’re fine. You’re usually in your office when I wake up, so I got worried. Sorry for bothering you.
I contemplate my next words, not wanting to cross any boundaries, but we did somewhat agree we’d be friends.
Colton
You’d never bother me, darling. I couldn’t sleep and had some tasks to catch up on, so I left to get an early start.
Amelia
Oh, okay. When will you be back?
I try not to smile and get the wrong idea, but it’s impossible not to when the woman of my dreams wants me home with her.
Colton
Within the hour. I’m almost done for now. Can I bring you anything?
Amelia
Um well…
Colton
Spit it out.
Amelia
The kids are hungry, and I’m not the best cook. I usually give them cereal or make peanut butter toast, but now that they’ve had your cooking, they don’t want anything from me.
This time, I do smile.
Colton
Those poor starving babies! Tell them Uncle Colt will be there as soon as I can to make them the best feast ever.
Amelia
I kinda hate you right now.
Colton
What, why??
Amelia
You’ve given them too high expectations that I can’t reach now. They’re gonna want you to come down to Sugarland Creek and cook for them when we’re back home.
Fuck. Don’t threaten me with the perfect scenario. I’d pack my bags now and go with them if she’d let me.
Colton
Just because you don’t want me, doesn’t mean they can’t have my cooking.
Amelia
You’re so dramatic, but seriously, you’d better wean them off and start burning shit or something. I can’t compete with your fancy ass food.
Colton
Sorry to tell you, sweetheart, but French toast and scrambled eggs ain’t fancy. Neither are waffles and bacon. But if you want me to show them fancy, I can do some fruit crepes with powdered sugar or baked egg boats. Maybe soufflé pancakes with whipped cream?
Amelia
I take back what I said…I don’t kinda hate you. I actually do. We’re mortal enemies now.
Colton
Enemies? Nah…I think that’s jealousy in your tone.
Amelia
I’m locking you out of the house.
Colton
It’s a good thing I know where the hide-a-key is.
Amelia
I took it.
Colton
What about the second one?
Amelia
Yep, that one too.
Laughing, I shake my head at her snarky attitude. I only have one, and there’s no way she’d ever find it.
Colton
See you in twenty, darling
I quickly finish the task I’m working on and then head out, eager to see the kids and eat with them.
When I arrive at the house, I immediately jump into action. Sam loves watching me while I work in the kitchen, so he stands on a chair while I make breakfast.
“What’s that gravy?” he asks.
“It’s a sauce. Have you never had Eggs Benedict?”
“I don’t think so.” He shrugs.
“Wow…you’re in for a treat. Good thing I’m here.” I glance over my shoulder and catch Amelia rolling her eyes at me. I only said that last part to get a reaction out of her and enjoy the fact that it works.
I finish plating the kids’ food and bring them to the table, where they eagerly wait. I’m not worried about Lily eating it as much as I am about Sam.
“So, whaddya think?” I ask once he swallows a bite.
“It’s so good!” he squeals, diving in for another.
“And Lily?”
Amelia cuts her up before letting her take a bite. She inhales it within seconds.
“Safe to say she’s a fan,” Amelia says with as much amusement as one would be about getting a prostate exam.
“What ’bout you? Do you want some?” I grin, hoping she’ll try it. “Or I’d be more than happy to make you somethin’ else.”
“No, thanks. I’m perfectly capable of makin’ my own.” I know she’s trying to make a point in not relying on me, but she’s being too damn adorable while attempting it.
“Mom,” Sam says around a mouthful, muffling his words. “It’s really good!”
“Where’re your manners?” She hands him a napkin when the hollandaise sauce drips down his chin. “And did y’all thank him?”
“Thank you, Colt!”
“You are most welcome, buddy.” I ruffle his hair that hasn’t been brushed.
I go back into the kitchen and fill two mugs with coffee, then add sugar and cream. Amelia prefers tea, but her snarky mood implies she needs a bit more caffeine this morning.
“Here.” I set it down in front of her before sitting at the table with my own plate. “Blow on it first.”
She swallows, glancing down at the mug. “Thanks.”
“So what’s on the agenda today?” I ask, mostly to Sam.
“Can we do somethin’ out of the house?”
“Depends, what do you wanna do?”
I can’t blame him for getting cabin fever, especially in the middle of summer.
“I dunno…anythin’.” His little shoulder lifts.
Glancing at Amelia, she frowns. I can only assume how she’s feeling about not being able to take them out or do things with them while we wait for an update. It’s officially been a week, and they don’t seem any closer to finding out who this person is than before.
Selfishly, I want it to take a few more weeks so I can spend more time with them.
“What ’bout a drive-in movie?” I offer since it’s still an outside activity, but it keeps them safe in the truck with us.
“What’s that?”
“It’s where you get to watch a movie from your vehicle, except we’d take my truck and cuddle up in the back with blankets and pillows.”
“Like a slumber party?” he asks excitedly.
“Kinda, except we don’t fall asleep when it gets dark. But we can get snacks, popcorn, and drinks. It’s really fun.”
“Mom, can we?” Sam beams with wide eyes.
I almost apologize for not running it past her first, but she doesn’t seem upset.
“That sounds perfect,” she says, shifting her gaze to mine briefly before looking back at Lily.
Even if I never win her over, I’ll be happy we met and got this time together, especially with her kids.
I have a feeling she doesn’t get this much free time with them, and although she seems to be enjoying it, I know there’s that lingering fear that’s keeping her from dropping her guard completely.
Once we finish eating, I bring the dishes into the kitchen and am surprised when Amelia walks in next to me.
