Page 83 of Colton Family Bodyguard (Coltons of Mustang Valley)

“Cal-em?”

“Yes?”

“Are you going to come with Mommy to pick me up?”

Callum glanced at Hazel. When the time came to go get Evie, all the danger would have passed. What would Callum do? Would he run?

“Of course, I’ll be there,” he said.

Hazel felt a surge of warmth and hope. Maybe there was a chance for them, after all.

Did she want that? It didn’t take much thinking to know what her heart desired. Yes, she did. She wanted a chance to be a couple with him, maybe more.

“Are you going to come live with us?” Evie asked.

“I already have a place to live.”

He lived in a mansion.

“But you like Mommy, don’t you?”

“Yes, I do like her very much.”

“And you like me?” she asked in a singsong voice.

“Yes, even more.”

Evie laughed, a lighthearted giggle. “Nuh-uh. You like Mommy more.”

Callum chuckled again, seeming to really enjoy the banter with the girl.

“I see you with her,” Evie said. “You like her a lot.”

“I said I did.”

“Then you should come live with us, then.”

Evie was so fond of him. Hazel would worry about her state of mind if he left them, but Evie was working her kid-charmed magic on him.

“Pizza’s here,” Hazel heard Owen say in the background.

“You better go get pizza while it’s hot,” Callum said.

“Okay. See you soon.”

“See you soon.”

Evie must have disconnected herself. Owen or Jessica didn’t come back on. Hazel leaned back against the sofa with a sigh.

“I miss her so much,” she said.

Callum put his arm back around her. “She is something else. Adorable.”

She tipped her head up and over to see him. “Yes, she’s a heart melter.”

He smiled softly, meeting her eyes.

“She likes you a lot,” Hazel said.

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