Colton's Secret Son

Was that why Knox was back here? Was it possible he was not really on a vacation at all, but rather was on duty here in case his mother showed up?

And if that was the case, then once his mother was back behind bars, would he once again leave Shadow Creek to return to El Paso and not look back?

She had to believe that he intended to be more than a hit-and-miss father in Cody’s life. She also had to believe he’d protect Cody at all costs. At the very least she had to give him the benefit of the doubt until he proved differently.

The hours of the day crept by achingly slowly. She took a long bubble bath and painted her nails a pearly pink and tried not to wonder about what Knox and Cody were doing. She dusted the living room and ran the vacuum cleaner in an effort to keep herself busy.

After that she headed back to the kitchen, made herself a salad for a late lunch and then whipped up some of Cody’s favorite double chocolate chip cookies.

While they baked she sat at the table and found her brain working through a hundred questions in her mind. Was Knox married? Was Cody his only child or did he have a family in El Paso?

She should have asked him more questions yesterday at Jade’s place, but the shock of seeing him, the horror of realizing he knew about Cody, had made her half-brain-dead.

She told herself that her curiosity had nothing to do with how the very sight of him had stirred old memories, of how the scent of him...a familiar clean, woodsy scent, had evoked a pool of heat inside her stomach.

The only reason why she was curious about his life was that she needed to know how Cody might fit into it. What would a custody agreement look like between them? Would she now be sending her son to stay for a month in the summer with Knox and a stepmother? Would she now have Christmases without her son? Or Easters? Or Thanksgivings?

And what about his mother, who was now on the run from the law? Dear God, she didn’t even want to think about Livia getting anywhere near her son.

She needed to find out tonight exactly what Knox wanted. She had always kept a controlling hand on her life. She’d had to be in control to wear the many hats she wore.

At the moment, everything felt wildly out of control and she still had three hours before they’d be home. One thing was certain: she wasn’t going to let Knox Colton leave her house tonight until he’d answered some important questions.

Chapter 3

It had been a day of wonder for Knox. If he had imagined the kind of son he would want, it would have been a boy just like Cody.

Cody was bright and curious and extremely well mannered. No matter what he thought of Allison, Knox had to give her credit for doing a stellar job in raising the boy.

Knox found Cody’s laughter intoxicating. He even liked the way Cody’s forehead crinkled just a bit when he was thinking hard. He was easygoing and a real pleasure to be around.

“I had so much fun today,” Cody said as Knox pulled into Allison’s driveway.

“Me, too,” Knox agreed. “I’d like to spend more time with you. Would that be all right with you?”

“Sure, that would be cool as long as it’s okay with my mom,” Cody agreed.

“Oh, I think it will be fine with your mother,” he replied.

They got out of the car and Knox placed a hand on Cody’s shoulder as they approached the front door. His chest swelled on contact with the slender shoulder beneath his hand. His son. He just couldn’t get over it.

He dropped his hand back to his side as Cody went through the front door. “Mom, we’re home,” he called out. He glanced back at Knox with one of his wide grins. “Hmm, she must have made cookies.”

Knox followed Cody inside. The house smelled of baked chocolate and lemon polish. It smelled the way a home should.

She stepped from the kitchen and into the living room and for a moment Knox’s breath caught in his throat. She looked exquisitely feminine, clad in a casual, soft pink maxi dress that hugged her slender curves on its way down to her ankles. The scoop neck exposed a delicate collarbone, and the color emphasized her warm, peachy complexion. Her hair was loose and fell to her shoulders in soft waves.

She looked even more beautiful when her face lit up and she leaned down to give Cody a hug. “I can tell by the look on your face that you had fun today,” she said and then looked up at Knox.

He’d always told her that her eyes were the window to her emotions, that he could always tell what she was thinking, what she was feeling by gazing into them. But those hazel depths told him nothing now. They were shuttered against him and revealed nothing whatsoever.

“Mom, we went to Mac’s house and he has pictures of Knox and his brother and sisters on the wall, and then we went fishing in the pond and I caught two big crappies and Mac fried them for dinner and...” Cody paused for breath.

