by Regan Black
“How much time do you have?” Maggie said sarcastically.
“That’s what I told him,” Thorne said, folding the empty paper bags flat.
“I’m beginning to think this avenue isn’t going to be as helpful as I’d hoped,” Dario admitted. He’d thought the Colton siblings could help narrow down the search for Sulla, but if the family really had that many enemies, it would take forever to comb through all the potential suspects.
“Have you talked to anyone else?”
Dario shook his head. “Not yet. I’m supposed to interview Knox and Leonor, and my partner is going to talk to River, Jade and Claudia. I was hoping to get in touch with Knox this afternoon.”
“Why don’t you just come over tomorrow for the cookie decorating?” Maggie suggested. “Everyone will be here—it’s a Colton holiday tradition. Bring your partner, too. What’s his name?”
“Her name is Felicity. And are you sure about this? I don’t want to intrude on a family event.” He glanced at Thorne, but the other man nodded.
“Absolutely,” Thorne said. “It’ll save you from having to track everyone down one by one. And it’ll give me more time to come up with a list of names for you, as well.”
“That would be great,” Dario said. “If you really don’t mind us crashing the party.”
“Not at all,” Maggie assured him. “The more, the merrier.”
“I’ll talk to my brothers and sisters and let them know what kind of information you’re looking for,” Thorne said. “That way, they can be thinking about it before tomorrow’s event.”
“I really appreciate that,” Dario said. “It’s a huge help.”
Joseph wriggled his legs, and Maggie shifted the baby in her arms, readjusting the angle of the bottle as she moved.
“I’ll get out of your way now,” Dario said. “Can we bring anything to tomorrow’s gathering?”
“Just yourselves,” Maggie said. “Thorne is going to grill some burgers and hot dogs, and we’ll spend a few hours eating and decorating cookies.”
“You’re going to grill?” Dario couldn’t keep the surprise out of his voice. “I thought we have a chance of snow tomorrow.”
“We do,” Maggie confirmed. “And to any sane person, that would be reason enough to cook inside.”
Thorne scoffed. “I’m not going to let a few snowflakes keep me away from Bessie.”
Dario shot Maggie a questioning look. “He named his grill,” she said, her expression one of long-suffering patience.
“Of course I did,” Thorne said. “It’s only right. We spend so much time together.”
Maggie grinned and rolled her eyes, and Dario chuckled. “Sounds fair to me,” he said. “What time should we come tomorrow?”
“The gang will start getting here around noon,” Maggie said. “Food should be ready between twelve thirty and one. Come by around then so you can eat before we start working on the cookies.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Recognizing an order when he heard it, Dario nodded. “Looking forward to it.”
Chapter 4
“I can’t believe we’re doing this.”
Dario glanced at Felicity before returning his focus to the road. “What’s the matter?”
Felicity shifted in the passenger seat, struggling to find the words to explain her discomfort. “It seems wrong to intrude on their family event. Especially since we don’t really know any of them on a personal level.” She’d spoken to River and his wife, Edith, yesterday, and she’d liked them. River was also a veteran of the Marine Corps, and even though they had served in different units, they still had quite a bit in common. It had been nice to talk to a veteran her own age; she knew Mr. Perkins had offered to lend an ear if she needed it, but she had a hard time thinking of him as anything other than her high school teacher. River appeared to be adjusting to civilian life well, despite the loss of one eye. Perhaps once this investigation was over, she could talk to him about her worries and learn how he had dealt with his own...
“For what it’s worth, I tried to refuse the invitation,” Dario said. “But Thorne and Maggie insisted we come. If the rest of the family is anything like them, I think they’ll be quite friendly and welcoming.”
Felicity frowned. “I just hate to interrupt their celebrations with questions about the case. I’m sure the last thing they want to talk about is Livia Colton’s enemies.”
“It’ll be fine,” he said. “They don’t seem like the type to stay gloomy for long.”
Felicity envied his confidence. Hopefully, he was right. She’d feel terrible if they ruined the Coltons’ holiday celebration.
Silence descended in the car. Felicity searched for something to say, wanting to make conversation. It would be easier to work on the case with Dario if she knew a bit more about him. But she had to be careful—she’d made it very clear she wasn’t interested in any romantic involvement, and she didn’t want to give him the wrong idea.
“How are your cookie decorating skills?”
He chuckled. “Rusty. I haven’t decorated a cookie since I was a kid. I’m really good at eating them, though.”
“Something tells me that won’t be a problem,” Felicity said.
“Probably not,” he replied. “What about you? Did your family have any Christmas traditions?”
“We had a baking day,” she said. “The second Saturday of December, my mom and I would spend the whole day baking cookies and breads. We’d box them all up and deliver them to the neighbors, and my dad would take some to his coworkers.”
“That sounds like fun.”
“It was.” She hadn’t thought about baking day in a while, and the memories made her smile. The tradition had fallen off after she’d joined the Marines. She hadn’t always been able to get leave over the Christmas holidays, and when she had been home, she’d been more interested in sleeping and catching up with friends than baking. A pang of sadness speared her chest at the thought of the missed time with her mother. Maybe they could bake a few things together this year and recapture some of that holiday magic. It was exactly the kind of tradition she’d like to pass on to her own children someday.
