Page 26 of Break Me Like a Promise (Oak Valley)

He smirked, his hand shaking hers. His firm, calloused hand. The simple feel of his skin on hers heated her core, the strength in his shake reminding her biological wiring how safe she’d always felt with him, how protected and secure. He embodied the alpha man and goddamnit if her strong independent self didn’t enjoy it.

She released his hand but his lingered, his palm pressed against hers sending warmth through her body. “I’ll catch you around. Baby girl.” He said it with a smirk before releasing her hand.

When he finally walked away, all Ruby could do was watch.

Until he looked over his shoulder and flashed his dimples. Heat flushed her cheeks and she turned quickly, walking with renewed purpose to pick up lunch for her and her mom.

She might not be able to help being back home in Oak Valley. She may not even be able to help her run-ins with Colton. But she sure as hell could work on a plan to get out of here. Since Colton was insistent on helping with the bus, at least she could use the extra man-power — and boy, what a man with power that was — to hurry her timeline along. She could possibly be done with the bus conversion in six months. Six months until she could travel the country. Six months until she could move on with her life.

Six months until she never had to see Colton Taylor ever again, or deal with the butterflies he sent soaring through her body.

25

Colton tried not to slam the door as he entered the house.

He really did.

But there was something about his dad always asking for a family dinner and his mom finally guilt-tripping him into showing up that stung. Like he was fourteen again, which was probably the last time his family had all sat around the worn oak dining table for a meal outside of the holidays.

He traipsed through the living room, passing the dining room and glancing at his mom in the adjoining kitchen. She was humming over a pot on the stove, lost in the way the spoon moved through soup. His mom had realized it was best to not address any slams or shouts, wall punches or attitudes. That’s what his dad was for.

Colton pushed aside the sadness that almost always followed seeing his mom in their house and hooked a right down the hall to his bedroom, closing the door gently. He didn’t need to remind his mom of the life she ended up living.

He’d tried to buy her a new house when he first hit it big — that one million dollar paycheck was just the start — but his mom cried at leaving the home where he and Katie grew up. So they stayed, and now Colton was trapped in his childhood bedroom with a queen bed and no way out.

The front door opened, Katie’s laugh ringing throughout the house while he heard the gruff timber of his dad greeting his mom. Colton sat on the edge of the bed and switched into pajamas. He steeled himself, taking the deep breaths his physical therapist had taught him and the ones Dragan often reminded him to do, and joined everyone in the kitchen.

Bryce had gone upstairs to change into clean clothes, while Katie leaned against the counter laughing with their mom. His mom turned her flushed face to him, tendrils of brown hair streaked gray escaping from her ponytail.

“Hey, honey. How was your day?”

“Yeah, buddy. How was your day?” Katie playfully teased, drawing a smile from Cheri.

Colton couldn’t help but return the smile. These women were the rocks in his life. Always had been, always would be. And they knew just how to keep him sane.

“Fine enough. Thanks, Katie-Cat, for sending out those last invoices.”

She shrugged. “No problem, Dad was my ride anyway.”

Colton’s body tensed at the devil’s footsteps on the stairs, a part of him wishing he’d put on a fresh pair of jeans and a clean shirt instead of his grey sweatpants and faded Henley. The pajamas-around-the-house thing was a trait he picked up from his mom and one his dad hated in him. But if he was going to have to sit through family dinner, he wanted to be comfortable. And he was a grown-ass man, he could wear what he wanted. He reminded himself of that as Bryce entered the kitchen and glanced at the sweats, his mouth pressed into a thin line. Their eyes briefly met before Bryce gave his wife a side-hug and a peck on the side of the head.

This was a battle they’d already fought — many times — and if his dad wasn’t going to pick up the sword about it tonight, he must be in a decent enough mood.

“Hey there, dear,” his mom said, rubbing his dad’s arm. “Katherine, could you please get me four bowls. Who wants bread?”

Cheri loved her homemade soup and sourdough and dished out more than enough whenever she made it. Katie dutifully carried the full bowls to the table while Colton managed the plates, avoiding his dad’s gaze while he tenderly touched his wife. Even if he was a hard dad, he was a soft husband. Colton didn’t believe in a higher power but he thanked the world everyday that was the case.

“So, how was everyone’s day?” Cheri asked, buttering her bread. There was silence except for the scrape of the knife, the slurp of soup from spoons.

Katie took one for the team. “It was good, shop’s been busy. I’m looking into expanding it into the lot next door. I spoke with Mr. Denaube and it sounds like he’d be willing to sell.”

Bryce nodded. “It’ll be a great move, especially once Colt here fully takes over. We’ll be able to take on more business and might not even have to hire help.”

Colton swirled his spoon in the bowl, glancing at Katie. Her cheeks burned, jaw clenched. No matter how hard she worked, their dad would never see it for what it was.

He cleared his throat. “Wow, Kate. That’s awesome. If you expanded the business and spear-headed that project, would that make you, like, a boss or something? You pull that off, I know I wouldn’t want anyone else running the show.”

Katie met his gaze with fire and a slight shake of her head.Stop, don’t go down this road. Not here, not now.

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