“He might need a little persuading, but I think it could be done.” Rachel shivered. “It’s too cold for me out here. I’ll call you.”
Stacey watched Rachel race to her car and tried to unhear the words she’d just heard, but it was like trying to unring a bell. What if she and Colton got married? Was it even a possibility? Her heart squeezed tight with a myriad of emotions. She closed her eyes and shook her head. She shouldn’t even think about it.
* * *
The next day, Colton went into town to get some equipment to repair some fences and overheard a couple of workers talking about something happening at the bar.
“So, what’s going on?” he asked.
“Live music at the Two Moon Saloon on Tuesday,” the worker said.
“Really? I can’t remember the last time there was live music at the bar,” Colton mused.
“And I hear there might be dancing,” the worker said. “I’m taking my girlfriend.”
“Hmm,” Colton said. He wondered if Stacey would be able to go on such short notice. On the way home, he called and left a message about the live music and continued on with his chores.
Stacey must have returned his call while he was out fixing a fence. Her mom would keep Piper. She sounded excited. He hoped that whoever was performing didn’t bomb. The smile he heard in Stacey’s voice did strange things to his gut. He felt a little lighter, a little less burdened as he pulled into the driveway to his house. His conversation with his father had kept him awake for an extra hour last night, but Colton knew he wanted to spend time with Stacey and she felt the same way about him. He knew his mother and father shouldn’t be involved in this decision, and if they intervened again, he would have to speak his piece.
Colton stomped up the steps to the house with the winter wind whistling through his coat. He was dog-tired and all he wanted was a home-cooked meal. If that wasn’t available, he would heat some canned soup and make a sandwich.
“Hiya,” Rachel called as he passed the den. She appeared to be doing lesson plans or grading papers.
“How’s it going?” he asked.
“I wish I’d earned my first degree in education. This is so time-consuming,” she said.
“I’m not sure it changes much, sis,” he said. “I never hear teachers talking about how much extra time they have.”
“True, I guess,” she said. “But I like it, so maybe I won’t notice the time.”
He nodded. “I’m gonna get whatever is available in the kitchen.”
“Wait,” she said, scrambling to her feet. “I talked to Stacey at church yesterday,” she said.
“Great,” he said and moved toward the kitchen.
“I also talked to her today. Amazing what I can learn about my brother from his girlfriend,” she said, following him.
He shot her a quelling glance.
“What I mean is I didn’t realize how bad Dad’s back is. Stacey said you’ve offered to take him to Vicker’s Corners to see a doctor, but he won’t do it,” she said.
“That’s right,” he said, opening the fridge and hoping to find something wonderful. He spotted a small bowl of leftover beef stew and snatched it up.
“She also said that you thought Dad would be more likely to go with me to Vicker’s Corners to see a doctor.”
“Right again,” he said. He put the stew in the microwave, then pulled some sliced ham, cheese and bread out of the fridge and went to the counter. “The trouble is you’d have to trick him.”
Rachel frowned. “What do you mean?”
“You would need to make an appointment with him and find some other reason for him to go. You’d take him to lunch, then take him to a doctor’s appointment and beg for forgiveness afterward. He would forgive you within twenty-four hours, less if he got some relief from his back pain.”
Rachel’s frown deepened. “That sounds like a lot of trickery,” she said.
“As if you haven’t done the same ten times over for less honorable reasons,” he returned as he slapped the meat and cheese on the bread and slathered it with Dijon mustard.
“I wish Dad would be more reasonable about medical treatment,” she muttered, crossing her arms over her chest.
“You and me both,” he said, when the microwave beeped. He grabbed his bowl of stew and sandwich. He would worry about water later.
Rachel poured a glass of ice water and sat down at the kitchen table. She put the glass at the place opposite from her. “Well, sit down,” she said, waving her hand. “We have to figure out exactly when and how I’ll do this trickery.”
“Dad is a sucker for his little girl. Just invite him to go to lunch with you, then take him to a doctor afterward,” Colton said.
“Stacey and I didn’t just talk about Dad,” Rachel said.
A bite of sandwich lodged in Colton’s throat. He coughed repeatedly and washed it down with a gulp of water. “Oh, really,” he said in a deliberately noncommittal tone.
“Yes,” Rachel said. “Stacey said the two of you could use some privacy. What do you say about that?”
“Privacy begins at home,” Colton said.
Rachel made a face at him. “I’m trying to help.”
“Then stay out of it,” he said. “There’s a baby involved. I don’t want to be responsible for messing up that child’s life. I’m taking it slow or not at all.”
Chapter Nine
Colton sat across from Stacey in the Two Moon Saloon while a trio played. They might not win any awards, but folks got up to dance every now and then.
“This is fun,” she said as she took a sip of her mixed drink.
Colton had smuggled in some cranberry juice for her to mix with vodka and ice. He’d known the bar wouldn’t keep much juice on hand. If they did, their supply would quickly deplete on a busy night like tonight, with more women asking for mixed drinks instead of beer or straight liquor. It appeared many Horseback Hollow men had viewed the live music at the bar as a good date-night opportunity, so more women took part in drinks with their men.
“I’m glad you like it,” he said, taking a long swallow from his beer.
“You don’t like the group?” she asked.
“I like them fine,” he said. “It’s nice to hear some live music here for a change.”
“I agree,” she said, and the trio began to play a slow song. “Any chance you would dance with me?”
“Sure,” he said, his body tightening at the sexy expression in her eyes.
Colton led her onto the tiny dance floor and pulled her against him. “You feel good,” he whispered into her ear.
“You feel good, too,” she said, and stretched her body so that it molded against his.
Colton couldn’t help wishing they were both naked. Stacey was so sweet and inviting. He couldn’t resist her. With every beat of the song, he felt the gentle friction of her feminine body against his. He grew harder with each touch.
She lifted her head, and it was the most natural thing in the world for him to take her mouth. She slid her sweet, silky tongue in his mouth, and his internal temperature turned hotter and hotter. He couldn’t help