aimed his gaze at Cole. “You’re playing with
fire. Even if this initially pans out how you hope, what will happen when Rachel
discovers the truth? Have you considered that?”
“Yup,” Cole said, striving for an easy, nonchalant tone. Not so
simple when he held the same concerns his brother had just expressed. “I have,
and I don’t know, and you’re right. But the plan is in motion. It seems to be
working. The best I can do is keep moving forward. But I need your help.” He
swung his gaze around the table, including his entire family. “I need everyone’s
help. I wouldn’t ask if this wasn’t important to me.”
“I get that it’s important,” Reid said stubbornly. “But there
has to be a better solution.”
“There isn’t. Not at this juncture,” Cole said, just as
stubbornly. The two brothers stared at each other in silence for a few seconds,
neither willing to give in. It was, Cole reflected, almost the same as staring
into a mirror. All of the Foster siblings resembled each other, but Cole and
Reid looked the most alike, sharing the same coal-black hair and deep brown
eyes.
Conversely, Haley and Dylan had their mother’s warm brown
hair—complete with reddish highlights, which Dylan hated—and sage-green eyes.
While their mother had a petite, curvaceous figure and tended to work hard to
keep the pounds off, all four siblings had taken after their father in that
respect, having tall, lean frames and a kick-butt metabolism.
“There is always a better solution.” The muscle in Reid’s cheek
twitched, clearly stating how annoyed he was by the entire prospect. “You just
haven’t thought of it yet.”
“Maybe you’re right, but I’m going with this,” Cole said. “I
won’t let anything get out of hand, and I won’t hurt her. Trust me in that
regard, at least.”
“I do trust you. And I know you would never purposely hurt
anyone, let alone Rachel.” Reid pushed out an exasperated breath. “I’m also
concerned about you getting hurt. You’ve gone
through enough, and I just don’t see how this can possibly end well.”
“It might not,” Cole admitted. Pressure descended on his
shoulders, reminding him once again of everything that was at stake. The truth
was, though, “I’m willing to risk the possibility.”
Suddenly, even though he hadn’t expected to get Reid’s
approval, he wanted it. And though he knew better, though he knew that bringing
up the one and only woman Reid had ever loved was hitting below the belt, he
couldn’t seem to stop himself once the idea took hold.
“What if a simple ‘avoidance of the truth’ had kept Daisy in
Steamboat Springs?” Cole asked, hating himself for poking at this wound. “You
two would be married now, would probably have children. Can you honestly sit
there and tell me that you wouldn’t have gone the exact same route as I’m
suggesting if it would have made a difference?”
“Cole!” their mother said loudly. “What happened with Reid and
Daisy is between them, and has nothing to do with you and Rachel, or why we’re
here tonight.”
“It’s a fair question.” The cords in Reid’s neck tightened, but
his voice was firm and even. Controlled. “An ‘avoidance of the truth’ is exactly
what sent Daisy running on our wedding day. So, to answer—yes, Cole, I can sit
here and tell you that I would not follow the path you’re suggesting. Under any circumstance. I already know where it
leads.”
Whoa. As far as Cole knew, Daisy had simply gotten cold feet at
the last moment. Obviously, there was more to the story. Curiosity and concern
for his brother rose up, but he squashed it down. If Reid hadn’t shared the
details before, then it was unlikely he would now. Later, though, Cole promised
himself, he’d dig in and see what information he could find.
“I’m sorry,” he said instead. “I shouldn’t have brought Daisy
into this.”
Reid gave a stiff nod, but didn’t say anything else. Lost in
the past, Cole
fire. Even if this initially pans out how you hope, what will happen when Rachel
discovers the truth? Have you considered that?”
“Yup,” Cole said, striving for an easy, nonchalant tone. Not so
simple when he held the same concerns his brother had just expressed. “I have,
and I don’t know, and you’re right. But the plan is in motion. It seems to be
working. The best I can do is keep moving forward. But I need your help.” He
swung his gaze around the table, including his entire family. “I need everyone’s
help. I wouldn’t ask if this wasn’t important to me.”
“I get that it’s important,” Reid said stubbornly. “But there
has to be a better solution.”
“There isn’t. Not at this juncture,” Cole said, just as
stubbornly. The two brothers stared at each other in silence for a few seconds,
neither willing to give in. It was, Cole reflected, almost the same as staring
into a mirror. All of the Foster siblings resembled each other, but Cole and
Reid looked the most alike, sharing the same coal-black hair and deep brown
eyes.
Conversely, Haley and Dylan had their mother’s warm brown
hair—complete with reddish highlights, which Dylan hated—and sage-green eyes.
While their mother had a petite, curvaceous figure and tended to work hard to
keep the pounds off, all four siblings had taken after their father in that
respect, having tall, lean frames and a kick-butt metabolism.
“There is always a better solution.” The muscle in Reid’s cheek
twitched, clearly stating how annoyed he was by the entire prospect. “You just
haven’t thought of it yet.”
“Maybe you’re right, but I’m going with this,” Cole said. “I
won’t let anything get out of hand, and I won’t hurt her. Trust me in that
regard, at least.”
“I do trust you. And I know you would never purposely hurt
anyone, let alone Rachel.” Reid pushed out an exasperated breath. “I’m also
concerned about you getting hurt. You’ve gone
through enough, and I just don’t see how this can possibly end well.”
“It might not,” Cole admitted. Pressure descended on his
shoulders, reminding him once again of everything that was at stake. The truth
was, though, “I’m willing to risk the possibility.”
Suddenly, even though he hadn’t expected to get Reid’s
approval, he wanted it. And though he knew better, though he knew that bringing
up the one and only woman Reid had ever loved was hitting below the belt, he
couldn’t seem to stop himself once the idea took hold.
“What if a simple ‘avoidance of the truth’ had kept Daisy in
Steamboat Springs?” Cole asked, hating himself for poking at this wound. “You
two would be married now, would probably have children. Can you honestly sit
there and tell me that you wouldn’t have gone the exact same route as I’m
suggesting if it would have made a difference?”
“Cole!” their mother said loudly. “What happened with Reid and
Daisy is between them, and has nothing to do with you and Rachel, or why we’re
here tonight.”
“It’s a fair question.” The cords in Reid’s neck tightened, but
his voice was firm and even. Controlled. “An ‘avoidance of the truth’ is exactly
what sent Daisy running on our wedding day. So, to answer—yes, Cole, I can sit
here and tell you that I would not follow the path you’re suggesting. Under any circumstance. I already know where it
leads.”
Whoa. As far as Cole knew, Daisy had simply gotten cold feet at
the last moment. Obviously, there was more to the story. Curiosity and concern
for his brother rose up, but he squashed it down. If Reid hadn’t shared the
details before, then it was unlikely he would now. Later, though, Cole promised
himself, he’d dig in and see what information he could find.
“I’m sorry,” he said instead. “I shouldn’t have brought Daisy
into this.”
Reid gave a stiff nod, but didn’t say anything else. Lost in
the past, Cole
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