Rising Assets

“You did go to Seattle, and you fixed it.” Quinn tapped his fingers on the wooden table. “Running the entire company is a tough job, and we trust you to do it right. The patents look good, and they’ll probably end up making us a lot of money.”

  Dawn reached over and patted his hand. “Everyone makes mistakes. It’s okay, Colton.”

  Emotion welled through him so quickly he nearly swayed.

  “In other words, chill out and give yourself a break,” Jake said, leaning back to glance into the kitchen. “Now, could we call the meeting over so I can go prevent my wife from buying out the entire furniture store online?”

  Colton swallowed. They trusted him. Shit. They believed in him. “The meeting is adjourned.”

  As he glanced around at people who’d support him no matter what, he was struck with how lucky he was. He wanted to share that…with Melanie.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Melanie breathed in the chilly night air as she left Jake’s house, wondering how she’d been so easily outmaneuvered. “Now wait a minute.” She paused by the door of her truck to face Colton. “Why do you need a ride home?”

  “I rode in with Quinn and Juliet.” Colton yanked the passenger door open and slid inside.

  “Why couldn’t they give you a ride home?” Melanie grumbled as she climbed into her truck.

  “They’re all kissy-kissy.” Colton shut the door. “You look tired. Want me to drive?”

  “Sorry, control freak. Enjoy the passenger side.” Melanie ignited the engine and decided to enjoy the ride.

  “I am not a control freak. I just like to drive.”

  “Huh.” The guy didn’t like the wheel in anybody else’s hands. Melanie hit a pothole at the end of Jake’s drive.

  “You did that on purpose,” Colton muttered.

  “Prove it.” Yeah, she’d nailed that one.

  “Did you have fun tonight?” Colt asked.

  “Yes.” She felt right at home with the Lodge-Freeze family and had truly enjoyed playing with both Nathan and Leila. God, she wanted kids. So badly. “How did the board meeting go?”

  “Fine. They didn’t call for my head—yet anyway.”

  “They are a patient group.” For some reason, needling Colton had become a good goal since he’d been so serious all night. “There’s plenty of time. It’s not like you use your head much.”

  He chuckled. “Any reason you’re tempting me to toss your ass over my knee again?”

  Heat zinged through her body to land between her legs. “Threaten me again, and you’ll walk home, Freeze.” Her voice remained level, and triumph filled her.

  They came upon the ridge overlooking Mineral Lake, and Colton pointed to the overhang, which stood to the side and could see over most of the nearest valley. “Pull over for a sec. I can see the Angus from here.”

  Melanie pulled over.

  Colton grinned before twisting the ignition and taking the keys.

  “Hey.” Silence surrounded them, and Melanie turned toward him. “Give me the keys.”

  “You ever park here?” Colt asked, his voice soft, his eyes glowing in the moonlight.

  The sexy tone licked over her skin. “No. Give me the keys.” This time, her voice wavered.

  “Come and get them.” He slipped them into his front pocket.

  Images of what lay just behind that pocket filled her mind and heated her body. “You’re a little too old for that game,” she breathed.

  “Ah, baby. You’re never too old for that game.” He reached down and unbuckled her belt. “You’ve been pushing me all night. Why don’t you just get it out of your system?”

  “Meaning, what?”

  “You’re mad at my reaction to your calling Dawn, and I get that. But I apologized, so let’s get past it.”

  She drew in a deep breath. “You think you’re so charming that an apology can get you past anything, don’t you?” He had a right to think that, considering his charm had always worked. Plus, he usually meant his words, so his apologies were sincere.

  “If words aren’t enough, what do you want?” He caressed down her arm to her thigh, and her muscle bunched beneath his firm grasp.

  She swallowed. “Nothing. Words are fine.”

  He leaned closer, his hand sliding to her knee, his breath heating her ear. “I don’t think so. What else could I possibly do to make you forgive me?”

  Her entire body shuddered as she tried to retain control and not rip his clothes off.

  “Seduction is a waste of time.” She hoped the words emerged logically.

  He chuckled, and the sound vibrated straight to her clit. “We both know you just meant to challenge me.”

