All the way home thick, heavy, yearning tension crackled inside the truck’s cab. When they entered the house, Colt followed Kati down the hall, kissing her neck, murmuring sweet desire into her ear until she was certain she’d ignite at any moment. Once they’d put Evan down for the night, Colt swept her into his arms and carried her to the bedroom.
Slowly, he slid her down his body until she was standing in front of him. Eyes holding hers, he cupped both her shoulders, letting his hands slide sensually down to her fingertips. Kati trembled from the sheer tenderness of his seduction.
“Colt, please,” she breathed, longing to say so much more. The hammering in her chest took on a new dimension. Please touch me. Please love me. Please don’t break my heart.
Only his fingers caressed her, making slow circles on her arms. He wasn’t holding her, wasn’t forcing her. She could step away and out that door if she so desired. But Colt’s liquid brown eyes begged her to stay. And this time she knew she would. Oh, how she wanted to show him her love, to wipe away the memory of any other woman he’d ever known.
“Kati, Kati.” His voice was husky, mesmerizing, longing. “You’re so beautiful.”
A purl of response welled up inside her. He’d called her beautiful again.
“You are, too,” she said shyly, lifting her gaze from his hard, muscled chest.
He chuckled softly. “Men aren’t beautiful.”
“You are.” Of their own accord, her fingers fulfilled the fantasy she’d had only seconds before, trailing to caress the smooth, satin steel of Colt’s chest. At her touch, a quiver ran through him. With a rush of feminine pride that she could make him tremble, Kati splayed her hands across his chest.
A totally male sound, half groan, half growl, escaped Colt. Kati was making it very hard for him to take his time.
Easy, boy, he reminded himself. Take it very slow and easy. You’ve waited this long. Do everything right. Kati’s worth the effort.
He raised his hands to cup her jaw, pulling her by degrees closer to him. She came willingly, increasing his certainty that she wanted this as much as he did. For all her claims of finding him unattractive, he knew better, but he wanted her to admit it. Just as he wanted so much to please her, to take care of her, to remove the haunted look from her gray eyes.
“You have amazing hair.” His lips gently grazed the wisps that had fallen loose around her face. “So gorgeous.”
One by one he pulled the pins out of her carefully upswept French braid. When the glorious hair tumbled down, he combed his fingers through it, setting her scalp atingle. Then he pulled the long, flowing tresses over her shoulders, skimming his fingertips across her breasts in the process.
A tiny gasp escaped Kati’s lips. Odd how so little could feel like so much. How the barest touch of this man’s hand stirred a need deep in her soul.
This man. Only this man had that power. This man who’d admitted jealousy, who’d given her independence, who’d shown his caring in a hundred ways. He cared for her more than she’d ever dreamed possible and tonight it was enough. She loved him, needed him and, regardless of the future, she wanted to have this precious memory with him—only him.
Colt was her husband, after all. Would she ever have another opportunity to be loved this way? Even for a while?
He pulled her to him then, flush with the long thighs and firm belly. His hand skimmed her back. His lips trailed a path along her jaw, down her neck. He murmured soft unintelligible sounds of longing.
Awash in sensation, Kati clung to the hard contours of his body, her head back, eyes closed, welcoming the tender assault of his mouth.
He was beautiful, this husband of hers. Beautiful and tender.
Her husband.The word rattled around inside her mind. She was married to this man with the hot, seeking mouth and hands. Married. All the months of fighting against love and passion had culminated in this one moment. Colt was right. They should enjoy the best part of marriage while they could.
“Colt.” Her legs trembled so much that she was sure they’d give way. “I haven’t done…”
“Shh. I know.” Warm, callused fingers worked magic over her skin. “It’s okay, sweetheart. I won’t hurt you. I’d never hurt you. Trust me.”
The zipper of her dress sounded. Then the damp, thin garment fell away and fluttered to the floor.
Colt scooped her into his arms and gently followed her down on the bed. He lay suspended above her until her eyes opened. A soft smile grazed his lips as he watched the parade of emotions across her lovely face. Uncertainty. Passion.
“You’re so very special, Mrs. Garret.” He was surprised to think that. He was even more surprised that he actually thought of her as Mrs. Garret. She was his wife, the only one he would ever have, and he wanted this moment to matter for her, to be special and wonderful. The thought that had once appalled him now stirred him deeply. Kati was his and his alone.
He nudged her mouth with his. Her lips fell open, welcoming. Forcing his needy body to go slowly, he accepted the invitation to kiss her. She was so sweet. As sweet as the hint of ice cream lingering on her tongue. And the scent of her. Warm, sexy, as fresh and clean as Evan’s baby powder.
