Colton's Deep Cover

“Sorry, Squirt, our last two patients canceled,” he said, ruffling Sawyer’s hair. “But you could always keep me company while I do some paperwork.”

“Bo-ring.” Mr. Unobservant that he was, Sawyer suddenly noticed Amelia standing there. “Amelia, hi!”

The kid launched himself at her, wrapping his gangly arms around her waist.

Derek didn’t miss the way Amelia flinched when Sawyer hugged her or the way she didn’t return the embrace.

Again, that flicker of wariness tugged on his gut. Amelia seemed completely ill at ease around his little brother. Around all children, in fact. She handled the younger patients the same way she did the older ones—with extreme warmth and professionalism—but Derek had noticed on numerous occasions that she didn’t seem entirely comfortable with kids.

Sawyer, however, was more than comfortable with Amelia. For some reason, the kid had taken a real shining to the beautiful blonde. Adored her, actually.

Trying to ease her evident discomfort, Derek tugged on the collar of Sawyer’s striped T-shirt and pinned the kid with a deadly stare. “What was that I heard about detention?”

Sawyer raised his hands in a defensive gesture. “Don’t look at me. Danny Harris talked back to Ms. Bentley and we all got punished for it. Totally unfair if you ask me.”

Derek’s lips twitched. “I guess that was Ms. Bentley’s way of sending the rest of you a message. A warning of what happens when you sass her.”

“Doesn’t make it any less unfair,” Sawyer grumbled, before turning to Amelia in interest. “So what are you gonna do while Derek does his paperwork?”

She cast Derek a quizzical look. “Well, boss, what am I going to do?”

“You get to go home,” he answered. When she looked ready to protest, he held up his hand. “You deserve some time off. Now that you’re a permanent fixture in this practice, I plan on working you to the bone, so enjoy the break while it lasts.”

She laughed softly. “I guess I can use the time to assemble some furniture. I ordered a bunch of things online after I moved into my place but I haven’t gotten around to any of it yet.”

“Bo-ring,” Sawyer chimed again. He suddenly clapped a hand on his leg. “You should come to dinner tonight. We are making brownies for dessert.”

Amelia started to edge away, her hip bumping the desk. “Oh. That’s a nice offer, but I don’t know if I can.”

“You just said you don’t have anything to do,” Sawyer said in an accusatory tone. “So you can totally come.”

Derek sighed. “Sawyer—”

“Please?” his brother pleaded. “I want you to see the ranch and my horse, and did I tell you we’re making brownies?”

Amelia smiled indulgently. “Yes, I think you mentioned that.”

“So … please?”

She shifted awkwardly. “I guess I could.” She glanced at Derek. “If it’s okay with your brother, that is.”

“You’re welcome to join us,” he said gruffly.

After a beat, she nodded. “All right. What time?”

“Seven o’clock,” Sawyer piped up.

“Okay. Well. I guess I’ll be there.” She took a few steps toward the corridor behind them. “I should change out of these scrubs.”

As Amelia dashed off, Derek released a heavy breath and turned to his brother with a frown. “What did I tell you about putting people on the spot, Squirt?”

Sawyer had the decency to blush. “I know. I’m sorry. But I really want Amelia to come to dinner. You want her to come, too, right?”

“Sure,” he said noncommittally.

The kid tilted his head. “So I did good, right? It could be like a date.”

Derek faltered. “No, not like a date. Amelia and I work together, Squirt. That’s all there is to it.”

“Is it because of Aunt Tess?”

Now he froze. “What do you mean?”

“Piper says that you’re still mourning Aunt Tess,” Sawyer said frankly. “I told her that’s silly because Aunt Tess died a long time ago.”

Two years wasn’t a long time, he wanted to point out, but he supposed that for an eleven-year-old, two years was an eternity.

He couldn’t believe they were even having this conversation. Nobody in the family dared bring up Tess’s name to him, and truth be told, he preferred it that way. Just thinking about his wife sent a hot rush of agony to his chest. It was funny, how he’d nagged his brother Gunnar to see a counselor in order to deal with his tragic experience in Afghanistan, yet if Derek were being honest with himself, he hadn’t fully dealt with his own tragedy.

Tess’s death still ate at him. It gnawed at his insides like a hungry scavenger, making it impossible to move on—yes, even two long years later.

