Rising Assets

  Finally, Jake and Sophie exited the mysterious land of pregnant women.

  Colton stood and schooled his face into calm lines. “Well?”

  Sophie smiled, weariness in every line of her body. “I’m okay.”

  His butt hit the chair. Thank God.

  She touched his shoulder. “Deep breaths, Colton.”

  He chuckled and stood to hug her. “That’s excellent advice.” Then for good measure, he hugged his older brother. “We’re sure?”

  “Yes.” Jake clapped him on the back, black eyes still worried. His power tie was askew, and he’d removed his suit jacket. “They can’t explain the twinge. I guess a lot of weird stuff happens in pregnancy, but the spotting is normal. We had an ultrasound, and the baby appears healthy—although the doctor has ordered bed rest for Soph the second we get home.”

  Sophie leaned in. “It’s another boy.”

  He knew it. Colton smiled as his shoulders dropped from up around his ears. “I figured.”

  “At least we can use Nathan’s clothes again.” Sophie pressed her hands together. “Now I need to get back to work on the sketches for the sports complex we’re building across town.”

  “No,” Jake and Colton said in unison.

  Sophie’s eyebrow rose. “Huh?”

  “Home to bed. The doctor said bed rest.” Jake shoved a hand through his thick black hair.

  Sophie nodded, still way too pale. “I know, but I can sketch from bed.”

  Jake nodded. “I guess that makes sense, so long as you sleep a lot, too. We’ll need to figure out what to do with your car.”

  “I had somebody from the ranch go get it,” Colton said.

  “Thanks,” Jake said, his gaze intense.

  “No problem.”

  Jake stepped closer to him. “No, I mean thanks. Really.”

  Colton nodded, his throat closing.

  A nurse in pink scrubs bustled out from behind the receptionist with a purple box in her hands. “Mrs. Lodge? These are the new prenatal vitamins we’re recommending and giving to all our pregnant patients. Run them by Doc Mooncaller when you see him, but they have a better balance of the calcium and iron, and we really like them.”

  Sophie took the box with a big smile. “Thanks.”

  Colton escorted them outside and to Jake’s truck. “I need to go close down the office but will head home afterward. Call me if you need anything.”

  They drove off, and Colton stood for a moment, letting the cool breeze calm him. Across the street sat a bar, and he really wanted a drink. But he probably wouldn’t stop at one, and the last thing he needed was Quinn arresting him for a DUI once he’d driven back to town. So, with a shrug, he headed for the empty ice cream store next to the bar. It was probably too cold to eat ice cream.

  He greatly enjoyed his double scoop of mint chocolate chip and was almost calm by the time he’d finished the cone. Buying a small vanilla cone in case Tyler still played at the office, he turned toward the door.

  Right in time to see Melanie exit the gynecologist’s office—with a big purple box of prenatal vitamins in her hands.

  He faltered and dropped the vanilla ice cream on the floor.

  Chapter Six

  Melanie tucked the box of prenatal vitamins in her purse and ducked her head against the wind as she headed toward the jewelry store to return Loni’s brooch. She texted Brian to meet her at the store, hoping they could grab a latte.

  She returned the brooch and turned around to run straight into Brian’s mother. Ug. “Hello, Mrs. Milton.”

  Mrs. Milton slid her designer sunglasses off her Botoxed face. “Melanie.” She glanced around the store. “Looking for rings, are we?”

  Melanie forced her smile to remain in place. “No. Are you?”

  “Of course not. A lady doesn’t buy herself rings, dear.” Condescension dripped from the woman’s tone as she glanced down at Melanie’s jeans and boots, which were an obvious contrast to Mrs. Milton’s designer knit suit. “I’ve been meaning to have a talk with you, anyway.”

  Well, that was just great. “About?” Melanie asked, eyeing the door.

  Mrs. Milton leaned in. “About your obvious attempts to secure child support for the next eighteen years.”

  Melanie took a deep breath. “Excuse me?”

  “Brian told me about your medical condition, and I have to say, nice try.” Mrs. Milton clucked her tongue. “You wouldn’t be the first to try to enter my family in such a way, but your manipulations aren’t going to work.”

