Page 27 of In Colton's Custody (Coltons of Mustang Valley)

Chapter 8

Willow’s throat tightened the next morning as she pushed Luna’s stroller through the doorway into Mustang Valley General’s crowded lab waiting area. She’d arrived thirty minutes before their scheduled appointment so she would beat Asher there. She needed to have the upper hand with him in at least some small way.

“Hey, Willow. Over here.”

Asher sat in a chair in the corner, Harper on his knee. His diaper bag occupied the seat next to him.

You’ve got to be kidding. She stood in the doorway, the wheel propping it open. At least Luna wasn’t fighting her stroller harness as much as usual. Willow should have known better than to think she could arrive earlier than a cowboy anywhere in the morning when they were equally familiar with sunrises in their jobs.

“Come on.” He moved his hand in a circular motion. “We saved you a seat.”

She strode toward him, having become the most interesting entertainment in a packed waiting room where a long stay was implied. In his uniform of jeans, boots and another dark T-shirt—this one navy—he seemed to pop out against the muted, pastel colors and seashell prints lining the walls. Did the man own any clothes that didn’t fit him like they were made for his exact brawny dimensions?

What was she doing? She refused to notice how his sleeves strained when he pulled a cloth from his bag to dab at the baby’s drool. Nor would she consider that she might need a tissue to wipe at her own.

Even if she was in the dating market, which she absolutely wasn’t, and if he didn’t happen to be a Colton who could take her child, which he was, Asher had all but admitted he was a ladies’ man. He’d mentioned his “adventures.” If her ex hadn’t taught her to avoid men like that, she didn’t know what would.

Harper, looking comfortable in a onesie dress, squealed as Willow and Luna reached them.

“Well, hello, sweetie.” She reached out and brushed the infant’s cheek.

“Guess I’m not the only early riser.” Asher pulled the bag from the next seat and gestured for Willow to sit. “You know, I nearly had to throw down, twice, to keep this spot for you.”

“Thanks for your sacrifice.”

“Anytime.”

She swallowed. He might not be so obliging to her once they received the test results.

Willow pulled Luna from her stroller and handed her the chilled teething ring she’d packed in the insulated section of her diaper bag.

“Is it always so crowded in here?”

“Probably backed up from yesterday’s rescheduled tests.”

“Because of the Coltons?”

“No.” He stared at the appointment desk instead of at her, but finally he shrugged. “Well, not entirely.”

“You can’t help it if people fall all over themselves to please your family.” She cleared her throat. “Now can we get this test over with?”

“No problem. I’ll just march up to the desk and insist that because I’m a Colton, we should go to the front of the line. It worked like a dream for us yesterday.”

He had a point. His name hadn’t gotten him any special treatment at the hospital.

“I would just as soon forget yesterday happened altogether,” he said.

“That’s something we can agree on.”

And agreeing with a Colton, on anything, was something she’d never expected to do.

“What happened with the state inspector?”

“How did you—”

She stopped herself as she remembered. What had she been thinking, blurting out that information to him the day before? As if the Coltons wouldn’t already have an arsenal of the best lawyers and community support to use against her if their babies really had been switched, she’d given him more ammunition against her in court. Now they would be aware that her business had been in trouble with the state, as well.

“Oh. Right,” she said. “It turned out to b

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