Killer Colton Christmas Page 13

  “Sorry, man,” Ace said.

  “No.” He read her note again and picked out each of her lame excuses for going back to Dallas. He’d listened when she told him about her childhood, or rather a distinct lack thereof. He’d kissed her, made love to her, and he recognized this letter was a cop-out. She was letting her old fears of abandonment decide for both of them.

  He tossed the phone to the foot of the bed. “Where are my clothes?”

  “She left you?” Ace shook his head. “I’m sorry, man.”

  He couldn’t drive in this condition, but Ace could. Would. “My clothes, Ace. You’re driving me home.” To Dallas if necessary.

  “Emiliano, you can’t leave the hospital yet.”

  “Can. Will. In this stupid hospital gown if I have to.” He pressed the call button for the nurse and demanded to have his IV removed.

  The nurse refused, calling for a doctor when Emiliano started peeling back the tape himself.

  “You’re an idiot,” Ace muttered. “She’s gone.” He upended a small duffel bag and tossed clean clothes at him.

  “How long ago?”

  The orthopedic surgeon on rounds walked in and Emiliano made it clear he wasn’t staying. “I’ll rest at home. Go to my follow-up.”

  The doctor scribbled out two prescriptions. “And you’ll take these antibiotics or I’ll see you back here in worse shape than you’re in now.”

  “Yes, sir.” It wasn’t easy dressing with one hand and it was morale-lowering to need Ace’s help buttoning his jeans and shirt, but at least they were moving in the right direction.

  “How long has she been gone?” he demanded as Ace drove to the ranch.

  “Barely an hour,” Ace admitted, glumly. “She wanted more of a head start.”

  “I bet she did.” Emiliano was calculating the time. If he was lucky, she hadn’t gotten away from the ranch yet. “How was she getting back to Dallas?”

  “She said she had it under control.”

  A cab or a ride-share service? Either was possible, he thought. Probably she asked a new friend. “Step on it,” he said as he first called Claudia and then Jade to see if they’d heard from Marie. They hadn’t.

  His hopes sank again, remembering what she’d said about family in her letter. She could have tapped any number of contacts at Colton, Incorporated, the people she considered family. The upper corporate had vast resources and all of them thought the world of Marie, valued her as an employee and a friend.

  They weren’t her family. That was the role Emiliano wanted to claim. He wanted to build that with her, give her the foundation of love and stability he’d had. He was halfway out of the truck before Ace had come to a complete stop in front of the house. He hurried inside, ignoring the griping shoulder. She couldn’t be gone yet. The alarm system chimed as he walked in and he stopped long enough to punch in his code.

  Hearing Marie’s voice pleading with someone, he moved as fast as possible toward the guest room. Was she under attack again? Why hadn’t he brought a gun?

  He checked his headlong rush at the doorway, taking in the scene. Marie was trying to pack up her things and Scrabble was sitting in one half of her open suitcase, nipping and tossing things back out without moving.

  “Stop that,” Marie said again. “You’re a menace.”

  She reached for his dog, and rather than shove her aside, she cuddled Scrabble close. “I’ll miss you too.” She put the dog on the floor and Scrabble leaped up and back into the suitcase.

  “Menace,” Marie repeated, her voice full of tenderness.

  “Sure, kiss the dog goodbye.” Emiliano stepped into the room. “But not me.”

  Scrabble stood up, her body wriggling and a grin on her face, though she held her position in the suitcase.

  Marie faced him, her eyes red and her eyelashes spiked with tears. “You shouldn’t be here.”

  “Where else would I be after that ridiculous letter?”

  “Ridiculous?” Temper flashed through her deep eyes, gone in an instant. “You’re pale.” She drew him to the chair under the window, made him sit down.

  “Emiliano, I...” Her voice trailed off, her gaze shifting to the view through the window.

  “I love you, Marie.”

  She stared at him, her eyes wide and wet.

  He reached out and tilted her chin, examining the bruise on her cheek. “Trust me not to let anyone hurt you again.”

  She took his hand in both of hers, and though she smiled, it didn’t hold much confidence. “You’ve been a wonderful protector.”

  “I’m in love with you,” he said. “I should have said it sooner, the minute I knew, but I was scared.” He raised his chin toward the bed. “Scared of this, actually.”

  He waited, giving her room to say something. She didn’t. He wasn’t wrong about her, about them. On the bed, Scrabble gave a low huff and settled into the suitcase, resting her chin on her paws, watching them.

  No, he wasn’t wrong.

  “All my life I’ve searched for the joy and faithfulness, the partnership and laughter my parents have.” He cleared his throat. How had he let his ex have that much sway over his life? “I took a detour, let one bad apple get into my head. Until I met you.

  “All your life you’ve wanted family,” he continued. “It’s right here. I want that for you, with you.” He reached out and brushed her long bangs from her eyes. “You don’t have to leave first, Marie. You can trust me to stay. Always.”

  A tear trickled down her cheek and he wiped it away with his thumb.

  “Your family has been here for generations,” she whispered, sinking to her knees beside the chair.

