Page 22 of Mistletoe and Malice
Surprised, he nodded. “You know them?”
“I knowofthem. Hard not to in Houston. That church is huge and does a ton of charitable work. I spoke at a women’s ministry breakfast there last year and met Micah’s wife, Lisa. She’s your sister?”
“She is.” This was all a little too close for comfort. She’d met his sister? Had been to an event at the church? The church he’d left without a backward glance? How long before she asked?—
“That’s where you worship?”
And there it was.
Shrugging, he diverted his gaze to the view out the windshield. “I’m a member there.”
When the silence stretched, he turned back and found her studying him with a crease in her brow, as if she could see into his soul. He certainly hoped not. All she’d find was a knotted mass of questions and confusion he’d packed down under layers of ambition and duty.
But, “Raised here in Houston, then,” was all she said, even though he suspected she itched to know more. Probably that attorney in her. “Where’d you go to school?”
“Considered Sociology at UT but decided on Criminal Justice at Texas State. Better option for my career track.”
He hoped keeping his answers short and to the point would provide her enough to satisfy her.
“Both excellent schools. I applied to the School of Law at UT.”
Applied but didn’t get in? “Where’d you end up going?”
Turning her attention to the window, she twisted her emerald ring around her finger. It couldn’t be that bad.Regardless of where she got her law degree, she was doing a lot with it.
She cleared her throat. “Um, Harvard.”
“Harvard Law.” So, she wasn’t embarrassed that she didn’t get into a good school, but humble about attending one of the best in the country. “Nice back-up plan.”
She laughed, and his pulse did that twitchy thing again. He’d have to work on that. Or get to a doctor.
“It’s okay, I guess.”
“You’re such an underachiever, Riley,” Trevor said with a teasing grin over his shoulder.
She laughed again, and Colton couldn’t look away.
What a surprise this Riley Hudson had been, from the first moment he’d set eyes on her Saturday night, to poring over her packed schedule yesterday, then spending the day with her in business mode. Unlike the society princess he’d expected, she’d instead shown herself to be mature, confident, independent, intelligent, and extremely caring of her fellow man.
The only disappointment of the day had been Graham Harding. Nothing like the man he would have imagined she would be with. Too slick, too arrogant. Colton caught himself chuckling from his place when she suppressed a yawn as they’d neared the end of their lunch date. Then the guy all but ditched her afterward without even a kiss on the cheek.
Yes, Miss Hudson could do much better than Graham of the Fort Worth Hardings.
They drove through another decorative iron gate and pulled up to the walk.
Trevor stepped out of the SUV and flashed his agency ID and concealed carry permit at the valet approaching the vehicle. “Personal security for Miss Hudson. We’ll handle it.”
“Yes, sir,” the young man answered before moving to the next car.
While Trevor stood where he could scan the area around the vehicle, Colton walked to the passenger side and opened her door. Tonight, however, instead of taking his usual position, he offered her his arm.
Her surprised smile had his stomach coiling. He hadn’t had any reaction to anyone in over four years, and it was completely unacceptable under these circumstances. He really needed that time off.
Paul left to park nearby as he and Trevor, taking his position behind them, walked her into the house. Her hand clutched his arm above the bend of his elbow, as if they were actually on a date. A high-end, completely-out-of-his-league date.
They checked their overcoats at the door and made their way through the receiving line.
She let go of his arm to hug their hostess for the evening. “Rebecca. Senator. This is Mr. Colton Blankenship and Mr. Trevor Paxton.”
