Page 30 of Colton Family Bodyguard (Coltons of Mustang Valley)

“He received an email saying Ace was switched at birth and isn’t a Colton by blood,” Marlowe said. “Naturally, Ace wasn’t happy to hear about that.”

“The police think Ace tried to kill Payne?” Hazel asked.

“He’s the only one who appears to have a motive,” Callum said. “But I don’t think he did it.”

“I don’t, either,” Rafe said.

“He’s our brother,” Marlowe said. “Of course he didn’t try to kill Dad.”

“He said he was home the night of the shooting,” Callum said. “There’s no video surveillance supporting that.”

“Isn’t Kerry looking for someone shorter?” Callum said.

“Yes,” Marlowe answered.

Callum moved closer to Payne. Hazel watched him take hold of his hand.

“I wish you’d wake up, Dad,” he said. “You could tell us yourself who shot you.”

Could the shooting have something to do with Ace being switched at birth? Maybe the culprit didn’t want to be discovered. Then why send an email making that announcement? Unless the one who had actually swapped the babies wasn’t the one who sent the email.

“Do you know who sent the email?” she asked.

“No. I have someone from IT at Colton Oil looking into that,” Marlowe said.

“Hey, Callum, how long are you going to be in town?” Rafe asked.

“Indefinitely. I have a new job starting at the end of the month but it is local. I’m free until then.”

Marlowe turned her gaze to Hazel, appearing to grow more curious. “When did you two meet? Callum never tells me when he has a new girlfriend.”

Why did Callum’s twin think Hazel and Callum were together like that?

“Kerry is investigating a murder that Hazel’s daughter witnessed,” Rafe said. “Callum is protecting them.”

“Oh.” Marlowe looked from Hazel to her twin. “And you already made her mad?”

“Marlowe...” Callum protested.

“Sorry, brother. I’m not buying it. You look at her like she’s more than a client,” Marlowe said.

Hazel turned to Callum. He looked at her in a particular way? She hadn’t noticed. But then, she hadn’t glanced at him much since they entered the hospital room. Every time she did she felt an unwelcome spark, which only brought her back to his regrets over kissing her. She could not afford to want something he would never give.

* * *

Later that day, Callum couldn’t stop thinking about what Marlowe had said—that he had looked at Hazel in such a way that gave Marlowe the impression they were an item. He hadn’t been aware that he had done that. If he had no control over the way he regarded Hazel, wasn’t aware of how she affected him, how could he control how he felt about this relationship? Was he calling it a relationship? A zap of alarm pricked him as he realized they were starting to have one. How could he call it anything else? They had kissed. They had almost had sex. They’d have a casual relationship, then.

He walked with her into the inn. They’d go back to their suite and be alone again, except for Evie.

Halfway through the lobby, Hazel stopped, Evie by her side.

“Carolyn?” Hazel asked.

Callum followed her gaze to a woman standing by a cart full of food chafing dishes. A blonde with a bob in a smart black skirt suit with a white top, she seemed surprised to see Hazel.

He stopped next to Hazel as she leaned in for a hug. Obviously the two knew each other, and judging by the catering supplies, they shared food as an interest. Had Hazel worked with this woman in the past?

“What are you doing here?” Carolyn asked, moving back from the hug, smiling as her eyes roamed over Hazel’s face.

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