Hesitating, he stopped beside her and, on impulse, pressed a quick kiss on her lips. Let the board think whatever they wanted; he didn’t care anymore. He simply wanted to offer Darci his support and couldn’t think of a better way to do it.

Darci’s mother gasped at the display and Jeffrey frowned.

The chairman of the board turned to Anita Blackmore and asked her to leave also. Jeffrey followed in her wake like a well-trained collie.

Unable to think of a reason to delay, Cole finally turned away from Darci, silently sending her all the strength he could. Her face had gone white, yet she stood seemingly calm while her future was about to be decided by six old men with little understanding for what she was trying to accomplish.

It was only a few minutes, but each second that clicked by seemed like an eternity to Cole. He prowled the hallway outside the boardroom, determined to be the first person to approach Darci when she came out—either to congratulate her or console her.

Everything was out of his hands now. He’d played his cards, gambled with two lives, and it was all on the table. He could only hope for the best.

When the boardroom door opened, he turned, his heart ceasing its relentless beat until he saw Darci. Her set features, her white face, told him more than any words.

They’d lost the war.

He clenched his hands at his side, forcing himself to go to her, to pull her into his arms. Silently, he held her, feeling the tremors race through her. When she raised her head, he could see the pain, the sense of betrayal, reflected in her eyes.

“They’ve asked me to step down so Uncle John can take over until they have a chance to investigate Jeffrey as a possible candidate.” Her voice was a bare thread of sound. “I didn’t really believe they would do it. Why, Cole?”

His own troubles were roughly pushed aside by her anguish. It was happening again. He’d let himself get close, had allowed himself to care, and now he was being forced to watch as she was slowly, methodically destroyed.

Anita stepped into his view. “I told you, Darci. I tried to warn you, to protect you from this, but you refused to listen. Now you have nothing but a washed-up, out-of-work cowboy for a husband and no job for yourself.”

Darci leaned her forehead against Cole’s shoulder, her body limp and unresisting.

“I think that’s enough for now, Anita.”

“Yes, Cole, I’m sure you do. But you’re the cause of this disaster. If Darci had just done as she was supposed to, she’d be happily married to Jeffrey and the company would be in good hands.”