Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2

C olton didn't hesitate. He knew what to do. He wrapped the baby in his arms and ran for his SUV with Jace hot on his heels. Jack was already on the phone with the hospital. Conley was picking Aniyah up from the lounger as a group of people raced to Sheriff Matt Walz's cruiser. They'd be right behind Flint.

Flint took one look at them running, turned on the lights and siren, and already had the SUV in gear as Colton and Jace leaped into the back seat. Flint floored it the second the door was closed.

Jace had his stethoscope out and was listening to the small baby in Colton's arms. He shook his head and placed his fingers on the baby's chest. "Starting chest compressions. You breathe."

Colton fell back on his training. Jace pressed on the little chest and Colton breathed for her. They didn't speak. They moved in seamless teamwork thanks to familiarity that bordered on telepathy that came from growing up together. They didn't need to talk.

Flint, the best damn ambulance driver around, got them to the hospital in under fifteen minutes—about half the time it normally took.

A team of doctors met them at the door as Flint slid to a stop. Colton held the newborn tightly in his arms and bolted from the car as Jace delivered all the information to the doctors in a matter of seconds.

Then the baby was taken from him, an oxygen mask placed on her, and the team went running with Jace following, calling out more information.

It took a moment for Colton to realize Flint was right next to him. Flint was from Louisville and stood the same height as Colton. Their main difference was Flint's midnight black hair and his complete oblivion to female attention.

"Her lips weren't blue anymore," Flint said quietly. "That's good."

Babies and children were the worst calls any firefighters could get. The fact that this was his friend's baby? "Damn!" Colton yelled as Matt's cruiser slid to a stop behind them.

Colton took a breath. He had to be in control for Aniyah and DeAndre. Colton moved to grab a wheelchair for Aniyah. Ahmed got out of the front seat with the baby boy in his arms. DeAndre ran around the back of the cruiser and reached inside to get Aniyah, who looked as if she were a zombie.

"My little girl?" she asked, barely above a whisper.

"Is alive and with a team of doctors. I'll take you to her." Colton watched as DeAndre and Aniyah leaned on each other in their time of need. It was heartbreakingly beautiful to witness.

Cars began to line the ER drop-off. All of Keeneston had followed, but Colton had to get Aniyah and DeAndre to their baby. DeAndre helped his wife into the wheelchair and Colton took off with long strides into the emergency room.

The nurse was waiting for them. "Are you the baby's parents?"

"Yes," Aniyah answered.

The nurse looked back at Ahmed and Colton. "I'm sorry, family only."

"He's my father," Aniyah answered instantly, reaching for Ahmed, and not giving the nurse the chance to question their different races and complete lack of common characteristics. The town had been Aniyah's family, but everyone knew Ahmed had a soft spot for her and treated her the same as his own children. "And he's holding our newborn son."

Colton turned the wheelchair over to DeAndre and stepped back. This wasn't his place anymore. He got the baby to the hospital alive. He'd done his job. It was hard to step back though.

"Right this way then," the nurse said, taking off at a brisk pace down the hallway.

Colton stared down the hall as the double doors closed. He heard people rushing into the ER lobby, but he kept his eyes on the door. All he could see were the blue lips and the tiny body of Aniyah's daughter.

A gentle hand squeezed his arm. Then he felt an arm wrap around him and the scent of floral, amber, and musk reached him. He knew that scent. He looked down and found Cady with one arm around him, her head resting on his upper arm, and her other hand squeezing his arm.

"Are you okay?" she asked quietly.

"Me?"

"Yes, you. It has to be hard, working to save a newborn. Are you okay?" Cady asked, still holding on to him.

Damn, she felt good. She felt... like home. Safe. Warm. And a little exciting.

"Her color was improving. We did CPR the whole way," Colton said, trying to ignore how good it felt to have Cady rubbing his back.

It was then he looked around the waiting room. It was full. Every single person who'd been at the wedding was in the waiting room. It was overflowing. King Dirar of the island nation of Rahmi, in all his royal glory, was at the front desk demanding, by royal order, to be informed of how Aniyah and her daughter were doing. Father Ben was leading a prayer. Aniyah and DeAndre's friends were pacing. Someone had collected her aunt and grandmother, who were now sitting with the Rose sisters. Everyone was waiting and hoping for the best.

"How long has everyone been here?" Colton asked.

"Twenty minutes. You haven't moved since we got here," Cady told him.

Colton looked behind him. His mother, Annie, and his father, Cade, were watching him. Landon was sitting holding hands with his wife, pro-football coach, Kate. His sister, Sophie, was clutching her husband, Nash's hand. Nash was second-in-command for the Ali Rahman royal family security team. The same team Ahmed had run before retiring.

"I can't lose that baby. It's Aniyah's and DeAndre's. They've wanted children so badly," Colton whispered to Cady. "They want her so badly."

"And you have given that little girl a chance. You kept her alive and got her to the hospital."

