Page 55 of Mistletoe and Malice
“He said he’d be proud to.”
“Of course he would be. It’s a huge compliment you asked him. That you did all of this for him.”
“Avery.” She shook her head. “I didn’t do this for Colton.”
“Okay, okay. I’ll drop it. And I’d better go so I can get started on all this.” Avery closed her laptop, slipped it into her bag, and stood. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow to bring you up to speed and let you know about news and radio spots.”
“Thanks, Avery.” Riley stood to walk her friend downstairs. “I know doing this all so quickly is a huge ordeal, but I wanted to get some donors tested before the holidays. How cool would it be to get a bone marrow transplant for Christmas? It would be like getting a new life.”
“It certainly would be.”
They reached the top of the stairs, and Colton came out of the study. “Hey, Avery, you taking off?”
“Yep. A lot to do to get this off the ground. But I’m excited to be involved, and we appreciate you being willing to chair the board.”
“It’s an honor. I’ll walk you out.”
Avery threw a questioning glance at Riley.
“I’m not allowed to go to the door,” she explained with a roll of her eyes.
“Ah. I see. Then, I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
Riley returned her friend’s hug. “Tomorrow.”
She waited until Colton and Avery had gone, then made her way back to her suite. Sitting at her desk, she stared at the screen on her laptop. She needed to get started on the work she’d brought home from the office—go over the interviews her investigator had gathered from the defense witnesses, read over the depositions of the responding officers who found Shane, shocked and despondent, with Caitlyn’s blood all over him.
Instead, she found her mind wandering back to the upstairs study—back in Colton’s arms. The way he’d held her—so tight yet tender against him, his chin resting on her head. She’d never been so aware of a man before. His scent, a combination of musk and that earthiness one carried after going about business forthe day. The fabric of his dress shirt against her cheek, softness covering the hardness of his chest.
He’d been touched by what she’d done. Surprised, a little unnerved, maybe. Emotional. She tried not to get lost in his embrace but had conceded defeat the second her cheek laid against him. It had been a thank you, a gesture of appreciation, gratitude. Nothing more.
If only she could convince her runaway imagination.
Chapter Twenty-Four
This could be over next week.
Riley gave her head a shake to chase Colton’s words from her mind, where they’d ricocheted around the last three days. Focusing instead on the older woman on the other side of the glass, she smiled as she handed her a plate. “Happy Thanksgiving.”
The woman wouldn’t meet her eyes. Riley’s heart squeezed. Nobody should spend their later years like this. Nobody should spendanyof their years like this. No place to call their own. Wearing the same clothes for days on end. Not knowing if they’ll eat that day. Or the next.
She took the plate Colton passed her, put a hot roll on top of the turkey slices, and handed it to the man next in line. “Happy Thanksgiving.”
“This sure looks good,” he said with a gap-toothed grin. “Thank you kindly.”
As he walked away, she shifted her weight from one foot to the other and peered out over the room. She’d worn tennis shoes since she would be on her feet most of the day, but exhaustionpulled on her limbs. Everything ached. Probably from tossing and turning so much the last twelve days.
The volume had increased as more showed up for their free meal, the comforting aromas of baked turkey, fresh bread, stuffing, and mashed potatoes with gravy diluting the odor of so many bodies in one place. The shelter had offered the use of their shower facilities to everybody who showed up for a meal today. Someday, maybe they’d even have enough beds for them all.
She grinned at a little girl clutching a doll with a smudged face and held out the child-sized plate Colton handed her. “Here you go, sweetie. Let me know if you want seconds. There’s plenty.” Her wink at least brought a hint of a smile, but her heart ached for the child now walking under the protective arm of her father to a table. A family of four. Mother, father, the little girl, and an older boy. All without a home.
So incongruous to the place she’d return to today to celebrate the holiday with family and friends. If only there were more she could do.
This could be over next week.
The possibility brought a puzzling mixture of hope and dread. In a matter of days, this could all be behind her. The townhome would have to be sold. She might need sleep, but she would never again lay her head down under that roof. A real estate agent had already been contacted and would list it after the holidays. She’d move anything salvageable to storage and stay at the estate until she could find a new place.
She’d love to get back behind the wheel of her little BMW sports coupe, but she would miss the banter with the guys during their time in the SUV. And while she’d like to go about her business without wondering if another note might come, or another call with that blood-curdling altered voice, she took comfort whenever she looked up from her work and foundColton standing outside her office or walking up and down the hall.
