HOOKED ON YOU (Paradise Cove) (29 page)

“She should be closing right about now. Go see her, why don’t you?” Anna winked at the two ladies. “Wasn’t last night wonderful?” She sighed and put a hand to her heart. “I swear it was the most beautiful wedding ever. I sure hope to see more of them here in Paradise Cove.”

“I’m sure there will be.” He added quickly, “Taylor’s already talking about selling this as a destination wedding venue.” Perspiration dripped from his brow. His entire body felt bathed in sweat.

“Of course. But I wasn’t talking about that. I was thinking about Taylor. She’s not getting any younger you know.”

Jane sent him a sympathetic look. “Why don’t you talk to Jonathon and Robert and see if we can all stay another day?”

Colt stood up and polished off the rest of his drink. He shot Jane a grateful glance. “I’ll do that.” Time for him to leave.

Perhaps he’d been wrong to flaunt his intentions to everyone last night. It had been obvious that he intended to sleep with Taylor, and had seduced her right then and there. She had family that cared about her. Friends too. They had a right to wonder what his intentions were today.

Problem was—he had no answer. His intentions were muddied for sure.

In a way, he felt caught up in a trap. Marriage right now was not on the table, but he had strong feelings for Taylor just the same. He didn’t want any more pressure that’s for sure. Taylor had already laid it on him this morning.

He only had two options:, call his mother or piss off Taylor. Neither held any appeal.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Colt found Taylor sitting in the newly restored A-frame structure that was now the outdoor area. It was made from solid wood but had open windows to let the breeze blow though. Definitely hurricane proof. She was seated with Jonathon and Robert discussing various ways she could do the fish.

“Hi guys,” Colt said, taking a seat at the table. “Just talked to the women a few minutes ago. They’re all down at the pool getting soused on mojitos. Your mom pours a mean drink,” he said to Taylor.

She nodded, her eyes guarded.

“They wanted to know if you could all leave Thursday instead of Wednesday so I could take the four of you out on the boat. Wednesday’s my only free day.”

“Works for me,” Robert said, sipping on a chilled beer. “Okay with you, Jon?”

“Sounds good. Need to change our flight though.” The younger man used his iPhone and got right on it.

Jonathon stood, and stretched out his back. “Anyway you want to prepare the fish is good by us,” he told Taylor. “We don’t know much about cooking it, but we sure enjoy eating it.” He grinned. “There’ll be a big tip in it for you.”

Taylor stood too. “You don’t need to tip me. You’re part of the wedding party.” She put her hands in her pockets and rocked on her toes. “Please. Don’t even think of it.”

“You’re running a business, and from what I hear you just got started. Then along came the hurricane which nearly wiped you out a few weeks back. So I want to pay for our meals. And I refuse to take no for an answer.”

Taylor glanced at Colt for help.

“Don’t look at me.” He grinned. “Take the money. You need it, and you deserve it.”

“That’s settled then.” The men polished off their beers, then left through the back door. Colt and Taylor were alone.

She didn’t waste anytime. “Did you call your mother? Or your sister?” she asked, hands on her hips.

The question annoyed him, but he stood his ground, refusing to be bullied by this feisty woman or her mother. “No, and no.”

He saw the way her face fell and her gaze dropped to the floor, and felt a tug of guilt. He took a step closer and lifted her chin.

“I’m sorry, Taylor, but I can’t. I don’t want to hurt or disappoint you, but you’re asking me to do something that I’m uncomfortable with. One day I’ll explain everything. I promise. But for now, just trust me. There are things in my past that I’m not proud of, that I still can’t talk about.”

“Why, Colt? Why?” Her voice was bitter, and there were angry tears in her eyes.

“It doesn’t matter. It was such a long time ago and it has no bearing on the here and now. My family is a closed subject.” He ran a hand through his hair in frustration. “Don’t make a big thing out of it. You’re driving a wedge between us for nothing.”

“I don’t think it’s nothing. It’s important to me.” Her eyes beseeched him, but he didn’t flinch. He was making a stand, come hell or high water.

