Lies Beneath the Surface (Buried Secrets 2)

“Who do ya think taught your daddy how to bait a hook?” Her eyes grow wild with bewilderment and she begins to snicker.

“Don’t let her lie to ya, princess. She’s worried your daddy would out fish her like all the times before.” Colton says and without looking I know that cocky ass grin that I love so much is without a doubt splayed across his tanned face.

I scoot up against him nudging him in the side playfully and whisper “smart ass” against his neck. He pecks my nose with a kiss. When we dated, so many of our weekends were spent up in these hills, muddin’ and fishin’. I think the moment Colton Weston fell head over heels in love with me was when he saw me sitting on a rock, baitin’ my own hook. I guess he assumed that he’d have to coddle me, putting the worm on the hook and show me how to cast my line into the water. Before he had the chance to pick his chin up from the ground, I had cast my line and within minutes hooked a four pound bass. A smile tips up my lips remembering the look of shock in his eyes when I released my catch. Colton Weston learned two very valuable lessons that day.

One-never underestimate me.

Two- a woman who hooks her own worm is a keeper.

After they finish eating, I lay on the blanket watching Heidi Jo and Colton plunder the bank of the pond for tadpoles. The sound of their laughter fills my ears and my heart nearly burst with contentment. It’s the cutest sight to behold, the love my sweet man has for his little girl. Colton hung the moon in Heidi Jo’s eyes and they have an inseparable bond that can’t be broken. A love so unconditional and pure that it is perfected. Colton is more than just Heidi Jo’s daddy; he’s her hero, her best friend, her safety net. Becoming a daddy at such a young age, y

ou could almost say the two of them have grown together, teaching each other along the way. Yes-a child can teach an adult so many things without ever knowing so or even meaning to. When you open your eyes to love, true love, you open your heart to possibilities you never knew existed.

“We’re goin’ muddin’, Carly Jo. You gonna come with us?” Heidi Jo asks, popping her hip to the side.

“No sweets, the trails just a bit too rough for me and your little sister. You and Daddy go have fun.”

“Oh brother, I don’t never wanna baby in my belly if I can’t go fishin’ or muddin’. This is just too much.” She mutters, throwing her arms up in the air as she stomps off towards the side-by-side. My goodness she has more spunk than any seven year old little girl should ever have.

“You sure you wanna stay here all by yourself? I’ll go easy.” Colton whispers in my ear, gripping my hips in his strong hands.

“Go have fun. I want to finish this book and it’s so peaceful up here.”

“We’ll be back in half an hour, then we’ll head home.”

He adjusts Heidi Jo’s helmet before climbing in the side-by-side and roaring the engine to life. With a short wave, he guns the gas and I can hear Heidi Jo’s muffled laughter from beneath the helmet.

I lay back down on the blanket, and pick up my Kindle to finish reading Unforeseen Heartbeat by Maureen Mayer. I love reading about hot alpha males that protect their woman to the ends of the earth, fighting through the depths of Hell to save the love of their life; the kind of man that reminds me of Colton. But Hunter Bryant is unlike any other book boyfriend I’ve ever fell for. He’s sweet, sensual and caring. He’s a lot like Luke. Colton always laughs at me for getting all caught up with fictional characters, swooning over men who live only in my head. I think it’s a bit of jealousy on his end, although none of these book boyfriends could ever hold a light to him.

I read until my eyes feel heavy and the warmth of the sun soothes me to sleep. I don’t know how long I nap for, but the rumbling motor of the side-by-side approaching pulls me from my slumber. Colton leaves the engine running and climbs out of the ATV stalking towards me. I stand up gathering the cooler and blanket meeting him half way. He takes the cooler, lacing his hands in mine and pulls me beside him without saying a word. He walks quickly to the side-by-side and his hand trembles nervously in mine. His demeanor has shifted completely from what it was when he left here.

“What’s wrong?” I ask, stopping before we reach the side-by-side.

“It’s Pops.” He says cracking his knuckles.

He climbs in the ATV not willing to offer me any further explanation. We work our way back down the rugged mountain and Colton quickly straps the side-by-side down to the trailer while I help Heidi Jo change into dry clothes and buckle her in the back seat. He climbs in the cab, and roars the engine to life. I slide over closer to him, linking my arm in his trying to lend him my strength. Worry fills his eyes and heat radiates from his rigid body, his knuckles white with tension as he grips the steering wheel tightly. I don’t know what’s wrong, but whatever has happened has Colton waging a war within himself that has rendered him speechless.

Colton and Bill’s relationship has been strained to say the least over the last several months. From what I can tell the wedge between them began to grow after Drew Varney became Bill’s business partner. Bill has always been a gruff old man, but now he’s quiet and distant. Even Emma has expressed concern for him lately, but like Colton, Bill keeps his demons buried deep and deals with it in his own way.

When we get to the hospital we find Emma in the ER waiting room. Her face is pale with tear stains trailing down her cheeks. Colton squares his shoulders as he approaches her, and I swear in that moment he takes all of the emotions that are gripping him and slides them in his back pocket. He sees the pain and worry in his momma’s face and blankets her in his strength, pulling her into a tight embrace.

“Momma, what happened?” Colton asks Emma.

“He collapsed in the truck garage as they were working on one of the trucks. Doctor said it was a mild heart attack, so they’re gonna keep him overnight for observation and run a stress test in the mornin’.” She sighs sadly. I can only imagine how helpless she felt receiving that phone call, being all alone and having no one to turn to.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes son, just worried about your dad.” She says softly, wringing her hands together in her lap. He talks with her quietly for a few more minutes before standing to his feet and pulling her into a hug.

“I’m gonna take my girls home. I’ll be back in an hour to see him.”

Colton remains impassive and quiet on the drive home. He takes a quick shower before kissing me goodbye as he heads to the hospital to check on Bill. I know he’s worried about his dad, but I can only open my arms to him for comfort when he needs it. Although I hate to see the fierce emotions brewing in his dark brown eyes, I know he’ll deal with it in his own way.

I order pizza for dinner while Heidi Jo takes a shower. While we wait for the delivery guy, we enter a fierce competition of Just Dance 2014. Yeah, I’m six months pregnant and I’m shakin’ my ass like I’m seventeen again. She nearly takes the game until the final round when we dance to Limbo by Daddy Yankee. The site of my big belly bouncing around as I twist my ass doubles her over in laughter so hard that she’s rolling on the floor gripping her sides instead of dancing.

After we eat dinner, Heidi Jo asks if I’ll watch Frozen with her before she goes to bed. She is absolutely obsessed with this movie, singing the soundtrack loudly and reciting scenes verbatim. Honestly, if I hear Let it Go one more time, I may lose my shit. But I’ll do anything tonight to keep the worry for her papaw at bay. She doesn’t know exactly what’s wrong with Bill, because Colton felt no need to go into detail with her. But her little eyes are filled with concern.

I pop a bag of popcorn while she starts the movie, then settle on the couch with my kindle in hand. She lays in the floor on her belly, with her chin propped up on her hands while she watches the movie. Thunder rumbles in the distance and a flash of lightning brightens up the living room as the sound of rain begins to pelt the roof top. Heidi Jo jumps to her feet and hurries around the coffee table to climb on the couch, clutching my arm insecurely.