  Apparently the gloves were off. Melanie leaned down toward the shorter woman. “I believe that’s how you became a Milton, right? Knocked up with Brian’s older brother?”

  Red suffused the woman’s pampered cheeks. “Well, I never.”

  “Oh, I believe you must have.” Melanie edged toward the door.

  Of course, Brian chose that moment to walk inside. His three-piece suit hung nicely on a fit frame, and his blond hair appeared ruffled. He took one look at the women and sighed. “Afternoon, ladies. What’s going on?”

  Melanie chuckled. “Well, your mom is ordering me to stay away from you, and my response could be accurately characterized as telling her to bite me.”

  Brian’s grin emerged quick before he sobered, rubbing the smile off his clean-cut, handsome face.

  “Brian, I absolutely forbid you from seeing this gold digger. She just wants to raise her station,” his mother intoned, obviously not caring who heard.

  Melanie snorted. “Station? Listen lady, you live in Billings, Montana, and not upstate New York. High society…you’re not.”

  “I will not sit here and be insulted like this. Brian, I’ll see you back at the bank.” With a loud sniff and her nose in the air, Mrs. Milton swept from the jewelry store.

  Brian grimaced. “Did you have to get in a fight with my mom?”

  Melanie shrugged, starting to feel guilty. “She started it.”

  Brian eyed the lone woman behind a counter showcasing sparkling sapphires. “Hi, Maisey. I don’t suppose there’s any way you could keep this little family argument quiet?”

  Maisey pushed cat-eye glasses up her nose and patted her long gray hair. “Not a chance, Brian. Not even a remote of a chance.” Her grin sported fancy dentures.

  “That’s what I figured. Have a nice day, ma’am.” Slipping an arm across Melanie’s shoulders, he escorted her back into the weak sunshine. “My mom does have her good points, you know.”

  The poor guy didn’t even sound like he was convinced of that. “I know, and I’m sorry I let her bait me. But why did you tell her about my doctor’s visit?”

  “I didn’t. I researched endometriosis on a computer at the bank, and she saw it. So I kind of had to explain.” He sighed. “What did the doctor say?”

  “Nothing, yet. He took eggs, and I’ll find out tomorrow if they’re viable to be frozen. So someday I may have my own genetic kid. Maybe.” She tried to keep her voice light. The medical bills were killing her, but what choice did she have?

  “Getting pregnant right now might be the solution,” he said, stopping the walk.

  At that second, her relationship with Brian clarified with a sharpness in her mind. She smiled. “Please don’t tell me you’re willing to knock me up just to escape your mother.”

  He chuckled, his brown eyes twinkling. “The idea does have merit. But, no. I was thinking we should give it a shot for us. For a good future together.” As proposals went, it was as lukewarm as possible.

  “I like you.” Which was the absolute truth. But when she envisioned her future, he wasn’t in it. Or rather, he was in it as a friend—a good one. “But we’re not in love.”

  “Are you sure?” Brian sobered. “Give me a chance, Melanie.”

  She didn’t love him—and tying them together with a child would hurt them both. “I’m sorry.”

  He sighed, the sound full of regret. “So this is it?”

  “Yeah.” Dating him had been fun and comfortable, but after o
ne kiss with Colton, she wanted that feeling again. Maybe not with Colt, but with somebody. Somebody who could knock her socks off. “I’m sorry.”

  Brian’s head lifted while his lips pursed. “Don’t be. I’m fine.”

  Even so, she’d hurt his ego and not his heart. Speaking of which—“I wish you’d follow your heart.” Lame line, Mel.

  “I have a heart?” Brian asked.

  “Of course.” She turned and tugged on his lapels for the last time. “You left it on a beach in Malibu during college. Go back there…start a surf shop…and enjoy your life. It’s too short to spend behind a banking counter when you don’t want to be there.”

  A faraway look came into his eyes. “But my family—”

  “Will understand you have your own dreams. Besides, you have three brothers. Statistically, one of them will like numbers.” If not, they should all go find their damn bliss, as far as she was concerned.

  “I’ll think about it.” He brushed a good-bye kiss on her forehead. “So, friends?”