Felicity made a mental note to call her parents later. “Your turn,” she said, resuming the conversation. “Tell me about the Ortega family Christmas.”
Dario glanced at her, a glint of surprise in his eyes as if he hadn’t expected her to show interest in his life. “Well, we didn’t have anything quite so formal. My parents often had to work over the holidays, since sick animals don’t care about what day it is. When my brother and I were really small, one of my parents would make sure to stay home if the other had a call. But once Emiliano and I got a bit older, the whole family would go. I remember a few Christmases spent in a barn while my mom treated a sick horse or helped a mare foal. Once that was done, we’d return home and pick up the celebrations where we’d left off.”
“Sounds like you guys made the best of things,” Felicity said.
He nodded. “We did. All I can say is thank God for the microwave—it saved us from a cold dinner more times than I can count.”
“I can imagine.”
He pulled up in front of a nice-looking ranch house and angled the car onto a strip of the gravel drive. A handful of other cars were already parked, which meant the party was likely already under way.
Dario glanced at her, one eyebrow lifted in inquiry. “Ready?”
Felicity took a deep breath and nodded. Her heart was already pounding at the thought of being in a crowd, but she pushed back against her mounting anxiety. There were no insurgents hiding in this family gathering. Just like at the engagement party, these people were gathered to celebrate, and there was no traitor hell-bent on destruction in their midst.
Dario waited for her by the car, and he placed his hand on her lower
back to escort her up the stairs onto the porch. His touch was light, more a sign of good manners than anything else. Still, Felicity had to admit she liked having his hand on her. It gave her something to focus on, a distraction from her irrational fears. She leaned back a little as they waited for someone to answer the door, subtly increasing the contact between them. She glanced at Dario’s face, expecting to see a flash of smug satisfaction in his eyes. But if Dario noticed what she was doing, he didn’t show it.
She could hear the din of conversation and laughter even through the closed door, and she relaxed a tiny bit. This is what normal life is like, she reminded herself. It was something she had taken for granted once. Not anymore.
The door opened, and a pretty, curvy blonde woman smiled at them. “Dario! So glad you could make it!” She stepped forward and lightly kissed his cheek, then turned to Felicity. “And you must be Felicity. I’m Maggie Colton. Please come inside.”
“Thank you for including us today,” Felicity said, stepping across the threshold. The house was warm and smelled deliciously of cookies. Felicity was immediately transported back to the kitchen with her mother, the pair of them laughing and talking as they worked. “It smells amazing in here,” she said. “Have you been baking all morning?”
Maggie’s blue eyes sparkled. “Yes,” she said with a nod. “Something like that.” She winked at Dario, who smiled and ducked his head at what was clearly a private joke.
Interesting, Felicity thought. It seemed her initial assessment of Dario was correct; the man was a born charmer, and apparently even married women weren’t immune to his charisma.
Oddly enough, this realization made her soften toward him. When she’d first met him, she’d assumed Dario’s carefree, flirtatious attitude had been an act designed to manipulate people into giving him what he wanted. Now she saw that wasn’t the case. He had the type of personality that drew people in, made them want to get closer. It was an effect she’d been fighting for the past few days, and for the first time, she began to wonder if her resistance was worth the effort.
“The gang’s all here,” Maggie said. “Thorne is just about to put the burgers and hot dogs on the grill.”
“He’s grilling in this weather?” Felicity said, incredulous. “Doesn’t he know it’s snowing?” The flurries had started on the drive in, and the week had been cold enough that the flakes were probably going to stick. It made for picture-perfect holiday weather, but it wasn’t ideal for cooking outdoors.
Maggie rolled her eyes and smiled. “He sees the snow as a challenge rather than a sign to stay inside. I’ve given up trying to talk sense into him—I figure if he wants to freeze, then who am I to stop him?”
Felicity and Dario both laughed and Maggie led them down the entry hall into a large living room. All the Colton siblings were there; Felicity recognized River and his wife, Edith, and Knox, the sheriff of Shadow Creek. She spied Jade in the corner talking with a tall, striking redhead and a petite blonde woman. Those must be her sisters, she thought.
Maggie waved to get the group’s attention. “Hey, everyone! Our guests have arrived!” She made the introductions and Felicity committed the names of the Colton siblings and their spouses to memory as she was guided around the room. She’d been right; the tall redhead was Leonor, and the other blonde woman was Claudia Colton. A moment later, Thorne popped his head into the room and waved.
“Good to see you again,” he said to Dario, passing a baby off to Maggie. “And nice to meet you, Felicity.”
Everyone was welcoming and Felicity soon found herself holding a mug of hot cider. Dario was pulled aside by Josh Howard, Leonor’s husband, and Felicity drifted into the corner where she could watch the group. A young boy streaked through the room.
“Cody!” Both Knox and his wife, Allison, called out at the same time. “No running in the house,” continued Knox.
The boy stopped, but Felicity could tell by the way his frame practically vibrated with energy that it wouldn’t be long before he needed another reminder.
