Page 17 of Colton's Last Resort

Noah jerked his chin. “Yes.”

“So you’ll agree that your demand we close the resort is premature at this point?” Adam ventured.

“What happens when the coroner’s word comes down?” Noah asked. “What happens when we’re certain it was homicide? What then?”

“If that’s the case,” Adam said carefully, “we’ll reevaluate. But I see no reason to close Mariposa.”

“You’re worried about your bottom line,” Noah growled.

“No, Detective,” Adam said coolly. “I’m worried about the same thing Allison was, too, every day. The privacy and comfort of our guests.”

“You sure it’s not the Colton reputation?” Noah countered.

Laura unfolded her hands. “It’s late, and the snow’s coming in. I’m sure you’d like to get home, Detective Steele, in case the roads become impassable. Why don’t we all reconvene after the coroner decides on the manner of Allison’s passing, then proceed from there?”

She said it in such a way, Noah felt every argument die.

He didn’t want to go home. At home, it would be quiet. He’d have nothing to distract him from the voices inside his head that said Allison’s death was on his hands. “Fine.”

She offered something of a smile. It wasn’t the real thing. Her eyes weren’t involved in it. “I’ll walk you to L Building.”

“That’s unnecessary,” Adam cut in. “I’ll walk the detective back to his vehicle. You go home, Laura. It’s cold.”

“I’ll be fine,” she assured him. “I’d like a moment with Detective Steele.” When Adam only frowned at her, she added, “Alone.”

Adam exchanged a look with Noah, one that warned he’d better tread carefully.

Laura started to remove his jacket. Adam stopped her quickly. “Keep it. And promise to go home as soon as you see him out. You need to get off your feet.”

“I will,” she vowed.

“A promise is a promise, LouBear,” he reminded her. He dropped a kiss to her brow.

The sentiment rang through Noah’s head.A promise is a promise.He hated himself all the more. Before she could open the door, he reached for the handle.

“Thank you,” she said before ducking back out into the cold.

“We’ll see each other again, Detective Steele,” Adam said in closing.

“You can count on it.” Noah left the statement hanging in the air like an anvil. He zipped his jacket as he and Laura followed the well-manicured path back to L Building.

She walked in long strides. “Normally, I love the snow. Tonight, it just makes me sad.”

“Allison loved snow.” He closed his mouth quickly. He hadn’t meant to say it.

“She did,” Laura said. “I remember the first winter she worked for us. There was so much that year, she had to move classes inside. She liked watching the snowfall from the windows at Annabeth. She said it was like being trapped in a snow globe.”

That sounded like Allison. The black hole in Noah’s chest opened further. He felt gravity reeling him in toward it. He hoped it would wait until he was alone to absorb him.

“I need to apologize, too,” she revealed.

“For?” he asked.

“I misjudged you,” she explained. The cold stained her cheeks. “Back in the break room. I didn’t think you were with the police.”

“What did you think I was?”

“A criminal.” She winced. “I don’t like labeling people. But I labeled you right off the bat. And I’m sorry for it.”

---