The call was disconnected without any further discussion. Darci held the receiver away from her ear and stared at it, blinking away the tears that insisted on gathering in her eyes. She should be used to her mother’s tactics by now, should be able to let the words run off her back like fresh rainwater. But Darci still felt the pain, still wished her mother could just love her daughter as she was instead of trying to manipulate her.

Suddenly Cole was there, his large hands sliding onto her shoulders, offering a casual kind of support. His touch was like a balm to her wounded emotions, and she leaned back, closing her eyes and pretending—pretending he really was hers, that he really did care.

“Trouble?” His voice was soft, coaxing—his hands warm, gentle.

His thumb stroked the side of her neck, and she allowed herself a few seconds to savor his touch. She wanted to believe her fantasy so badly it set off an ache deep in her heart. “Just Mother trying to set us against each other again.”

“I’m sorry.” He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her back against the solid strength of his chest. His lips caressed her hair as his warm breath stirred her senses.

“I think we’re set, guys. You’ll wow them at that meeting tomorrow, and it’ll be smooth sailing from now on. This plan can’t fail once you implement it.”

Reluctantly, Darci pulled away from Cole’s touch. She was worried about Todd’s confidence, but Cole seemed to agree with him, and most of the ideas they’d put on paper were bigger, better versions of her original plan. It should work, it had to work. Because right now, she stood a good chance of losing everything she’d ever wanted in her life.

Blackmore’s had meant too much to her for too many years. And now that Cole was insinuating himself into her life, he was becoming too important, too much a part of her. If he could do this in just three short days, she couldn’t imagine how she’d feel after their year was up. But then again, if she lost at the meeting tomorrow, Cole would leave sooner and she might still have time to save her heart.

Todd walked over and gave her a gentle punch on the arm. “Knock ‘em dead, kid.” He turned to Cole. “Dude, we need to talk. You got an office where we can meet for a few minutes?” Todd stretched, wincing as he moved. “This old cowboy’s got to find a place to crash. I drove most of the night to get here, and the old body’s starting to complain.”