She laughed. “Why don’t we go into the kitchen and have some cookies and you can tell me all about it.” Once again she looked at Knox. “I made a fresh pot of coffee just a few minutes ago.”

“Cookies and fresh coffee? I’m in,” he replied. He followed her and their son into the kitchen where he and Cody sat at the table. Allison got a platter of cookies, a glass of milk and two cups of coffee before she joined them.

“Now tell me all about the fish.”

Knox leaned back in the chair and watched mother and son interact. She was so patient, and gave him her sole attention as he relayed the activities of the afternoon between bites of cookie.

“Sounds like you had a full day of fun,” she said when Cody was finished telling her everything he’d experienced from the time Knox had picked him up until they’d walked through the door. “And now it’s bath and bedtime.” Cody had eaten two cookies, drank his milk and finished his stories.

“Before that, can Knox come up and see my room?” he asked.

“Okay, but only if it doesn’t take too long. A growing boy needs his sleep,” Allison replied.

Cody looked at Knox with a grin. “She always tells me that.” He scrambled off his chair. “Come on, you’ll like my room. I’ve got bunk beds and a horse collection.”

“Then I’d definitely better take a look,” Knox replied. He gazed at Allison. “Are you coming up, too?”

She shook her head with a small smile. “I’ll just sit here and eat a cookie. Besides, I’ve seen his room before.”

Knox followed Cody up the stairs and at the top the air smelled of apples and spices; the scent instantly tightened his gut with an unwelcome heat.

They passed one doorway and Knox glanced in. It had to be Allison’s bedroom. A double bed was covered with a lavender-colored floral spread and white gauzy curtains danced in the evening breeze.

It was far too easy to imagine himself in that bed with her, her naked body in his arms and her eyes simmering a deep gold with sparkling green shards as he took possession of her. What was wrong with him? How was it possible to desire a woman he didn’t even want to like?

Cody’s room was definitely that of a horse lover. Navy curtains hung at the window with rearing stallions riding the lower borders. The bunk beds were covered with matching navy spreads and a bookcase held miniature figurines of horses in all kinds of poses. One shelf also held a row of books about horses. Glow-in-the-dark star stickers glistened on the ceiling above the top bunk.

“Isn’t my room cool?” Cody asked as he sat on the edge of the bottom bunk.

“Totally,” Knox replied. “Do you sleep on the bottom bunk or on the top?”

“On the top. Last year I slept on the bottom, but Mom finally let me move to the top and then we got the stars to put on the ceiling.”

Knox smiled. “That’s where I would sleep if I had bunk beds, and I like the stars, too.”

The grin that Cody gave him shot straight through to Knox’s heart. He wanted to claim this child. He wanted everyone in the town, everyone in the entire world to know that this bright, beautiful boy was his.

He wanted to grab Cody to his chest and hug him...protect him from any hurt that might ever come his way. Raw emotion ripped through him and he realized that the alien, rich feeling was a father’s love for his child.

He cleared his throat. “You’d better get yourself into the bathtub before your mother comes up here and yells at us.”

“Mom doesn’t yell at me even when she’s mad,” Cody replied, but he got up off the bed. “Are we gonna hang out again?” His bright eyes gazed at Knox eagerly.

“Absolutely. I’m going to go downstairs right now and make some arrangements with your mother. And don’t forget to wash behind your ears. I thought I saw a potato growing behind one of them this afternoon.”

Knox went back down the stairs with Cody’s giggles ringing in his ears. He hoped Allison wasn’t going to give him a hard time about spending more time with Cody. He wanted more, he needed more.

“He’s got a great room,” he said as he reentered the kitchen where she still remained at the table. “And he’s a great kid, Allison. You’ve done a terrific job with him.”

“Thanks. He’s a good boy, but like all kids he occasionally does have his moments. Would you like another cup of coffee?” She looked slightly fragile with her shoulders curved as she leaned forward and wrapped her fingers around her cup.