“Dad, it’s snowing! Can I go outside and play?”
Knox and Allison exchanged a look, and Knox made to stand. “It’s my turn,” he said to his wife. “You stay warm.”
“Both of you stay warm,” Thorne instructed. He carried a plate of hamburger patties and hot dogs in one hand and a set of tools in the other. “I’ll keep an eye on him.”
Cody darted after his uncle. “Put your coat on,” Allison called after him.
The baby Maggie was holding spied Dario, and his little face lit up. He stretched his arms out, clearly seeking Dario’s hold.
Dario glanced down and grinned. “Hey there, Joseph.” To Felicity’s shock, he picked up the boy, settling him easily on his hip.
Maggie laughed. “Oh my. You made quite the impression yesterday,” she said.
Dario laughed. “It’s always good to have a friend.”
“It’s time for his bottle. Would you mind feeding him?” Maggie asked.
“I’d be happy to,” Dario said easily.
Maggie stepped into the kitchen and returned a moment later with a bottle. “Let me know when you get tired of him,” she said.
“No worries,” Dario said. “Joseph and I will be just fine.” He found a seat and settled the baby in his arms, then set about feeding him.
Felicity couldn’t tear her gaze away from the sight. Dario hadn’t struck her as the type of man to be interested in kids, but he looked like a natural sitting there with a squirming infant in his arms.
Something shifted inside her chest as she watched him interact with the baby. Dario patiently watched Joseph as he ate. The baby gulped audibly as he drank from the bottle and he hummed, clearly enjoying his meal. Dario smiled down at him, his expression one of genuine affection. Who was this man? He certainly didn’t look like a carefree playboy now. Clearly, there was more to him than met the eye, and Felicity felt a pang of guilt at her assumption he was a one-dimensional flirt who was only interested in the next good time.
“Good to see you again.” The quiet words interrupted her thoughts, and Felicity reluctantly looked away from Dario to find River Colton standing next to her.
She quickly took a sip of her cider, hoping to cover her interest in Dario. “It was so nice of your family to invite us,” she said.
River glanced around the room at his siblings and their partners. The soft buzz of conversation filled the air, punctuated by the occasional laugh. It was a cozy, familial sound, the kind of noise Felicity wanted in her own home one day. “It’s nice to have friends around, too,” River said.
He turned back to study her, and Felicity tried not to fidget under his gaze. “You’re doing really well,” he said softly.
“I’m not so sure,” she murmured.
“No, you are,” he insisted. “It took me a long time to adjust to standing in a group of people. I got nervous being around my own family, it was that bad. You look great, though.”
Felicity laughed softly. “Looks can be deceiving. I feel pretty wobbly inside.”
“That will pass,” he said confidently. “I know it doesn’t feel that way now, but you will adjust.” He lifted his arm as Edith walked over, and she snugged against his side. Felicity smiled, hoping it hid the weight of envy that settled on her shoulders as she saw the love shared by River and his wife. She wanted that someday—the closeness with someone, the sense of safety and belonging. Of feeling understood and accepted, flaws and all. She thought she’d had that once, but she’d been wrong and the memory of it still stung.
Edith gently poked River in the ribs. “Babe, would you mind getting me a cup of cider?”
“Not at all,” he said, releasing her at once. He headed into the kitchen and Edith leaned closer to Felicity. “Are you okay?” Her brown eyes were full of compassion and understanding, as if she knew exactl
y what Felicity was feeling right now. And she probably did, since she’d had a front-row seat as River had adjusted to civilian life.
“I’m good, thanks.”
Edith nodded. “Yeah, I’ve heard that line before.” Felicity knew the other woman had seen through her social lie, but there was no accusation in Edith’s tone. Just a matter-of-fact acknowledgment that Felicity appreciated. She got the sense that if she wanted to talk, Edith would listen.
“He’s lucky to have you,” she said.
Edith laughed and shook her head. “I’m lucky to have him,” she corrected. “Or I guess you could say it’s a good thing we found each other.”
“I’m sure you helped him adjust to life after the war,” Felicity said.
Edith tilted her head to the side, her expression turning thoughtful. “Yes. We’ve been good for each other.” She glanced at Felicity’s face and added, “You’ll find that, too. The right man is out there.”
“I’m not so sure,” Felicity admitted. “I thought I’d found him once, but that wasn’t the case.”
“What happened?”
“We were high school sweethearts. We had big plans—marriage, kids, the whole nine yards. But then I joined the Marines, and he couldn’t handle it. He had his reasons and didn’t want to talk about it. So he dumped me the night before I shipped off to basic training.” Felicity shook her head at the memory. Even twelve years later, the pain of his rejection still made her heart ache.
“I’m so sorry,” Edith said. She gently touched Felicity’s arm in sympathy.
Felicity shrugged. “It is what it is. Probably better things turned out the way they did. If our relationship wasn’t strong enough to withstand my service, he wasn’t the right guy, after all.”
“That’s true, but I’m sure that thought was cold comfort to you at the time.”
“Yeah. It took me a while, but I’ve moved on.”
“That’s good,” Edith said. “Are you seeing anyone now?”