Colton leaned into Cady's warmth. He gripped her hand as the double doors he'd been staring at opened. Ahmed walked out. He smiled and Colton closed his eyes and squeezed Cady's hand.

"The baby is alive," Ahmed said. Immediately clapping and cheering rang out from the ER waiting room. "She's three pounds, fourteen ounces. Now that her lungs are clear, she's letting everyone hear it, especially her brother. She'll be staying in the hospital for at least a week, Aniyah and her son, too. But they will be fine and home soon."

Relief coursed through Colton and he turned to Cady. In the excitement he hugged her to him and kissed the top of her head. Her hand was at his waist. The other was on his stomach. Damn, she felt good against him.

"You did this. You saved her. How are you holding up? That must have taken a toll on you." Cady asked him as she hugged him tightly.

"Colton! Our hero!" Jasmine, one of the Keeneston Belles, cried out.

Colton winced. He might have slept with her last year. He thought it had been a one-time thing, but she had other ideas. Jasmine came up, pried Cady from him, and plastered herself against his chest. "Pooh bear, I'm so proud of you. I can't wait to get you home tonight and show you how what a hero you are. With my tongue."

Too late. The image of Pooh was in his mind and all interest was gone. He hated Pooh. The bear had mitten hands. It wasn't right. Mittens. On a bear. How could he climb a tree that way?

Colton stepped back from Jasmine, but it was too late. Cady was already walking over to Willa and Tilly, who were his cousins Porter's and Parker's wives. Colton frowned. He felt something he'd never felt before. Loss. He didn't like when Cady had walked away and left him.

"Excuse me, Jas," Colton's father, Cade Davies, said to Jasmine. "I need to talk to my son."

"Okay." Jas stood there smiling and not moving.

"Alone," his father told her.

"Oh! Of course. I'll be right over there, Pooh Bear." Jasmine walked off with a sway of her hips before looking over her shoulder and giving him a wink.

"Thanks, Dad."

His father squeezed his shoulder. "How are you doing? I know it can be hard rescuing a baby, especially a baby belonging to a friend."

"I'm relieved."

"I saw Cady over here before Jasmine interrupted." Colton glanced at his father. His mother, Annie, had been dropping marriage hints for years, but his father had never gotten involved. "I've always liked her."

"Are you trying to set me up?" Colton asked as he noticed his mother, standing with her best friends and sisters-in-law, watching him with interest.

His father chuckled and slapped Colton's shoulder. "Ha! You know I love you, son, but Cady is too good for you. She built a freaking distillery by herself. She's smart, determined, kind, and cute as can be. Plus, you made her the mayor of Friendsville years ago. You lost your chance there. There's no way she'd date you now." His father laughed again and shook his head as if this was the funniest thing he'd ever heard.

"Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence, Dad."

His father just laughed harder. "You and Cady," he said like it as a punchline to a joke as he walked away to join his brothers.

Jasmine rushed back toward him, but his mind was on Cady. He glanced over to see her talking to her two closest friends with a huge smile on her face. She was too good for him. But that didn't mean he would give up. But, give up what? Something changed tonight. It wasn't only the dress. He'd seen her in dresses before. They'd been to how many weddings? It was just... something. Like he'd been blinded by badge bunnies and now he could see clearly now. He was thirty-two years old. Maybe that's something that changed him, too. Looking at the Belles had been a fun distraction with no thoughts of the future. He'd seen Sophie marry Nash and have little Emersyn. Then Landon had married his soulmate, Kate, and were blissfully happy. His closest cousins, Porter, Parker, and Jace, along with close friends, Ariana and Kale, were all married now and so in love it was hard not to compare to his time dating the Belles. He found it empty in comparison.

When he looked at Cady though, he saw so much more. Her smile, her eyes, her intelligence, her grit, her laugh—they filled him.

"Excuse me?" a nurse asked, tapping him on the shoulder. "Are you Colton?"

"I am," he answered, reluctant to take his gaze from Cady.

"The Drews said you were their cousin, once or twice removed, and would like to see you. Follow me."

Colton followed the nurse to a private room where DeAndre was holding a small bundle in a pink blanket. Aniyah was holding her son in a blue blanket.

"We had to thank you for saving our little princess," DeAndre said. "Would you like to hold her?"

Colton smiled as he approached the baby. There were so many Davies cousins and babies running around that he wasn't the slightest bit hesitant to hold the baby girl. "I'd love to."

Colton held out his arms and DeAndre placed the baby in his arms. She blinked up at him and made the cutest baby noises. "She's beautiful. And she's a strong one. Mark my words, she's going to make her brother pay for taking up so much room. If I know anything, it's how sneaky sisters can be when they want payback." Colton thought of how his older sister would beat them up when they were little and made her mad. He laughed as he thought about it. This little girl was small but mighty. Just like Aniyah. Her brother didn't stand a chance.