Sky Full of Promise

“I can’t just give you an answer off the top of my head. It’s not that simple.” She sighed. “There’s a lot to think about. I just don’t know.”

“I’m going back to Houston on Sunday. Is tomorrow enough time to make a decision?”

“It will have to be.”

Sky had no idea why she hadn’t simply told him no. Right then and there. No way, no how. Not in this lifetime. But it was too final. And somehow, the simple, two-letter, one-syllable word to end this crazy scheme once and for all would not come out of her mouth.

Procrastination is a crime; it only leads to sorrow. Tomorrow she had to tell him she couldn’t impersonate his fiancée. Then tell him goodbye forever. She didn’t know when or how it happened, but she would certainly be sorry about that.

The following afternoon Dom paused in the doorway of the Black Arrow Courthouse and surveyed the ravaged building. Black soot covered the interior walls. Evidence of water damage was testament to the efforts it had taken to put out the fire he’d been told had happened several months before.

A little while ago he’d stopped by Sky’s shop to see her, but she hadn’t been there. The older woman behind the counter who introduced herself as Sky’s mother, Alice, had told him where her daughter could be found. She’d volunteered the information that Sky was taking the opportunity to say goodbye to her brother before he left for Washington.

As he wandered through the courthouse, Dom noticed that the damage seemed to be confined to several rooms containing records. The caustic smell of smoke permeated the building and tickled his throat.

Voices drifted to him. He followed the sound, which led him to a wing off the main building and a courtroom untouched by the fire. The bench, witness chair, defense and prosecution tables and spectator seating had suffered no ill-effects that he could see. As her mother had said, Sky was there with three men.

He stopped in the doorway and watched from behind the spectator chairs. With their backs to him, the group continued their discussion, the sound of their conversation echoing loudly in the empty room. Two of the men were roughly his height, which made them about six feet tall. Both had dark hair like Sky’s. He’d bet they were two of the “big burlys” she’d warned him about last night and he wondered which one knew three hundred ways to kill a man.

The third guy had different coloring. As Dom stood there, he heard the man say, “Bram, why don’t you take care of arranging for damage estimates on the courthouse, the newspaper office and Black Arrow Feed and Grain. When you have a bottom line, send it to my father.”

Bram ran a hand through his short black hair. Even from this distance the sheriff’s badge on his tan shirt was visible. As were the leathers around his waist that included a big gun. “Look, Rand, I know you’re family. But this isn’t your problem. Or your father’s. I’m sure Joe Colton has better things to do.”

So he was Rand Colton, Dom thought. He’d heard of the wealthy Coltons of California. Apparently Sky was somehow related.

Rand held up his hand. “It is our problem. My uncle Graham is responsible. Someone in the family is always cleaning up after him, usually my father. Graham is furious about the fact that his father Teddy was never legally married to his mother. But he only hired Kenny Randolph to find and destroy birth records and any other documents linking the Coltons here in Oklahoma with Teddy Colton. Graham wanted money, not mayhem. Although that’s what you get when you hire a convicted felon, he never intended for anyone to get hurt or for property to be damaged. Someone from my branch of the family caused the problem and we intend to make it right. Family sticks together.”

“I second that,” Sky chimed in.

“My father sent me here to take care of it.” Rand turned sideways, revealing his grin, then he looked at the other two men. “No one says no to Joe Colton Senior. I don’t want to hear any more about it.”

“Whatever you say,” Bram said, nodding. “Frankly we’re still in a state of shock about the inheritance. Still trying to figure out what to do with it. No thanks to Kenny.”

Rand nodded. “Jesse, when you get back to Washington, can you use your spy-guy expertise to get a lead on Kenny?”

Jesse nodded. “I’ll see what I can do.” He looked at Sky. “Did you distribute that mug shot of Kenny to the rest of the family? Everyone needs to know what he looks like and keep their eyes open.”

“It’s taken care of,” she assured him. “But he’s long gone by now.”

“Don’t be too sure, little sister. None of us can afford to let our guard down. He attacked Willow, so we know he’s not above harming a woman.” He glanced at Bram. “You did check out the jewelry store and her apartment above for security?”

