Colters' Woman (Colters' Legacy #1)(24)

“You could try the cell phone,” Lacey said dryly.

Heat raced across Holly’s face again, but she picked up the phone and looked expectantly at Lacey. After punching in the series of numbers Lacey once again supplied, she raised the phone to her ear and waited.

* * *

The brothers were nearly to town when Adam’s cell phone rang. Adam snatched it up and barked a hello.

“Adam?”

Holly’s soft voice filtered over the line.

“Baby, are you all right?” he demanded.

“Can you…can you come get me?”

“Where are you?”

“I’m at the sheriff’s office,” she replied.

“We’ll be there in five minutes,” he promised. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” she said, her voice stronger than before.

“Hang tight, baby. We’ll be right there.”

He hung up and tossed the phone aside. He had a dozen questions he’d wanted to ask, but his priority was getting to Holly as fast as he could.

“What’s going on?” Ethan demanded.

“She wants us to come get her at the sheriff’s office,” Adam replied.

He glanced at Ryan in his rearview mirror and saw relief flash across his brother’s face.

They roared into town and down the street toward the sheriff’s office. Adam frowned when a BMW nearly took off the front end of the Land Rover.

“Son of a bitch,” Ethan swore. “That’s her husband.”

Adam slammed on the brakes, opening the door before the Land Rover came to a complete stop. Had the bastard taken her? Had Lacey let him walk out with her?

The brothers hit the pavement running.

Adam was first to the door and flung it open, scanning the interior for Holly. Tension left him when he saw her huddled behind a desk. She looked up and, with a small cry, launched herself across the room and into his arms.

She hit him square in the chest, and he caught her up in his arms.

“Thank God you’re all right,” he said in a low voice.

She clung to him tightly, her face buried in his neck.

“I did it,” she whispered. “I told him I wanted a divorce.”

Adam stroked her hair and kissed her temple, all the while satisfaction humming through his veins. Reluctantly, he set her down. Just as quickly, Ethan folded her up in his arms, holding on as tight to her as Adam had. Ethan kissed her lingeringly, his relief over her safety evident.

Across the room, Lacey’s mouth fell open. Then her eyes widened in understanding. Adam knew the realization had hit her.

“It wasn’t me,” she said faintly. “It was never me. It was them.”

Adam didn’t pretend to misunderstand. He ran a hand through his hair and walked a few steps closer to Lacey.

“I made a mistake,” he said honestly. “You’re a good woman, Lacey.”

“Not good enough apparently,” she said bitterly.

Adam sighed. He hadn’t wanted this scene between them and especially not in front of Holly. Once he’d been attracted to Lacey, even thought his brothers might feel the same, but they hadn’t. Ethan had reacted indifferently to her, and Ryan had instantly disliked her. He knew then it would never work between them, but it hadn’t stopped him from spending time with her on occasion. She’d been good company and someone to have a beer with. But she wasn’t the one destined to occupy a place in his heart. That was reserved for Holly.

He gazed at the hurt he saw in Lacey’s eyes and wished he wasn’t the cause of it.

“We should be going,” Ryan said, speaking up for the first time. “It’s supposed to snow.”

“I need her to sign that statement,” Lacey said flatly. “Then y’all can be on your way.”

She rummaged around on her desk for a moment then flipped a piece of paper and a pen to the end. Holly approached and looked down at the blank paper.

“What should I say?” she asked softly.

“Whatever’s on your mind,” Lacey drawled. “I’m married but don’t want to be. Or maybe, I’m f**king with the minds of four men.” She shrugged. “Just make it quick. I’ve got work to do.”

“That’s enough, Lacey,” Adam said, his voice harsher than he intended.

Holly scribbled three lines then signed her name with a flourish. She flicked the pen back across the desk at Lacey then turned away. She walked toward the door where Ryan and Ethan still stood, her intention clear. She was ready to go.

“Let me get your coat,” Ryan said gruffly. “You forgot to bring it.”

He ducked out of the office and was back within thirty seconds carrying Holly’s coat. He helped her into it then wrapped his arm protectively around her.

“I’m taking her out to the Rover.”

Adam nodded and watched as Ethan followed them outside. He turned back to Lacey, his lips pulled thin.

“I understand you’re upset, but that’s no reason to be a bitch to Holly.”

Lacey’s cheeks flamed at his reprimand.

“Why didn’t you ever tell me they had to accept me too?” she demanded.

“Because they didn’t,” he said quietly.

“So I never had a chance.”