Gently, carefully, he stroked her petal-soft skin, drawing sighs and moans from her that nearly drove him wild. Every part of her was so soft. And he wanted her so badly it scared him.
Blood pounded in Kati’s ears. Her body pulsed. Colt Garret, her husband, the man she loved was holding her, loving her. She was a butterfly eager to leave the cocoon and fly free.
When she thought she could bear the sweet agony no longer, Colt’s warm, sensuous mouth pulled away to whisper, “I don’t want to hurt you, Kati. Are you sure?”
Her answer came in an innocent arching of her body and reaching of her arms. Colt took that as a yes.
Kati couldn’t move. Slowly opening her eyes, she discovered why. Colt, his tanned body encased in the tangle of sheets, had flung an arm across her chest and a leg over her thighs. Unwilling to wake him, she lay still. He was wonderful to look at, this man who’d stolen her heart, and she needed time to think.
A dozen emotions ebbed and flowed as she came to grips with what had happened. Colt had been as gentle and giving as a lover could be, though for all the love they’d shared last night, he’d never said the words she so desperately wanted to hear. What had become of her resolve to keep this a marriage in name only? And what would happen between them now?
She’d come here to gain her independence, to secure a future in business. The last thing she’d intended to do was fall in love. Now she’d put herself in the position of being Colt’s…what? His wife? His lover? Nothing could be the same now no matter how much they wanted to keep this marriage a temporary arrangement.
A pair of chocolate eyes drifted open beside her. Colt, naked and emerging from sleep, was a sight to behold. He levered up on one elbow and gazed down at her.
Just one look sent Kati’s heart into an arrhythmia. The heated blush started at her toes and seeped all the way to the top of her head. Colt followed it, smiling gently.
He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Sleep well?”
Sleep? Had they slept at all?
“Mmm,” she answered noncommittally. “Did you?”
He laughed, the pure rich baritone setting her pulses aflutter. “No, I didn’t, but I’m not complaining.” Tilting her chin with one hand, brows knit together in concern, he asked, “You okay?”
“More than okay,” she said honestly.
Expression sweetly earnest, he cupped her face, stroking. “You sure?”
“Truly, Colt. I’m fine.” My body is fine, but I doubt if my heart will ever recover.
“Thank goodness. I thought I might have to let you out of this bed, and I’m not ready to do that.”
She smiled, loving him so much that she longed to lie here in his arms all day, but she’d heard Evan fussing and needed to check on him. “I’d better tend to the baby.”
Reluctantly slipping from beneath the covers, she rummaged around in search of her robe and put it on.
“He’s not crying.” Colt stretched a hand toward her, a sexy quirk lifting his mouth. “Come back to bed.”
Kati teetered indecisively, certain she’d heard the baby fussing. Colt’s heavy-lidded gaze drew her. She went to the door, opened it and listened. Hearing nothing she closed it again.
“I told you he’s okay,” Colt murmured lazily. “I’m the one who’s suffering.”
“You, sir, are a glutton.” Boldly she launched herself at him. He caught her in midair, stripped her giggling form of the robe and rubbed his whiskered cheek against her belly.
A long time passed before they got around to checking on Evan.
Weak-kneed and smiling, Kati made her way toward the baby’s room. Last night and this morning had been like nothing else she’d ever experienced. Colt seemed so attentive, so playful, so…loving. A rosy aura of joy surrounded her.
What did it matter if he’d danced with other women? He’d come home with her. And had spent the night making her feel beautiful and desirable. He’d said they should enjoy each other while they could. So for now she wouldn’t let herself think of their impending divorce.
Humming softly, she pushed open the door of the nursery. No doubt Evan was past ready for breakfast.
He lay on his back, arms flung wide to the sides, knees flopped outward. Kati bent toward him to lovingly stroke the dark hair. Ripples of terror shot through her. Evan’s cheeks glowed red and his breathing came in harsh rasps. Scorching heat emanated from his body.
“Oh, my God.”
Other than a summer cold, he’d never been sick. She lifted him from the crib, horrified when he vomited with violent force and began to shake. He opened glazed eyes and whimpered.
“Colt!” she shrieked, trembling so violently she had difficulty cleaning his face and divesting him of the ruined clothing. “Colt, hurry!”
Panic took over. She couldn’t think what to do. She yanked the shivering baby against her breast and prayed.
