Page 110 of Mistletoe and Malice
Mom thanked her and brought her cup of coffee over to join Riley. “You look like you’re doing so much better today, sweetie. I was a little concerned yesterday.”
“Yesterday?”
“At the shelter. You’ve always loved the time spent there on Christmas Eve as much as the time spent here on Christmas morning. But you seemed a little distracted.”
“I hope nobody else noticed. I would hate it if anyone thought I didn’t want to be there.”
“I’m your mom. I notice things about you others don’t.”
“I guess I was a bit distracted. I kept looking around at everybody, wondering if they were … you know.” Saying his name always put an acid taste of fear in her throat. “I hated being suspicious of every man I saw. And I was worried about my family, and my friends, and the people at the shelter. I know everybody at the Christmas Ball was okay, but I kept thinking maybe I should stay in until this is over, to make sure nobody else gets hurt. I was so stressed by the time we got home, I did a half hour of laps in the pool, then sat in the spa with Delia and Sadie for some girl time.”
“You shouldn’t worry about us or anybody else. The Petersen guys are on top of things, and John had half a dozen officers there yesterday.” She paused for a moment. “I thought maybe you were searching for someone else. Someone you hoped might be there.”
Riley bowed her head and took a sip of her hot chocolate. The warmth cascaded down her throat but did nothing for the ache in her chest. “Colton. He loved being at the shelter on Thanksgiving, so I wondered if he would show.”
Mom pulled her close. “Oh, honey. I’m sorry this is so difficult for you. Not only with this guy making your life miserable but the way your heart hurts. I understand it. I loved your father for months before he finally came around.”
“You didn’t give up hope?”
“I couldn’t. I was in love. Nothing changes that except time. And the more time that passed, the more I loved him. I simply had no choice but to wait.”
Riley shrugged. “Then I guess I have no choice.”
Chapter Forty-Five
“Ithink we have a good plan of action here.” Colton skimmed the final page in the notebook in front of him, then took a bite of syrup-drenched pancakes he hardly tasted.
“We?” John chuckled. “This is your show. All the way.”
Colton glanced out the window of the restaurant where they’d met for breakfast this cold, gray day after Christmas. “I might be point, but it wouldn’t have come together without your input and resources. I’ll send it over to Petersen so they can start staffing personnel.”
“Still, I like to give credit where it’s due.” John consulted the time before downing the last of his orange juice. “We should probably hit it.”
“Nice watch.” Colton closed the notebook and took the last swallow from his now lukewarm coffee. “New?”
“Christmas gift from Avery. I’m afraid to think what she paid for it.”
“What’d you give her?”
“A tennis bracelet. Probably more modest than she’s used to, but she squealed as if I’d given her the Hope Diamond.”
“Really?”
“No. She went on a tirade about how cheap I am. Of course, really. I guess the girl loves me. Doesn’t care that I’m a poor civil servant.” John swiped a napkin across his mouth and set it on his empty plate. “You ready? We’re slated to be there by ten, and I don’t want to leave my men cooling their heels outside.”
Colton grimaced and pulled his wallet from his back pocket. “Yeah, I guess we should go.”
John’s brow furrowed. “Nervous?”
Frowning, Colton dropped some bills on the table to cover their meal plus a generous tip for their attentive waitress. “Why would I be nervous?”
John’s gaze went from the money on the table back to Colton. “I can pay for mine.”
“Nah. I got it. Merry belated Christmas.”
“Thanks. I’ll cover lunch next time.”
“Deal.”