She glared at him for several seconds, then when he didn’t budge she sensed defeat. “Whatever it is, I’ll try to understand. It won’t change my feelings for you. I just want you to be able to talk to me about anything and everything. After what we shared last night…what we did together…I feel as if I have that right.”

“You can expect me to be faithful to you as long as we’re seeing each other, but I don’t owe you my life story.” He didn’t want to argue with Taylor. Not now. The intimacy between them had brought a lot out in the open. Her feelings were raw, but so were his.

“You have one hell of a nerve,” she said, turning away in anger.

His cell phone rang sparing an answer. “I have to take this. It’s Jamie.” He stepped aside. “What’s up, bud?”

“You have to come and get me!” The boy cried. “Now. Please, Dad?”

“Why?” Alarm shot through him. He could hear the panic in his son’s voice. “What’s wrong?” Colt tossed Taylor a look, his jaw clenched. “Is your mother all right?”

Jamie cried harder. “She’s fine, but Daddy, she wants to take me away.”

“Away where?” He paced up and down, trying to make sense of this call. Where did Sharon want to take him? And why would it upset his son so much?

“What did she say to you?” he asked more slowly. He needed to be calm. Jamie was blubbering and not making sense.

“Mom said she’s getting married. At Christmas.” He sobbed and hiccupped. “To Dennis.” Another sob ripped out of him. “He’s going to be working in Chicago, and they are going to live there. I want to stay here.” He cried harder. “With you.”

“You are not going anywhere. Your mother can’t take you out of state. Not without my permission, and I’m not giving it.” He shot another glance at Taylor, and her face was no longer angry, but concerned. She reached out a hand and touched his arm.

“Are you home?” Colt asked. “At your mom’s?”

“Yes. I’m in the bedroom,” he said choking on the words. “Come get me, please?”

“I’ll be right there. Half an hour, maybe forty minutes tops. Hang tight, kiddo. I’m coming, and you’re not going anywhere.” He ended the call and turned to Taylor. “Sharon’s getting married and wants to take Jamie to Chicago.”

“She can’t do that, can she?”

“I hope to hell not. But if she couldn’t, why would she tell Jamie this?” His voice rose. “I can’t believe she told him without discussing it with me. She has to know I won’t allow it.” His hands curled into fists. “She can be a real bitch, but she’s usually fair when it comes to Jamie.”

“Oh, God, Colt. I’m so sorry,” she moved forward to put her arms around him. She pressed her cheek against his chest.

“It’s not going to happen. Our home is here. I don’t care if she wants to marry this guy and move away, but she’s not taking my son with her. Over my dead body will that happen.” He dragged a hand across his face, and sucked in a couple of deep breaths. “I have to go, Tay. I’m going to pick him up, then I’m calling my attorney. I’ll fight this, don’t worry. We’re not losing Jamie.”

Taylor slipped away from him. She nodded, tears in her eyes. “Go get your son, Colt. Do what you have to do. And I’m sorry about today. I should never have doubted you, or made such a frickin’ big deal out of nothing. You’re a good father and a good man, and that’s all I need to know about you.”

He didn’t answer her because he was already on the run. He dialed his attorney’s number as he hit the Overseas Highway and was chatting with Bernie Lewis a few minutes later.

“Look, this is the way it is,” Bernie said. “A Florida court will agree to one parent relocating if both parents sign a written agreement. Since that’s not the case here, your ex-wife would have to prove that the move would be in your son’s best interest.”

“Well, how can she prove that? Being with his father is in his best interest.” His hands shook on the steering wheel, and he could see the whites of his knuckles. “I love him, and we have a good life together.” His voice broke, and he cleared his throat. “I can provide for him. Better than some interloper.”

“Let’s not jump ahead of ourselves, Colt. First—your ex-spouse must serve you a signed petition. That’s step one. The petition needs to include the address, telephone number, and description of the new residence. She’ll have to state a date of the intended move or proposed relocation, and a reason for the move.”

“This is the first I’ve heard of it. She hasn’t given me anything, not even a hint of this.”

