Covered in Coal (Buried Secrets 1)

Pulling off the stiff suit I had been sporting all day, soot sprinkles the floor. Maybe a suit isn’t the best attire for the mines. I climb into the steaming hot shower, letting the hot water cascade over me. The water soothes my achy muscles, tired from sitting at a desk all day. At least working at the hotel I was constantly up on my feet doing something. I may just go stir crazy as CEO, trapped in that office.

Stepping out of the shower, I dry off, toss my hair up on top of my head, and pull on some comfy UK sweats. I go downstairs to the kitchen to find something to eat, but decide on take-out instead. After calling in an order to my favorite Mexican restaurant, I decide to go through some of Daddy’s old things for donation. I was glad to take over my old homestead, but having constant reminders of Daddy everywhere I turn in this house will break me down even deeper, if I don’t erase his presence now.

Starting in his bedroom, I go through the drawers and closets, pulling aside all of his clothes and shoes. In the back of the closet, I find a large oak chest, bound by lock and key. It’s a gorgeous chest, full of mystery, as I had never seen it before, despite the countless times I had played hide-n-seek in this very closet. I look all over the bedroom for the key, but come up empty handed. So I turn my search to the home office. I search all of the desk drawers, behind picture frames, under knick knacks, and I still can’t find a key. The doorbell rings, stopping my search.

I race down the stairs in hopes that my favorite Pollo Bandido awaits me on the other side of the heavy steel door. The doorbell rings again, just as I approach the living room. “Damn give me a second will ya,” I yell.

“Hurry the hell up, Carly Jo, it’s chilly out here!”

What the hell!

I know that damn ass hole seriously ain’t standing on my front porch! I swing the door open in a rush of excitement and anger. Yep, Colton came to visit. Can I fire his ass for harassment yet?

“Alright, Colton, obviously I wasn’t blunt enough for your stupid ass this morning. I don’t have a damn thing to say to you, so you can leave now, and don’t bother coming back. If you do, your job is on the line!” I yell. Just as I slam the door, he sticks his foot in the jamb, and forces himself in the entry. “Damn it, Colton, I’m not kidding with you! Get the hell out of my house!” I scream.

“Carly Jo, relax. Damn I just wanna talk to ya. Now chill your sweet ass out. We have some catchin’ up to do.” Colton says.

“Catching up, huh? Colton, what exactly is there to ‘catch up’ on? You left me, remember? We haven’t spoken in seven years, and now all of a sudden you wanna catch up? Hell no! Now GET OUT!” I scream, shoving him to the front door. Just as my palms contact with his chest, he wraps my wrist in his large hands, and pulls me into a deep, passionate kiss. His lips are full and soft, and taste sweet like mint. He licks gently, and teases my tongue with soft flicks. Running his fingers through my hair he pulls my head back, and works his lips down from my mouth to my neck.

The connection I feel with Colton’s lips on my body is undeniable. He can sense my wanting. I am so carried away by his lustful ambush, I barely notice the doorbell ringing again. Kissing his way back up to my lips, Colton sucks away at my bottom lip and whispers, “I’ve missed your sweet lips, Carly Jo, I’ve missed you so damn much.”

Breaking from his embrace, I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand, and stare up at him with my mouth agape. I straighten my clothes, and open the front door. With the stunt Colton just pulled, Pollo Bandido is the last damn thing on my mind. I pay the delivery guy, take my food and shut the front door. Turning around, Colton is nowhere in sight. What the hell’s up with him!?

I go to the kitchen to see he’s set the table with two plates, two forks, and two bottles of water. He’s sitting at the table with his arms crossed, acting like a dog waiting for a bone. Placing the take out on the counter, I put my hands on my hips and begin tapping my foot on the ceramic tile, hoping that he senses my irritation.

“Let’s move it, baby, I’m starvin’, and I know you ordered enough food for a damned army, so let’s eat!” Colton says with a sly grin on his face. I roll my eyes in defeat. I know I can’t run this animal off.

I take a seat across from him, placing the take out trays on the table. Not being shy, he helps himself. I sit back, and huff out a deep breath of air. Colton just munches away on tortilla chips and salsa like it’s his last supper. Piss me off enough, it just damn well may be. Just sayin’!

“Okay, Colton, you’ve made it clear there is something you need to get off your chest. So say your peace, then get your ass out of my house!” I glare straight through him, as he chews away, not bothered at all by my frustration. He’s seriously pissing me off. He continues eating, pondering what it is he wants to say. Irritation and anxiety set in, and I feel like I could just beat the hell out of him for ruining my dinner.

“You better eat, Carly Jo. You didn’t leave the office any, so I know you haven’t eaten all day. Don’t want your dinner to get cold.” He smirks. Smartass.

“No, I didn’t want my dinner to be ruined, but you obviously had other plans, so out with it already, what the hell do you want?”

Colton wipes cheese sauce from his delectable lips, and smirks. Sitting back, he laces his fingers to rest on the back of his head, like he’s getting relaxed. Nice, looks like we may be here a while. He exhales a deep breath and smiles.

“Darlin’, I’m an ass. You know that by now I’m sure, and I’m sure you hate me with every bone in your fine ass body. But you don’t know the whole story. You only know what I told you when I broke up with you, and that was all lies. I had to cover things up, I had to protect you. Not a day has went by that I haven’t thought of you, missed you, worried about you. Big John never told me where you went, said he didn’t know. I thought that was bullshit. That man always knew everything about everyone, including me. But that jackass stood in our way long enough, and he ain’t around now to stop us from being happy. Carly Jo, please, let me make all of this right. I’m beggin’ you.”

I sit there, chewing on my lip, stewing over what he has just said. All be it vague, I can tell there is a lot he wants to share. But do I want to hear it? Do I want to feel that heartache he left me with once before, all over again? Do I want to be broken? I pulled myself from the trenches of his affliction and became whole again, all on my own. I had nobody, but fought for me.

“No.” My voice barely a whisper. I’ve come too far, all on my own, to be broken by him again.

“Carly Jo, please hear me out. You need to know the truth. We can be fixed, sweetheart, please.” Colton pleads.

Standing from my seat, I turn away from him, and leave the room. Colton follows right on my heels until I stop him by the front door.

“Colton, you left us seven years ago. That can never be forgiven. Don’t ever come back to my house again. I’ll see you at work tomorrow, unfortunately. Goodnight.”

He steps out on the front porch, and looks up at me with shock in his eyes. I hold my head high, and refuse to show him any of the hurt I am feeling deep down inside. Just as he begins to speak, I close the front door, and turn the lock, tight. As the lock clicks, I hear Colton yell,

“What do you mean, us?”

I turn the front porch light off, leaving him in the cold dark night, just as he left me those many years ago.

Chapter 7

Colton