  She had no clue what she’d meant to do, since her mind had pretty much shut down. Her body trembled with a need so great it astounded her. The man had barely touched her. “No challenge intended.”

  He caressed up her thigh to press against the apex of her legs. “Open for me, baby.”

  She grabbed the steering wheel with both hands, the stars blurring high in the sky. “We’re in the truck.”

  “I know.” He nipped her ear, and she stopped breathing.

  Then she slid her knees farther apart.

  “Good girl,” he breathed, quickly unzipping her jeans and slipping one finger beneath her panties. “So, about our game.”

  She blinked again, biting her lip to keep from gyrating against his hand. “G-game?”

  “Yeah.” He licked along the shell of her ear. “The game is called two minutes—over and under.”

  She shut her eyes and tried to concentrate while the world narrowed to his talented fingers. “I don’t know that game.” Her words came out in a breathless rush, and she couldn’t help rolling her hips.

  “It’s easy. When I say go, I either make you come within two minutes, or I don’t. Feel free to fight it.” He tugged on her clit for emphasis. “If I win, I choose where we stay the night, and you forgive me. If you win, you can continue being irritated and spend the night by yourself.”

  Two minutes? She could make it a measly two minutes. “And…I get Feisty’s next colt.” Feisty was Colt’s favored thoroughbred champion, and she should be foaling within the next year.

  Colton chuckled. “Fair enough. But if the stakes are that high, you have to keep your hands on the steering wheel and your legs open. You change either of those, and you lose.”

  “Fine.” Drawing on any dignity and pride she could find, she settled her mind to think about taxes next year.

  “Are you ready?” he asked, licking down her neck.

  God, no. Her skin tingled where he roamed. “Give it your best shot, Freeze.” Taxes. Numbers. Shoes. Bunions. What the hell was a bunion, anyway?

  “Go,” he whispered. Then he released her and leaned back.

  Her eyelids shot open. “What—”

  “Keep your hands on the wheel.” He pushed a button on his watch, and then expertly slipped open her blouse buttons. “You. Can’t. Move.”

  Desire ran with heated claws through her abdomen. She could do this. Two minutes. Only two minutes.

  He flicked open the front clasp of her bra.

  Crap. She should’ve worn a different bra. A sports bra, even. Wetness coated her thigh, and she fought to keep from rubbing her legs together.

  His rough hand palmed one breast, and she bit back a harsh moan.

  He reached across her and pulled a lever, sliding the seat back about ten inches.

  “No, you—”

  He smiled and leaned in to enclose one nipple. “Be quiet, Mel, and hold on to the wheel.”

  Her knuckles ached as she tightened her hold.

  He bit down enough to have her crying out. Electrical shocks cascaded from her nipple to her sex. “God.” Her head fell back on the headrest.

  Wet and rough, his tongue bathed her smarting flesh. “I love how you respond,” he murmured. “Have you ever been tied up?”

  A spiraling started deep in her sex, and she fought to concentrate, to hold bac
k the impending orgasm. “No, and it’s not going to happen,” she panted.

  The heel of his palm pressed down on her clit at the same time as he inched two fingers inside her. “I think it will happen,” he said, crisscrossing his fingers and zeroing in on her G-spot.

  Oh God, Oh God, Oh God. A rushing sound filled her ears, and her body began to gyrate against her will.

  He levered up and kissed her, hard and deep. She lost herself in his mouth, in his determination, in the very maleness that was Colton.

  She could do this. Kiss him and not come. Except he had two hands.

  Without warning, his tongue swept her mouth just as he pushed down on her clit, his free hand tweaking her nipple.

  Hard.

  She exploded from the inside out, white flashes zipping behind her eyelids. Waves of intense pleasure ripped through her, breasts to toes, undulating her abdomen, making her cry out into his mouth.

  His magical fingers prolonged her orgasm, forcing her to ride the waves until her entire body went lax. She flopped back against the leather as he removed his hands and refastened her bra and shirt.

  Finally, panting, she opened one eye. “Time?”

  Arrogance, amusement, and an alarming gentleness curved his smile as he glanced at his watch. “Eighty-two seconds. I guess you’re mine for the entire night.”