“I’ll get it.” He picked up his mug from the table and carried it to the coffeemaker on the countertop. He poured the coffee and then returned to the chair across from her. “So, when can I get him again?”

“Next Sunday?” Her full bottom lip held the hint of a tremble.

Crap, she was making him feel like a big, bad monster attempting to tear her little baby boy from her loving arms. He shook his head. “No way, I’m not waiting an entire week to see him again.”

“Are you married?” Her cheeks flushed and she quickly picked up her cup and took a sip.

“Why do you want to know?” He crooked up an eyebrow. “Are you interested in resuming where we left off while I’m back in town?”

Her back stiffened and her eyes flashed. “Don’t be ridiculous. That’s the last thing I want. I just need to know a few things about your personal life if we’re going to work out a reasonable custody agreement.”

At least he’d shaken her out of the soft vulnerability that had made him want to embrace her rather than fight for his rights.

“I’m not married and I don’t have a significant other,” he replied. “My life for the past ten years has been all about my work.”

She gazed at him curiously. “Why are you really here in town? Are you on vacation, or are you actually working in case your mother shows up here?”

He leaned back in the chair and tamped down the resentment that threatened to rise up in his chest, a resentment that had nothing to do with Allison.

“Yeah, I’m here because of my mother, but not for the reason you think. None of the authorities really believes she’ll show up here in Shadow Creek, but I was told to take a sabbatical because of my relationship to her. I’d become an embarrassment because of her prison escape.”

Allison studied him for several long moments. “I’m sorry, Knox,” she finally said. She was one of the few people outside of his siblings who knew the extent of Livia Colton’s destructiveness. “Do I need to worry about her? I never wanted her to know about Cody.”

“She shouldn’t be a problem, considering I didn’t even know Cody existed until yesterday,” he replied drily. “What did people think when you started showing?”

“The gossipmongers went crazy for a couple of months. I heard everything from I got pregnant after a one-night stand to the father being one of the men who worked for my dad.” She looked down and then raised her gaze to meet his. “Your name popped up as a potential candidate, but when you didn’t come back to town that particular rumor died.”

He didn’t want to think about her being alone and pregnant and the subject of scandal and gossip. “Now, about Cody.”

She sighed and reached up and grabbed a strand of her hair and worried it between two fingers, a habit he remembered her having whenever she was stressed. “He gets out of school every day at three thirty and walks home from the bus stop.” She dropped her hair and frowned. “I guess you could pick him up here every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon and then have him back by bedtime.”

“That will work. And what about the weekends? I can still have him on Sundays?” What he’d really like would be to have Cody every single day. He’d like to wake up in the mornings and fix him breakfast, see him off to school and then spend the evenings with him and tuck him into bed.

“I work on most Saturdays and Cody usually spends time out at Jade’s or comes in with me to the office. Maybe instead of Sunday you could take him on Saturdays while I’m working.”

He could tell by the hollowness in her eyes, by the slight thinning of her lips, she wasn’t happy, but he couldn’t help that. She wouldn’t be in this position if she hadn’t lied to him in the first place.

And with that thought he was ready to leave. They’d worked out the days he’d spend with his son and he didn’t need anything else from her.

He got up from the table and carried his cup to the sink. “Thanks for the coffee and the cookie,” he said.

She rose and together they walked to the front door. “I guess we’ll see you Tuesday afternoon,” she said.

He turned to face her and the scent of apples and spices suffused him. She stood close enough to him that he could feel the heat from her body radiating outward to warm him. Desire punched him hard in the gut.

He felt like he had when he’d been sixteen years old and she was fifteen and all he wanted was a kiss from the girl who had stolen his heart. The urge to capture her lips with his was nearly overwhelming.

Her eyes flared deep gold and she took a step backward. “Good night, Knox.”

“Good night,” he replied and stepped outside into the dark of the night. As he hurried to his car in the driveway, he didn’t know if he hated her for lying to him or if he hated her because as crazy as it was, he still wanted her.

* * *

Monday morning at nine o’clock, Allison sat at her desk in the Rafferty Construction Company’s office on Main Street.

