Colton's Lethal Reunion (Coltons of Mustang Valley)

She stepped back. A good two feet. “Can I get you something to drink?” she asked. “I’ve got tea, or we can brew some coffee.” She had wine, too, but she wasn’t offering any.

“Coffee would be great. If you’d like we can order some dinner from Lucia’s or Mustang Valley Steak and Seafood...they’ll both deliver...”

She’d planned to have salad for dinner. Just wasn’t that hungry. But if they ordered in, e

ating and cleaning up would give them something to do besides his standing there trying to work while she panted after him.

She was supposed to be sniffing, not panting. Around Odin Rogers, not Rafe Colton. And what was with the dog metaphors? She needed to get a serious grip.

“Lucia’s sounds good,” she said. Pasta would sit easier than a rich, heavy dinner.

Of course he had the restaurant on speed dial, but...

“Wait,” she said. “Let me call. The family dinner is a good deal and I’ve ordered it before and take the rest to work for lunches. We don’t want anyone knowing you’re here,” she reminded him. She didn’t, at least. Probably wouldn’t hurt Rafe Colton’s reputation to go slumming with the detective investigating his father’s attempted murder, but she didn’t want townspeople to think she was the type of woman who got her head turned by a heavy wallet. Or to have them feeling sorry for her for being stupid enough to think that a Colton would give her more than a passing moment.

By the time she’d ordered dinner she had herself back under control. Maybe the peppermint and lavender had kicked in. Maybe she just came to her senses.

Either way, there was going to be no sex in her house that night.

* * *

Rafe was thoroughly enjoying himself. Dressed like he dressed on Saturday or Sunday mornings when he knew he was going to be home alone, he felt at home. Relaxed.

He’d told her he’d sleep on the couch. He didn’t expect her to really make him do so. Though, if she really wanted him to, he would. Without question.

As they sat there eating dinner, discussing Odin Rogers and different theories about the day’s activities, he didn’t even care if they made love that night or not. He was just glad to be the one who was watching out for her. To be with her at all.

To see her smile.

And watch her eat.

“Sorry about Ace today,” he said. He’d been waiting for a good moment to bring it up. Figured there wasn’t one. But she hadn’t looked him in the eye, really looked, since they’d left the hospital. And the only thing that he could think of that had happened in between then and now, as far as they were concerned, was when Ace confronted her.

She shrugged, twirled some spaghetti around her fork. “No need to apologize,” she said, taking the bite. Finishing it. “Dealing with suspects is all in a day’s work.”

It had been more than that. He’d caught a glimpse of her face over Ace’s shoulder when his brother had hugged him. Funny how, now that Ace wasn’t a biological Colton either, he suddenly felt closer to the guy.

Another outsider on the inside.

Kerry wasn’t on the inside. Never would be. And that hug had shown her how opposite their worlds really were. Their circumstances hadn’t changed any from that moment, at the hospital, or the night before, or twenty-three years ago.

They were who they were.

“I’ve noticed, you don’t always call Payne ‘Dad.’ Or mention him as ‘my father.’ Why is that?”

She glanced over at him, and then went back to eating.

He’d never really felt like a true Colton. Not completely. And Payne had acted more like a guardian than a father to him.

“I had a father,” he said. “I have great memories of him. I still miss him. Payne never tried to take his place.” And that was all he was going to say about that.

Chapter 12

“I looked my mother up.” Kerry didn’t think it was a good idea to say the words. She just wanted to. She’d asked about Payne because she was being kind of mean. Trying to point out that Rafe had chosen to stay with a family that wasn’t really family to him all those years ago.

But the hug she’d witnessed between him and Ace had shown her that they were family.

She wasn’t proud of herself.