  “A testament to the Ortega stability and stubbornness,” he said. “Trust what we’ve started. Count on me, Marie.”

  A smile teased the corner of her lips. “I am afraid,” she confessed. “I love you too, Emiliano.” She shook her head and her hair fell like a curtain around her face. “I’m afraid of everything I don’t know about being in a family.”

  “I know it.” She was thinking about the wreckage in her past. He pulled her closer, longing to turn her focus to the present, the future. “Just as I know our family won’t be complete without you, without us, bringing up the next generation. Marry me, Marie. Be my family, and we’ll figure out the rest of it as we go.”

  “It’s a dream I gave up on,” she admitted with a quiet sigh. She lifted her eyes to his. “Until you.”

  The sunlight from the window caught the flecks of gold in her gorgeous eyes, illuminated the depth of love he’d almost given up on. “Is that a yes?”

  She leaned forward and carefully touched her lips to his. “Yes.”

  “You’ll need a ring.”

  “First, you need a hospital.”

  “The doctor said I only need rest. I’ll get more of it here, with you.” He aimed a look at the bed behind her.

  Her soft laughter filled his heart as she helped him down the hall to his room with Scrabble dashing ahead as escort. When he was as comfortable as she could make him, she stretched out along his good side and Scrabble settled at the foot of the bed.

  “We’ll need a bigger place in Dallas, too,” he said after a few minutes basking in the quiet wonder of being loved by Marie. “I know how much you want to get back to work.”

  “We have some time,” she replied. “I called in and Fowler told me to take the rest of the year.”

  Time. It was a gift nearly as beautiful as the heart of the woman beside him.

  She laid her palm over his chest, the warmth sinking deep into his soul. “We could find a place here in Shadow Creek. Telecommuting is a workable option for me.”

  He caught the skittish tremor in her voice and wanted to ease all her fears. He tipped up her chin, waited for her to meet his gaze.
“You’ve given that some thought.”

  She trailed a finger along his jaw. “I might have wished on a star or two for what could be.”

  “What will be,” he promised. “We’ll celebrate tomorrow or maybe the day after.” He kissed her softly. “This is the best healing a man could ask for.”

  “This will be the best Christmas ever,” she whispered, snuggling close.

  “I promise to make each one better than the last.”

  “You can try,” she teased, her dimples showing. “Since you’re my first Christmas miracle, it will be a challenge.”

  He stroked his fingers through her hair, equally stunned and content. “Challenge accepted, my love.”

  * * * * *

  Dear Reader,

  It’s always a joy to write a book set in the world of the Coltons! This is a family that has seen their share of troubles, and yet at the end of it all, they stick with each other through thick and thin. While the characters in this book aren’t Coltons by blood, they forge strong friendships with the members of the clan. And really, aren’t friends the family we choose for ourselves?

  I’m fortunate to have some truly great friends in my life, and I’m happy that we still keep in touch despite our lives taking us in different directions. Like Dario and Felicity, my friends are very important to me, and I treasure every one of them.

  I hope you enjoy this story. Dario and Felicity face a lot of hurdles in a short period of time, and it’s quite the roller-coaster ride! Grab your favorite holiday treat and settle in for an exciting time!

  As always, thanks for reading!

  Lara

  THE MARINE’S

  CHRISTMAS CASE

  Lara Lacombe

  For O. Can’t wait to meet you!

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 1

  It was a nice party...for an engagement celebration.

  Dario Ortega stood in the corner, nursing his beer as he watched the group. The ranch house was packed, the walls practically bulging as friends, family and well-wishers crowded in alongside the usual menagerie of dogs and cats that always seemed to find his parents. The two veterinarians had soft hearts and never had been able to say no to an animal in need. He and his brother, Emiliano, had practically grown up in a zoo, and as he watched one of the members of his family’s current pack nose the guests in a hopeful manner, he couldn’t help but smile. Some things never changed...

  All the bodies made the house warm, but Dario didn’t mind. He enjoyed being around his family; he traveled a lot thanks to his freelance tech work, so it was nice to stay in one place for a bit and spend some time with his parents and brother.

  He’d never seen Emiliano so happy before. His brother was normally serious and reserved, but Dario didn’t think he had stopped smiling in days. And it was all thanks to the woman by his side.

  Marie Meyers was a beautiful lady, made even more pretty by the love shining in her eyes as she looked up at her fiancé, laughing at something he said. Emiliano had his arm around her, and it was clear from the way their bodies were angled toward each other that they were sharing a private moment despite standing in the middle of the crowd. Dario was happy for his brother and the love he’d found, but he had to admit he didn’t understand Emiliano’s desire to get married.

  Dario didn’t have anything against relationships, per se. He loved women—their smell, their laugh, the way they moved and talked. He enjoyed hearing their thoughts and figuring out what made them tick. And he didn’t mind having an exclusive relationship with one at a time. In fact, he preferred it that way.

  But there was something about the whole till-death-do-us-part-forever-and-ever-amen aspect of marriage that made him tense up. Maybe he was just cynical, but Dario liked going into a relationship knowing that he had an escape option if things went south. And while divorce was a possibility, it was often a messy, drawn-out process. Besides, what kind of a pessimist thought about divorce as they were getting married?

