Page 70 of Colton Family Bodyguard (Coltons of Mustang Valley)

“You want me to be with you? I don’t think—”

“Yes. I want you there. You’re the one who helped me get to this point. I want you with me.”

She tipped her head back, seeking his mouth. Still bent over, he obliged and kissed her. He kept his mouth pressed to hers, feeling her breath and the sparks that always started with just this.

Reluctantly lifting his head, he looked into her sultry eyes. “Keep that up and you’re going to rope this cowboy in.”

She smiled. “You’re not a cowboy.”

He chuckled. “I can be for you.” Seeing her smile slowly fade, he knew some sobering thought had caused it, something about the two of them. He walked around the sofa and sat beside her. “What’s the long look for?”

She sighed and snuggled closer to him. He put his arm around her, feeling this was so right.

“I can see a weight has been lifted off you,” she said.

It has. “I do feel that way. It feels good.”

“I love this,” she said. “You and me relating like we’re a couple, like this could last.”

He hadn’t thought much about the future. He had only acted on how good it felt to look forward to resolving something he hadn’t thought bothered him as much as it had.

“Well, what if things don’t go the way you expect in San Francisco? What happens after this euphoria fades and you begin to think about how serious you and I are becoming?”

“Are we becoming serious?” He wasn’t so sure. They had great sex. How could they know that would translate into compatibility in every other way? How did anyone know that without spending months, or even years, together?

She moved back from him. “Do you have any feelings for me?”

He knew he was falling for her and thought she was extremely beautiful. More. There was something about her that was different from any other woman. “I enjoy being with you.” And he truly meant that. He loved spending time with her and Evie. “We seem to be hitting it off really well. You make me feel good and I hope I make you feel the same. So, yeah, I’d say I have feelings for you.”

He didn’t want to ask if she had feelings for him. He didn’t want to know right now. What if something happened to her or Evie? He cringed with even the suggestion. He could not go through that again. Not ever. And given her situation, she was in a lot of danger. Something could easily happen to her.

Best to keep his distance—at least for a little while longer.

* * *

After they landed in San Francisco, Hazel drove with Callum to their hotel. They checked in and then Callum drove their rental to Annabel’s parents’ house. She was probably as nervous as he was, but for a different reason. He was about to face the biggest demon from his past and she would find out if there was any hope for them as a couple.

On the way, she called Evie. Her brother answered.

“Hey, it’s me,” she said.

“Hazel. How are you?” Owen asked. “Is everything okay? I was about to call you to check.”

“We’re doing fine. We are going out of town for a little bit, hopefully to find information. How’s Evie?”

“She’s good. Keeping busy.”

“Is that Mommy?” Hazel heard her daughter almost screech in excitement. She missed her so much.

“She’s about to grab the phone from me.” Owen chuckled as Hazel listened to him hand the phone to Evie.

“Mommy?”

“Yes. Hi, honey, how are you?” Being without her had been a lot harder than she thought. Not having that bundle of energy around all the time created a big hole.

“I miss you. When are you coming to get me?”

“I can’t yet, but I hope to real soon. Are you having fun?” She would try to steer her daughter away from talk of when she could go get her and bring her home.

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