Page 86 of The Billionaire Love Match

Colt put his hands in his pockets and rocked back on his heels. He rolled through the emotions he was feeling, mainly hurt and anger.

Not what he wanted to feel on his wedding day.

He looked at his mother again. She looked nervous: not making eye contact, wringing her hands together. Was this, too, an act?

Awkward silence hung between them.

“I shouldn’t have come,” his mother said, finally. “I didn’t want to darken your day. Do you...want me to go?”

Colt met her eyes. It was hard to see her without thinking about the things she had said and done. Things intended to keep him apart from Casey.

And yet...Casey had forgiven her.

Colt had seen the strain on Casey’s face after having lunch with his mother. He could only imagine how his mother made Casey feel inferior, like she didn’t deserve to be in their family.

Casey didn’t say much when she got home from the lunches, other than to encourage him to make his peace. Once again, he saw the strong and vulnerable beauty of his almost-wife.

He tried to think of the vulnerability in his mother. She had been soft once. Softer, anyway. He reminded himself of what she told him that day in her office: the weight she carried and how she felt personally responsible for giving him security. Even though Colt would have asked for love, comfort, kindness, she had been loving him in her own way. She was his mother. He could imagine the sharp rebuke his father would give him if he knew he hadn’t even invited her to the wedding. It was this thought that finally pushed the words from his mouth.

“Don’t leave,” Colt said. “I’d like for you to stay.”

Those words were so hard to say and yet as they left his mouth, it was like Colt could feel their heaviness leaving his body.

His mother put her hands over her face. He could see her shoulders shaking and he crossed the room, wrapping her up in his arms. “It’s okay, Mom. I don’t want you to cry. The mother of the groom can’t have raccoon eyes at the wedding.”

She gave a small laugh and sniffled. “Do you have a tissue?” He pulled one from his pocket and handed it to her. He squeezed her hand as he did. “Thank you,” she said.

He gave her a moment, waiting for an apology. It did not come. Disappointing, but not surprising. He knew what Casey would say: Family is family. Good, bad, messy, imperfect. This would have to be enough.

“I hear things are going well with your studio,” she said.

Colt nodded. “I’ve got just about all the financial backing we need and we just started our first big project last week. It’s going very well.”

“You’ll get there,” she said. He tried not to flinch at the patronizing words. He knew his mother well enough to know she thought she was being kind. “If you ever want to partner with BeaconWood or need anything—”

“Not yet, Mom. I’d like to establish myself alone first. Maybe...sometime.”

“I understand. And I’m proud of you,” she said. He could tell the words were hard to say.

“I need to get ready,” he said. “But I’m glad you’re here, Mom.”

“I’ll be in the back, out of the way. I’m so happy to see you get married.”

He gave her arm a quick squeeze. “You belong up front, Mom. Sit up front. You’re—” He cleared his throat, pushing down the emotions that were trying to claw their way out. “—You’re all the family I’ve got. I want you there. Sitting next to where Dad would be.”

Before she turned and walked out of the room, Colt saw a swash of raw emotion cross her face. It was the most he had seen in years. Maybe over time, the mother he knew before his father’s death might return. He didn’t want to hope, but this had been a step. And he had one person to thank.

He walked back to the closed door. “Boots? Still there?”

The door cracked open. “Are you mad? I know I overstepped. I debated for weeks, but I just couldn’t not do it. I’m sorry.”

“I’m glad you did,” he said, his voice hitching in his throat again. “I would have been mad if you told me beforehand. I would have said no if you asked me. So, thank you. It was hard, but I’m glad.”

Suddenly the door pushed open all the way and he took a step back in surprise. Casey stood in the doorway, more beautiful and perfect than she’d ever looked. Colt drew in a breath. Her hands touched the waist of her dress and then her hair. She met his eyes and with a grin, lifted the fabric in the front to reveal turquoise cowboy boots.

He laughed. “Of course,” he said.

“Do they—do I...?”

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