Too many old demons about trust issues had clouded her thinking. She’d taken too long to make up her mind. Now all could be lost.
Shattered by the realization, she doubled over the steering wheel in pain. She might not have known Cole for more than a few days, but she knew enough to under stand he was a man of action.
Once he made up his mind about something, he didn’t deviate from it. Those who couldn’t meet that high standard were left in the dust. One way or another he would claim his brother’s child, only Catherine wouldn’t be a part of it, and it was her fault.
Maybe it wasn’t too late to catch up to him, wherever he was-
Unfortunately he’d never given her his cell number. If she wanted to get in touch with him she would have to phone the ranch and leave a message.
But she didn’t dare do that. Cole had done everything to ensure this matter remained ultra-private. Too much was at risk for her to make a call that might alert his family and raise unwanted questions.
Barring another visit to the ranch, which would be a disaster, she didn’t know how to contact him without letting anyone else know.
Unable to stem the tears gushing down her hot cheeks, she opened the car door with every intention of making it inside her condo before someone saw her. But as she swung her legs out into the heat, she found her way blocked by a powerful male body.
“Cole-” she cried, on a little sob of joy he couldn’t have helped but hear.
He stared down at her, studying her moist face with an intensity she could feel travel the whole length of her body.
“How am I supposed to interpret those tears?” he asked in a thick-toned voice.
The time for truth had come. She would never get another chance.
“I was late b-because I had a lot of thinking to do.”
Like the sun penetrating a dark cloud, his eyes filled with light. “But the point is, you came.”
She moistened her lips nervously. “I had to. I love Bonnie too much to let her go without a fight. If I become your wife, we’ll have the optimum chance to win custody.”
Beneath the expensive brown silk sport shirt he was wearing, his chest rose and fell visibly, a sign of vulnerability she wouldn’t have guessed at considering he kept such a tight control on his emotions.
“We’ll be taking solemn vows in a little while. There’ll be no going back,” he declared with a refined savagery, reminding her he was a cattle king with an iron hand and those exceptional gifts. The idea that he was about to become her husband sent another shiver through her body.
“No.”
“If the judge grants our petition, our marriage is for real.” His eyes trapped hers. “You do under stand that?”
She knew what he was asking. Her breath got trapped in her lungs. “Yes.”
He straightened away from the door. “Good. Let’s get you inside so you can pack.”
“Pack?”
“After the ceremony we’ll be staying at the Atlantis Reno to enjoy our honeymoon. Only you and I will know what goes on behind closed doors at the hotel. Hopefully Bonnie will be ours in a matter of days.”
She froze. “I thought the whole point was to do all this in secret. If we check in there, you’re bound to be recognized.”
One corner of his mouth curved, almost knocking the breath out of her. “It could happen. More to the point, you and I have to make this look as romantic as possible. That’s why I booked a luxury suite in the Concierge Tower there. It will help carry off the myth that we’ve been secret lovers over the past twelve months. Our family and friends will expect that we celebrated our marriage in the open like any besotted newlyweds.”
Her legs almost buckled. “Since you live so far away from Reno, is anyone going to believe we ever had a relationship?”
“I’ve been flying here on personal business to see my uncle three to four times a month for years,” he confided. “Finally the family will under stand why I was willing to console myself away from the ranch as often as I did. My brother John and his wife Rosemary will be de lighted with our news.”
Not so the women who would like to be Cole’s exclusive love interest, Catherine surmised.
“Bonnie’s going to come as a huge surprise.”
His eyes softened. “She’s going to breathe new life into the Farraday clan at a very critical period. So will you,” he added silkily. “As for my sister Penny and her husband Rich, they’ll be overjoyed I’ve found love again after all this time. She’ll tell you she’s been worried I’d end up wifeless and child less.”
“Is she one of those sisters who never leaves you alone?”
A chuckle escaped, giving her the answer. Its deep male timbre excited her. “You’re lucky.”
He stared down at her through narrowed eyes. “Right now I know I am.” When he said things like that her insides melted.
“Maybe it’s bad luck to get too far ahead of our selves.”
“I don’t believe in bad luck, just bad timing.”
Her thoughts reeled. If there was one man who could impress a judge and make things happen with lightning speed, it was Cole.
No sooner had he helped her from the car than Amy drove in the next parking stall. She didn’t waste any time walking over to them with a flirtatious smile centered on Cole. There wasn’t a woman alive who wouldn’t be attracted to him.
“We meet again.” Her eyes swerved to Catherine’s “Aren’t you going to introduce me?”
“I’m her fiancé,” Cole declared, effectively negating any reason for Catherine to speak. “We’re about to be married, so forgive us if we have to rush off…”
Her heart thudded at the possessiveness in his tone.
After he’d ushered her inside the condo, Catherine turned to him. “She didn’t like me before. I’m afraid that en counter just made things worse.”
“Since you won’t be living here from now on, it’s no longer your concern. You’ll need to give notice at your work.”
He moved too fast for her.
“I asked for a week’s emergency leave for personal reasons, and got it, but until we know whether Bonnie is ours, I’ll wait to call the chairman of the board who actually hired me.”
“The adoption’s going to happen,” he stated, as if it were a fait accompli. His innate confidence was a sheer revelation to her. “Now, what can I do to help? Since we can drop by here any time during the week, just bring what you need for the next few days.”
She paused in the doorway to the hall. “Are we getting married in one of those wedding chapels?”
“No.” A simple word, but she sensed his distaste at the mere idea. He regarded her steadily. “The ceremony will take place at the judge’s home, with only his wife and my attorney present.”
Thank you for that, Cole.
“I’m glad,” she confessed in relief.
“Once we know Bonnie’s ours, we’ll repeat our vows at church in Elko.”
She bowed her head. “I’d like that.” Suddenly his presence in her small living room was too over powering for her to function with any coherence. “I-if you’d like to sit down and read a magazine, I won’t be long,” she called over her shoulder before disappearing into the bedroom.
Catherine had been making a mental list: a dress to be married in, a business suit to wear in front of his attorney, a couple of tops and pants, a nightgown and robe.
The choices staring at her from her closet were hardly awe-inspiring. The more she examined her wardrobe, the more anxious she became.
On impulse she rushed back to the living room, where she surprised Cole in the middle of the room talking on his cell-phone. His glance darted to hers. “What’s wrong?”