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He’d also said he loved her. That he’d always loved her. Those weren’t confessions that could be swept under the rug.

And why did her heart swell knowing he’d loved her all this time and hadn’t once pressured her for more? He’d asked her once, and when she declined, he’d relented. Or at least, she thought he had.

Why did that patience mean so much to her? Why did it make her almost want to turn her heart over to him?

Almost.

Then there was that kiss. Wowza. Who knew kissing her best friend would rock her world? Why did he have to be a great guy and a great kisser? It was unfair that he had her melting like butter while he still looked cool, calm, and collected as if he’d just dropped off a package at the post office instead of marrying her.

She brushed a hand over the waist of her dress and looked everywhere but at Colt. “Okay. We don’t have to talk about it. At least not now, anyway.”

Seeming satisfied with her decision to let the matter lie for the time being, Colt took her hand in his and started toward the exit. “We have a few hours before the hearing. Want to get a bite to eat?”

Through all the excitement, she’d completely forgotten she’d skipped breakfast. “For sure. I’m starving.”

Chapter14

Colt

Colt stepped out of the courtroom and took a deep breath. “Whew! Glad that’s over.”

Remi adjusted a sleeping Abby over her shoulder. The kid was half Remi’s size, but Abby had snuggled up to Remi during the hearing when nap time rolled around. Apparently, nothing was going to stop the determined little girl from getting her Zs.

Ben looked up at Colt. “Can we get ice cream now?”

“You bet. I’m having a double scoop,” Remi said.

Ben looked back and forth between Colt and Remi as they walked out of the courthouse for the second time that day. “So, what happened in there?”

Colt laid a hand on Ben’s shoulder and squeezed. The kid was only seven. Young enough to still love hanging out with his Uncle Colt and almost old enough to understand he’d just lost his parents forever.

“The judge said you get to stick with me. I know I’m not your dad, but I’ve been loving you since you were the size of a peanut. Your dad and I have that in common.”

Ben nodded, but who knew how much understanding was really there. “That’ll be cool, right? You live on a farm.”

“A ranch. You’ll love it. Remi does fun stuff all day long. It’s her job, but I’m not sure she thinks of it as work.”

“And you’d be right,” Remi added. “You get to stick with me too. Trust me, we’ll have tons of fun.”

“But I’ll have to go to a new school,” Ben said, almost asking a question.

“Yeah. You’ll have to change schools. I’m sorry, bud.”

Remi had brought up the option to move to Newcastle, but they’d decided together that they’d be able to raise the kids better with the help of their friends on the ranch.

“Remi said you got horses there,” Abby said as she raised her head from Remi’s shoulder and rubbed her tired eyes.

“Yep. Lots of horses,” Colt confirmed. He opened his arms to Remi, silently asking if she wanted to pass Abby to him. She had to be heavy, but Remi shook her head.

As soon as they stepped out into the afternoon sun, Ben took off. He bolted to the side of the stone stairs and climbed up onto the side.

“Benjamin Walker, don’t you–”

Remi’s warning fell on deaf ears as Ben hopped over the side and disappeared.

Colt shrugged. “He’s always been a daredevil. You’ll get used to it.”

“I’m not sure I will,” Remi whispered.