“When you pick up your son, she might surprise you with it. So be prepared.”

“Nothing will surprise me anymore.” He swore. “Look, if she marries this big city doctor, how will that affect my chances? I’m guessing the job in Chicago is a step up.” Colt cleared his throat again. Felt like he had a frog stuck half way down his windpipe. He could hardly breathe. “Dennis is his name. And together they can certainly provide Jamie a wealthier upbringing, but that doesn’t make up for a father’s love.”

Tears were rolling down Colt’s cheeks, and he swiped them away. Everything he detested, every single thing he stood against was rising up and threatening to take his only son away. How could this be happening? He’d fought so hard not to let the pursuit of money play an important role in his life.

And now this.

“Don’t give up hope,” Bernie said, trying to be the voice of reason. “This is only the beginning. A child custody order will not be modified unless a parent can show that the move serves the child’s best interests. I don’t see how this does.”

“A bigger home. Better schools. A two-parent family. I can see why a judge would be influenced by this.”

“Whatever you have to do, make sure to prove to the courts that your son’s happiness and wellbeing depends on his living with you. That’s about the best advice I can give you.”

“Thanks, Bernie. I’ll darn well try.”

Thirty minutes later he pulled up in front of the apartment building that his wife lived in, and he paid for. He buzzed her apartment number, and she let him in. She answered on the first knock.

“He’s in his bedroom. Won’t come out.” Her face had paled and tears streamed down her cheeks. “I’m sorry. I was talking to Dennis on the phone and I didn’t know Jamie was listening.”

“Jesus, Sharon. How could you let that happen? And why in hell didn’t you discuss this with me? You know I won’t let him go. You can’t ask me that.”

“Daddy?” Jamie peeked out of the bedroom door then ran down the hallway.

In spite of how heavy the boy was, Colt swung him easily in his arms. Jamie wrapped his legs around his back, making gut wrenching sobs.

“There, there, son. Everything will be all right.” Over the boy’s shoulder, his eyes connected with his ex-wife’s.

She patted Jamie’s back in an effort to soothe him too. Colt was furious but he could see that Sharon was equally distraught. She loved her son. And she loved Dennis. She wanted both.

“Jamie, honey. I’m so sorry. I love you, and I didn’t want you to find out this way.”

“Go away,” the boy shouted. “I’m staying with my dad.”

Colt felt his heart surge with love and pride. No way in hell would he let Jamie go. The boy was the best of him.

Sharon had a hand to her mouth, and her eyes overflowed with tears. Her shoulders shook and she clutched at her son, who roughly pushed her away. This couldn’t be easy for her either. She had to know that he wouldn’t give up Jamie without a damn good fight.

Colt walked over to the sofa and put his son down. He put a protective arm around his shoulder, and held him tight. His ex stood a few feet away, shivering and crying.

He didn’t give a fuck. She was not taking Jamie from him. Not now. Not ever.

“Sit down,” he told her coldly.

She grabbed some fresh tissues off the counter, then sat as directed. They faced each other from a space of six feet, a square coffee table separating them. “Colt, I know you are both upset right now, but we have to be rational, and try to figure out a happy solution for all of us.” She swiped tears from the corners of her eyes. “I love Jamie as much as you. He’s my son, and a son needs his mother.”

“He’s not going to Chicago.” His voice did not waver. He felt cold inside and out. Like an ice pick had split open his heart. “You can’t take him from me.” He wanted to be reasonable, so he tried to soften his voice and hold back his fury. “Marry Dennis. Be happy. Have a wonderful life. You can see Jamie anytime you want. But he will live with me.”

“He’s my son. I’m his mother. He needs to be with me.” She bit back a sob, and wiped her eyes again. “Dennis cares about him too. He will be good to Jamie. You don’t have to worry about that.”

“I’m not.” He moved away from Jamie, his gut in a knot. “I’m not worried, because it’s damn well not going to happen.” He jumped out of his seat and paced the room. “I’m warning you, Sharon. Don’t pursue this. If you do you’ll regret it.”