“Are you upset I—”
“No,” she cuts me off abruptly. “I thought a lot about the talk we had last night, and as much as I worry how they’re gettin’ attached to you and will be upset when we leave, I don’t wanna keep ’em from havin’ you in their lives.
Even if it’s temporary, it’s not like Sam ain’t old enough to video chat or call you.
And we can visit on the weekends, especially since he’s gonna wanna go fishin’ again. ”
My heart pounds in excitement at the thought of having a plan to see them once this is over.
“Did you just—” I turn my body fully toward her, trying not to smile and give my amusement away before I get my next words out. “Give me joint custody of your kids?”
“Oh my God,” she groans with an eye roll. “Why do you—”
I burst out laughing at her frustration. “I’m teasin’, Amelia. Of course, I wanna stay in contact with y’all when you go home. I’d love nothin’ more.”
She arches a brow. “Really?”
“Didn’t you know, single moms are my kryptonite.” I wink.
She leans her hip against the counter, crossing her arms. “So like, a kink? You’re only into me ’cause I pushed two humans out of my vagina.”
“Fuckin’ hell.” I laugh again, unable to control myself. “You know how to ruin a moment.”
“Didn’t you know that’s one of my superpowers?”
“Touché, darlin’.”
I spend the rest of the afternoon in my office, and just as I close my laptop, Wilder calls me.
“Hey.”
“Our cousin is a fuckin’ psycho,” he blurts, then continues before I can ask what the hell he’s talking about. “He left yesterday to pick up Sienna from the airport and called me five minutes ago to say that he’s in jail. Well, kinda.”
“What?” I nearly shout. “Kinda how?”
“She brought back a guy with her, he lost his shit and broke his nose. When he came to, he called the sheriff.”
“For fuck’s sake. Why did Madd hit him?”
“’Cause he refuses to admit he’s in love with his best friend, and when she announced she’s engaged to some guy she met six weeks ago, he realized he lost his chance.”
I snort, shaking my head. “And let me guess, Sienna has no clue about his feelings either.”
“Doubt it or she wouldn’t have asked him to be her maid of honor.”
“Wait, ain’t that usually a girl’s position in the weddin’?”
“Yep,” he pops the word. “Hence, his anger overflowin’. I told Madd he’d better practice walkin’ in heels.”
“Way to kick him when he’s down,” I quip. “So, is this guy alright? I imagine Maddox could give him brain damage if he wanted to.”
He’s buff as hell and has got to be close to six-foot-five.
“He’s alive, but he’s talkin’ ’bout pressin’ assault charges.”
“Shit, that’s bad.”
Wilder chuckles. “He didn’t know who the Jamisons were, so when he called, Uncle James showed up and cracked up when he had to handcuff his own son.”
“Oh my God, I would’ve paid money to witness that.”
“That’s what I said!” He cackles. “But since he’s the sheriff, he had to follow protocol ’round the new guy in town. Then he brought him in and let him hang out in his office while he processed the paperwork to release him.”
Not surprising in the least.
Uncle James doesn’t exactly do things by the book down there.
“Sounds messy.”
“What else’s new?” He sighs. “Gonna give him the weekend to cool off, and then we’re gonna try somethin’ early next week. That reminds me, I need access to Amelia’s social media accounts so we can post photos to show her location ’round town. We’re gonna smoke him out if it’s the last thing we do.”
I can’t imagine she’s going to love the sound of that, but she’ll do whatever it takes to get this guy.
We chat for a few more minutes before saying goodbye. If we’re gonna make it to the theatre for the seven o’clock show, the kids need dinner, and I need to set up the bed in my truck.
While I make hamburgers, I tell Amelia to text Wilder her social passwords so he can get started on his new plan, then give her an update on Maddox.
She looks horrified at him hitting a person he just met.
But I reassure her that this is nothing compared to some of the shit he’s gotten into in the past. He doesn’t follow the rules. He makes them.
There are always kid and family-friendly movie options, so luckily, Sam and Lily are entranced on the screen with a bucket of popcorn and a couple bags of Skittles.
They sit on the air mattress in front of Amelia and me as we lean back against the window.
The only light around us is from the film and the moonlit sky.
It’d be romantic if she didn’t put me in the friend zone.
“This is really cool,” Amelia whispers, leaning in closer. “Never been to one of these before.”
“No? We used to come durin’ high school and get drunk. Once, I passed out in my truck and slept in it all night. The owner wasn’t too happy with me.”
She stifles a laugh. “Color me shocked.”
“Had to find fun where and when we could in the mountains.”
“And joinin’ a religious cult wasn’t an option?”
“Nah, not any of the good ones that allow pre-marital sex and eatin’ red meat on Fridays anyway.”
She arches a taunting brow. “Those were the only two requirements, huh?”
“The only important ones.” I wink.
By the time we arrive home, the kids are fast asleep. I carry Sam inside, and Amelia brings Lily. Once they’re tucked into bed, Amelia closes the door and meets me in the hallway.
“Thanks for lettin’ us experience that. They loved it.”
“I’m glad. Hopefully, we can go again before y’all leave.”
She nods. “I’m gonna make some tea if you wanna get ready for bed, then we won’t bump into each other.”
“Sure, but would you mind puttin’ enough water in the kettle for me?”
“You drink tea?”
“I was thinkin’ I’d try it. Some of the flavors sound good.”
“I’ll make you a cup the way I do mine, but it won’t be fancy breakfast-level tea, so manage your expectations.”
“Lucky for you, I have no point of reference, so you could literally spit in it, and I’d love every drop.”
“Another one of your kinks?”
Smirking, I flick my barbell. “Wouldn’t you like to know.”