Page 16 of Better Together

Colt clapped a hand on Jameson’s shoulder. “Congrats, guys. Is this morning sickness? I thought that was…you know, a morning only thing.”

Ava shook her head. “Nope. For some, it lasts all day. For weeks.”

Jameson’s pallor looked a lot like Ava’s. “She’s been in contact with her doctor a lot. We’re hoping it’ll ease off soon.”

Ava lifted her dark hair off her neck and let out a deep breath. “It’s fine. It’ll all be worth it in the end.”

Colt swallowed a knot in his throat. Seeing Ava sick was causing sympathy pains. He’d never given much thought to the things women had to go through during pregnancy, but he appreciated Ava’s attitude about the situation. Everyone on the ranch knew she and Jameson had been hoping to start a family now that their new house was finished.

Colt inched toward the door. Ava didn’t seem to be in the mood for company. “Well, since you have me at your beck and call for the day, what can I do for you?”

“Can you take Mr. Chambers to his doctor appointment at 8:30?” Jameson asked. “I have a meeting with a supplier, and I don’t think Ava will be feeling better any time soon.”

Colt gave two thumbs up. Ava’s grandpa owned Wolf Creek Ranch, and he was Colt’s favorite old man in the world. “You got it.”

“Thanks,” Ava whispered. “He could drive himself, but I’d feel better if someone were with him.”

“No problem. He knows about the baby, right?” Colt asked.

“We told him earlier this week,” Jameson said.

“Good. We’ll have something to talk about.”

Ava chuckled, but the sound didn’t hold much joy. “Since when have you ever worried about having something to talk about?”

“Never. You said you’re telling everyone else today?”

“You can tell Remi,” Ava said.

Colt grinned. “Thanks. Before I go, I wanted to talk to you about the new cabins.”

“You want one?” Jameson asked. “Are things not going well at Ridge’s?”

“Things are fine. The place is great. I’m just thinking ahead. I doubt Ridge and Cheyenne will want a housemate after they get married.”

Jameson rubbed his jaw. “I hadn’t thought about that.”

“You’ve been a little preoccupied,” Colt said with a tilt of his head toward Ava.

“You can take your pick,” Jameson said. “Just let me know when you want to move in.”

“Thanks, man.” Giving up his room at Ridge’s mansion wasn’t as difficult as Colt had expected. Knowing he could settle down on the ranch for a while sounded like paradise.

But that extra room gnawed at him. On one hand, he wanted to fill a house with a wife and kids. On the other hand, he just wanted Remi and whatever a life with her would offer. Did she not want kids, or did she just not want to be married? She definitely didn’t want to marryhim.

They’d been talking about it more and more lately, but he still couldn’t get a handle on Remi’s aversion to marriage. She rarely talked about her parents, but he knew they split up when Remi was young. Had her parents’ divorce wrecked her?

He wanted the cabin, but that extra room might be useless. Remi was the deciding factor when it came to a family for him. If she wasn’t a part of the equation, he didn’t want it. Or he couldn’t imagine wanting that life with anyone except her. The thought felt wrong whenever he tried to picture it without Remi.

“We’d love to have you back on the ranch,” Jameson said. “Just say the word.”

If Colt had to move out eventually, why wait? “Let’s do it. I don’t care which cabin.”

Ava raised her head and grinned. “Is there a reason you want one of the new cabins instead of the old ones?”

There was a reason, but not one he wanted to talk about. He liked to joke around about everything except his unrequited love for Remi. If he told Jameson and Ava he was still holding out hope that Remi would miraculously change her feelings for him, it would be like pouring salt on the wound.

“No reason.” Colt stood and headed for the door. “I’d better see if your grandpa is ready to be carted around town. Thanks for the cabin.”

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