Merry Manager: River’s End Ranch Series #17

  Laura jumped out to walk to the front door and get Cole, while her mother waited in the car. Since it was the middle of the afternoon, she knew she wasn’t likely to run into his father, but she was still nervous as she approached the front door. It was an intimidating house. It was huge, and they had live-in help. When Laura knocked on the door, it was opened by Sergio, their Brazilian butler. He broke into a wide smile when he saw Laura.

  “Come on in, I’ll tell Cole that you’re here.”

  Laura stepped inside and waited in the foyer while Sergio went to get Cole. She glanced around, at the sleek marble floors and soaring ceilings with elegant artwork on the softly shaded walls. His house was gorgeous and felt more like a museum than a home to her. But she never said anything to Cole, as it was all he knew, and it was beautiful. Just not what she would ever want. She heard footsteps and looked up to see him bounding down the stairs, a smile on his face.

  “You’re in a good mood,” she said as he pulled her in for a quick kiss.

  “I’m in a great mood. We’re going to meet our baby for the first time. How cool is that?” Laura relaxed a bit as they walked outside and toward the car, where her mother was smiling and waving at them. She’d trusted that Cole wouldn’t let his father get to him, to change their plans, but still the worry had been there. Dalton Dawson was a powerful, and ruthless man and she knew that he had never approved of her.

  Laura got back into the front seat and Cole settled into the back. They both buckled up as her mother pulled out of the driveway and onto the main road. The doctor’s office was just a few miles away.

  “Thanks for coming to get me,” Cole said to her mother.

  “Of course. I’m thrilled that you wanted to be there for Laura.”

  Traffic was light, and they were running a few minutes ahead of schedule. The last thing that any of them remembered was a large SUV that was going much too fast. It swerved into the opposite lane—and there was no time for her mother to react, to get out of the way. The SUV hit them head on, and in the span of just a few seconds, everything changed.

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