Page 21 of Colton's Second Chance
Noelle hesitated. How much did she want to divulge? Of course, Kansas was at least tangentially involved in the case asa member of the search and rescue team that had recovered the victims’ bodies. “I’m running some data analysis for Eli, yes.”
Kansas inhaled sharply, her expression saying she’d just had an inspiring thought. “Has Eli mentioned the family dinner this Sunday? It’s Aunt Sasha’s birthday, and the whole family is getting together. You should come! We’d love for you to join us as Eli’s plus-one.”
“Oh, uh…” Noelle squatted to pat the cat again as a means to stall. “He hasn’t said anything, and I probably shouldn’t impose—”
“Nonsense! When you have a hoard as big as the Coltons, what’s one more? Come as my plus-one if not Eli’s. It will be a great chance to meet the whole family at last!”
Noelle’s heart stuck in her throat, and her voice fled. Her whole life, she’d wanted to be part of a big, happy, loving family like the Coltons, but she had no right to horn in on this gathering. She and Eli weren’t an item, and she wasn’t staying in Shelby more than a few days. She didn’t want to give Kansas or any of the Coltons the wrong idea about her relationship with Eli. Especially not Eli.
When she didn’t answer, Kansas flapped a hand toward her. “Don’t worry. I’ll talk to Eli about it and let Uncle Will know to count on one more. It’ll be fine.” She pulled a card from the rack, read it and walked to the counter to pay. “I’ll take this one.”
Noelle sighed and whispered to Igor the cat, “What have I gotten myself into?”
Chapter 7
“Isaw Noelle yesterday at Tattered Pages,” Kansas said the next morning.
Eli looked up from his computer monitor to find his cousin leaning against the doorframe to his and Asher’s office. “You did?”
“Mmm-hmm. I invited her to Aunt Sasha’s party on Sunday. Honestly, I’m surprised you hadn’t already.” Though she didn’t verbalize the question, thewhy not?hung in her tone and lifted eyebrow.
“Don’t meddle,” he said. “I know you’re trying to play matchmaker and get us back together, but our history is…complicated. Even I don’t understand all the factors that went into our breakup, and if you push her, you might scare her off.”
Kansas frowned. “Okay. I hear you. But…how can you not know what happened in your own relationship? She had to have given you a reason for dumping you.”
“You’d think, but what little she said doesn’t hold water. I’m hoping to get to the truth while she’s in town, but I won’t if she starts feeling pressured and withdraws.”
“But she’s working on the case with you,” Kansas said. “Doesn’t that count for anything?”
“Who’s doing what with who?” Scott Montgomery said, appearing behind Kansas in the corridor.
“The analytics lady you met earlier,” Asher volunteered from his desk, his mouth pressed into a scowl. “You need something, Montgomery?”
“I was just bringing Kansas a cup of coffee,” Scott returned tartly, then softening his tone, he handed Kansas the paper cup. “Just the way you like it.”
“I think Kansas can get her own coffee if she wants it,” Asher said with a growl in his tone.
“And I think I can speak for myself, Asher.” Kansas turned from Asher and smiled awkwardly. “Oh, uh, thanks, Scott, but I’ve already had all I plan to drink this morning. Any more, and I’ll be too jittery.”
Scott tightened his jaw, clearly disappointed in Kansas’s response, but he gave her a small smile as he turned to leave.
Eli followed the exchange, conscious that there was a growing tension in the office involving the trio. But just as he’d asked Kansas not to meddle in his affairs, he’d stay out of her work relationships. If the strain between his coworkers and Kansas interfered with the business of the office, he’d step in. But until that time, he’d let the three of them handle it their own way.
“Well, I better scoot. Things to do, you know?” Kansas said, giving Asher an odd lingering look as she left the office.
“Speaking of Noelle,” Asher said.
“Were we?”
“Have you heard from her this morning? Wasn’t she going to run her analysis yesterday?” Asher’s chair squeaked as he turned the seat to face Eli.
“She started yesterday, yes. But she said it could take some time to enter all the information and get all the different angles covered.” Eli drummed his fingers on his desktop.
He was restless, eager to not only see what Noelle’s analysis found but anticipating their next chance to see each other.
Kansas had poked a sore spot with him. He was frustrated by Noelle’s dodging of his questions about their relationship, and he longed for the day when he could invite her to family events without any doubts or reservations of how she’d react.
“It’s just that with the media coverage of the investigation, and the recent steady discovery of body after body, I’m concerned that our killer is going to either flee and move to another state to continue his killing…” Asher steepled his fingers and propped his elbows on the arms of his chair “…or he’ll ramp up his spree, and we’ll have more murdered women on our hands before we find this creep. It’s been months. Why can’t we break this case?”
