“What was what?” She frowned.
“The way Mara spoke to Russ. She may as well have taken a knife and cut him open.”
“I didn’t notice,” Bree admitted. “They’re not a very warm couple. It’s just their way.”
Rylan always felt like families were a mystery to which he didn’t have the key. Maybe that was because his early life had been so unhappy. Looking at Russ and Mara, he could almost feel the friction between them. Yet he only had to turn his head to see an example of a loving couple. Bree’s parents had their heads together as they laughed at a private joke. Audrey had her hand on Calvin’s arm, and he tenderly brushed her hair back from her cheek.
Rylan had believed family life was not for him. After his mom died, he had been at a crossroads. The trauma of his early life could easily have led him into a dysfunctional adult life. Luckily, he had chosen the army, and found the sense of belonging that had been missing from his childhood.
But lately... Well, it was possible his view of himself as a family man could have changed.
“I need to find Kendall,” Bree said, as she drained her champagne glass. “She’s my cousin Decker’s wife, the one who was injured when the gallery was vandalized.”
In the time they’d spent meeting members of the Colton family, the ballroom had filled up. As a bodyguard, this would normally be Rylan’s nightmare scenario. There were too many unknowns. But he had already assessed the dark-suited men standing close to the windows. The Colton security guards looked like they knew what they were doing. Although he wouldn’t relax, it was good to know he wasn’t alone.
Finding Decker and Kendall proved difficult among the crush of designer-clad bodies, but Bree managed it eventually. Kendall still wore a patch covering the gauze pad over her eye, but she was in good spirits and assured them that her doctors had said her sight would be fine.
“Ahem.” She waved her hand at Bree and the stones in her ring caught the light from the chandeliers.
“Oh, my goodness! That’s gorgeous.” Bree hugged first Kendall, then Decker. “I’m so happy for you both.”
As Kendall looked up at Decker, happiness shone on both their faces. “The engagement ring is beautiful but the wedding ring means even more.”
A buffet dinner was served soon after, and speeches followed. Remy Colton, The Chateau’s director of public relations, joked about the unseasonably cold weather. Since that meant the ski season could be extended—which would be good for business—he asked everyone to raise their glasses in a toast. As he left the podium, Rylan heard Remy take a different tone as he confided to Mara that he feared the upcoming Film Festival might not have the same attendance as usual.
It was a brief glimpse inside the well-oiled Colton machine. Rylan guessed Remy’s words related to the issues the family was experiencing. Bad publicity was the last thing the Coltons needed with a prestigious event like the Film Festival on the horizon. It raised the question in his mind yet again. Was the person who was targeting Bree the same one who was going after her family?
Speaking of Bree...
He leaned in close. “What’s troubling you?”
She straightened her shoulders and tilted her chin. “Why do you ask?”
“Because I can see you’re not happy.”
“Oh, that. Nothing like a stalker to deflate a girl’s mood.” She waved her empty glass at him.
Rylan shook his head. “Something has changed since we arrived here.”
She shrugged, her skirts swishing as one elegant shoe traced the pattern on the floor tiles. “Wyatt and Bailey are having a baby. Decker and Kendall are married. I should be pleased. I am pleased—”
Before she could finish, a band started playing a hit from the latest Hollywood musical. Rylan held out his hand. “Dance with me, Bree.”
“I thought you were working?” She let him lead her onto the dance floor.
He drew her into his arms, resting his cheek against her hair. “Best job I ever had.”
“I see what you’re doing.” She draped her arms around his neck. “I’m sad and you’re trying to cheer me up.”
He frowned down at her. “You’re sad because your cousins are happy?” She nodded, her cheek rubbing against his chest. “I don’t understand.”