Page 109 of Mistletoe and Malice
“Appeared to be, as of last week.”
Dad’s forehead creased. “You haven’t spoken to her since last week?”
“Hasn’t been any need to.” Other than his desire to hear her voice. To bridge the distance between them. Completely selfishand not at all what Riley needed. “I check in with Cooper from time to time.” Or every day, if truth be told.
No, better to keep his distance. At least until the New Year’s Ball, where he was running point on event security. He’d have to see her then. Dancing the night away with the likes of young Dr. Bellows. Maybe even Pretty Boy Gentry.
“I see.” Dad stuck his hands in his pockets and stared out the window. “You know, we never did quite understand why you left her detail. You don’t have to explain to me. It was just unlike you. You always see things through. We figured something happened that made it impossible for you to continue.”
“You could say that.” He sighed and peered down into his cup, even the sight of the rich cocoa bringing her to mind. How many cups of hot chocolate had they had together? “We got too close. Nothing inappropriate, don’t get me wrong. But she thinks she’s in love with me.”
“She thinks? Or she knows?”
“How could sheknow, Dad? How could we fall in love in four weeks? It doesn’t happen that way.”
“We?”
“Excuse me?”
“You saidwe. ‘How couldwefall in love in four weeks.’”
“I mean her. How could she know she was in love with me in only four weeks?”
“But you saidwe. I think you need to quit worrying about Riley and start trying to make sense of what it isyoufeel. Can people fall in love in four weeks? I believe they can fall in love in four hours, if it’s meant to be. I was with you two for an entire evening at Thanksgiving. And what I saw, even after you’d been together less than two weeks, was more than two people with a professional relationship.”
Colton couldn’t argue. “I respect her. A lot. She’s an incredible lady, and, in all honesty, that came as a surprise tome. She’s not living off her name and social status. That woman would give her right arm to somebody if she believed they needed it more than she did. We’d developed a friendship, which was fine. I just let things get out of control in a weak moment. She’s a beautiful woman, and I’d have to be dead not to notice. But that’s as far as it goes.”
Dad nodded, but his gaze remained fixed. “If you say so. We’d just like to see you with a good woman, Colton, my boy. And Riley’s as good as they come.”
Colton stared after his father as he walked back over to the children still playing in the remnants of their gift-opening.Riley’s as good as they come.He didn’t disagree. She was everything a guy could want in a woman. Everything he needed.
But could he be everythingsheneeded?
Riley laughed as she blew bubbles into the air for her nieces and nephews. Every member of the family had received a bottle of bubbles in their stocking, and they now sat around the fire and the Christmas tree in the cozy family room. Colorful paper, bows, and boxes of every size lay strewn on the rug as the kids chased bubbles they would never catch. Still, they never gave up.
Yesterday afternoon and evening had been spent at the shelter, as they always did on Christmas Eve, serving dinner, handing out gifts and clothes, and singing carols into the night. Knowing the creep—no,Warren—had made an appearance at the Thanksgiving dinner, Mack had supplied two additional teams besides hers for the Christmas event. She’d been hyper-vigilant herself, but nobody spotted anyone they believed could be her nightmare in skin.
But today was all about family. While the kids chased bubbles, Grandpa Kevin sat in the middle of the mess, putting together all the toys as he’d done for Riley, Alex, and “Little” Kevin in years past.
From as far back as she could remember, the Hudson family tradition had been to come down to a hearty Christmas Day breakfast in their matching pajamas before opening gifts. That’s probably where she’d learned to stuff her food down as quickly as possible, so they could get to the fun part faster.
Yes, today was all about family. Except for the usual rotation of guards in the security room, watching the gate and the grounds. Riley had promised her guys she wouldn’t even peek out a window so they could spend the day with their families. Even Nowell had been with his family since leaving her back at the estate last night.
She closed the bottle, put it aside, and joined her grandfather on the floor. “Thank you again for my beautiful locket. That it was Grandma’s makes it even more special.”
The wistfulness in his eyes made her heart catch. “She was thirty when I gave it to her for Christmas, with each of our pictures from our wedding day. I know she’d love for you to have it, to put your own pictures in there when the time comes.”
“Ifthe time comes.” If she could ever lay aside the conviction that she’d already met the love of her life. A man who chose to walk away instead of staying to discover what they could become. Together.
“It’ll come. And if God has something else for you, He’ll fill your heart so much, there’s no room for anybody else.”
A tear escaped, and she swiped it away. “I love you, Gramps.”
“I love you, too, Riley-girl. Now, help this old man with this dollhouse.”
“You got it.”
Twenty minutes later, the dollhouse built and put aside, Riley returned to the loveseat. Hilda, who was more family than employee and always opted to stay on holidays, brought in a tray full of cups of hot cocoa and coffee.