  Her stomach clenched, and her breasts, already at attention, yipped a yahoo. God. How in the world was she going to survive an entire night with Colton Freeze?

  …

  Colton nudged his cabin door open, wondering idly if he should carry Melanie inside. Were his brothers right? Was this actually love? The idea was starting to seem plausible and not so alarming.

  Melanie stepped inside and grinned. “Colton Freeze, folks. The most organized, well-planned financial genius in town…and complete slob.”

  He shut the door and grinned. “I’m not a slob.” Then he glanced around at his boots by the door, shirts on the couch, and dry groceries he’d failed to put away still sitting on the table. “Maybe?”

  She laughed and began folding clean shirts. “You’re not dirty, just messy.”

  “Oh baby, I can be dirty.” He wiggled his eyebrows in a way guaranteed to make her laugh harder.

  She wiped her eyes. “I love the sound of the stream out back.”

  “Me too.” He liked living to the west of everyone. The one bedroom cabin had one bathroom and a main living space that consisted of a living room, eating nook, and kitchen. A massive stone fireplace took up one wall, and windows another. The stream outside was a constant flow.

  Wind rattled pine needles against the window.

  He took the shirts from her and tossed them on a chair. “Have you noticed we haven’t made love in a bed yet?”

  Pink slid across her face, and he watched, fascinated.

  His phone buzzed, and only the need to find out about Hawk could pull Colt’s attention from Melanie. “Freeze.”

  “Colt? It’s Dad. Hawk has slipped into a coma.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Melanie left the hospital and drew her coat closer together as the wind tried to chill her bones. When would spring begin to show up? Worry cascaded even more coldness through her.

  How could Hawk be in a coma? She’d spent the morning talking to him and trying to get him to awaken, but he hadn’t moved. Colton was working on the ranch but would head to the hospital as soon as possible.

  Hawk needed to awaken.

  She slipped into her truck and drove back to Mineral Lake, stopping in front of Kurt’s Koffees to return her shirt. She’d quit her other two town jobs the other day and didn’t miss them a bit.

  After giving Kurt a hug, she loped next door to the new deli where Dawn already sat in a booth, sipping a soda.

  “Hi.” Melanie dropped onto the bench, her entire body aching.

  “Hi.” Dark circles accentuated the hollows beneath Dawn’s bloodshot eyes. She’d pulled her dark hair up in a clip and wore jeans with a sweater. “I ordered turkey sandwiches for us both. How was the hospital?”

  “He’s the same.” Melanie signaled for a soda. “Did you stay at the hospital all night?”

  “I read a romance novel to him.” Dawn’s smile barely lifted her lips. “I figured he’d wake up and protest.”

  Melanie nodded. “That should’ve done it.”

  The bell over the door jingled, and Mrs. Joskly, the town librarian for as long as anyone could remember, bustled inside with a hulking blond giant.

  “Oh, good. I thought I saw you come in, Melanie. This is my grandson, George, visiting from Boise.” Mrs. Joskly straightened her peacoat.

  “Ma’am,” George said, his deep voice matching his beefy body. Green eyes sparkled out of his round face, giving him the look of the Jolly Green Giant. He gingerly slipped his arm out of Mrs. Joskly’s grasp. “I’ll go order sandwiches, Naney.”

  Mrs. Joskly waited until he’d lumbered toward the counter before speaking. “I was hoping you’d show Georgie around town, Melanie.”

  Melanie glanced toward George’s broad back. “He looks about seventeen, Mrs. Joskly.”

  “Oh no, dear. Georgie is eighteen and perfectly legal. Come on.” Mrs. Joskly winked a cataract-laden eye. “We all like to play the cougar once in a while, now don’t we?”

  Dawn coughed into her water glass.

  Melanie tried to keep from wincing. “How long will Georgie be in town, ma’am?”

  “Just until next Tuesday,” Mrs. Joskly said cheerfully, clapping her mittens together. “Then you’ll have to say good-bye forever.”

  Dawn cleared her throat. “Is Tuesday the day you have for the town pool, Mrs. Joskly?”

