Kyle didnt know the half of how fast theyd pushed things. Cole had never done that before-made love after only two days.
I think were doing fine, he said, strapping on a leather belt and dumping a handful of nails into the pouch.
Kyle whacked at a stubborn corner of glass and it tinkled into jagged pieces. First youre necking on the lawn, then you bring her home after midnight.
A grin split Coles face. Will you listen to yourself? You sound like her father.
Kyle whacked at a stubborn corner of glass and it tinkled into jagged pieces. First youre necking on the lawn, then you bring her home after midnight.
A grin split Coles face. Will you listen to yourself? You sound like her father.
Im just saying, Katies not going to buy it if you dont slow it down.
Cole moved up to the shed wall and dug his claw hammer into the window frame. One by one, the finishing nails popped out. Its a compromise. Sydneys on a deadline with the Thunderbolt.
Youre worried about her deadline? This from a guy who was willing to throw her off the property two days ago?
Im getting to know her now. And I didnt realize her job was on the line.
Kyle stopped, fixing his attention on Cole. She told you her job was on the line?
Yeah.
Kyle glared at him impatiently.
What?
Cole. What are you doing?
Had Kyle guessed what had happened last night? Was it that obvious?
Im pretending to fall for Sydney, he said with exaggerated patience, trying to gauge his brothers expression.
You sure about that?
Im positive about that. What are you suggesting?
Kyle whacked the glass again. Im suggesting you watch yourself.
Cole nearly choked on that one. Hang on. This was your idea, little brother.
Yeah. Kyle tugged his leather work gloves from his back pocket. And I may have been wrong about that.
Wrong? Hello? What did I miss?
She could be playing you, said Kyle, settling his fingers in the grooves.
Playing me how? Shes been up front and honest about everything. Unlike him and Kyle who were pulling one over on Katie.
Has she?
Yes!
Kyle brushed shards of glass from the sill. Think about it, Cole. Shes getting exactly what she came for.
Uh, yeah. That was the deal.
The deal was Katie would think Sydney fell for you. But now you think Sydneys falling for you.
No, I dont, Cole snapped.
Yes, you do. And what the hell are the odds of that?
Cole hadnt honestly thought about the odds last night. But then, he didnt think Sydney was falling for him, either. Not really. It was more a chemical thing. A very powerful chemical thing.
Not that he could tell Kyle hed slept with Sydney. How suspicious would that look?
Its under control, he said to Kyle.
You telling me youre not falling for her?
Were faking it for Katie.
You and I shared a room for fifteen years, Cole. Quite frankly, youre not that good an actor.
So, what are you suggesting? I call it off? Kick her out?
Im just suggesting you watch your back. Dont trust her too far too soon.
Fine.
Im serious.
I said fine.
Just think about the possibilities.
Cole dug in on the upper frame. What part of fine didnt you understand?
He would think about the possibilities. He was thinking about the possibilities. Because he didnt know Sydney.
Yeah, he felt as though he knew her. But she had an agenda, and that agenda included getting him to the altar.
What hed interpreted as sweet, sexy vulnerability, could have been cold, calculated manipulation. Maybe she was hot for him, or maybe she was playing to his ego.
As bad as it sucked, Kyle had a point. What were the odds of a woman like Sydney wanting to sleep with a man like Cole after only two days?
Katie had offered Sydney the use of Kyles office phone to contact the museum. Sydneys heart thumped in her chest as she dialed Gwen Parkss number. Saying it out loud was going to make it real.
Gwen, here, came her friends voice over the phone line.
Hey, Gwen. Its Sydney.
Hey, Sydney. There was a smile in Gwens voice. Hows the hunt going?
Sydney took a deep breath. Well. I found it.
There was silence on the other end of the line. Define it.
The Thunderbolt of the North.
Gwen squealed and Sydney jerked the phone away from her ear.
You actually found it? Where are you? Where is it? What happened?
Im in Texas.
Another silence.
Whod have thought, said Sydney.
Did you bring it over from Europe?
Its been here the whole time.
Oh, wow. When are you coming back?
Sydney lowered her voice. Not right away. Its complicated. Can I get you started on the show?
Without you?
Yeah.
Of course. But you do have the Thunderbolt, right?
Its in a lawyers office in Wichita Falls. But dont tell a soul. Bradley Slander is still gunning for me, and I dont want him getting wind of this until its a done deal.
If its not a done deal, why am I setting up the show?
Sydney twisted the phone cord around her hand. It is. Sort of. Well I have to marry the owner.
Another silence.
Its a complicated inheritance thing.
Youre going to marry into the Thunderbolt family?
Its a marriage of convenience.
Dont you think thats above and beyond?
