Page 28 of Mistletoe and Malice
“We keep telling you not to worry about it, Riley.” Paul gave her another glance in the rearview mirror. “Most principals don’t give us a second thought. We know it’s the job. You should relax.”
She shrugged. “I can’t help it. I worry about you guys.”
“Because you want to take care of everybody,” Colton said.
She narrowed her eyes. “Pardon?”
“You want to take care of people.” He turned to her. “For some reason, you need to make sure everybody’s happy, everybody’s taken care of. It’s like an obsession.”
And that was a bad thing? She stared at him in the darkened confines of the vehicle. He probably hadn’t meant for the comment to have a bite. He’d simply stated the facts, as she’d learned over the past six days he was prone to do. But he’d inadvertently struck a nerve. She did have a need to help people. She always had.
Because, for some reason, God had seen fit to bless her immeasurably more than she deserved. Born with the proverbial silver spoon in her mouth. Grew up in a mansion with a cook, maids, drivers, gardeners, a maintenance crew, and a private security team, not including her current detail. She’d gone to elite schools and had traveled the world. She spoke three languages and drove a new car every year or so.
And she loved clothes. Designer clothes. They were her one weakness, but she’d found a way to make that work for others as well. Whatever she spent shopping, the same amount would make its way to some lucky charity the next day. Every time she cleaned out her closet, all her business clothes went to help welfare mothers dress for success as they applied for and started new jobs, while her gowns went to a program that provided girls in low-income areas with dresses for prom or theirquinceañera. Most of them probably had no idea the gown in their prom pictures cost thousands and had been worn only once.
Charity work had been her life’s passion since she was a teenager. She’d worked in soup kitchens, spearheaded clothing and toy drives, took part in walk-a-thons, phone-a-thons, and still manned a booth every year at the county fair to educate the public about the plight of the homeless in America.
She had a heart for people. And with her bankroll and education, her contacts and family name, there was much she could accomplish. She’d only scratched the surface.
Sinking into her seat, she pulled the coat up to her chin and closed her eyes, theswish-swish-swishof the wipers and earthy man-scent mixed with leather from Colton’s jacket pulling the tension from her body.
“Riley.” Colton’s voice sounded far away until she opened her eyes. “You’re home.”
“Oh.” She lifted her head and pulled her hair back with her hand. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”
“No problem. How you keep going on your schedule is beyond me.”
She handed him his coat. “I plan on sleeping in tomorrow, so you guys should too. I have no plans to be anywhere until dinner.” If she didn’t cancel it. Sharing another meal with Graham sulking wasn’t what she’d call a good time.
Except they did need to have a heart-to-heart about their relationship. A conversation she dreaded as much as she knew it had to happen.
Colton laid his jacket across his lap. “You promise you won’t leave the house?”
“Cross my heart.” She drew an imaginaryXacross her chest with her finger. “I have a million calls to make and tons of work to do. Correspondence, flyers for the Christmas toy drive, some last-minute things for the shelter Thanksgiving dinner next Thursday, that sort of thing. I’ll be busy all day. Please. Take some time off.”
He addressed his cohorts. “Okay, then. I’ll see you both tomorrow, say, four o’clock?”
“Copy that,” Paul said. “My kid will love having me home for a while.”
“Enjoy your time.”
Colton opened the door and stepped onto the stone pavers in front of the steps, offering his hand to help her out. Riley took it as she’d been doing all week, but the spark of awareness hadn’t lessened from the first time. She let him go and hunkered down into her scarf as they hurried up the steps to the front door.
Once inside, he helped her off with her coat.
“Thank you.” She unfurled her scarf from around her neck and handed it to him to hang with the jacket in the foyer closet. “You’re quite the gentleman.”
He closed the closet door and walked back over to her. “But I offended you. I’m sorry about that.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Avoiding his eyes, she brushed an imaginary piece of lint off her borrowed red sweater.
“Come on, Riley. I’m trying to apologize here.”
She let out a breath. “So, I’m a little sensitive. Don’t apologize for telling the truth. I am a little obsessive about taking care of people. I probably should have been a nurse or doctor or something.”
“I’d say you’re doing plenty with a law degree. I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings.”
“Not your fault. Now, since I’m staying put, you should go home and spend the night in your own bed. Before the weather gets worse.”