“Because if it is about Aunt Tess,” Sawyer went on, oblivious to Derek’s silence, “I think that’s dumb.”

His throat clogged. “Why is that dumb?”

“Because Aunt Tess wasn’t a very good wife.”

Out of the mouths of babes.

“Why do you say that?” His voice was so hoarse it felt as if someone had shoved sand into his mouth.

“Because she made you sad,” Sawyer said simply.

An arrow of pain pierced Derek’s heart. He knew he shouldn’t be surprised by his little brother’s observation. He and Tess had been having trouble long before her death—and clearly, the rest of his family had noticed.

Swallowing a lump of regret, Derek clapped a hand on Sawyer’s scrawny shoulder. “Let’s stop all this serious talk. What do you say I forget about my pesky paperwork and take you out for some hot chocolate instead?”

The kid’s eyes lit up. “Seriously?”

“Seriously. Go sit in the waiting room while I gather up my things, okay?”

“Cool beans.”

Sawyer bounded off just as Amelia reemerged from the corridor. She’d changed out of her green scrubs and now wore a pair of snug blue jeans that hugged her shapely legs, a tight-fitting brown sweater that brought out the amber flecks in her hazel eyes and high-heeled black boots. With her silky blond hair tied back in a ponytail, she looked young and fresh-faced and utterly gorgeous.

“I’m heading out,” she told him as she shrugged into her black wool coat, then put on a pair of brown leather gloves. “Should I bring anything?”

He wrinkled his brow.

“For dinner,” she clarified. “Wine? Dessert?”

“Nope. Just bring yourself.”

He realized at the last second how flirty that sounded, and the blush that rose on her cheeks confirmed it.

Derek gulped, wondering why he was so damn drawn to this woman. For the past two years he hadn’t felt a single inkling to get involved with anyone. Actually, he’d vowed to steadfastly avoid relationships altogether.

Yet from the moment Amelia Phillips walked into his clinic, he hadn’t been able to fight the spark of desire she evoked inside him.

“Okay. Well.” Her delicate throat worked as she visibly swallowed. “I’ll see you tonight.”

Derek bid her goodbye, then watched as she gracefully strode toward the door and exited the clinic. Everything about that woman intrigued him, from her soft, melodic voice to the shadowy secrets lurking in her hazel eyes.

Maybe having her over for dinner tonight wasn’t such a bad idea, after all. Amelia Phillips continued to remain a mystery, and his inquisitive nature didn’t mesh well with riddles. It drove him absolutely crazy that he still couldn’t get a real handle on his beautiful new nurse. That he had no idea why her face took on that haunted expression when she thought nobody was looking. He hadn’t felt comfortable grilling her here, while they worked side by side, but perhaps she’d be more willing to open up outside the professional confines of the clinic.

Perhaps tonight he would finally get some answers from the elusive Amelia.

Chapter 2

Chloe had never been more nervous in her entire life as she drove through the double gates of the Colton ranch. The main house was visible in the distance, a large homestead that managed to combine the stately elegance of a manor with the rustic charm of a ranch spread. It wasn’t the size or beauty of the home that made her anxious—she was no stranger to expensive accommodations—but the homey, inviting feel of it. The yellow glow seeping from the windows, the tire swing hanging from one of the trees in the front yard. It was the kind of place she’d always envisioned raising a family in, and the thought brought a sharp pain to her heart.

Her hands trembled on the steering wheel of the used Toyota hatchback she’d purchased last week. Why on Earth had she agreed to have dinner with the Coltons tonight? When Derek had invited her to his family’s Thanksgiving dinner last week, she’d had no problem politely declining. So why had it been so hard to say no to Sawyer’s request? Why had she allowed a tow-headed kid to break down her defenses?

The thought of Sawyer Colton deepened the ache in her chest. Lord, that kid was a real charmer, not to mention precocious, sweet and wise beyond his years. But every time he came around, which was often, she experienced a wave of longing so powerful that tears stung her eyes. She liked to imagine that her own boys would have grown up to be exactly like Sawyer.

Focus, Chloe.

Choking down a lump of sorrow, she continued up the driveway, but halfway to the main house another fit of anxiety rippled through her and her foot came down on the brakes. A minute. She just needed a minute to collect her composure.

Flipping down the sun visor, she studied her reflection, inspecting her left cheek. Makeup looked good. No hint of the four-inch scar beneath it.