  “Of course not.” The librarian gave her patented hard stare down her nose. “I have the following week. I certainly don’t expect a good girl like Melanie to date George on Tuesday and declare her love on Wednesday for Colton. That should take a least a week.”

  Melanie leaned back when the waitress delivered their sandwiches. “I appreciate the offer, but I’m busy with work. Plus, I’m sure Georgie would have more fun hanging out with kids his own age.”

  Mrs. Joskly sighed heavily. “Well, I suppose so. But keep two weeks from Thursday in mind, would you?”

  “Of course.” Melanie smiled weakly and reached for her sandwich.

  Dawn waited until Mrs. Joskly had joined her grandson across the deli. “This bet is getting odd, right?”

  “Very. Any idea who the bet taker is?” Melanie asked.

  Dawn frowned. “I really don’t know, but I’ve been out of town at school, so that’s not surprising.” She took a bite of sandwich and chewed thoughtfully for a moment. “Did you ask me to lunch to talk or to talk?”

  “I asked you to lunch to chat and not about Hawk, not about Colton, and certainly not about love.” Melanie sipped her soda.

  “Perfect.” Dawn sighed, relief crossing her classic features. “I don’t have the energy for a real heart-to-heart.”

  “Me either. So tell me about your classes.” Melanie snagged a chip from her plate.

  They finished their lunches, and right about as Melanie finished her chips, a twinge from the ride side of her abdomen caught her attention. She sat back and took a deep breath. Another twinge. Damn it.

  “Excuse me,” she said to Dawn and then slipped from the booth, heading toward the restroom. A quick glance in the one stall confirmed another shattered dream.

  She’d started her period.

  Her mind swam, and traitorous tears pricked the back of her eyes. Sure, it was foolish. But she’d believed, deep down, since Colton wanted to get her pregnant, that it’d work.

  Hurt washed through her along with the rest of her hope.

  A five percent chance was no chance at all, especially since that five percent might now be gone.

  Her mind clicked to moments of Colton holding little Nathan, of him taking Leila on a date. The man loved kids and certainly wanted his own. Why wouldn’t he? The F
reeze genes were pretty damn good.

  Logically, she knew this wasn’t her fault. But deep down, in a place she hated to visit, shame lived. She couldn’t have kids. She’d never feel the beginning of a life, of being kicked in the tummy, of sharing a body.

  That awareness brought physical pain.

  She knew Colton as well as she knew herself. He’d stick with her, no matter what, especially if she needed him. But what about his dreams? Plus, it wasn’t like he’d declared any love.

  They had friendship, they had trust. Hell, maybe he did love her. The kind of love that came from childhood, that came from genuine friendship.

  If it had been the happily-ever-after forever kind, he would’ve said so.

  Sometimes silence hurt worse than the most hateful of words.

  She took a deep breath and left the restroom, already planning her future alone.

  Dawn glanced up. “Are you okay? You’re pale.”

  “I’m fine.” Melanie placed bills on the table. “Just a little headache. Let’s get back to the hospital and force Hawk to wake up.” Then she’d plan her life alone.

  …

  Colton stood outside Hawk’s hospital room, trying to keep from punching the doctor in the face. “What do you mean, his vitals are slowing?”

  The doctor sighed. “The brain is a mystery, and the longer he’s in a coma, the less likely he’ll awaken. We’d like to helicopter him to Seattle.”

  “When he wakes up, he’ll want to be home.” Reality began to spin away.

  The doctor nodded. “I understand. But I also think you should prepare yourself for the possibility that he’s not waking up.”

  “No.” Colton pivoted on his heel and went into the room to drop into a chair. The quiet silence was filled with the scents of bleach and plastic.

  He stretched back in the plastic hospital chair, his gaze on his buddy. The person he’d always told everything to, the person who had his back no matter what.

  Hawk lay in the bed, not moving. Although his skin showed his Native American heritage, he looked pale. Wounded. Hurting.

  Colton glanced down at his muddied jeans. Mud, snow, and blood.

  Despair hunched his shoulders. Life was out of control, and he hated it. The idea of losing Hawk burned like acid in his gut. He had to fix everything somehow. “I’m not leaving this seat until you fucking wake up,” he whispered to his silent friend.