Page 91 of Colton Family Bodyguard (Coltons of Mustang Valley)

“She’s a great kid. Whatever you’re doing, keep doing it.”

She hugged Owen. “Where’s Jessica?”

“She went to work. She said to tell you hello and thanks for convincing her to have kids. I’d like to thank you, too.”

Hazel smiled, loving Evie’s effect on them. “I didn’t know you wanted them.”

“I wasn’t sure until now.” He messed up the top of Evie’s hair, which she wore down today. “You come back anytime, okay?”

“Okay!”

“Thank you so much, Owen. I owe you big for watching her.”

“I’m just glad you caught that killer. We were scared for you. And your ex-boss.” He shook his head with raised eyebrows. “That’s so wild.”

“Yeah. I still can’t believe it. She was always so friendly.”

“I guess everybody has their breaking point.”

Even if Hazel ran into hard times like that, she didn’t think she would ever break to the point of attempted murder. “I think I’d have to be on my deathbed before I broke.”

“Yes, and normal people wouldn’t murder anybody.”

“No.” She looked down at Evie. “Well, what do you think, kiddo? Should we go home?”

“Okay. Will Cal-em be there?”

“I don’t think so.”

Her brother eyed her in question. “I thought you two had something going.”

She had to be careful what she said in front of Evie. She couldn’t be sure what Callum would do, now that she was safe.

“It’s still too early to tell.”

“That’s not how it looked to me,” Owen said. “I’ve never seen you glow like you did with him nearby.”

She’d been glowing? She had not been aware of that.

“Why didn’t he come with you today?” Owen asked.

“I left early. I didn’t wake him,” she said neutrally. “We better get going. I’ve got a lot of meals to cook.”

“Don’t let a good man go because of what Ed did to you,” Owen said. “And don’t hold it against Callum for being rich. He isn’t the same as Ed.”

“I know, Owen.” She might as well tell him all of it, Evie, too. “He has issues of his own. His pregnant girlfriend died in an accident. A drug dealer did it to get revenge on Callum for him protecting a witness during his trial. He hasn’t gotten over her yet.”

“All he needs is someone like you to know he has a soft place to land.”

She was a soft place to land? Not if being with Evie all the time made him think of the baby he had lost. And not if he held back with Hazel and never let his feelings grow with her. She wanted more than that and Evie deserved more than that.

* * *

When Hazel arrived back at her little apartment above the bakery, she did not expect to see Callum’s rental parked in the back.

“Cal-em’s here!” Evie exclaimed.

Hazel parked and walked around to get Evie out of her car seat. She fidgeted and swung her tiny feet, anxious to get out of the SUV. Since she had been riding in Callum’s vehicles, the Mercedes’ mirror had been repaired.

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