Colton on the Run Read online

  It hadn’t worked. He’d awakened the next morning hungover and with his grief still intact, and a new guilt weighing heavy in his heart. The only real difference had been he’d had a beautiful woman in his arms who had wanted more from him than he could give.

  “I would have loved to contact you when I first found out I was pregnant, but I couldn’t. I had no idea how to find you.” Her hand dropped to her stomach. “I don’t expect anything from you, Dallas. I made the decision to have these babies and I’m fine doing this all on my own.”

  A shocked surprise jolted through him. “B-b-babies?” he stuttered.

  She nodded and smiled. “I’m carrying twins...a boy and a girl.”

  He couldn’t help the small gasp that escaped him. He hadn’t even completely processed that she was pregnant with one baby, let alone two.

  She frowned and stared down into her cup for a long moment and then glanced back at him. “Look, I know this has to be a big shock to you,” she said. “I really don’t need anything from you, Dallas. I’ll be fine on my own.”

  “You aren’t getting rid of me that easily,” he immediately replied. This might not be the time or the way he would have chosen to become a father, but that didn’t matter. Now he knew she carried his son and his daughter and he wasn’t about to walk away from his babies.

  “Uh...do you have a significant other in your life right now?” he asked.

  She laughed, the sound rich and melodic. “Right, I’ve had to beat the men away from me and my girlish figure.” She sobered and then sighed. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to be sarcastic, and no, there’s no significant other in my life. I’ve never even wanted one. I’ve been pretty focused on my career. What about you?”

  “No, there’s nobody,” he replied. Unless he counted the ghost of a woman who haunted him, a ghost he just couldn’t let go of because the pain of loss, of utter emptiness, would be too great for him to endure.

  “When do you leave to go back to where you’re stationed?” she asked.

  “I don’t. I’m now former Army Sergeant Dallas Colton. I finalized my discharge three months ago and I’m here in Whisperwood to stay.”

  “Oh, I’m surprised we haven’t run into each other before now,” she replied.

  “I’m living in an old foreman’s cabin out on the ranch, and for the last couple of months I’ve been doing what I can to help with the cleanup after the hurricane. I don’t get into town much.” His gaze once again took in the sight of her stomach. “Should you still be working?”

  “Actually, this was my last case. Once the jury comes back I am officially on maternity leave. It’s time for me to nest.”

  “Nest?”

  She smiled. She had a beautiful smile that lit up her features and warmed whoever it was directed at. It had been her smile that had initially grabbed his attention in the bar that night, and that warmth now swept over him.

  “You know, I’ll make sure I have everything ready for the babies when they arrive. I’ll get a manicure and a pedicure and make sure I get extra sleep and relax before they get here.”

  “Do you have everything you need for when they do get here?” he asked.

  “Yes. My coworkers gave me a big baby shower last month and they were all very generous. I told you I didn’t need anything from you, Dallas, and I meant it. There’s only one person here in town who knows you are the father and that’s my closest friend. She would never tell anyone. I would love for you to be a part of their lives. I certainly believe it’s important for children to have both parents involved, but I understand if you just want to walk away.”

  “What would make you think I’m the kind of man who would just walk away from this?”

  She tilted her head and gazed at him intently. “Dallas, I really don’t know what kind of a man you are.”

  And he didn’t know what kind of woman she was. Oh, he knew how hot her kisses were and how her bare skin felt against his. He knew how her sweet moans had sounded against the side of his neck. But, that was really all he knew about her.

  “I think it would be nice if we got to know each other better,” he said. Actually, he thought it was a necessity in this crazy circumstance.

  “And how do we do that?” she asked.

  “Why don’t we start with me taking you out to dinner at the Bluebell Diner tomorrow night?” he replied.

  She looked at him in surprise. “Uh...okay, that would be nice.” Her cell phone rang. “Excuse me,” she murmured, and took the call. It lasted only a minute and then she hung up and gathered her purse and briefcase.

  “I’m sorry. The jury has returned and I’ve got to get back to the courthouse.”

  He stood as she did. “That was fast.”

  She flashed him that beautiful smile again. “And hopefully a good sign.”

  “Shall we say six tomorrow evening?” he asked.

  “That sounds perfect. I’ll text you my address and I’ll see you then.”

  He watched as she headed toward the door and then he sank back down into his chair. Twins. Jeez, this was the very last thing he’d expected when he’d driven into town this morning to be a support to his brother. Heck, in a million years he couldn’t have expected to suddenly discover he was about to become the father of twins.

  He took a sip of his now cold coffee and leaned back in the chair. Two babies. A little boy and a little girl. He was going to be a father, and fairly quickly. With the initial shock slowly wearing off came a sense of anticipation...a sense of unexpected joy.

  He hadn’t expected to ever feel that again, not after losing his wife. When he’d buried Ivy, he’d believed he’d also buried his heart and soul with her. Any hope for future happiness, for joy or laughter, had gone into that grave with her.

  But this...this sudden surprise, this miracle of two little souls who would be forever connected to him brought with it a glimmer of hope. They were a promise of a happiness he’d never dreamed of and had never thought possible before.

  He had no idea if he even liked Avery. There was a possibility that once they spent a little time together she might not like him.

  But like it or not, somehow, some way they needed to figure things out, because for the next eighteen years or so they would be in each other’s lives due to their mutual love of a baby boy and a baby girl.

  Copyright © 2019 by Harlequin Books S.A.

  ISBN-13: 9781488041433

  Colton on the Run

  Copyright © 2019 by Harlequin Books S.A.

  Special thanks and acknowledgment are given to Anna J. Stewart for her contribution to The Coltons of Roaring Springs miniseries.

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  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

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