Page 107 of Mistletoe and Malice
“She thinks? Or she told you outright she loved you?”
“She told me. But I don’t believe she could be in love with me. More like the idea of me. The guy standing between her and the big, bad wolf.”
John laughed, taking him by surprise. “Colton, think about who we’re talking about here. Riley Hudson is mature, generous, compassionate. Stubborn, yes, but off-the-charts intelligent. She’s not some wishy-washy, club-hopping, self-involved girl who goes weak in the knees at the sight of a good-looking guy who makes her feel safe. She’s secure in who she is. Confident in her faith. If she opened her heart and told you she was in love with you, you can take that to the bank, my friend.”
Colton stared hard at the detective. What he said held a ring of truth. Riley was all those things. And more.
“Even if that’s true, how could I stay? It would have been tough to do my job.”
“Because you would have been distracted by your own feelings?”
“Maybe. I don’t know. I’m not even sure what I feel. Am I attracted to her? Of course. Her inner spirit is as beautiful as the outside. Am I in love with her? How could I be? It hasn’t even been six weeks since we met.”
“Same day I met Avery, if memory serves. And, pal, let me tell you, I am crazy about that girl.”
“And you think you can make it work?”
“Why wouldn’t we? We care about each other. She’s spent time with my family, they love her, and she loves them. I’ve been with hers and was just as comfortable. We’re even splitting Christmas Day next week between her family and mine. Her mother can be a little uppity, but we have a mutual respect for each other. She knows how much I care about her daughter, and I know I have her blessing.
“The Hudsons are some of the least pretentious people I know. You don’t think her family would accept you with open arms? Do you think Riley would look down her nose at yours? If you do, then you don’t know her well enough to be in love with her.”
Colton nodded, studying his hands folded in front of him. “You’re right. I just don’t want to hurt her.”
“Then don’t. Pray about it. And if you believe God brought you two together for a reason, you need to act on it. You’ll be missing out if you don’t.”
“Yeah, I appreciate your?—”
John’s phone buzzed, and he peered down at the screen before picking it up. “Her ears must’ve been burning.” He pressed the green icon. “Riley, what’s—” He sat up straight. “Seriously? Wait.” His eyes snapped to Colton. “Let me put you on speaker. I think Blankenship needs to hear this.”
He pressed the speaker button and laid the phone on the table.
Colton cleared his throat. “Hey, Riley.”
“Colton, it’s him.” The pitch of her voice, the urgency in it, had his skin erupting in gooseflesh. “He was with Caitlyn. I saw him.”
“Hold up. Who? Warren Everett?”
“Yes. At the country club. Except he was going by Jacob then.” She took a breath and released it slowly. “Okay. Sorry. My heart’s racing.”
Colton exchanged a look with John.Jacob, he mouthed. They hadn’t thought much of the fact Warren Everett’s first name was Jacob when his father mentioned it. Another brick in the wall of evidence piling up againstJacobWarren Everett.
“Remember Shane said Warren had never met Cait,” she continued, “unless they met at the country club before Shane and Cait got together?”
“Yes.”
“I saw them. He was coming on to her. I guess it had happened before. But this time, she put him in his place, and he was livid. I told her she should report him, but a few monthsbefore she died, I asked her about that, and she said she didn’t because she never saw him again.”
He sat up and grabbed the phone. “Riley, think back. Did he see you?”
“Yes. I started toward them when I saw they were arguing. He glared at me. It’s those eyes, Cole. Those same eyes. I can’t believe I’m only now remembering that.”
John leaned in. “It was a long time ago, Ri. Don’t beat yourself up.”
“Yes, but what if I’d remembered Cait had been harassed by this guy at the club? If they’d investigated and found the record of his employment, they would’ve seen he had the same last name as Shane, and probably asked the questions we’re asking now, only face-to-face. What if?—”
Colton glanced at the phone as the silence lingered, wondering if they’d lost the connection. “Riley? What if what?”
“What if Shane’s in prison because of me?”
