A knot formed in the bottom of my throat. I always got a little nervous walking into the prison. The air changed when I walked in. A guard let me in the prison side and led me to the meeting room on the left. I saw the yellow stained door with a small window in it. He gestured me forward into the room.
“He’s all yours,” the guard said.
I smiled at him. “Thank you.”
I stepped in, clutching my manila folder tightly. I struggled to maintain a neutral face as I scanned Charlie Winters up and down for good measure. His presence at the table took up a whole expanse of space. His eyes captivated me at first—ice blue pools of piercing coldness. I moistened my lips as I approached him. His sandy blond hair was neatly cropped on both sides, and his highlights on top stood out. His square, masculine jaw was clenched in position as he waited for me to speak first.
I held out my hand for him to shake. “Hi, I’m Amber Atwood, the social worker for your daughter, Bella.”
He stood up, and I secretly admired his height and his impressive physical build. His large manly hand engulfed my small one as he gripped it lightly and let go. A lightning bolt of attraction surged through my system. I pulled out my chair and sat down as quickly as I could. His blue eyes twinkled, letting me know he was equally impressed by me.
“Great. I want to thank you for all you’re doing for Bella. I’ve spoken to her on the phone, and she said you’re a really nice lady.”
I pulled out my case file from my purse and set it in front of me. “I’m so glad to hear that. She is a bright seven-year-old, and she’s a pleasure to work with. She misses you.”
Charlie looked down at his massive hands with guilt written all over him. “Yes. I know. I can’t wait to get out of this hellhole. I just want to see my girl.” The love for his daughter was evident in his voice.
“Charlie, would you like some water before we get started?” I reached out to the middle of the table where the water sat and attempted to pour into the plastic cups.
Charlie placed his hand over mine. “Let me. It’s the least I can do—and call me Colt.”
His beautiful, gleaming teeth made an appearance. I swear I started to swerve at the table from the sex appeal he oozed.
“Ah. Thank you. I appreciate it.”
I gulped as a second knot formed in the pit of my stomach. His icy blue devils made the rounds over my body. I was modestly covered. I was wearing a blazer and a white top underneath. Opaque, because if it was see-through, prisoners might get ideas. I opted for black slacks, not too tight and not too baggy. Just right. It was hard to conceal my ample chest, though. It was sizable, and his eyes inadvertently moved there for a moment to rest. He watched me as he sipped his water. I let mine sit on the table.
“Shall we get started?” I realized I had my thighs squeezed together under the table in protest and loosened them a little.
“Yes. We can do that. How is my sweet Bella?”
His tenderness made my heart swell. “Bella is doing great. She is making strides at school and seems to be really enjoying it. She does ask a lot of questions about her mother. I do want to prepare you for that when you get out. I know it must be hard for you to talk about.”
This man’s forearms and biceps were like fully loaded cannons. I tried desperately not to look at them. Colt ran a hand through his blond hair and laced his fingers together. “I know. I mean, I’m going to have to talk to her some more. We talk on the phone about it. I don’t want her to feel like she can’t talk about her mother. I am just sucking it up. Obviously, Anna didn’t cope well with me being locked up.”
“It must have been upsetting for you to lose her like that.”
“Yes. It was. I wish she could have thought about Bella more instead of herself. Thing is, I had no control over the situation. I couldn’t be there to stop it from happening.”
“Hey, it’s not your fault. As you said, she wasn’t coping.”
“Well, no offense, but it is my fault that I ended up in here and Bella’s without her father.”
I straightened my jacket out a little and took a sip of water now. When I looked up, Colt’s intense gaze was homed in on me. “So, Colt, any ideas for when you get out? I think having a solid exit plan will help you re-establish your relationship with Bella.”
Colt fidgeted a little. “I agree. I have a plan. I want her to know that she’s not going to lose me again and that she can rely on me.”
“Good. Tell me more about Bella.”
Colt’s handsome face lit up as he began talking about her, how he’d been raising her to be a country girl, to climb trees and swim in the brook. After awhile, he paused and took another mouthful of water. “I used to read to her at night. I would rock her to sleep in my arms. She was so tiny. I’ve missed everything. She’s grown up without me.”
I watched as Colt dropped his head on top of his hands and slouched forward on the table. “Hey. It’s not long to go now. Just take your time. It’s going to be an adjustment when you get back home to her, but maybe your bond with the horses can be the entry point.”
He lifted his head. “Maybe you’re right. She used to help feed them every morning and talk to them. She’s got a special way with them.”
“See. That’s a good start. How about you? How is your mental health here? I know the conditions aren’t the best.” I frowned as I looked him over.
“I’m not going to off myself if that’s what you mean. But I’ve seen it. One of the guys in cell block D braided a bedsheet together, put in the grill above him, and tightened the knot. The guard found him, blue and stiff, hanging in his cell the next morning,” he said matter-of-factly.