Still, simply knowing the imperfection existed made her feel self-conscious as hell.

“You think you’re so beautiful, don’t you, Chloe? Pretty, pretty Chloe.”

A tornado of pain, fury and bitterness spiraled through her as Felix’s cruel voice echoed in her head.

“All those men flirting with my beautiful wife. You liked it, didn’t you, pretty Chloe? You like feeling beautiful?”

Hot tears pricked her eyelids. She tried desperately to block the memories, but they barreled into her mind like a freight train. Felix had been so enraged that night, yet again blaming her for something beyond her control.

“Let’s see if men still find you attractive now, shall we?”

A phantom burst of agony exploded in her face, mimicking everything she’d felt when the blade of that scalpel sliced into her cheek.

Sucking in a ragged breath, Chloe forcibly shoved the horrific memory from her mind. She couldn’t fall apart right now. Not in her boss’s driveway, for Pete’s sake.

Exhaling slowly, she moved the gearshift to Drive and steered toward the main house. After she’d parked the car, she grabbed her purse and the apple pie she’d picked up at the bakery in town, then climbed the large porch and rang the bell.

Footsteps thudded. A second later the front door swung open and an attractive redhead appeared before her. Chloe instantly recognized Emma Colton, Derek’s younger sister and a field agent with the FBI. They’d met when Emma had interviewed Violet Chastain at the clinic after the actress’s attack.

“Amelia,” Emma said, sounding genuinely happy to see her. “We’re thrilled to have you.” She opened the door wider. “Come in.”

Chloe stepped into the spacious front hall and shrugged out of her coat. Emma took it from her, hanging it in the closet by the door.

“I brought dessert,” Chloe said, holding out the pie dish. “Sawyer mentioned something about brownies, but I figured I’d bring something, anyway.”

“Thanks. That was really sweet of you,” Emma answered with a smile.

Chloe glanced around, admiring the wood-paneled walls and pretty oil-painted landscapes hanging in the space. “You have a lovely home.”

Emma grinned. “Technically you should be saying that to Derek. He owns the ranch now.”

“Really? I had no idea.”

“He doesn’t advertise it. My brother is a doctor first and a rancher second, but Mom and Dad left him the homestead in their will because Derek’s always been the most responsible Colton in the bunch.” Emma anticipated Chloe’s question before she could voice it. “Don’t worry, there’s no hidden resentment or anything—I think Gunnar and Tate were as relieved as I was that we didn’t have to take on the responsibility of this place.”

Emma led her into the great room, which featured endless ceilings, comfortable brown leather couches and a stone fireplace. Derek’s teenage sister, Piper, sat on one of the sofas, holding a blond-haired toddler in her arms. On the floor, Derek’s brother Tate was sprawled on the thick rug next to a second toddler. Although the two little boys were identical, they clearly had their own distinct personalities—the one on the couch was content to sit calmly in Piper’s arms, while the terror on the floor busied himself with a set of colorful blocks, shrieking in delight each time Tate leaned over to tickle him.

“Violet Chastain’s twins,” Emma said, noticing Chloe staring. “We’re babysitting Mason and Hudson tonight so Violet and Gunnar can have some alone time at the cabin.”

Chloe tore her gaze from the adorable little boys, ignoring the rush of longing that filled her belly. She focused on Tate, who greeted her with a warm smile. “Hey, Amelia. Where’s Mr. Perfect?”

She shot him a blank look.

“Derek,” Tate clarified with a crooked grin. “You know, the perfect doctor, perfect brother, perfect everything.”

The amusement dancing in Tate’s aqua eyes told her it was all in good fun, but it didn’t surprise her that Derek’s siblings called him Mr. Perfect. The man epitomized perfection—handsome, talented, kind, sexy. Derek Colton was the real deal, no doubt about it.

“He’s not here?” she said, frowning.

“Derek doesn’t live in the big house,” Piper spoke up as she intercepted the toddler’s chubby hand before he could grab a hunk of her wispy blond hair. “His house is next door.” The teenager glanced at Tate. “He texted me just now saying he’s on his way.”

“Have a seat,” Emma said to Chloe. “Can I grab you a drink? Wine, beer, iced tea?”

“An iced tea would be great.”

