Page 6 of The Unknown Colton
Unfortunately she doubted it. He was so determined to wait, and not just when it came to starting their business together. He seemed determined to wait for them to start their life together as well. Marriage. A family. All the things they’d been talking about since they started dating in high school and he’d finally realized what she’d known all along: they were soulmates. But now, it seemed like he wasn’t in any hurry to give her the commitment she wanted.
Maybe she was just letting Billy Hoover and Eric Seller’s comments get to her. Instead of understanding Troy’s reasons for working on the oil rigs, she was beginning to think they were just excuses to put off their future. Maybe she was just getting sick of waiting for Troy. And sick of missing him.
She was so sick of it that she felt nauseous. Or was that nerves churning her stomach because she was worried that he was going to be angry with her? Not that he really had any reason to be, not after going so long with so little communication. If anyone should be angry, it should be her.
If only she didn’t love him so damn much…
He was a good guy. So protective and loyal and caring. All he wanted to do was help the people he loved.
But was she still one of those people?
“You don’t look so good,” Parker said the minute he stepped out of his private office. The administrative building was a big old cabin and felt more like a home than a workspace. The floor was polished concrete, and there was wood everywhere and big, thickly cushioned leather furniture where guests and family often lounged while waiting for a tour to start.
Parker hadn’t even walked up to her desk before he made his pronouncement. He was perceptive as ever. He’d taken RTA to the next level, rebranding the company after their father and uncle retired and making it even more successful than it had been. Lakin loved working with him and had learned so much from him that she had the skills to run her own business now. She just needed help—the partnership she’d dreamed of having, in every aspect of their lives, with Troy.
“Lakin?” Parker asked, his voice deep with concern. “Are you okay?”
She nodded, then grimaced at the tension headache forming behind her eyes. That, coupled with some nausea, made her wonder if she had picked up a virus.
She was pretty sure it was just stress. If she admitted that to her brother, though, he would want to fix it. Her three older brothers had always been super protective of her, just like Troy; that was probably the only reason they’d accepted him as her boyfriend, because he was so much like them.
Maybe she should have been offended that they didn’t think she could protect herself, but like Troy, she loved them so damn much that she could never be angry with them. They were the best big brothers she could ever imagine anyone having.
“I’m fine,” she tried to assure him. “Just probably not sleeping well right now.”
Because of what she’d done…and that feeling she’d been having that someone was watching her. Butwho…and why?
“I don’t think anyone is sleeping well right now,” Parker said. “Not with some maniac out there abducting and killing women. Are you sure you shouldn’t be staying with Dad and Mom instead of in that cabin all by yourself?”
“I’m fine,” she repeated. “I lock my doors and windows and keep an eye out.” Even though she’d been super careful, she hadn’t figured out who was watching her. Maybe nobody was, and she was just being paranoid because of the killer.
“That’s good,” Parker said. “And I’m sure Eli will find the bastard soon and put him behind bars for the rest of his life.”
“I hope he finds Dawn Ellis soon,” Lakin said, “and alive and well.” She’d never met the missing young woman, but she was worried about her.
Parker nodded. “Yeah, me, too.” He stepped closer to the reception desk and narrowed his eyes as he studied her face. He must have noticed the dark circles under her eyes. “Go home and get some rest. I’ll handle the office for the rest of the day.”
She smiled. “It’s almost quitting time.”
He chuckled. “Yeah. That’s why I can handle it on my own.”
He was obviously on his way out, so she shouldn’t take him up on his offer. But she was feeling too sick, with nerves and a bad stomach and a headache, to stay. So she grabbed her bag and headed toward the door.
“Hey, you didn’t drive here?” Parker asked. He must have looked out at the parking lot and noticed her SUV wasn’t there.
“No. I left my vehicle at the cabin.”
“Let me lock up and walk you to your place,” Parker said.
She laughed and shook her head. “You’re not getting off desk duty that easily,” she said. “We’re getting a delivery with the toner I need for the printer, and someone has to be here for them to leave it.”
Parker groaned.
“You just have to—”
“I know how to sign for a package,” he told her. “I don’t like you walking by yourself.”
“I walk by myself all the time,” she said. “I’ll be fine.”