  “There he is!” Emiliano’s voice boomed over the din of conversation. “Get over here, best man!”

  Dario smiled and pushed off the wall, threading through the crowd until he reached his brother’s side. “You rang?” he said drily. He nodded at Marie, who smiled at him.

  Emiliano clapped him on the back. “I did. Why are you skulking in the corner? This is a party! You need to mix and mingle.”

  “I’m sorry,” Dario replied. “I didn’t realize I was being so evasive.” He truly hadn’t meant to put a damper on the party, but perhaps his thoughts about marriage had affected his mood.

  “You weren’t,” Marie said. “He just doesn’t want to be the only one in the thick of things.”

  “She’s right,” Emiliano admitted, sounding a little sheepish. He glanced around, his eyes widening a bit as he took in the size of the gathering. “I didn’t realize we actually knew this many people. And having them all in one place is a bit claustrophobic.”

  “Just wait until the wedding,” Dario said. He grinned, taking a perverse pleasure in his brother’s discomfort. “Mom has a list of guests as long as your arm.”

  Emiliano and Marie exchanged a loaded glance. “Uh, we were kind of hoping for a small, quiet affair,” she said.

  “Yeah,” Emiliano put in. “We figured if we let her go nuts for the engagement party, she’d be more likely to back off on the guest-list demands.”

  Dario nodded and bit his lip to hide a smile. “I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you.”

  His brother was right to look so worried. Natalia Ortega was a force of nature—as a petite woman who worked with huge horses all day, her job practically demanded it. Dario didn’t envy Emiliano’s predicament, and he chuckled to himself. One more reason to stay single...

  As if summoned by their conversation, their mother walked over. She slipped her arm around Dario’s waist and pulled him close, and he leaned down to kiss the top of her head. “I’m so glad you’re home,” she said. “Having both my boys home for Christmas is the best gift I could ask for.”

  Dario smiled. “I’m glad I was able to take a break. It’s good to be here.” Even though he lived in Houston, only a few hours away, he’d been working steadily over the past year, moving from job to job without pause. But his next project didn’t start until January, giving him a few weeks to catch up with everyone and get to know Marie a little better before she officially joined the family.

  His father walked over and joined them. “Is this an impromptu family meeting?”

  “Something like that,” Emiliano replied, angling his body to make room for Aurelio Ortega to step into the circle.

  “Are you two enjoying yourselves?” Aurelio asked Emiliano and Marie.

  “Very much,” Marie said. “It’s a wonderful party—thank you again for hosting it.”

  “Our pleasure,” Natalia said, her smile stretching from ear to ear. She practically vibrated with joy, and Dario’s heart warmed to see his mother so happy.

  “We can’t wait to officially welcome you into the family,” Aurelio said. He glanced at Emiliano and Dario. “But for now, we need to mingle so our guests don’t feel neglected.”

  Dario and his brother nodded. “I’m on it,” Dario said, raising his glass in salute. He scanned the crowd as his parents slipped away, seeking out a friendly face. Maybe he could find an old family friend to chat with for a minute, to ease himself into being social.

  Jade and Claudia Colton
had found Marie, and the three women were talking and laughing by the Christmas tree. While he watched, his mother joined the group—she had long been the vet for Jade’s horses, and Jade hugged her in greeting.

  Dario’s father caught his eye and nodded meaningfully at the crowd. Dario lifted his glass in acknowledgment. Message received.

  He spied Mrs. Jenkins by the refreshment table. She’d been their neighbor for years, and she was always nice to talk to. Dario took a step in her direction but a flash of red caught his eye and made him turn.

  She was standing by the window, sipping from a glass of white wine. She was limned by the glow of the Christmas lights lining the roof of the house, giving her an ethereal look. How had he missed seeing her before? With her long brown hair, full lips and delicately arched eyebrows, she was exactly the kind of beautiful woman he usually appreciated.

  “Who’s that?” he asked his brother, keeping his gaze locked on her lest she disappear.

  “That’s Felicity Grant. She just came back to Shadow Creek and is now working for Adeline Kincaid’s PI agency.”

  “Excellent,” he murmured. He started forward, but a hand on his shoulder stopped him.

  “I don’t think she’s going to be interested, little brother.” Emiliano nodded in her direction. “She looks like she wants to be left alone right now.”

  “We’ll see,” Dario said, shrugging off Emiliano’s hand. “I’m sure I can put her at ease.”

  He heard his brother’s soft chuckle. “This ought to be good,” Emiliano muttered. But Dario ignored him, focusing instead on the beauty across the room.

  He started toward her, taking his time so he didn’t seem too eager. He wasn’t exactly looking for a relationship right now, but he couldn’t pass up an opportunity to get to know such a lovely woman better. And if she wanted to have a little fun while he was home? Well, that was just fine by him...

  Her eyes landed on him as he approached. He offered her a suggestive smile designed to melt feminine resistance. In his experience, women usually blushed and giggled after such attention. But she didn’t.