Page 22 of Colton First Responder (Coltons of Mustang Valley)

She might need to ponder that for a while.

For now, though...

She saw Grayson pull his phone away from his ear and cross the small cabin. He wasn’t smiling.

Was something wrong?

But as he reached her, he said, “Okay, I’m free for a while. Talked to everyone I needed to. So when do we eat?”

Savannah waved toward the food she had clustered, still on the counter near the sink. “Right now,” she said. “Take a plate and sit down.”

She was so glad he was staying. She really enjoyed his company.

Not to mention the idea that he was the kind of person who just might try to help her prove her innocence.

Chapter 7

Grayson sat down to a pretty tasty lunch on a thick paper plate. Of course, it consisted of the stuff he’d bought, nothing even hinting at gourmet. Even so, Savannah had put it together in a way that looked appealing.

And that was what he told her. “This all looks really good,” he said as he placed a second half sandwich onto his plate.

“It looks like what you brought here,” she said dismissively, although he caught the smile on her face as she scooped up some salad.

“Ah, but your serving skills added a lot.”

She laughed as she aimed her green eyes at him in an expression that seemed both amused and appreciative. “Taste it first,” she said.

He finished filling his plate and went to sit down at the table. He savored the food, such as it was, partly to keep her amused—and because he wanted to hang out here a while longer. He intended to discuss her situation and what he could do to help her not only survive, but end what was happening to her—and how he could help her uncover the truth about Zane.

She was most likely being hunted now by the cops. In their phone call yesterday, Chad had indicated that was in fact the case. Chad had heard that the cops, including the few who had K-9 partners, were mostly occupied with checking out damage, though a warning had been issued for people to be careful not only of potential looters, but also of a murderer who might be loose among them.

He also assumed from what Chad said that there hadn’t been time to look for her...yet.

Now he took a significant bite of sandwich, watching Savannah watch him as he did so. It actually tasted pretty good, probably because he was hungry.

“So what’s your favorite food when you aren’t in the middle of nowhere helping an innocent prison escapee?” Savannah asked him. Although the tone of her sweetly feminine voice was light, the expression on her pretty face remained wry.

“Oh, I like sandwiches, though I’m fondest of really good, thick burgers. Roast beef sandwiches, too. Steaks and—”

“I get it,” Savannah said, interrupting him with a laugh. “Beef and you are buddies.”

“You don’t like my faves?” He tried to sound as though his feelings were hurt, and he squeezed his mouth into a pout. He liked the idea of keeping this conversation light. For now. But soon they’d have to start discussing what was really on their minds.

“In moderation,” she responded. “Along with good, healthy food, like salads and other veggies. Fish and chicken, too.”

“You sound like a health nut,” he said, shaking his head.

“Guess what, I prefer healthy.”

“Well, I actually like sides along with my meats, and that can include the salads and veggies you mentioned. Good fruit, too.”

“Then maybe your family did bring you up right,” Savannah said. “Even though from what I’ve heard you can afford to eat anything, anywhere, that you want.” Her turn to put down the plastic salad fork and take a bite of sandwich.

“That’s what I gather about you and your family, too,” Grayson said, and as she stopped chewing and looked down, he knew he’d made a mistake even mentioning them. Even though she had brought up his.

He had understood, meeting her at elite parties before, that her family had money, too. She was essentially a socialite, he believed, although he knew she helped to raise money for organizations that helped people who were less fortunate.

But his bringing up her family now wouldn’t call into mind charitable events, or even just her parents and siblings, difficult or not, but also a particularly nasty, wealthy ex who was now apparently framing her for murder.

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