Outside the glass partitions that made up her office space was the blood and guts of the business. Lumber in all sizes and types stacked the walls of the large space. Bath and kitchen tiles were in another section, along with anything and everything that might be needed to renovate a home.

At the moment two of her best men were building custom kitchen cabinets, and the sounds of power miter saws and hammering were as familiar to Allison as her own heartbeat.

Much of her childhood had been spent in the shop area, watching men build things from wood and talk about plumbing and wiring. It had never been her intention to take over the business. She’d wanted to be a nurse, but her father’s illness and his desire for her to take over for him had changed her life plans.

Now she couldn’t imagine doing anything else. This business was in her blood, a continuing tribute to the father she’d loved so much.

She sat up straighter in her chair as foreman George Carlson walked in. He headed straight for her office, a deep frown cutting into his broad forehead.

“We’ve got a problem on the Wilkenson place,” he said as he sat in the chair before her desk.

“What’s the problem?” The Wilkenson home was a large two-story on Main Street that had been in foreclosure for nearly a year. New owners had finally bought the place but before moving in they’d wanted an extensive renovation. Allison had bid on the job and three days ago they’d been given the go-head.

“I delivered a load of lumber there yesterday and this morning I discovered that it had been ruined. Somebody took a saw to it and made a bunch of kindling.” He narrowed his brown eyes. “And that same somebody also spray painted what wasn’t cut up, and you know who’s probably responsible.”

She sighed. Yes, she knew the likely culprits. Rafferty Construction had been in a fierce competition for business with Brothers Construction, Inc. That company, run by brothers Brad and Bob Billings, had also bid on the Wilkenson project and had lost the job to Allison. This wouldn’t be the first time the two sore losers had caused problems on a site.

“Call Sheriff Jeffries and get him out to the house to make a report,” she said with a sigh.

George snorted. “Bud Jeffries couldn’t find a criminal if one crawled up his pant leg.”

Allison fought against a smile. “We still need to make an official report,” she replied.

“Yeah, I know. On another note, are you going to fire Chad today?”

“You’re the one who told me he needs to go.”

“He does,” George said firmly. “He’s a drunk and he’s become more and more dangerous on the jobs because of his drinking. I don’t want him on my team, and I know Larry feels the same way.”

She nodded. “I called him at eight this morning and told him I wanted to see him in here at ten.”

“Hopefully that will be early enough that he hasn’t started hitting the bottle,” George replied. He stood. “I’ll give the sheriff a call and take care of filing a report.”

“Thanks, George. You know I appreciate you.”

He flashed her a quick smile and then headed out the door.

Every day Allison thanked her lucky stars for her two foremen. George Carlson and Larry Smith had been loyal and good workers for her father, and she was grateful that when the weight of the business had fallen to her, they’d been there to counsel and guide her.

She slumped back in her chair. Anger surged through her as she thought of the vandalism on the job, but she knew the odds of Sheriff Bud Jeffries finding and arresting the culprits were minimal. Not only was Bud one of the laziest men in the entire town of Shadow Creek, he was also good buddies with the Billings brothers.

She’d only been in the office an hour and already she was exhausted. It didn’t help that she was functioning on too little sleep. Thoughts of Knox had kept her tossing and turning all night. Thoughts of Livia somehow discovering she had a grandson hadn’t helped. She had no idea how Livia might use that information, but she knew not to underestimate the wickedness of Livia Colton. Hopefully the woman stayed as far away from Shadow Creek as possible.

There had been a moment the night before when she thought Knox was going to kiss her. What had appalled her was the realization she had wanted him to.

It was as if no time had passed and she was still crazy for him. How many times did Knox Colton get to break her heart before she stopped wanting him?

She’d had no desire to be with a man for the past ten years. She’d been too busy taking care of her father, stepping up to run the business and being a single parent. There had been no time to even think about dating. Besides, she hadn’t wanted to bring any man into Cody’s life who might just be a temporary thing.