After what seemed like forever, Colt rounded the doorway. “Don’t tell me he’s started walking—”
The words died in his throat as he took in the feverish child and Kati’s anxious face. He placed a palm to the baby’s head.
“Hell’s bells, Kati, he’s burning up. Have you taken his temperature?”
At her negative response, he grabbed the ear thermometer from the dresser and handed it to her.
As the reading appeared, Kati began to cry. “Oh, no.”
“One hundred five degrees.” Colt thrust the machine back in its place. “Get dressed. We’ve got to get him to a doctor.”
Evan’s high-pitched wail sent shards of terror and guilt jabbing through the adults. They exchanged frightened glances and shifted into high gear, running toward the bedroom for clothes.
In five minutes flat they were in the truck headed for town. Kati carried a bag of ice cubes and two wet washcloths which she used to bathe Evan’s blazing body.
Halfway to town, he convulsed, his chubby body arching piteously as he struggled against some unknown illness.
The truck had already been flying over the highway, but now Colt coaxed the engine to a faster pace as Kati prayed aloud. She was helpless to do more.
At the hospital’s emergency entrance, Kati barreled out of the door before the truck stopped rolling. With Evan in her arms, she ran into the building.
“Somebody, please,” she screamed. “Help my baby!”
Two nurses came running. One took the baby from her shaking arms and disappeared into an exam room. Unwilling to let Evan out of her sight, Kati followed, her long hair flowing in tangled disarray around her shoulders. She knew how wild and unkempt she must look but didn’t care. All that mattered now was Evan.
As she answered a barrage of questions, Colt appeared at her side and slipped an arm around her waist. She leaned into him, grateful for his strength, afraid that any moment she’d collapse in a babbling heap.
“Where’s the doctor?” Colt sounded angry.
“On his way.” A redheaded nurse whose nametag read Breanna Washburn glanced up from the table where she efficiently bathed Evan’s heated body. “He was on the golf course.”
“What the hell’s he doing out there when this baby is so sick?” The tense muscles in Colt’s arm tightened like steel bands against Kati’s back.
“It’s Sunday, sir.” She came around the table and patted his arm. “Don’t worry. He’ll be here any minute.”
The door swished open, and Dr. Connelson breezed in. “What have we got here?”
“High temp, convulsions, projectile vomiting.” Nurse Washburn listed the symptoms.
After a quick initial exam, the doctor said, “Set up for a spinal tap. Call the pediatric floor and get him a bed, then make sure we have a tech in the lab who can get us a rapid read on this.”
Nurse Washburn hurried away to follow his commands while the other nurse and Dr. Connelson tended to Evan.
“Mr. and Mrs. Garret,” he said, “I think I know what’s wrong with your baby, although we’ll need to do a spinal tap to confirm. With your consent, we’ll do that now, then get him started on an antibiotic IV and send him up to the pediatric unit.”
“He’ll have to stay in the hospital?” Kati’s voice shook with terror. How had Evan come to be so sick so quickly?
“Undoubtedly,” the doctor answered, then noted the look of panic on Kati’s face. “But you can stay with him.”
“What’s wrong with him?” Colt cut in.
“Looks like meningitis.”
“Oh, dear God. Oh, Colt.” Kati went limp with despair, crumbling against Colt’s sturdy side. “Don’t let him die. It’ll be my fault if he dies.”
“Hush, Kati.” Colt wrapped her in a fierce embrace, pressing her face into his heaving chest. “It’s no one’s fault.”
“Your husband’s right, Mrs. Garret.” Dr. Connelson talked as his experienced hands and eyes moved over Evan’s limp body. “Meningitis is an infection that can follow a cold or ear infection. Sometimes it’s caught from another infected child. There’s no way you could have known or prevented it.”
“He was fine last night.” Fear edged Colt’s voice.
“Meningitis happens that way sometimes. But he’s in good hands, and from what you’ve told me, we’ve caught it early. The sooner we start treatment, the better chance he has of making a full recovery.”
The words echoed in Kati’s head like drumbeats. If she’d checked on Evan when she first awakened, she’d have discovered his illness hours ago. Guilt sliced through her like a stiletto. While she and Colt were romping in bed, Evan had been struggling for his life.
Colt paced the floor inside Evan’s hospital room. In the three days and nights since they’d brought him in, neither he nor Kati had left the baby’s side. Each time a nurse gently suggested that one of them go home and sleep, Colt had angrily brushed the idea aside.
How could he sleep when Evan might die? How could he go on living if Evan did die? Natosha Parker, for whatever reason, had entrusted the boy to his care, and he’d let them both down.
