Page 88 of Mistletoe and Malice
“Of course we would be here.” Barbara put her glasses back on. “We can stay all night, if you need us to. It’ll be like college all over again.”
Riley’s friends were still dressed in their evening finery while she now wore warm sweats, had scrubbed her face clean, and brushed through her hair, leaving it loose. “I’ll be fine. Really. You’ve been here over an hour already and should probably get home to get some sleep. Are you all in separate cars?”
Avery shook her head. “We came with Frances and Kade. John had to stay at the … um … I mean … you know?—”
“Had to stay at the hotel. For the investigation. Avery, I’m so sorry. I’ve intruded on your evening out.”
“Now, you just stop, Riley Hudson. Like they said, nobody blames you for any of this. I’m proud of my man for doing his job so well and caring enough about my friend to put in all this extra work. Once this is all behind us, we’ll have plenty of time together. And you’ll be free to live your life without this hanging over you.”
A soft knock sounded on the doorframe before Colton made an appearance. “I hate to eavesdrop, but we can help with getting the ladies home. Paul’s back and all set to take Barbara and Avery.” He turned to Frances. “And Kade said he’s notleaving without you. So, if you stay the night, guess we’ll have to find him a spot too. Not that it would be a problem in this place.”
Frances laughed as she wiped tears from her face. “That’s a fact. We could probably put up a dozen folks here. But under the circumstances, I don’t think we want to make all that extra work for the staff. Hilda’s already been up here three times to check on us, bless her heart.”
“Have you heard anything about Trevor?” Riley asked.
He nodded. “No broken ribs. A deep bruise into some muscle. He’ll be paid to lie around and recover for the next few days. They’ll send someone to cover in the meantime.”
“I need to call Gemma.”
“Tomorrow. Tonight, you need to get some rest.”
Barbara took her hand. “He’s right, Ri. Please try to get some sleep.”
Riley could only hope. Sleep seemed a long way off, but she was thankful for her friends’ concern.
As they said their goodbyes for the night, the girls hugged and thanked Colton for keeping her safe, although he seemed uncomfortable with their gratitude. Embarrassed. As if he didn’t deserve it, when he deserved so much more than she could ever convey.
From the moment he’d scooped her up and held her close on their way out of the ballroom, she couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt so safe. So secure. Even amid all that chaos. And once inside the SUV, speeding away from the hotel, he’d held her tight to still her trembling. She’d wanted to stay there until this was all behind her. For as long it took.
But that was impossible—a silly romantic dream about a man she couldn’t have.
He was doing his job. And she was falling in love. Opposite ends of the spectrum.
“Riley?”
Her eyes focused on the man now standing in front of her.
“Are you okay?”
She stared at him, her arms crossed tightly over her stomach as tears rushed to her eyes.
He stepped forward and enveloped her once again in his arms. “I wish I could help you. Wish I could do more for you.”
“More than what you’ve already done?” She buried her forehead against his shoulder. “I don’t know how you could do any more for me.”
“It doesn’t seem near enough at the moment.”
She peered up at him but didn’t move away. “They didn’t catch him, did they?”
“No. He got away.”
Her throat constricted. “He got away.”
“They’ll get him, Riley.”
She rested her cheek against his broad chest, his arms once again encircling her as hers went around his waist. “He was going to kill me tonight.”
“He should have never been that close to you. Thank goodness Trevor was on his toes. I sure wasn’t.”
