Page 109 of All the Missing Pieces

“It matters to me, this work,” Ridley said quietly, her throat working as she tried to keep her composure. “I take it seriously. People open up to me. They share their pain. And it means everything to me to be the holder of it, to try to find them peace. I wasn’t about to let him bastardize that.”

I couldn’t stop myself from touching her now. I knew it went against our rules, but I did it anyway. My arm curled around her shoulders as if that could give her strength, protection. But the truth was, Ridley was stronger than anyone I’d ever known.

Ryan’s eyes flashed. “What you do, it’s something worth fighting for.”

“Thank you,” Ridley croaked.

“I’ve got everything we need for now,” Ryan said. “I’ll give you a ring tomorrow if I have any other questions.”

“Thanks, Ryan,” I said. “I’ll be in tomorrow morning.”

She nodded and headed for the door.

“Here you go,” Trey said, handing Ridley some ice wrapped in a towel. “You can take this home.”

Ridley sent him a grateful smile. “At least I didn’t break any furniture.”

He chuckled. “Would’ve been worth it if you did.”

“Come on. Let’s get home,” I said.

Trey’s brows lifted at that, and he sent me a pointed look. I tried to ignore my best friend. It was just a word, a slip of the tongue.

Home.

But as I guided Ridley toward the door, I couldn’t ignore the fact that my cabin had never felt like home until Ridley filled the space with light. Her papers spread out over the dining table. Her scent clinging to the walls. Her damn cat attacking me every time I gave it a new toy.

She made everything better. But when this case was done, she’d leave. And I’d be left with nothing but a bittersweet memory.

43

RIDLEY

Colt was being weird.It wasn’t like he was normally a chatterbox, but he was quieter than normal, lost in his head as the late morning sun streamed in through the vehicle’s window.

I reached over his SUV’s console and pinched his side.

“Ow, shit.” He twisted out of my grasp and sent me a scowl. “What? It’s not enough that your cat almost took my hand off this morning?”

“It was just a?—”

“If you saytooth hug, I’m going to put that cat up for adoption.”

“Colter Brooks, you did not just say that.”

His lips twitched. “Full-naming me? Must mean business.”

“Damn straight, I do. Do not threaten Princess Tater.”

He chuckled, and the action sent warmth spreading through me, the kind of heat that was only his.

“Love that sound,” I said softly.

Colt glanced over at me in question. “My laugh?”

I nodded. “Something about it. It’s gritty and imperfect but more real somehow.”

He turned onto Emerson’s road, his fingers tightening on the wheel. “Feel the same way about your smile. It twists more toone side than the other, but it just makes me want to memorize the shape.”

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