Its the only way. Im pretending to fall Sydney hesitated over the details. Anyway, well divorce as soon as the shows over.
I dont know, Sydney.
Trust me on this. Ive got it under control. My notes on the other antiquities are in my computer, along with the contact names. Im going to reserve the front gallery.
Youre making me nervous.
I can do this.
You sure?
Yes.
She had to do this. She had no choice but to do this. It didnt matter how complicated her feelings got for Cole. Nor did it matter how much she was starting to love this crazy Texas ranch.
She was here to do a job. Once she got back to New York it would all fall into perspective. Shed be hailed a hero, and her professional reputation would be saved.
Okay.
Great. Talk to you in a few days. Sydney let out a sigh of relief and hung up the phone.
It was going to happen. It was truly going to happen.
Then she glanced up, and there was Katie, white-faced in the doorway.
Damn. She opened her mouth, but Katie turned on her heel.
Katie! Sydney scrambled around the desk, sprinting to the door. Katie, its not what-
Dont! Katie gritted her teeth, her hands balling into fists as she stomped down the hallway. You lied to me. You lied, straight-faced, and I let you into my family.
Cole knows.
Yeah, right.
He knows.
Katie shook her head, her voice quavering. No, he doesnt. But hes going to. Right now.
She stormed out the door and Sydney took off after her.
The plan was ruined. Sydney had screwed up everything. She should have talked quieter. She should have closed the door.
Cole was going to kill her, and so was Kyle, and now Katie would be more stressed than ever.
Katie, listen, she gasped, rushing through the open doorway and struggling to catch up. She tried running, but her pace in heels was no match for Katie in her boots. Katie easily outdistanced her to the toolshed.
Shes a con artist and a liar and thief, yelled Katie as Sydney rapidly approached the three.
Kyle dropped a tool onto the ground and wrapped his arms around his wife. What the hell?
She overheard me, Sydney called as she made her way through cacti and range grass.
Shes pretending to fall in love with Cole. Katies voice broke. I heard her. Shes only after the Thunderbolt.
Cole stuffed a hammer into his tool belt and moved toward Katie, laying a hand on her shoulder. Its okay, Katie. I know that already.
How could you know that? she sniffed. Shes lying to you. Shes lying to all of us. She shot Sydney a look of venom.
I am so sorry, said Sydney, her voice shaking, a sick feeling swirling in the pit of her stomach.
Ill just bet you are, Katie snapped.
Sweetheart. Kyle spoke against her hair in a soft voice. This is all my fault.
Katie tipped her chin to look up at him. How is it your fault?
Sydney wished the ground would open up and swallow her whole. Katie was such a wonderful human being. She didnt deserve this heartache. She deserved Kyles love every minute of every day, plus a whole troop of little Ericksons running around her house.
I did something really stupid, said Cole.
It was me, said Sydney. She didnt want to break up this happy family. They loved each other. They meant the world to each other.
Will you two stop? asked Kyle.
Katie, said Cole. After the baby thing-
Katie turned a shade paler.
-I thought your stress level would drop if I got married and had babies.
We werent really going to have babies, Sydney put in. We were just going to let you think wed have babies. It seemed like the perfect plan. Id get the Thunderbolt. Youd probably get pregnant. By the time we got divorced, youd be okay again.
Katie turned to Kyle. You went along with this?
I-
We talked him into it, said Cole. I talked him into it. Thing is, Katie. Im going to make it come true.
The breath rushed from Sydneys lungs and she blinked at Coles rugged profile. Because of last night? Because of what theyd shared?
Was it possible? Did Cole think there was something growing between them?
Her chest expanded with a warm glow. She had no idea how theyd work it out, but the thought of Cole wanting to try settled around her like a soft blanket.
As soon as I divorce Sydney, Cole continued, and Sydneys heart went flat, Im going to find another wife. A real wife. Im going to take on some of the responsibility of this damn dynasty.
Coles words died away to silence and Sydney took an involuntary step back.
Of course hed find a real wife. What on earth was she thinking? Cole couldnt do New York, and Sydney wasnt staying in Texas. Her career and her life were about to take a quantum leap. The sky would be the limit after the Thunderbolt show.
Katie stared at her, and Sydney forced out a shaky laugh. See? Itll all work out.
Cole, said Kyle. You dont have-
My minds made up. Cole rubbed Katies shoulder. I just hope I can find a wife wholl hold a candle to you.
Katie wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand. Im sorry, she whispered to Sydney.
Sydney moved closer. You have absolutely nothing to be sorry about. Katie had come to a perfectly logical conclusion.
She nodded her agreement. Okay. But we probably shouldnt tell Grandma its a sham.
Cole looked at Kyle, and Kyle looked at Cole.