  “Absolutely.” A slightly insulting expression of relief crossed his face. Breaking up would probably help him with his family, especially his tyrant of a mother.

  Melanie turned away to head for her truck, her mind spinning. Her boyfriend was now her friend, her sexy best friend was now occupying her dreams, and her body was betraying her.

  Fate had a cruel sense of humor.

  …

  Late afternoon, after driving back home, Melanie finished the last of her hot chocolate while walking down the main street of Mineral Lake. She’d had to dig for change in her empty pocketbook, but she’d found enough for the small treat. Folks strolled along storefronts, emerging from restaurants and coffee shops, all bundling up against the Montana winter. Warmth was a myth this early in March.

  One woman pushed a baby stroller, and Melanie’s heart thumped hard. She saw babies everywhere now. Freezing her eggs so she could someday have a baby was a logical decision, even though it emptied her pocketbook.

  “Melanie?” a low voice called from behind her.

  She turned to find Colton and Leila standing hand in hand.

  “Hi, you two.” Her lips faltered as she tried to swallow. Colt had such a way with kids.

  Colton grinned. “We’re glad we spotted you. Join us for dinner.”

  “Thanks, but I know it’s your special night. I’ll let you two get back to your date.” She grinned at Leila, who’d worn a pretty yellow jacket and jeans for the big night. Her long black hair was up in pigtails, and she’d put on pink lip gloss. “Your date is lovely, by the way.”

  Leila grinned. “You’re pretty, too. Come to dinner with us.”

  “Oh, no. I wouldn’t want to impose.” Melanie needed to get the heck away from her too sexy friend. Just let her libido die down a bit, and things would get back to normal.

  Colton reached for her elbow. “Have you eaten since lunch?”

  “Well, no. But I’ll grab a burger or something on the way home.”

  “No.” He propelled her into Sally’s Restaurant. “You need to eat healthier, Mel.”

  She swallowed. “What in the world is wrong with you?” Colton Freeze had never given one fig about her eating habits.

  He glanced at Leila and then back at Mel. “We can talk about it later. For now, we’re here, and we’re all eating a healthy dinner.” He turned toward a row of long booths by the window. “Pick a table, Leila, my girl. Any table you want.”

  Leila danced ahead and scooted into the booth. “I get to sit by Mel,” she called out.

  Colton waited patiently.

  Melanie thought about arguing, but suddenly she was hungry. And curious. Very curious as to what had gotten into Colt. Maybe the new health kick had something to do with opening up the gyms. “Fine. But you need to stop acting so weird.”

  “I’m just getting started,” he muttered as they slid into the booth across from each other.

  The waitress bopped up to take their drink orders.

  “Pop?” Leila asked hopefully.

  “Lemonade or water,” Colton said. “For all of us.”

  Melanie frowned. She could use come caffeine, but understanding Colton’s need to steer Leila into a healthy zone, she nodded. “The lemonades here are fresh.”

  “Good.” Colton leaned forward. “How’s your garden at home?”

  She smiled, relaxing. “Excellent. I had a great crop last summer and canned a bunch of fresh fruit and vegetables.” She loved gardening—from the planting to the harvesting. As a hobby, it was a productive one.

  Thus began an interesting dinner of Colton pointing out the healthier alternatives to just about…everything. He even managed to cover the necessity of sleep and exercise.

  By the time they walked down the street toward the old-fashioned movie theater, Mel was more bemused than irritated. “Have fun at the movie.”

  Colton slipped an arm around her shoulder. “You have to finish the date with us, right Leila?”

  Leila grinned up. “Yes. We get popcorn at the movie.”

  Colton faltered. “Well, the salt might be too much.”

  Melanie stopped cold. Last time he was home, she’d caught him with what could only be termed an orange lunch. Cheeseburger, Cheetos, and macaroni ’n’ cheese. “What in the living daylights is wrong with you?”

  He shrugged, color filling his high cheekbones. “Salt makes people retain too much water.”

  Melanie glanced down at her jeans. “Do I look like I’m retaining water?” She shrugged out from under his arm and looked up into his face. “And be very careful with your answer here, Colton Freeze. I have no problem kicking your butt in front of your niece.”

