Colton Family Showdown Read online

  A new reality in which she’d just made love with her boss.

  “You okay?” he asked when he returned from disposing of the condom.

  She shivered at the stunning view of him, his body golden in the light of the fire.

  “Cold?”

  With the fire at her back and Fox at her front? Not a chance. “I’m perfectly content.” She traced the slope of his shoulder as he stretched out beside her.

  “Makes two of us.”

  His languid touches at her waist, her hip, her hair, kept her just awake enough to want more. If only she had the guts to ask, or the skills to flirt and tempt him into round two. She hadn’t come into this a virgin, but her experience with sex was limited. She didn’t want to be clingy, but she wasn’t ready to retreat to her bedroom.

  “Kelsey?”

  “Hmm?” Her eyelids had drifted closed as she rested her cheek against his shoulder.

  “Will you sleep with me tonight?”

  That roused her. She pushed up onto an elbow to be sure she’d heard him. “Here?”

  “I’d prefer my bed,” he said, lips tilted in a smile.

  Her heart dropped, then skipped right back up into place. It seemed like a big step, but was it really any bigger than making love in front of the fire?

  He twirled a lock of her hair around his finger. “Is that too much too fast?”

  “I think it’s just right.” She leaned in to kiss him, her body stirring.

  In the next instant, she was in his arms and he was carrying her down the hallway. She didn’t even care that they’d left clothing scattered in front of the fireplace.

  * * *

  Fox woke to an empty bed, the soft patter of rain on the roof and the sweet scent of Kelsey lingering on his pillow. He breathed it in, smiling as he heard her and the baby through the monitor on the nightstand.

  He wasn’t sure what he’d done to bring a woman as amazing as Kelsey into his life, but he was grateful. Well, he supposed science had brought her to him, with his reputation as a quarter horse breeder. He nearly laughed, imagining what Wyatt would say about his brain being the magnet. Eager to see her and the baby, he hustled through a fast shower and then tugged on clothes for chores.

  Not even the fact that they needed to talk to Mason today could knock him off the high of being with Kelsey last night. Twice.

  He found her in the kitchen, feeding Baby John cereal. Her hair was damp and already twisted into the familiar bun at the nape of her neck. She wore loose cotton pants printed with sugar skulls and roses and a moss-green top that did amazing things for her eyes. Here was the balance he’d been searching for all his life and he hadn’t even known it. A woman who appreciated his focus, could discuss horse traits for hours, and who beautifully dealt with both the mundane and the unexpected.

  Happier than he could ever remember feeling, he kissed the baby on the head as he walked by.

  “Good morning,” she said, spooning another bite into John’s open mouth.

  “It is.” He tipped up her chin and lingered over her lips. Her eyes were dazed when he pulled back. “It definitely is.”

  He poured coffee for himself, refilled her mug, as well. “We should go see Mason today,” he said. “I’d like you and the baby to come along.”

  She drew the cereal and spoon out of the baby’s reach as she studied him. “You’re sure?”

  “Absolutely.” He didn’t want to go anywhere without her anymore. Maybe it was too much, too fast, but he’d take that chance. She wasn’t just a nanny or his assistant, she was the woman he wanted beside him through whatever came next. “If you’d rather avoid a scene, I understand.”

  “You’d take the baby on your own?”

  “If necessary.”

  An expression he couldn’t decipher clouded her hazel eyes before she gave Baby John her full attention. “We’ll be ready when you are.”

  “Thanks.” His spirits soaring, Fox went out to the barn, whistling through the routine work.

  When the chores were done and he and Kelsey had finished breakfast, Fox called the sales office and learned Mason was working from home. It was a courtesy extended by the Colton Empire due to the Gilford family troubles with the murder of his sister, Sabrina, and the recent crimes committed by his wife.

  Fox had never visited his cousin’s custom home nestled in an upscale suburban neighborhood. As they drove along the wide, tree-lined streets, he appreciated the simplicity of his ranch and the wide-open spaces.

