Page 38 of The Unknown Colton
“Does she get mad because you try to protect her?” Troy asked.
“Yeah,” Spence said. But he wondered if they were still talking about Hetty now. He studied the younger man’s face. The poor guy looked miserable and a little scared. “Is everything okay with Lakin?”
“I told you she’s mad at me,” Troy said.
“Yeah, I can see that, but…” Spence sensed now that something else was going on.
“We were talking about my sister,” Troy said. “And of course she’s going to get pissed off if youtry to protect her. Hetty prides herself on being able to take care of herself.”
“She does, and she can,” Spence heartily agreed. “She’s tough and independent and so damn beautiful…” God, he loved that woman.
Troy groaned again. “Maybe let’s not talk about my sister,” he said. “Not if you’re going to get all mushy about her.”
Spence grinned. “I’m definitely all mushy about her,” he agreed. “But you and Lakin…”
Troy’s shoulders slumped as if he was carrying a heavy burden. “What about me and Lakin?”
“You two have been together for so long.” Spence couldn’t imagine them not being together. They’d always reminded him of his aunt and uncle; Lakin’s parents had met and fallen in love in high school. Like they were going to last…
But a lot of people had lost their lives lately, proving that anything could be cut short. Lives and love.
CHAPTER 11
Once Lakin got rid of Eric Seller, she did as she’d promised Troy and called Eli. Worried that Parker might overhear their conversation, she had asked the ABI lieutenant to come talk in person.
That had to be his knock at her cabin door. Unless Troy was back.
Or Jasper Whitlaw…
She shivered and called out, “Who’s there?”
“It’s me, sis,” Eli called back.
She released the breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding, turned the dead bolt and let him in. “Thanks for coming out.”
“I would have come earlier,” he said. “But I wasn’t in Shelby.”
“You didn’t have to drop everything,” she assured him. “I could have waited.”
He studied her face. “No. I don’t think it could. And I wanted to see you anyway.”
“Check up on me, you mean,” she said with a smile.
“I’ve been worried about you,” he said.
She released a shaky breath. “You’re not the only one. Troy has been bugging me to call you.”
He glanced around as if looking for her boyfriend. “He’s not here? I was counting on him sticking close to you after the break-in.”
“He has been,” she said. But was it out of concern or obligation? She wasn’t as confident of his love as she’d always been. Or maybe it wasn’t his love she questioned but his commitment to a future with her. “He’s with Spence now.” Or at least she hoped he still was and not out trying to find Jasper Whitlaw or Eric Seller.
Eli glanced around the cabin. “You shouldn’t be alone at all right now,” he said.
“You sound like Troy. And like Mom and Dad who’ve been trying to get me to stay with them,” she said. She was so glad she’d resisted the temptation of going home, though, or Whitlaw might have shown up there.
“I sound like someone who loves you then,” Eli said with a slight grin.
She sighed even as a smile curved her lips. “People who love me should know that I can take care of myself,” she pointed out.
