Page 61 of Colton Family Bodyguard (Coltons of Mustang Valley)

“You looking for Nancy and Herman?” a woman called from the house next door.

Callum looked there and walked with Hazel into the woman’s front yard. In jeans and an Arizona Cardinals T-shirt, the neighbor was in her forties with dark hair and rectangular glasses. He’d take advantage of her willingness to talk.

“Yes.”

“They went to Europe. Just left yesterday. Won’t be home for ten more days. Asked me to keep an eye on the place.” She eyed them suspiciously. “Who are you?”

“They don’t know us. We were hoping to ask Nancy a few questions,” Callum said.

“About what?”

Was the woman being nosy or did she plan on reporting back to Nancy when she returned? Callum wasn’t sure how much to reveal at this point. If Nancy had switched babies all those years ago when she worked at the hospital, had she suddenly vanished out of fear of prosecution—if she was the one who switched the babies? And why would anyone do that in the first place?

“We’re reporters doing a story on the history of Mustang Valley General Hospital,” Hazel said.

Callum inwardly cheered at her cleverness. “There was a fire there and we heard that Nancy was working around that time.”

The woman’s mouth spread into a smile. “Reporters, huh?”

She seemed happy that her friend and neighbor would get a little notoriety for a story about a historic hospital.

“We’re freelancers, but yes, the article would appear in the paper,” Hazel said.

And again, Callum was captivated by her ingenuity. He had a sudden urge to do something romantic with her tonight. Maybe dinner in a dimly lit restaurant followed by a quiet night at the inn.

“We’ll come back when she’s home.”

“I can tell her you stopped by,” the woman said as they headed back for the car. “What’re your names?”

Callum waved farewell and didn’t answer, hoping the woman wouldn’t grow suspicious again.

“Why don’t we grab dinner while we’re here?” he asked when they were in the car. “I know a great place.” He knew they hadn’t been followed, so he felt safe in spending a little quality time with Hazel. He wouldn’t think about what that meant for the near future, how it might bring him closer to her.

“All right.” She smiled over at him, the whole beautiful presentation sending sparks shooting through his chest.

* * *

Hazel was still floating on air after dinner. They had talked about opinions on politics and religion. They shared a lot of the same views.

At the hotel, she walked with him toward the entrance and saw a toddler with her mother. Wearing a cute pink dress with white tights, the girl laughed up at her mother, who crouched before her in the stroller.

Hazel could see and feel the love. Reminded of Evie at that age and younger, a pang hit her. A glance at Callum told her he had fallen into regret, likely thinking of Annabel.

“Evie was so adorable at that age,” she said. “I wish I could have recorded the first time she said ‘Mommy.’ We were at the grocery store and she stared at my face like she always did. I have never seen a kid study faces the way she did. All of the sudden, when I was picking out some apples, I heard, ‘Mommy.’” She smiled and a gush of love suffused her.

Callum chuckled. “I wish I could have been there. I can imagine it, though.”

“All those moments happen when you least expect them. Except when she learned to walk. I taught her and she picked up on it pretty quickly, taking those first stumbling steps.” Now she chuckled.

Callum opened the door for her and they entered the hotel. It was late, so they’d booked a room at this place rather than drive back late at night. The place was a nice one but not a five star like the Dales Inn.

She saw him reflecting again, his lightness gone.

“Are you thinking about Annabel?” she asked.

He turned to her as they headed for the bar. “About what I missed out on.”

“You could always have another family, with someone else.” With her...

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