Page 118 of Mistletoe and Malice
She turned back, taking the pendant in her fingers and staring down at it. “I do love it, Cole. Thank you so much.”
“You’re welcome. Now, I guess we should go so you can start greeting your guests.”
“In a minute. I … uh … have something for you too. I brought it tonight, but I wasn’t sure I’d have a chance to give it to you.”
She opened her tiny, hot pink, beaded handbag and took out a small package, much like the one he’d given her. He removed the paper and opened the box to reveal two square gold cuff links withCBengraved in cursive on each.
“Wow. These are great. Thank you.”
While he replaced the cuff links he’d donned earlier, she told him Paul had received cuff links in the likeness of steeringwheels, Nowell sported a tiepin in the shape of a bicycle—his favorite hobby—and Trevor wore a lapel pin resembling a miniature purple heart.
“For taking a bullet for me and all,” she said with a shrug.
Her smile disappeared as panic filled her eyes. “I don’t want anybody taking a bullet for me tonight, Cole. Not my guys, not any of John’s guys. Not you.”
The urge to pull her into his arms was strong, but he settled for taking her hand. “This place is locked down tight. We won’t let him anywhere near you if he should show. I promise you that.”
The trust that replaced the fear almost undid him, and he would do everything in his power to prove himself worthy of it.
Chapter Forty-Nine
So far, so good.
Standing in the back of the ballroom, Colton applauded with the rest of the attendees as Riley took her seat at her family’s table. The elegant three-course dinner had been served three hours ago, and after her guests had enjoyed dancing to the string ensemble or visiting at their tables, she treated them to a video presentation highlighting her Lend a Hand and Save the Children charities. What he hadn’t expected was the plug for Theresa’s foundation, and judging by the response, he had no doubt the evening’s pledges would exceed their goal.
Then again, Riley represented her causes with such grace and eloquence a miser would gladly relinquish his last dime.
While several people again took to the dance floor—with more modern, faster-tempo music now supplied by a deejay—he strolled the perimeter of the ballroom, as he’d done several times throughout the evening. Perusing the crowd, he confirmed no new faces had appeared.
Completing his circuit, he joined Trevor at the ballroom entrance. “How are you doing? Since the shooting.”
“Back to normal.” Trevor glanced around the room and back again. “Just a bit of a bruise left.”
“Glad to hear it. And the other?”
Trevor’s brow wrinkled. “Other?”
“The mental healing can be a longer road.”
With a shrug, Trevor took another scan of the room. “All good.” His gaze came back to Colton. “I appreciated everybody’s cards and notes. The prayers.”
“Prayer’s the key.”
“Amen, brother.”
Colton clapped him on the shoulder. “Happy New Year, Trev.”
“Yes, sir. You too.”
Again taking his place in the back of the room, Colton panned the crowd milling around in groups. It had been easier with everybody at their tables, but this was a party, after all, so constant movement was to be expected.
The New Year would dawn in less than thirty minutes, but their job was far from over. From what he’d been told, any partygoers with enough stamina would dance until the sun came up.
“Colton,” Dillon said in his ear.
“Go ahead.”
“We have a situation.”