Chloe felt a tad awkward as she settled on the couch opposite Piper and folded her hands in her lap. This was her first official social visit since she’d moved to Eden Falls, and though she’d met all of Derek’s siblings before, being surrounded by so many people at once was daunting. As an only child, she’d always wished for a brother or sister, someone to laugh with and spill her secrets to, someone other than herself who she could rely on.

Her discomfort grew the longer she sat there, watching the scene before her. Tate teasing Piper, the happy squeals of Violet’s twins and Emma’s throaty laughter as she returned to the room with Sawyer hot on her heels.

Sawyer grinned when he spotted Chloe, making a beeline for her. “You came,” he said happily. He fixed a stern look in his sister’s direction, then glanced back at Chloe. “I hope Piper wasn’t annoying you.”

Chloe stifled a laugh. “Don’t worry—Piper has been a perfect lady.”

The boy snorted. “Right. The perfect giant lady, maybe. Piper is freakishly tall.”

“Hello? I’m sitting right here, twerp,” Piper said, waving her hand in the air. “At least have the decency to insult me behind my back.”

“But it’s more fun to do it to your face.”

Chloe and Tate exchanged an amused look as the duo continued to bicker. Despite the insults being traded back and forth, it was clear that Piper and Sawyer adored each other.

The Coltons were an unusual bunch, Chloe thought as she listened to the group chatter amongst themselves. Different ages, sizes, races, hair color, eye color. Charlotte and Donovan Colton had run a nonprofit organization for inner-city children, and Derek had laughingly told her that they liked to bring their work home with them—case in point, the six children they’d adopted.

As she sipped the iced tea Emma brought her, the photographs displayed on the fireplace mantel caught her attention. Setting the drinking glass on the pine coffee table, Chloe stood and headed for the hearth, smiling as she focused on a photo featuring a happy, distinguished-looking couple.

“That’s my mom and dad,” Sawyer said, coming up beside her. “I didn’t know them all that well. I was just a baby when they died.” His somber expression brightened as he pointed to the framed photo next to the first one. “And that’s me and Piper.”

Chloe grinned. “Yeah, I can see that.”

Sawyer then proceeded to point out each and every person in each and every picture, even the ones featuring only himself. Eventually, Chloe quit paying attention, until her gaze snagged on a photo of Derek with a pretty, raven-haired woman. The woman’s features hinted at both American and Asian descent, and she was utterly petite, the top of her head barely coming up to Derek’s shoulders. Both were beaming at the camera, but Chloe noticed that the smile didn’t quite reach the woman’s eyes. There was something so very sad about the woman in the picture.

“That’s Aunt Tess,” Sawyer said in a low voice, leaning closer to Chloe as if he didn’t want anyone to overhear.

“Aunt Tess?” she whispered.

“Derek’s wife. She died.”

Shock blasted through her, but Chloe did her best to hide her reaction. Derek didn’t wear a wedding ring—she’d definitely looked—but in the month she’d been working for him, he hadn’t once mentioned a deceased wife. Judging by Sawyer’s hushed tone, she got the feeling “Aunt Tess” wasn’t a common topic of conversation in the Colton household.

“Finally,” Tate said dryly.

Chloe turned around in time to see Derek stride into the room. Her heart did an involuntary somersault and she berated herself for the silly response.

Still, it was so hard not to drool over the man. Without the white coat and scrub bottoms he wore at the clinic, he looked far more approachable. Much more … well, sexy. His khakis were loose but couldn’t hide the long, muscular legs beneath them, and his black sweater molded to his broad, rippled chest. Lord, the man definitely worked out—no way had he acquired that rock-hard physique by handling a stethoscope and taking someone’s blood pressure.

She tore her eyes off his chest, moved them to his face and offered a timid smile. “Hey, Doct—Derek,” she quickly amended.

His easy smile warmed her insides. “Hey, Amelia. Glad you could make it.”

“I appreciate the invitation.”

Their eyes locked from across the room, and Chloe could have sworn she heard the air crackle. Or maybe it was the sound of her heart hammering against her breasts. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been so drawn to a man. Even her husband hadn’t intrigued her the way Derek Colton did.

She gulped.

You don’t have a husband. You’re Amelia Phillips.

“Come on, little dudes, go to Julia.”

Piper’s voice jolted Chloe from her thoughts. A dark-haired woman—Julia, Chloe assumed—scooped up the toddlers, propped one on each of her hips and headed for the door.

“That’s our nanny,” Sawyer explained, tugging on Chloe’s hand.

