Page 9 of Colton Family Bodyguard (Coltons of Mustang Valley)

“Which brother?”

“Ace.” He shook his head and scratched his forehead in angst. “He’s a suspect in my father’s shooting. We were never close, either, like with Dad. He followed my dad into the oil business. But I feel for him, you know? He just found out he’s not a Colton by blood and there’s this clause in the Colton Oil bylaws that says the CEO must be a Colton by blood, and then Dad got shot and everybody thinks he did it—geez, why am I telling you all of this?” He walked toward the back door and the luggage.

Hazel caught up to him and put her hand on his forearm, stopping him from bending to pick up one of the bags. “Hey, it’s okay. I like hearing this.”

“You like hearing about all my family drama?”

That’s all he worried about? She breathed a laugh. “Every family has drama. Why is your brother a suspect?”

“My father had to fire him because of the bylaws. He did it in front of the board, and Ace didn’t react well. He threatened my dad.”

“How did he threaten him?” With a gun? Had he said he’d better watch his back or something? Ruin his reputation?

“Ace told Dad he would regret it and stormed out of the room.”

“That doesn’t mean he shot him.”

“I know. I don’t think he did, but he shouldn’t have threatened him like that, and in front of the board.”

Hazel could see he was genuinely concerned for his half brother, despite his claim of not being close to Ace. Just because he had spent a lot of time overseas didn’t necessarily mean a family bond didn’t exist. Hazel wondered if they were closer than he thought.

“You’re easy to talk to,” he said after a

while, his smile rueful. Did he not open up to anyone? Why had he done so with her?

“Evie doesn’t think so.”

He chuckled a little. “I saw her arguing with you when you first got to your client’s house. I think she does listen to you.”

“Like I said, she’s a good kid.”

“She must have a good mother.”

Hazel fell into his eyes, the warm regard there, the attraction. She felt it, too, these underlying sparks that had grown since the moment she saw him.

Once again stopping the sparks, Hazel asked, “So, tell me about this family of yours. You seemed to know that detective, Kerry.”

“I come from a large blended family. My father married three times. I have a half sister and two half brothers—including Ace—from the first marriage. He had none with the second, and my mother had me and my twin sister, Marlowe, plus our brother, Asher. Rafe is my younger adopted brother. He’s engaged to Kerry. That’s how I know her.”

“Ah. She’s part of the family now. She’s very pretty,” Hazel said.

“And smart. And tenacious. She’s a rookie but Rafe swears she’s as good as a seasoned detective.”

“I did get that impression of her, well, short of knowing her, that is. She just had a way about her.”

“If anybody can find the man who almost ran you down, she can.”

Hazel fell silent, not liking the thought of that. A man capable of hurting or killing another human—especially a child—was a dangerous one, for sure.

“You’re a twin?” Hazel asked. “What is that like?”

“We’re more like a regular brother and sister, but closer. We were close growing up and still are.”

“Are you similar?”

He chuckled at that. “Not at all. Her hair is blonder than mine and she has brown eyes. She’s now the CEO of Colton Oil, an executive type. Workaholic.” Callum was definitely not an executive type. He was driven in different ways. “But she’s pregnant and engaged now, so that will probably change. She’s still going to keep her job but she’s starting a day-care program.”

Hazel seemed to ponder that awhile, as though doubtful that a woman like that could change.

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