  At Mason’s house, Fox carried the baby in his seat up to the door and shoved the unclaimed newspapers aside so Kelsey wouldn’t trip. He already knew the other man was going through hell, but the shabby state of the house and overgrown lawn told the story. Ringing the doorbell, Fox prayed for the right words. Maybe having a child, an adorable little boy to care for, would pull Mason out of the sorrow and darkness and shine a light in his life again.

  The man who answered the door dashed Fox’s hopes. Normally perfectly groomed, today Mason’s blue eyes were red-rimmed from too much alcohol or not enough sleep. His jet-black hair stuck out in clumps and he needed a shave. Despite his scruffy appearance, Fox could see something in the shape of his eyes and cheekbones that were clearly echoed in Baby John’s face.

  “Hey, Mason,” Fox said with gentle cheer. “This is Kelsey, my new assistant. She and I need to speak with you for a minute.”

  Mason leaned on the partially open door, not inviting them in. “Why? I’m not in the market for a new horse.”

  “We found something else you might be interested in.”

  Mason’s gaze sharpened. “Did you find a lead on Sabrina’s killer?”

  Another rain shower started and there was a bite in the wind. Kelsey shivered. “Could we come in for just a minute?”

  “Yeah, sure.” He stepped aside, opening the door wider. “Place is a mess.”

  “We won’t stay long,” Fox said. The soaring foyer felt stuffy and in the front room the air was heavy with sweat and booze and what might have been stale pizza. Fox wondered what they were exposing the baby to. With the blinds closed and curtains drawn the only light came from the television, tuned to a twenty-four hour news network.

  Fox couldn’t help judging his cousin. He’d been hollowed out, gutted, when his parents died but he hadn’t been old enough to indulge in the self-pity and wallowing going on here. Maybe he’d hire a cleaning crew for Mason as a gift. Breathing carefully, he decided to make this quick as he and Kelsey found seats.

  “So talk.” Mason turned on a lamp and muted the television. His eyes raked Kelsey head to toe and his eyebrows arched at the sight of the baby in the carrier. “You knocked up your assistant?”

  “I haven’t,” Fox said through gritted teeth.

  The vow he’d made years ago not to get too deep in a relationship for fear of becoming a partner or father seemed pointless now, his first rule of his personal life shattered under the weight of new evidence. Although being Russ’s biological son was a relief, he had to consider the impact of being a victim in Harrison’s household.

  Kelsey’s encouragement last night was helping him put things into perspective, but speedy adjustments weren’t his strength. Fox cleared his throat. This wasn’t about him and Kelsey, it was about Mason having a kid and stepping up.

  Kelsey balanced the baby carrier on her lap as if she was afraid to set it down on this floor. He didn’t blame her. “Luckily for both of us, Kelsey has experience in child care, too.”

  “What are you talking about?” Mason snapped.

  Fox pointed at Baby John. “That’s your son.”

  “Not a chance. Elaine went off the deep end because we couldn’t have kids.”

  “Let me assure you, the fertility trouble was on her side. This little boy was left on my porch, but the DNA points to you.”

  “Not a
chance,” Mason repeated.

  Fox ignored the denial. “Let’s start with why his mother or whoever left him on my porch.”

  “Probably because he’s yours.” Mason stalked to the kitchen and returned with a beer.

  Fox rolled his eyes. It wasn’t even noon. “We ran the DNA. He isn’t my child, Mason. He’s yours.”

  Mason stared at the baby for a long, disbelieving minute. “That can’t be my kid.” He set down the beer and pushed his hands against the air, as if he could nudge the three of them out of his door. “I can’t have a kid.”

  “But you do,” Fox insisted. “Do you have any idea who the mother could be?” he pressed.

  “How the hell do I know who you sleep with?” At Mason’s outburst the baby started to cry, and Kelsey rocked the carrier from side to side. “Sorry,” he said, quieter. “Kids were Elaine’s obsession.”

