Holding You (Love Wanted in Texas 3)

Walking up to me, my mother placed her hand on Colt’s shoulder and gently looked into my eyes. I sucked in a breath when I saw tears in her eyes. “Mom, why are you upset?”

Colt took a step back and I wanted to yell out in protest. I instantly missed his warmth. “I’m not upset, darling; it’s just that you’re all grown up.” Pursing her lips together in an effort to not cry, she said, “I just miss you I think.”

Wrapping my arms around my mother, we held each other tightly. “I love you, Mom. I miss you and Daddy so much. I’m so glad you came to visit me.”

Pushing me back at arm’s length, my mother looked me up and down. She raised her eyebrow as if she was acknowledging something.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Gunner, my father and Colt all walking toward the front door. My heart began to race and my breathing picked up. Gunner was apparently going to keep my father from killing Colt.

Walking toward them, my mother took my arm. “Why don’t you let the guys talk for a bit? Show me this project you had to rush home for?”

Glancing back at my mother, I gave her a dazed look before I turned back and watched the love of my life walk out the front door with my father leading the way. Colt glanced over his shoulder and gave me a quick wink, causing my stomach to flutter.

Turning back to my mother, I looked between her and Ellie with pleading eyes. My hands started to sweat as I thought about all the things my father could do to make Colt hurt. “You’re just going to let them take him away?”

Ellie smiled and peeked over to my mother. Turning to my mother, I grabbed her hands. “Mom, you have to stop Daddy. I love Colt. I’ve loved him for so long, but I’ve been so stupid by pushing him away. I was afraid Daddy would let Colt run the ranch because he doesn’t think I can. I was afraid I wouldn’t have any say in the business, but I see I was being stupid and acting like a spoiled brat and—”

Holding up her hand, my mother covered my mouth as I continued to talk in a muffled voice. “Lauren! My goodness, stop and take a breath.”

My eyes darted back and forth between my mother and Ellie. “If I drop my hand, will you calm down?”

Slowly nodding my head, I closed my eyes in an attempt to hold back my tears. Opening my eyes, I saw something in my mother’s eyes. Understanding. Compassion. Love.

Dropping her hand, she tilted her head. “Darling, where in the world did you get the idea that your father thinks you can’t run the business?”

My mouth opened, but I couldn’t talk. I didn’t like to show weakness and right now, my voice was going to sound weak if I talked. I lifted my shoulders up and made a face. Ellie walked up to me and took one of my hands. “Lauren, you and Colt clearly have feelings for each other. It was evident when the four of us saw the two of you dancing. What threw us all was we had no idea either of you felt things for each other.”

Feeling my cheeks flush, my eyes looked away. If they only knew. I wondered what would happen if I spilled my guts to my mother and Ellie? There were so many things I had wanted to ask them. Like, how long was it going to hurt after sex? Was it normal to already be wanting Colt, even though we had spent the most amazing afternoon together and made love twice? Did guys like dirty talk or was that something I shouldn’t do? Was shower sex really all that?

Okay . . . maybe those types of questions I should save for the girls.

Chuckling, my mother pushed a curl behind my ear. “Your mind is spinning, Lauren. Calm it down, sweetheart.

My mother always said that to me. She could tell when my mind was racing and she would always tell me to calm it down. Daddy said it was a sign of immaturity that I couldn’t keep my thoughts clear.

“I’ve loved Colt since the day he punched Paul Hines in the face and threatened to kill him if he ever touched me again.”

Ellie and my mother both let out gasps. “What did Paul do?” my mother asked.

“Colt punched him?” Ellie asked with her hands over her mouth.

Grinning when I probably shouldn’t have been, I answered, “Yes! Paul Hines had wanted to have sex in high school and when I told him no, he slapped me and called me a whore. Colt punched him and told Paul he would kill him if he ever talked to me or touched me again.” My mother had been looking past me, but her eyes snapped back to me when I said Paul had slapped me.

Ellie drew in a sharp breath and whispered, “That little bastard.”

“That’s why you hit Paul?”

Hearing Gunner’s voice, I spun around. Colt, Gunner and my father were all standing at the front door. Not being able to read Colt’s expression, I mouthed, are you all right?

Something moved across Colt’s face. I’d seen that look before. It was the same look he had when he made love to me for the first time earlier today. My knees wobbled and I almost reached out for something to steady myself. Gunner stood in front of Colt, blocking my view of him. “Colt, is that what happened between you and Paul Hines?”

“Yeah, the bastar

d deserved more than just a punch.”

My father’s eyes were burning with anger. What did they talk about outside? What if he told Colt to stay away from me?

“It’s a damn good thing I didn’t know about this when it happened,” my father said.