Animal Prints: Sweet Small Town Contemporary Romance (Michigan Moonlight Book 1) (30 page)

Every time he looked at her it was like getting punched in the gut. She’d said she loved him. He ought to be ecstatic, but what would she do when he told her the truth? As the sun faded and the lights began to glow, she sparkled in the silver dress. The earrings he’d gotten her caught the light whenever she moved her head. It was not something he wanted to lose, her light. With his camera in hand, he worked his way through the crowd, snapping pictures, but always aware of where Colette was. She greeted people she knew with a kiss on the cheek and gave warm handshakes to welcome other guests. Despite the sexy high heels, she led groups of people to the barns where the calmer of the animals were on display.
 

Lexy ran around, directing servers and managing the time table like a general while the rest of Colette’s family smiled and worked the crowd. Even Jack dusted off his social skills for the evening. By midway through, Jack had shed his suit coat, rolled up his sleeves, and was holding court in the barn about the care of various kinds of animals.

He snapped pictures, already building the stories in his mind that he would use them to tell on Colette’s website. At the barn, the bluegrass music, exquisite barbeque smell, and Jack’s authoritative voice combined to draw a crowd of donors. This was the group with questions, Ian noted, the people who wanted to hear about the successful treatment of specific animals. He’d never seen Jack so comfortable while speaking.

In the orchard, tables laden with local produce, cheeses, and wines were accompanied by the sounds of a jazz ensemble. With the white and green lights, the rustling of leaves, and the sultry music, people milled and chatted. Ian caught snatches of conversation about the farm itself, the event, and the newspaper story. He couldn’t resist a little burst of pride over that last bit. Jade insisted the article had had a significant financial impact.

His favorite place to circle through as he ambled was the dessert tent in the strand of birch trees. Lexy had outdone herself in providing sumptuous desserts, all designed to be eaten easily and one-handed. Most guests had a glass of champagne in the other and were happily bidding on the silent auction items.
 

Deeper into the evening, as he continued to wander through the crowd, Ian heard people comment about the benefits of supporting the animal rescue center. The success of the fundraiser was assured, leaving Ian to worry about his own success later as he revealed his deception. Adrien passed him several times, always with a nod and smile, and Ian wondered where he stood with Colette’s brother. This afternoon, Adrien accepted Ian’s explanation, but left the impression that he wouldn’t hesitate to act on his sister’s behalf.

“Ian, could you lend me a hand with something?” Jade snagged him when he was returning from taking some pictures in the barn. “I need to get these auction items to the winners’ cars.” She pointed to a row of prizes each with carefully written notes, indicating the winner’s name and the make and license plate of the car. “We can do it in three trips if you help me. I was looking for Adrien, but he’s disappeared.”

“I saw Adrien and Gracie walking in the orchard a little while ago.” Ian slung his camera around his neck and picked up a large basket filled with wine bottles in one arm and a potted orchid in the other. “Far away from the crowd,” he added.

“Oh,” Jade’s cheeks pinked in the soft glow of the lighting, “about time.”
 

“So Colette tells me.” Together, they carried the items to the parking lot, got keys from the man in charge of parking, and distributed the prizes into the winners’ vehicles. When they were done, they strolled back toward the main tent, enjoying the cooling air of the summer night. “I wanted to talk to you about the rings you mentioned a few weeks ago,” Ian said before they got too close to the remaining guests.

“Yes?” Her tone was amused.

“I know it would mean a lot to Colette to have her grandmother’s rings.” He’d come this far in the conversation so he might as well finish it. He drew in a breath before going on. “I was hoping I could get those from you soon.”

“How soon?” Jade stopped walking to face him.
 

“Whenever you’re willing to give them to me,” he answered. He had a lot of explaining to do before he could propose, and it might all go to hell. But he wasn’t giving Colette up without a fight.
 

She nodded her head slowly. “Stop by the house. I had Jack take them to the jewelers to be cleaned and polished last week.”

“You did?” He couldn’t help but raise his eyebrows at her.

“I think you’re going to make my daughter very happy. I’m already looking forward to having you in the family, so don’t disappoint me.” She pointed a finger at him.

“No, ma’am.” Ian hoped like hell he wouldn’t.

“Go spend some time with Colette. She doesn’t look as busy now.” Jade gestured to Colette standing near the porch and saying goodbye to a number of guests.
 

“Thank you, Jade.” Ian moved away from her and took a glass off a passing waiter’s tray. Despite a nearly constant watch on Colette, he hadn’t seen her stop to eat or drink anything all evening. He handed her a glass of sparkling water after she shook hands with a departing couple.

“Thought you might need this,” Ian said.

“Thanks, my throat’s dry from talking and my feet may never be the same again, but Mom says the donations have been flying in.” She took a sip.

“Looks like it’s clearing out,” he commented, when more cars left the temporary parking area headed for the road. Nearly all of the guests were gone from the main tent and only a few lingered in the orchard for a last bite to eat. The red flash of Gracie’s dress showed in the twinkling lights of the orchard as she and Adrien made their way toward the farm house.

“Wonder where those two have been for so long?” Colette grinned and nodded her head in the direction of her brother and Gracie.

“Having fun, I imagine.”
 