Kati sat in a chair beside Evan’s crib, one hand inside the rails holding the IV in his arm. She’d been in that spot almost constantly since the beginning, blaming herself for Evan’s illness. But Colt knew she wasn’t to blame. The fault was his. Kati had wanted to check on the boy, but he had selfishly lured her back into the bed.
He slammed his eyes shut against the shame as his jesting words came back to haunt him. “I’m the one who’s suffering,” he’d said stupidly, foolishly, not knowing how wrong he was.
He scrubbed a hand over his unshaved face.
“Kati.”
Red-rimmed eyes lifted to his. His gut twisted to see her this way. He wanted to go to her, hold her, comfort her, love her, but he didn’t dare. Loving her had gotten them into this mess.
“Take the truck and go home, sweetheart. I promise I’ll sit right there in that chair and hold his arm. I won’t leave his side for a minute.”
Her answer was filled with anguish. “I love him, Colt, as much as if he were really mine.”
He knelt beside her, aching so that he thought his heart would burst. Kati—sweet, sweet Kati—was suffering, too, all because of his self-gratifying lust.
“I know you love him,” he told her gently, stroking her cheek. “No birth mother could have taken any better care of him than you have.”
“I didn’t mean to fall in love with him,” she rambled on, dry-eyed and haunted. “I was so worried about having to leave him, but now I’m afraid he’s going to leave me.”
“Shh. Stop that. Evan is going to make it. He’s tough and strong, thanks to you. He’ll beat this thing.”
“I’m scared.”
“So am I, baby.” He pulled her against him, resting her head on his shoulder. “But the doctors say he’s improving. His fever is down some, and he’s not having those seizures anymore. He’s gonna beat this thing.”
“But what if his little brain is damaged? He’s so smart, Colt.” She clawed at his shoulders. “What if he’s lost that?”
The doctors had warned them about the possible complication, and Colt was as riveted by fear as Kati, though he refused to acknowledge it.
As distraught as Kati was, discussing the possibility would only stress her more. She looked like a frightened, abandoned child, and Colt’s gut wrenched to know she’d probably looked exactly the same during her days in foster care. He ached to comfort her, to take her home and make her world safe and happy again, to give her the security she’d never had and all the love inside him.
There was that word again—love.He turned the idea over in his head, remembering the Garret curse. He had no business thinking of Kati in terms of love. Not with his family history. Garrets inevitably ended up hurting those they professed to care about. He’d always known that, yet, true to form, he’d stepped over the line and let Kati and Evan get too close. And now they were suffering because of him.
Kati needed his strength and he’d give her that, but anything else would only cause her more pain down the road. And he’d already hurt her enough.
Very tenderly he kissed her on the cheek and went back to his place beside the window.
Two more days passed and still Colt and Kati remained at Evan’s side, taking turns sitting next to him while one slept on a narrow cot near his crib. Even at that, they slept only briefly, popping up each time Evan stirred or when a nurse or doctor opened the door.
Kati lay on the cot, staring up at the ceiling, praying that God would let her die instead of allowing Evan to be brain damaged. Though Dr. Connelson had finally assured them that Evan would live, he couldn’t promise that the baby would be himself again. Guilt gnawed away at her. Had the time she’d spent in bed with Colt stolen Evan’s intellect?
Weary and aching with regret, she raised herself up, swinging her legs over the side. Though Jett and Cookie had come daily with changes of clothes for both her and Colt, Kati felt grungy. The quick sponge baths in the tiny bathroom had been all she’d allow herself.
At her movement, Colt glanced her way. “You didn’t sleep very long.”
“Let me go to the bathroom, and I’ll take over so you can rest awhile.”
He’d opened his mouth to protest when the loveliest sound either of them had heard in days came from the crib.
“Da-da-da-da-da-da.”
Kati catapulted across the room. Colt stretched a hand inside the rails where he was met by a pudgy hand slapping playfully at his. A wide, pink-gummed smile greeted the two dumbfounded adults.
“He’s better,” Kati whispered around the lump in her throat.
“He knows us, Kati.” Colt’s voice was filled with wonder. “Look at him. He knows us.”
Evan’s eyes were alive with intelligence. Babbling, he stretched two chubby arms upward. Relief, pure and precious, filled the room.
Taking care not to disturb his IV, Colt hoisted Evan into his arms and turned toward Kati.
“Come here, sweetheart,” he said gruffly. “I need to hold you both.”
With a grateful sob, Kati walked into his arms, the baby they loved between them.