Colton Christmas Protector (The Coltons of Texas #12)(27)

“This way,” he said and hitched his head toward the kitchen.

Leading Nicholas by the hand, she followed him into the fully equipped kitchen, her gaze taking in all the newest gadgets and screens. “Pretty fancy technology for a lake house.”

“Remote doesn’t have to mean ill-equipped. I furnished the place with the expectation I might have to work a case from here. And I like keeping my electronics updated.” He opened a drawer by the refrigerator and dumped in the keys to Pen’s Explorer as well as the pieces of the phones and the batteries.

“Only the best for a Colton,” she muttered, her tone dark with sarcasm.

“Is that going to be a problem for us?”

She turned a startled look toward him. “Your gadgets?”

“My being a Colton. In the past, I never got the sense that my last name was an issue for you, but that’s at least the third time you’ve derided my family connection.”

Chagrin darkened her face. “I’m sorry. I know I owe you better. Especially since you’ve done so much to help me today. I’m just...edgy.” She scoffed. “To put it mildly. More like scared as hell. Confused. Angry.” Her face crumpled as tears filled her eyes.

Reid moved toward her, lifting his arms to hug her, and she raised a hand to ward him off.

“No.” She shook her head and swiped at her eyes. “I’ll be fine.”

She schooled her expression and took a deep breath. Then with a tight, tremulous smile, she lifted Nicholas into her arms and started for the next room. “So show me the place.”

Reid ushered her into the living room, trying to see the house from her point of view. The decor was decidedly masculine. Since he’d been creating a space for himself and had no woman in his life to compromise with on colors or styles, he’d chosen what he liked. Dark bold shades of maroon, navy, dark green. His leather couch was extra large to accommodate his height if he chose to stretch out on it while he watched the huge flat-screen TV mounted over the river-stone fireplace. The stained concrete floor meant no carpet to vacuum, but he could see the wheels turning in Penelope’s head. No doubt she was thinking of how hard the surface would be for her young son to play on.

As he surveyed his belongings, he realized how child-unfriendly the place was. His abundance of technology put buttons and knobs in easy reach of curious, sticky fingers. His coffee and end tables had glass tops and were adorned with heavy, breakable knickknacks. And then there was his gun cabinet...

He saw her bite her bottom lip and scowl as her gaze went to the glass-front cabinet where his hunting rifles and shotgun were stored.

“It’s locked,” he assured her. “But in the interest of full disclosure, I also have a handgun in the master bedroom. In the nightstand drawer.”

“You’ll have to move it. Lock it up with those.” She pointed at the gun case.

“Of course.” He blew out a lungful of air through pursed lips. “And a good bit of other childproofing, I’d guess.”

Nicholas whined and kicked his legs. “Down!”

“You guess correctly. What am I supposed to do with Nicholas?”

“Until we can make this room safer, let’s see what shape the guest bedrooms are in. Can he sleep in a real bed?”

“Do you have a guardrail for it?”

“No.” Wow. He really hadn’t thought this one through before he brought them here. He’d been concerned only about them being hidden, safe from whoever had shot at them.

Pen raked her hair back with her free hand. “I can move the bed against a wall. Maybe slide the dresser up next to it.”

“No.” He shook his head and stalked to a side table where he opened a drawer and took out pen and paper. “Here. Make a list. Everything you need for yourself and Nicholas. Safety equipment, food, clothes, diapers.”

She gave a short humorless laugh. “Thank God we have a few extra diapers in his bag from Mother’s Day Out. But if we stay here, I’m going to need supplies by morning at the latest.”

“I’ll go tonight. I can have everything back here in a few hours.”

She stared at him, her expression skeptical. “Reid, I don’t think this is—”

“Can you trust me on this?”

She lifted an eyebrow as if to say, Are you kidding me?

“Please,” he added. “I thought you believed me about what happened with Andrew.”

“Maybe. I...” Her shoulders slumped. “I haven’t really had a chance to process it. My hesitance is not really about what happened with Andrew. Not completely. I just...” She blew out a tired breath. “So much has happened today. My head is spinning.”

He closed the distance between them and stroked a hand down her arm. Grasping her elbow, he drew her even closer and held her gaze. “Can you at least believe I’m your friend? That I care about what happens to you and Nicholas, and I’m trying to do what is best for you?”

She moistened her lips, and just the glimpse of her tongue sliding along the seam of her mouth sent a shock wave of lust pounding through him.

He dropped her arm and took an awkward step back, as if Andrew had planted a hand in his chest and shoved. That’s my wife, man. Stay away!

Penelope lowered her chin to stare at the floor for a moment before nodding. When she raised her head again, tears had filled her eyes. “It’s just... Damn it, Reid. I’m scared. I don’t know what to think, who to trust. Andrew is gone, and my father might be a crook. Someone hates me enough to have me killed, and everything I’d been told about your involvement with Andrew’s death may have been lies.”