Page 116 of Mistletoe and Malice
Her smile diminished as his words hung in the air. She knew some of the things he wasn’t so certain about. Like his dancing abilities, which she felt were just fine. Or his ability to chair the board of a major charity, of which she’d had no question.
And his ability to give her what she needed to be happy. Yet not once did she doubt.
“Riley?”
“Oh … sorry. I was just thinking.”
“You should get to sleep. Knowing you, you have a million things to do tomorrow.”
“I guess. Mom and I are working on some last-minute details for the ball on Tuesday. What are you doing?”
“Trying to find Warren Everett.”
“Really, Cole. Take a day off.”
“After it’s over.”
She sighed. “All right. Sleep well. Thank you for calling me back.”
“You’re welcome. Thank you for leaving your message. I’m glad we could talk.”
“Me, too.” She gripped her phone, not wanting to hang up.
“See you Monday,” he said after a silent moment, as if perhaps he, too, was reluctant to sever the connection.
Or maybe that was her wishful thinking.
Chapter Forty-Eight
The pizza Colton had wolfed down in the mobile Tech Ops center twenty minutes ago roiled in his stomach as he stood at the back of the ballroom in yet another high-end hotel.
Everything was set for Riley’s big night. The night of her family’s charitable ball, the one she’d put so much time and effort into planning over the past year.
Another visual scan of the room verified all law enforcement and Petersen personnel were at their assigned positions. Male and female operatives stood around the room, no one the wiser to the firepower hidden beneath their tuxes and formal gowns. He nodded at John, also in a tux and posing as a “guest.”
“The Hudsons are en route to Tech Ops,” one of the officers assigned to valet duty said in his earpiece.
“All of them?”
“Three cars so far. Cooper and Paxton are bringing the principal in now.”
“Copy.”
He made his way out of the ballroom and across the wide hall to the conference room where they’d set up their baseof operations. Two Petersen cyber techs manned the room, watching various monitors covering the entrance, the lobby, the ballroom, and the kitchen. The entire Hudson family had been told they were to go there first for briefing.
As he moved across the wide hall, he caught sight of Riley walking between Nowell in front of her to her left, Trevor behind her to her right. Standard protocol he should’ve followed himself instead of getting too close.
They disappeared into the conference room, and he followed.
“Good evening, everybody.”
When she turned and sent him a tentative smile, his chest tightened. Breathtaking in her bright pink, strapless ball gown, with a wrap slung over her arms, she’d left her hair down to cascade over her shoulders. Just the way he preferred it.
Drew stepped forward and offered his hand. “Colton. This is quite the operation you have here.”
He pulled his attention from the vision she made to shake her father’s hand. “Yes, sir. We just incorporated a few more things into your usual security for this event. Piper and another female operative are here tonight, so Riley will be accompanied even in the lounge. She won’t be alone for a second.”
Her smile widened. “I hope you supplied some dance partners for me, then, because I plan on dancing till dawn.”
