Page 52 of Eight Steps to Alpha

His finger twirled around the rim of the glass before he looked up. “But that’s how it is in a small southern town. Mama lost friends, was the outcast of the town—no one wanted their daughters hanging out with her anymore.”

“And your dad?”

“He married her.”

Even more confused than she’d been before, she sat forward, and took a healthy gulp of sake.

“I’m sure you can imagine,” he began again, “the difficulties of starting a family so young? They were married by my grandfather that very summer, but like I said…

“About two years later, ma showed up pregnant again.” He nodded. “But pa had been stationed out of country for the past three months. The numbers just didn’t add up.”

Fe covered her mouth, to shocked to contain her gasp.

Colton frowned and turned his attention toward the ceiling. “Some guy, traveling through town on his way to be a ’star’. Story goes he had hypnotic blue eyes, and well mama… I think you can figure out the rest on your own.”

Her brows furrowed, and she swallowed the lump of emotion that came out of nowhere. Why had Elliot never told her this? Why did she feel so bad learning it from his brother? “So, your father, when he found out about the baby, what happened?”

Colton leaned back on his elbows, studying her. “In the long run, he took Elliot in as his own, gave him his name, and all that legal bullshit.”

“What happened to the traveler? Elliot’s father?”

“Maybe you should ask Elliot that question.”

“I’m asking you.”

He sighed and sat straighter. “A couple months after Elliot was born, my granddaddy tracked him down. The bastard was performing in a bar outside of Alpaca and denied the whole thing. Said he’d never even laid eyes on my mama, let alone his cock.”

“Oh my God!”

“Let’s just say my grandfather beat the shit out of him after that. Almost went to jail for it.”

Fe frowned. “Elliot always said your grandfather was the gentlest man he’d ever known.”

“And he was. He was also the most protective. Where do you think Elliot gets it from?”

Fe looked into Colton’s eyes, sensing he wanted to say more… and her heart raced with anticipation.

“You didn’t see the daggers he was shootin’ when I asked you out to dinner, did you?”

She shook her head, “What?” She blotted her face with a napkin, because her cheeks instantly heated. She pushed her sake across the table. “No he didn’t.”

“Sweetheart, if he had snakes for hair, I’d be a statue right now.”

Fe pushed a lock of hair behind her ear, suddenly feeling uncomfortable. Was he telling the truth? Had Elliot really been Jealous?

The server came to the table then, relieving her of any farther commentary, and filled their table with an abundance of rolls, sashimi, and other side dishes. Fe immediately reached across the table for the bowl of wasabi, grabbed a healthy chunk with her chopsticks, and began meticulously mixing it with soy sauce in her bowl.

But her mind kept wondering back to all this new information. How had she known Elliot for five years, and not know this about him? Why would he keep this from her? How did it feel to know your father didn’t want you?

Colton must have been thinking the same thing, because after refilling her glass, he whispered. “Elliot never shared this with you?”

She picked out a piece of sushi, then popped it into her mouth. “No.” She shook her head. But the question, or maybe how it was asked of her, enlisted an emotional response she wasn’t prepared for.

He ran his fingers through his hair and frowned. “Maybe I overstepped. Everyone back home knows this story. I thought he would have…”

But he trailed off, because they were far away from Texas, and no one here knew this dirty secret. Fe’s nose began to burn, and she took a large drink of ice water to ease it. “Do you think that’s why Elliot moved all the way to California? Do you think that’s why he’s only been back to visit once?”

Colton took a scoop of wasabi and met her eyes. “Possibly.”

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