  Despite the grief, Fox couldn’t allow Mason to wriggle off the hook. “Why would the mother of your child leave him at my door?”

  Mason’s hand fisted and Fox braced for the blow. Something must have shown in his eyes because Mason backed down instantly. He slumped on the edge of the nearest chair. “I don’t care what your results say. I can’t take care of a kid.”

  Fox waited him out. It was common knowledge that Mason and Elaine had been having trouble and Mason’s reputation with women before his marriage hadn’t changed much after the wedding.

  “Ah, hell, Fox.” Mason scrubbed at his face with both hands. “I guess it could be mine. Once in a while I used your name when I traveled.”

  Incredulous, he glanced at Kelsey. “What?”

  “As an alias,” Mason confirmed. “I’m married. I couldn’t use my name when I picked up women during business trips.”

  Fury blasted through him like a summer storm, hot and electric. He could spit nails. “You used my name to cheat on your wife?”

  He had the grace to look ashamed. “The mother must have done her homework and found your address.”

  If she’d done her homework online, wouldn’t she have noticed Fox Colton didn’t resemble his cousin? “This is your son.” The DNA had been enough for him, but Mason’s admission sealed it. “Who is the mother?”

  “How should I know?” Mason flopped back in the chair, hands covering his face. When he sat up again, his cheeks were damp.

  Fox was out of sympathy. He and Kelsey had been giving the baby every ounce of care and compassion and love they had and Mason just kept feeling sorry for himself.

  Unlike his father—the father he’d thought had sired him—Fox had never struck another person. Scraps and squabbles with his brothers didn’t count. However, at the moment, he wanted to haul Mason out of the chair, shake him until his head rolled and dump him in a cold shower until the man came to his senses. “You’ll step up and be a dad,” he ordered. “You’ll do the right thing here.”

  “I can’t,” Mason protested. “Fox, look at me. I can’t. I never even wanted kids. Take him back to his mom.”

  If only it could be that simple. “Based on his appearance at my door, it seems his mother thought you should have him,” Fox pointed out.

  “On paper I’m sure Fox Colton is pretty appealing,” Mason sneered.

  Fuming, he didn’t trust himself to speak.

  “Who do you think is the mother?” Kelsey’s question hung heavy in the stuffy air.

  “I don’t know!” Mason shouted, setting the baby off again. “Damn it.” He shoved out of the chair and pulled his wallet from his pocket. “I used the same escort agency most of the time.” He flipped through a stack of cards until he found what he was after. “Here.”

  Fox reluctantly took the offered business card.

  “You want to find her so bad, start there.”

  “Do you have a name?” Fox demanded.

  “There were a few.” He stared at the baby. “How old is it?”

  “Not it. He,” Fox said. “Your son is around six months old.”

  Mason swore, squinting as though thinking about the timeline gave him a headache. “Candace. She and I had a good time until...”

  “Until?” Fox prompted.

  “Until the agency told me she wasn’t available anymore. She stopped answering my direct texts.” He flung a hand at Baby John. “Apparently because she was pregnant. The timing fits. How could she even know it was mine?”

  “I’ll ask her when we find her,” Fox promised. “What do you want to do?”

  “About what?” Mason appeared baffled. “You have everything under control. Why upset a good thing?”

  “You have rights as the father.”

  “I never asked to be!” his cousin roared.

  The baby burst into tears, and Kelsey stood up. “We’ll wait in the truck,” she said, hurrying out of the house.

  “You need to pull yourself together,” Fox said when they were alone. “I know grief is hell. You’re not the only person to suffer. You have people who would like to help you, people who need you. Including your son.”

  “Stop saying that. I can’t be a father. Do whatever you think is best, Fox. Just get out.”

  “In a minute.” Fox quizzed Mason on his travels over the past year and where he most frequently met Candace.