“She’s going to watch the little terrors while we eat,” Derek added. “Violet’s nanny also has a much-deserved night off.” He shook his head in amazement. “I don’t know how Violet does it. Those two never seem to run out of energy.”

“I don’t know how Gunnar will do it,” Tate corrected with a laugh.

“Dinner’s ready, guys!” Emma called, poking her head into the living room.

As the group trudged toward the kitchen, Chloe felt a hand on her arm. She jumped in surprise, then relaxed when she realized it was Derek.

“Always so jumpy,” he murmured.

“You startled me.”

“You’re easily startled, aren’t you, Amelia?”

The contemplative note in his deep voice heightened her unease. She met his gaze and saw that his brown eyes were studying her, searching, probing, as if he were trying to bore right into her head.

She managed a faint smile. “I need to stop being so skittish, huh? I think it’s the move—new town, new job, new friends. It always takes me a while to adjust to new situations.”

After a beat, he nodded and gently squeezed her arm. “It’ll take some time, but I have a feeling you’ll fit right in. Come on, let’s have some dinner.”

Family dinners topped Derek’s list of favorite events, probably because they’d been so important to the couple who’d adopted him when he was three years old.

Charlotte and Donovan Colton had been the strongest, most loving people he’d ever met. They’d taken not just one child into their home, but six, and Derek and his siblings had grown up surrounded by so much love that his heart now boasted a big hole thanks to the loss of his parents.

Derek had insisted on keeping the tradition of weekly family dinners that had meant so much to his parents. Surrounded by his brothers and sisters, he felt a sense of peace that had been lacking in his life the past couple of years. Ever since Tess’s accident, he’d been having a tough time finding his footing again.

Professionally, he was as confident and composed as ever, but when he walked into his empty house at night, that cool and collected air he’d mastered dissolved, leaving him with a deep ache in his gut and a rush of loneliness. Despite everything they’d gone through, everything she’d put him through, he missed Tess. Or maybe he missed the woman she’d once been, the sweet girl he’d fallen in love with during college. Either way, he couldn’t deny the emptiness he felt, the sorrow that consumed him whenever he found himself alone with his thoughts.

“So your family lives in Missouri, then?” Emma asked. Derek raised his head, realizing his mind had wandered.

Emma’s question had been directed at Amelia, whose expression creased with pain.

“My mother passed away about fifteen years ago,” Amelia admitted. “But yes, my father’s in Missouri.”

Derek sensed there was more to the story, but the flicker of sorrow in Amelia’s big hazel eyes told him not to go there. His little brother, however, had yet to perfect the art of tact.

“Your dad lives alone?” Sawyer asked between mouthfuls of his meat loaf. “He didn’t get married again after your mom died?”

“Sawyer,” Tate chided. “Enough with the Twenty Questions.”

“It’s okay,” Amelia said softly. “I don’t mind.” Her fork toyed with the mashed potatoes on her plate, but she seemed to have lost her appetite. “My father didn’t remarry. He’s actually living in an assisted care facility just outside of St. Louis.”

Derek’s heart clenched as he met her eyes.

“Early-onset Alzheimer’s,” she revealed, as if she’d heard his silent question.

Derek nodded. “When was he diagnosed?”

“When he was fifty-five. That was ten years ago.”

“I’m sorry, Amelia,” Emma spoke up. “That must be so difficult, seeing someone you love go through something like that.”

Amelia cast her eyes downward. “It’s been very difficult.”

A lull fell over the table, until Tate cleared his throat and changed the subject. As Tate and Emma began discussing the investigation into the missing Amish girls, Derek discreetly studied Amelia from across the table. The revelation about her father was the first nugget of information he’d gleaned from her since he’d hired her three weeks ago, but it still wasn’t enough.

Amelia Phillips fascinated him like no other woman ever had. On the surface she seemed so fragile, but after working with her, he knew she had a core of steel. She was incredible with patients, met any challenge head-on and, when she let her guard down, displayed a witty sense of humor that never failed to make him smile.

But what else did he really know about her? She’d gone to college in California and worked there as a nurse for eight years, then moved back to Missouri and spent the next ten years doing God knows what before resuming her nursing career. Why such a long hiatus? Why had she moved to Pennsylvania? And why on Earth was she still single? Considering her youthful beauty and sweet demeanor, he couldn’t fathom that.