  Leila giggled. “That sounds fun.”

  Colton backed away in the snow, his hands up. “No. You look great.” His gaze swept her head to toe and warmed enough to heat the air around them. He swallowed, and his voice lowered. “Really great.”

  A ball of need unfurled in Melanie’s abdomen. How did he do that just with his voice? “Okay. So, let’s go to the movie, have popcorn, and even candy.”

  “Yay!” Leila jumped up and down.

  Colton opened his mouth and quickly shut it. “Good enough.”

  They started back down the street until Mrs. Hudson stopped them. Single, elderly, and sweet, the widow lived at the end of Main Street and was always present. “Why hello, young folks. You out for a date?”

  “Yes,” Leila answered for all of them.

  Mrs. Hudson nodded her gray head and smoothed down her fluorescent green coat. “I heard you broke up with the Milton boy, Melanie. He’s a nice boy, but probably not the right one for you.”

  “They haven’t broken up,” Colton said slowly.

  Mel cut him a look, not surprised the gossip had already reached town. “Actually, we broke up this afternoon, but we’re still friends. It’s all good.” Then she stepped back at the fire shooting through Colt’s blue eyes.

  His jaw hardened, making him look dangerous. Deadly even. “Why didn’t you say something?” The soft tone of voice was all the more frightening for the anger behind it.

  Melanie blinked. “I don’t know. It actually wasn’t that big of a deal. We’ve been just friends for a while, really.”

  Loni and Tom Freeze suddenly emerged from the coffee shop. While Loni was dark and petite, her husband was broad with sparkling blue eyes that Colton had obviously inherited. They’d both bundled up in colorful scarfs.

  “Off to the movie, folks?” Tom asked, his gaze focused on his youngest son.

  “Not a big deal?” Colton asked, his gaze remaining on Melanie. “I’ll kill him. I swear to God.”

  Melanie stepped back from the fury. “Why? I’m telling you, we’re fine. What is wrong with you?”

  “Son?” Loni asked, sliding her hand along his visibly vibrating arm.

  “This isn’t okay, not at all.” Colton gentled his voice. “I’ll talk to Milton tomorrow and work everything out. I promise.”
/>
  Aliens had abducted her best friend, because there was no way Colton would act like this. “Have you had a stroke recently?” Melanie spit the words out between clenched teeth, her temper awakening. The conversation in the middle of the street with onlookers was just too much.

  “Funny, and no.” He lifted his chin. “There is no way you’re breaking up, and Milton is stepping up if I have to beat him senseless.”

  That was it. “You have lost your freakin’ mind. Get the heck out of my business and right now.” She put her hands on her hips.

  “No.” He continued to ignore everyone around them.

  Enough. She jerked away from him. “I’m out of here. Call me when you regain your sanity.”

  “You’re not going anywhere by yourself. You’re upset, and I’ll take you home.” His voice went guttural with temper as he whirled her back around.

  “Why in the hell would I need a ride home?” she yelled, her temper springing loose.

  “Because you’re pregnant,” he yelled right back.

  The world halted. Several couples turned around from various positions on Main Street to stare. Mrs. Hudson slapped a hand over her mouth. Tom went still. Loni whirled toward Melanie, and Leila clapped her hands together with glee.

  Melanie’s mouth opened and closed, but no sound came out.

  Chapter Seven

  “You are one stupid dumbass,” Melanie said on the way to Billings the next day.

  “That’s the general consensus,” Colt agreed from the driver’s seat of his Ford pickup. “Again, I’m so sorry I announced to the town that you were knocked up by Milton.”

  She hunched her shoulders. “It’s not just that. Now the whole town knows I’m having female problems. Jimmy Balbie at the bank asked if I needed to sit down while I was waiting to make a payment earlier this morning. When I turned around, he actually stepped back like I was going to hit him.”

  Colton’s lips twitched. “I’m sorry. Again.”

  “Whatever. You know the only reason I’m letting you drive me to my appointment today is because I couldn’t say no to your mother,” Melanie muttered.

  “I’m fully aware of that.” Colton eyed the rearview mirror and signaled to exit the interstate.