It galled her that Knox waltzed into town and within minutes of being around him all of her hormones came to life and raged out of control.

Damn his handsome hide. When he’d asked her if she was interested in “resuming where they’d left off” with him, there had been a small voice in the back of her head that had whispered, Why not?

All she wanted from Knox was for him to be a real and present father to Cody. Other than that, she wanted nothing to do with him. She would admit to herself that she still entertained some desire for him, but that was a place she didn’t intend to go ever again.

Hurt me once, shame on you. Hurt me again, shame on me, she told herself. Knox was strictly off-limits. She’d be an absolute fool to trust even the tiniest piece of her heart to Fort Knox again. They had been star-crossed lovers who’d had their chance together and they’d both blown it.

She straightened as Chad Watkins walked into the shop. As if Knox hadn’t thrown her for a loop, she now had vandalism and the firing of a man to deal with.

Chad Watkins was thirty-five years old, but his drinking had aged him. He threw himself into the chair opposite her, his blue eyes watery and red rimmed and his nose covered in broken blood vessels. The faint smell of whiskey and body odor drifted off him.

“What’s going on?” he asked.

“Chad, I’m sorry, but I’m afraid I’m going to have to let you go,” she replied. No sense in making pleasant small talk with him, she thought.

He stared at her for a long moment. “Let me go? You mean you’re firing me?” He looked at her incredulously. “Why?”

“Your drinking has gotten out of hand and it’s affecting your performance on the job. I’ve had many complaints and I just can’t overlook it any longer. I’d like to encourage you to seek some help.”

“I don’t need any help. I need this job.” He glared at her as if she were personally responsible for all the woes in his life.

“I’m sorry, Chad...”

“You’re going to be sorry about this.” He got up from the chair, his eyes narrowed in anger. “What about severance pay?”

“I’ll give you two weeks,” she replied.

“Two weeks? How about you give me ten thousand dollars?”

Allison stared at him in disbelief. By law she didn’t have to give him a penny. She’d thought she was being generous in offering him the two weeks. “That’s certainly not going to happen,” she replied stiffly.

“I’ll definitely make you sorry for this. I’ll sue you and I’ll own this stupid company. You just wait and see. I’m going to turn your world upside down.”

Before she could say another word, he stormed out of the office and slammed the door so hard the glass walls shuddered. “Well, that went well,” she muttered aloud.

She wasn’t really worried about his threats. She suspected Chad was nothing more than a blowhard who would console himself with a bottle or two of booze and would eventually find another job. At least he didn’t have a wife or a family depending on his paycheck.

The rest of the day passed fairly uneventfully. George checked in with her to let her know a police report had been made on the damaged wood. He agreed with her it was a good idea that any supplies brought to the site in the future would now be stored inside of the house rather than outside. Hopefully that would solve the problem of any further damage.

At three o’clock she left work to head home. One of the advantages of being boss was that she could knock off early and be there for her son when he came home from school.

She hadn’t wanted Cody to be a latchkey kid, and everyone who worked for her knew that she left the office early each afternoon, but was available by cell or home phone if anything important came up.

It took her only ten minutes to get home. When she’d bought the house less than two years ago, it had needed a lot of work to update and make it into the place of her dreams.

She’d left the major updates to her team of men, but she had personally spent hours sanding down the oak woodwork and floors. The end result had been worth all the hard work.

She loved so many things about the house...the bay window in the living room, the large wraparound porch and, most important, the large fenced yard that included several mature trees that were perfect for climbing.

If they had any slow months this summer, she intended to pay the men to build Cody a tree house. She’d thought about having it done last year, but had never accomplished it. One of the trees was perfectly formed to hold such a structure and she knew Cody would love it.

Instead of sitting at the kitchen table to wait for Cody to come home, she moved outside to sit on the porch swing. It was a gorgeous afternoon, but she was grateful for the weight of her sweater against a faint cool March breeze.

She moved the swing back and forth and her head once again filled with thoughts of Knox. The night before she’d ached with his pain as he’d told her about his forced sabbatical because of his mother’s escape from prison.