Free Colleen Coble by Rosemary Cottage Page B

blue. I wanted beige.”
    Her lips twitched. “I think Edith has good taste.”
    He grinned. “You have something against beige?”
    “It ought to be banned along with brown and orange.”
    “Orange too? I guess I shouldn’t wear my Harley shirts when I’m around you.” He touched her arm to steer her toward the kitchen.
    The smile faded from her face at his touch, and their gazes locked. Did she feel the same jolt that tingled up his arm? “This way.” His pulse beat ridiculously fast, but it was from worry of what she might find out tonight. That was all it was.

    The scent of the sea blew through the gauzy yellow curtains in the living room and wafted across Amy’s face where she sat on the plump navy sofa. Curtis was beside her, and she was acutely aware of the brush of his shoulder against hers. The hair on her arm stood at attention every time he moved. Ridiculous.
    She sipped her coffee, strong and perfectly laced with the cream she’d brought. Josh and Sara sat in the navy armchairs, as far away from each other as possible. There was something brewing between those two, though she could only sense it.
    With a shy smile, Raine brought a stuffed bear to her. “For me?” Amy took it when the toddler nodded. “I have one just like this. My brother bought it for me for my birthday a year ago.”
    Edith put a plate of fudge on the table. “A year ago?”
    Amy nodded. “I’ve never grown up when it comes to stuffed animals. You should see my collection. Bears are my favorite, and there is nothing like a Steiff. Where did you get it, Raine? Uncle Curtis?”
    The little girl looked at her with big eyes, and Edith answered for her. “Her daddy gave it to her. He went to heaven though, just like Mommy. But Jesus is watching over her, isn’t he, honey?”
    Edith’s words brought tears to Amy’s eyes. Life shouldn’t be so hard for a little one. She almost asked Curtis who Raine’s daddy was, but her thoughts were derailed when Curtis jumped to his feet.
    “More coffee?”
    She shook her head. “Not if I want to sleep tonight. One cup is my limit after four.”
    “I could make decaf.” He shoved his hands in his pockets and shuffled a little as if he was eager to do something, anything.
    She made a face. “The chemicals used to remove the caffeine are terrible for you.”
    “Mom?” Raine asked, still leaning on Amy’s knee.
    Poor little mite missed her mommy. Curtis’s face went red, and he turned away.
    Raine’s pigtails bounced when she scrambled to her feet and turned to the coffee table. She stared at it, then at her uncle. “Mom?”
    Curtis stared down at his small niece. “Uh, I was dusting the picture.”
    She stamped her small foot and began to wail. “Mom, mom, mom.” She flopped onto her bottom and crawled toward the table.
    Amy didn’t understand the expression on Edith’s face when she glanced at Curtis as Raine opened the door to the enclosed space in the end table.
    She emerged with a five-by-seven frame in her hand and turned toward Amy with a proud smile. “Mom, mom.”
    Curtis sprang to his feet and reached for the little girl, but she evaded his rush with a giggle as if she thought he was playing. From his expression, Amy knew he was deadly serious. What was going on? Raine ran into her arms, and Amy lifted her onto her lap. Curtis stopped as his hands fell to his sides, then he exhaled heavily. “Have a look at the picture, Amy.”
    Edith pressed her hands together, almost a prayerful pose. “Yes, this needs to come out.”
    “Come out? I don’t understand.” Amy glanced from one to the other, then down at the photo.
    A smiling Gina looked up at a tall, handsome man holdinglittle Raine on his shoulders. The little girl appeared to be about six months old at the time. Then Amy’s gaze landed on the man’s face, and she froze. She looked from the picture to Curtis and back again.
    “Yes, it’s Ben. Ben is Raine’s father.”
    “That’s impossible,” she said,