  Walking out, he drew the rain-washed air deep into his lungs. The rain had subsided, and Kelsey was walking under the shade of a big maple tree in full autumn color, the baby quiet in her arms. She was playing peekaboo with a bright orange leaf, making John giggle.

  Joining her, he wrapped his arms around both of them, holding on until the frustration and anger finally melted away.

  “You’re so good with him,” he whispered against her hair. “Thank you.”

  She leaned into him. “Please tell me you didn’t convince him to take the baby.”

  “No.” Fox was exhausted in heart and spirit. “He’s not in a good place. Come on.” He wanted to get as far as possible from Mason and his overwhelming sorrow.

  “What now? Will you tell the sheriff you found Baby John’s father?” Kelsey asked as they drove away from Mason’s house.

  “I’d rather try and find the mother first if you’re up for it.”

  “We’re game.” She twisted in her seat, settling the pacifier in the baby’s mouth. “Aren’t we, little guy?”

  Fox didn’t have the courage to ask if she was stunned, appalled or smothering laughter at the mess that was this chapter of his life. No, Kelsey wouldn’t laugh at him. She was too compassionate for that. They drove back to the ranch in silence.

  “You must be ready to bolt.” He took her hand, tried not to hold on too tightly. “I haven’t forgotten the real reason you’re here.”

  “Don’t worry about it.” She leaned across the seat and kissed him softly. “Let’s go in and you can tell me how to help locate the baby’s mother.”

  “It’s going to take some web searching and probably a few awkward phone calls,” he said.

  “Then let’s get started.”

  She sounded eager. Because she wanted to be done with the nanny gig...or because she enjoyed solving puzzles as much as he did?

  He carried the baby as they went into the office, feeling more like a part of a family than he should. She didn’t seem to want children any more than he did. So why did it feel like finding Baby John’s rightful family would rip out a piece of his heart?

  Chapter 10

  Kelsey thought she and Fox were being remarkably productive considering their splintered focus. Between the analyses of last year’s losses and tending to the broodmares, the ranch and the baby, she and Fox had tracked down Candace in only two days.

  More remarkable, the woman agreed to meet with them today at her apartment this side of Denver.

  Fox was obviously nervous. Who could blame him? With every layer they peeled back on the mystery of
Baby John Doe, another skeleton fell out of his closet. Hopefully today would answer the last of his questions and he’d have enough information to present a plan, with parental consent, to the sheriff.

  “Can we stop for groceries on the way back?” she asked as they left the ranch behind. “We’re running low on formula and I’d like to pick up some ingredients for cookies.”

  “What kind of cookies?” There was a boyish tilt to his lips when he glanced her way.

  “Whichever is your favorite,” she said. He needed something fun and normal to chase away the heavy stuff. She wanted to do something nice for him, something that didn’t have strings or secrets attached.

  “Chocolate chip is a classic,” he said. “I love those.”

  “But...” she said, hearing a hesitation in his voice.

  “Oatmeal raisin cookies are the best.”

  “How so?”

  “It’s a treat that’s practically health food.”

  She laughed, helpless against such an outrageous claim. “Lucky you, I make an excellent oatmeal raisin cookie.”

  “Hmm.” He arched a brow. “I look forward to being the judge of that.”

  Unlike the day of their visit to Mason, today was clear and unseasonably warm. They cracked the windows to enjoy the fresh air on the drive out of the Roaring Springs valley, through terrain flanked by rugged mountains.

  “This is it,” Fox said, following the last instructions from his navigation app on his phone. He parked in a space marked for visitors and stared up at the three-story apartment building.

  “Looks nice,” Kelsey said. She didn’t know what she’d expected, but it hadn’t been something this normal and middle-class.

  “I guess business is good,” Fox muttered.

  “You thought it would be a sketchy neighborhood?”

  “I did,” he admitted. “If she can afford a nice place, why not hire a sitter? Or find a new career?”