“Good.” A car traveling too quickly passed between the returning couple and the house. “Who would be coming in at this time?” Colette asked as the car careened by the valets and continued on a reckless course toward the house, nearly hitting one of the servers. The driver of the black Lincoln slammed the car into park when he reached the house.

“Shit,” Ian muttered before the door opened and an elderly man got out and started for them.
 

Chapter Eighteen

Ian got to his father in three long strides. Grabbing the old man by the arm to stop him in place, Ian leaned his head close to his father’s. “What the hell are you doing here?” Ian kept his tone low so only the two of them could hear.

“Doing what you should have done a month ago. I’m going to make an offer myself.” His father said in a voice loud enough to carry to Colette and her gathering family.

“Ian,” Colette, still sparkling like the twinkling lights, came forward, “who is it?”

“My name is Liam Kroft. You must be Colette Peterson.” The old man pushed past Ian. He approached Colette, but paused to study her face, his expression softening for a moment before the rigidness returned. “You look like your grandmother.”

“Dad, please.” Ian tried to turn his father away from the Petersons, but the older man yanked free.

“Your father?” Colette asked. “I thought he lived in Chicago.”

“I do. Had to drive all this way because my worthless son didn’t do his job. Hell, he’s helped you by getting your pretty face in the Chicago paper and doing God knows what else for you.” Liam stood only a foot from Colette, but his voice boomed.

“I don’t understand.” Colette turned her eyes to Ian. “What is he talking about?”

Ian blew out a desperate breath, trying to formulate his thoughts. His father couldn’t have delayed one more day before pulling this stunt? Radiant in her silver dress, Colette waited for an explanation. Her face full of the trust she had for him. Hard-earned trust his father was killing with every word. He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out.

“Collie, Ian’s father owns Northfield Investments,” Adrien said quietly, coming up behind Colette and draping his arm across her shoulders.

“What?” Colette snapped her head toward Ian. “What?!”

“You heard him,” Kroft barked at her. “This dumbass is my son.”

“Lower your voice,” Jack advanced on the older man. “Don’t talk to my daughter like that. And you,” Jack froze Ian with his gaze, “you better start explaining.”

“It’s true. My father owns Northfield and hired me to arrange the purchase of the property.” Ian forced himself to meet Colette’s eyes while he spoke. Her skin went pale and she breathed rapidly. He wanted to reach out for her, but didn’t. For a moment, no one spoke.

“You…were after the property the whole time?” Her voice dropped to a whisper and her gaze dropped downward, tears welling up. “You pretended to care for me to score a business deal.”
 

“No!” He took a step toward her, but stopped short when Jack got in front of him. Nate moved to stand behind him with Jade and Lexy on either side, blocking his way to Colette. Adrien kept his arm around his sister, supporting her. A tight family unit, closing ranks against him. “Let me talk to her. Just for a minute,” he pleaded.

“Collie?” Jack said over his shoulder. “What do you want to do?”

His father sighed in disgust. “Enough of this namby-pamby shit. Make the deal or let’s go.”

“Please,” Ian begged again, looking toward Colette and ignoring the huffing from his dad.
 

She pushed away from her brother, her family parting to let her through until she was directly in front of him. A few tears tracked down her cheeks, but her voice trembled only slightly when she asked, “How could you have lied to me like this?”

“I’ll admit it started under a false pretense, but what I feel for you is real. Colette, give me a chance to explain. Please, you’ve got to trust me on this.”

Colette’s blue eyes turned frigid, freezing Ian’s insides. “I trusted you this whole time, and you were lying to me from the beginning! You…” She yanked the earrings out. “Here, take these back. I don’t want any reminders of you.”

Unthinkingly, he stuck his hand out to take them. When she took a step nearer, his heart stopped to be so close to those blue eyes. Then, her open palm struck his cheek and she shoved him back against the car. The earrings slipped from his hand and fell to the ground.

“You must be Trevor’s son.” Liam pointed to Jack, who stood next to Colette now. “You look like the son of a bitch.”

When Jack started forward with his hands squeezed into fists, Ian took hold of his father and tried to drag him around to the passenger side of the car. “I’ve got things to say to these people,” his father protested, fighting against him.
 

“We’re leaving.” Ian forced his father in the car, shocked at how much strength the old man had in his frail body.
 

Ian slammed the car door, shutting out his father’s curses. Colette’s family stood close to her, but he had more he needed to say so he walked back to stand in front of Colette. She might slap him again, any one of them might punch him, all of which he deserved. But this could be his last chance to tell her how he felt.

“I know you won’t believe me, but I love you, Colette. I never meant to hurt you. I knew weeks ago you’d never sell and I didn’t want you to, but I couldn’t leave. I want to be here with you.” On the fringes of his vision, he could see the other Petersons watching him closely, but he didn’t take his eyes from Colette. Nothing mattered but her.

“Get off my property.” Her tone was icy and controlled. “Get off now.”

Ian gave her one last look of appeal before backing away from her and climbing in the driver’s seat of his father’s car. When he glanced at Colette before pulling away, her face was turned into her brother’s chest, and Adrien was holding her close. The rest of her family gathered around them. No doubt doing what normal families do—offering sympathy and support.