Page 67 of Colton Family Bodyguard (Coltons of Mustang Valley)

“I couldn’t.” Didn’t she get it?

“But I bet you can now,” she said quietly, gently.

It had been long enough now that he should be able to face Annabel’s family. And funny how the thought of that wasn’t as painful as it had been in the months after Annabel’s death. He felt more open to the idea.

“It would help you move on, Callum,” Hazel said. “And now that I have a vested interest in you, I encourage you to reach out to them.”

She had a vested interest in him? He grinned over her choice in words.

“And I’m hoping you feel the same about me and will work on getting over Annabel’s death.”

She hoped he had a vested interest in her. Did he? He enjoyed her company. He felt an intense attraction to her. But he still couldn’t think about any kind of long-term future with her.

His cell chimed and he was relieved for the interruption. He read a text from Patsy. The returned chocolates were downstairs.

“There’s something for you at the desk again,” he said to her.

“Again?”

“Maybe it’s another admirer. Come on. Let’s run down there.”

She rinsed her hands and dried them and then adjusted one of the burners to low. Then she rode the elevator with him. In th

e lobby they were headed for the desk when he spotted a woman who looked vaguely familiar. She wore a baseball cap and sunglasses, but her hair was a blond bob. Carolyn. She wasn’t dressed as smartly as when he’d first seen her. She wore jeans and a T-shirt today. Was she trying to disguise her appearance?

She turned her head and saw them. Callum pretended not to notice her and went to the desk with Hazel. The clerk gave her the new box of chocolates.

“Those are from me,” Callum said. His voice sounded lower than normal and he had to attribute that to liking giving her something romantic.

Her mouth parted in surprise and she took them. “I didn’t think you’d actually do this. Thank you.”

He’d have to get her flowers, too, when the others wilted.

Carrying the box, she opened it a crack to retrieve one, popping it into her mouth as she walked away from the counter.

Callum looked toward Carolyn. She watched them. Was she trying to monitor their movements? If so, she was doing a terrible job. He looked through the front windows to the parking area and saw a dark SUV.

Taking Hazel’s hand, he steered her toward Carolyn. Might as well confront her. Maybe it would dissuade her from any future attempts to do whatever she might intend against Hazel.

“That’s Carolyn over there,” he said to Hazel.

She searched the room until her gaze came back to the woman in the cap. “She never dresses like that.”

“I didn’t think so.”

Carolyn stood as they approached, awkwardly removing her sunglasses as though feeling caught. “Well, fancy meeting you here again.”

“Carolyn,” Hazel said. “Why are you here?”

“I’m waiting to meet the manager about an upcoming catering event.”

“Who are you catering for?” Callum asked.

“It’s a local business,” she said, sounding blasé. “An all-day meeting.”

He doubted she had to meet in person to discuss what needed to be done in preparation for a business meeting.

“Why are you still here?” Carolyn asked. “Is that man not captured yet?”

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