Bram nodded. “Along with your father. Uncle Thomas agreed the system is state of the art. He insisted on having it monitored. If it’s tripped, help will be there in minutes.”

Jesse looked at her. “Maybe you and I need to go over some of those self-defense moves I showed you—”

“We’ve got company,” Rand said, looking suspiciously at Dom.

“Hi,” he said. The three men turned as one to watch him move closer. Maybe he could use some self-defense moves. He noticed the color that crept into Sky’s cheeks when he met her gaze.

Three speculative gazes slid to her as Sheriff Bram Colton said, “I don’t recall seeing you before.”

“Just got into town yesterday,” Dom explained. “I’m a friend of Sky’s.”

Dom couldn’t help thinking this was like a scene from a B Western, where the handsome stranger walks into the saloon. He wondered if Sky thought he was handsome and was surprised when he realized it mattered to him that she did.

He remembered her remark last night about sex being less complicated. He wasn’t so sure, but it would probably be dynamite. Studying her now, he noted that flushed cheeks were the only clue that she was uneasy. Otherwise, she was serene and sophisticated. Dressed in a slim black skirt, high heels and a cream-colored sweater that smoothed over her gently curved hips, she looked refined and feminine. Every inch the up-and-coming businesswoman. It was a bonus that she was sexy as hell.

“Dr. Dominic Rodriguez, this is my brother Jesse, my cousin Bram, and Rand Colton, my newfound cousin.”

Dom shook hands with the men, then met Bram’s black-eyed gaze. “I couldn’t help overhearing, Sheriff. Mug shot? I heard you talking about the thug hired by the other branch of the family. But why is Sky involved in distributing his picture?”

“She volunteered.” Grimly, Bram looked at the other two men. “The whole family has a stake in catching the creep. He assaulted my sister Willow and damaged several buildings here in town while he was gathering information about us,” he said ruefully. “When Graham finally gave up the scheme, Kenny was hung out to dry and he swore to get even with all the Coltons. He’s a slippery little weasel and he’s wanted for a lot of bad stuff. Until we put him away for good, we all have to watch our backs.”

“I see,” Dom said. There was enough testosterone in this room to sink a boatload of bad guys. And it was rubbing off on him.

He studied Sky, her clear eyes, creamy skin, shiny black hair. She stood straight and proud and fearless. For reasons he didn’t understand, that made him want to keep her close to him so he could protect her. Whoa. What was that all about? She didn’t need him. The thought bothered him and to save his soul he couldn’t figure out why.

Still, she was probably right. This Kenny scumbag was no doubt long gone. He’d be an idiot to show his face anywhere near a Colton—especially since the family was littered with lawman types.

Jesse cleared his throat. “Sky, we’re finished here. If your friend—”

“We’re not friends exactly. More business acquaintances.”

Studying her carefully, Jesse’s eyes narrowed. “Any business I should know about?”

“Down boy. Don’t make Dom defend himself. He’s a doctor and needs his hands for surgery.” She looked sadly at her brother. “But I have to go. It’s time for me to get back to the store. And you have a plane to catch. I guess this is goodbye.”

“Yeah.” He pulled her into a bear hug. “Take care of yourself, sis. Stay out of trouble.”

“You know me.”

“Yeah. So I say again, stay out of trouble.”

She laughed, then stepped away. “I love you. Take care.”

“You, too. Don’t worry about Kenny. We’ll get him. Besides, he wouldn’t dare show up around here. So you’ll be safe in Black Arrow.”

“I know.” She kissed his cheek, then stepped out of the circle of his arms. “Say hi to Samantha for me. His new wife,” she said to Dom.

At least someone managed to pull off a wedding, he thought.

“Congratulations.” He held out his hand.

“Thanks,” Jesse answered, squeezing his palm—hard.

Dom nodded. “Nice to meet you. All of you,” he said, shaking hands all around.

“’Bye guys,” Sky said, raising her hand in farewell as a chorus of deep voices responded.