too, and was a rookie cop at the RRPD.
“You didn’t bring her?”
“I’ll pick her up when we’re back in Red Ridge.”
“We?” She sipped her milk and sent him a barely contained scowl as she walked into the living room.
He decided not to argue just now. Wind gusted and pelted snow against the side of the cabin. He welcomed the time he’d be stuck here with her. Trailing her, he sat at the opposite end of the sofa, listening to the storm. Demi had left the gas fireplace burning on low before going to bed. Flames flickered and added light in the small space.
“You must have been working hard to find me,” she said, putting her glass down on the side table. “You didn’t always think I was innocent.”
She said the last in a tone much more representative of her fiery spirit. She obviously did not believe he thought she was innocent, at least, not completely.
He put his feet up on the square ottoman and leaned back. “Oh, yeah. I tried very hard to find you when I thought you killed my brother.”
“But now you’ve changed your mind.”
She sounded like a smart-mouth. “With good reason.”
“With no proof,” she countered.
He again decided not to argue.
“Did everyone think I did it?” she asked.
“No, not everyone. Quite a few didn’t think you would kill anyone. Shane and Brayden drove me nuts.”
At the mention of her half brothers—Shane Colton, the ex-con turned private investigator and RRPD informant, and Brayden Colton, another RRPD K-9 officer—Demi’s face lit up. They had defended her but she likely hadn’t known that until now. He felt a little redemption inch its way into his regret.
“My brothers tried to exonerate me?” she asked.
“At first the evidence was difficult for them to ignore. After Tucker Frane was killed, Shane thought you were being framed.”
“Tucker said he saw me shoot a man in the alley between Bea’s Bridal and a French restaurant.”
“That’s why Shane began to suspect something was off.”
She angled herself on the sofa, bending her knees and looping her arms around them, settling in. For what, Lucas would wait cautiously to find out.
“And Brayden?” she asked.
“Brayden would rip my head off if he had the chance.”
She smiled big and sang a soft, “Yay.”
“Aw, come on. It wasn’t all that bad between you and me.” The Coltons and the Gages of Red Ridge traditionally didn’t get along well. Years of feuding had caused a rift, but Lucas had seen that change ever since Demi had been set up as the Groom Killer.
Her animation faded. “Yes it was. You always had to be the dominant top dog.”
“You’re freelance. I’m a bona fide Red Ridge PD K-9 cop.”
The vixen poked out her pretty head. Stormy dyed eyebrows arrowed down. He hated how he loved that. Part of the reason they’d remained enemies for so long was he could never stop teasing her. He didn’t think he’d be able to stop now.
“Bounty hunter,” she shot back.
“Deputized bounty hunter.” He winked.
“Ugh.” She rolled her eyes. “Do you have to do that?”
He chuckled. “Only with you.”
She eyed him. “You do it on purpose?”
He chuckled deeper. “I wouldn’t say on purpose. I can’t help it.”
Her head tilted sideways a little. “You like yanking my chain.”
“Let’s just say I’m one of the few people who think your quick temper is adorable.”
“Adorable.”
He held back another chuckle. “Yes.”
“Why do you think it’s adorable? Adorable is not how I would describe myself.”
He agreed. He would describe her as many things. Smart. Tenacious. tough. “It’s adorable because you never realize I’m teasing you. You’re innocent and then...not.”
She said nothing. Someday maybe she’d relax enough to let the little things fall off her shoulders. If she ever did, he would want to be the first man to date her that way.
“I also think you’re defensive because of who your father is, Demi.”
“What? You Gages hate all things Colton, no matter what side of the tracks we live on.”
The snowstorm wasn’t easing up anytime soon. They had plenty of time to debate.
“I know you’re close with your brothers and sister, but what happened with your dad?”
“He’s my dad.”
“Yeah, but...”
“He’s Rusty Colton, the low-down bar owner? Nothing compared to the other Coltons in town? Be careful.”
“Hey, I didn’t—”
“Didn’t mean to what?”
Dealing with her temper had always been a chess game. He’d always had to plan his next move. But now, suddenly, this wasn’t a game. Demi’s temper had more depth than he’d ever realized. She could be touched off rather easily, but she never got abusive. Granted, she could tone down her intensity a notch or two, but she stood on solid ground. He’d actually always sensed that about her, and enjoyed how easily he could set her off.
“Why do you want to know about my dad? All you’re here to do is take me in to be arrested. There might be a new prime suspect, but that doesn’t mean I’m off the hook.”
He gave up trying to convince her he wasn’t here to take her in. Instead, he decided to be blunt. “We’re going to be together in this storm for a while. Why not make the best of it? I’m curious, that’s all. I’ve wanted to ask you about your dad for a long time.”
Her controlled attack mode softened. She took a moment to answer. “My father doesn’t care about anyone other than himself.” She averted her eyes toward the Christmas tree. “The only good thing he ever did was produce me and my half brothers and my half sister, Quinn. He’s my father and we spend time together, but it doesn’t feel genuine to me.”
He felt her conflict about being raised by a man like Rusty or fathered by him. Her mother had left him, or so Lucas had heard.
“You’re not estranged?”
“No.”
