The thought occurred to them both at the same time.
“Me,” Jewel said. “This has something to do with me.”
“Someone wants to make you distrust me.” Now it all made sense. “I’m your only ally. If they could turn you against me, once again you’d be on your own.”
“Notsomeone.Quit talking about him as though he’s anonymous. It’s Leo. Even in prison, he’s keeping his promise to come after me.”
Though it was the only thing that made sense, he still had to caution her. “But how? That’s what we need to find out.”
Though she nodded, he knew she was afraid. Not of him, thank God. He never wanted her to fear him. Ever. “I want to talk to Reba and Roy, face-to-face. Then you and I need to go confront this Bettina in person.”
“I agree.”
“Good.” Frustration coiled low in his belly, he dialed Reba’s number again, disconnecting when her voice mail came on. “Still no answer. I’m going to run by her place, see if she’s there.”
“I don’t know if that’s such a good idea.” For a moment, she appeared about to say something else.
“I do.” Frustrated, Colton shoved his hand through his hair. “Come with me.”
She appeared torn. “I…No. I’m actually not feeling too well. I’ll wait here.”
“Reba or no Reba, I’ve got to check in at the office.” Quietly, he watched her. If she meant to leave, he could do nothing to stop her. “I’ll be gone a couple of hours. We’ll talk again when I get back.”
If she was still there.
On the way to town, he cruised by Reba’s house, just in case. Her Mustang wasn’t parked in the driveway, nor was it at the real-estate building.
He drove on in to work.
Once inside the newspaper office, Colton tried to call Reba again. Again, her voice mail picked up. This time, he left another message and organized his desk, pretended to be working on his story about Jewel. If he published it, he knew she’d never forgive him, but if he didn’t, Floyd would have a fit. Either way didn’t look good.
Right now he didn’t much care. He wanted to find Reba and to confront this Bettina person. A woman he’d never even met, making such accusations, had better have a damn good reason.
And then Roy. That rankled even more. The man had just offered him a job, for Chrissakes.
To distract himself, he tried to focus on the job he’d been asked to do. Write the story. About Jewel. Maybe if he could find a different angle, do more research. For example, he’d like to find out what those sparkly lights surrounding her had been.
Psychic phenomena? He kicked back in his chair, hands behind his head, and tried to come up with an explanation.
But all he could think of was Jewel, and how well they’d fit together. He felt like a lovesick fool, obsessed with the wrong woman. Again.
“Colt!” Floyd came running, his large stomach bouncing. “Have you heard the news? How quickly can you have your story ready?”
“News?” Colton blinked. “What news? Which story?”
“The big story, the one on Jewel. Look what just came over the wire!” Floyd shoved a crumpled piece of paper under Colton’s nose.
Colton read it once, heart sinking. He read it again, and pushed back his chair so hard it crashed into the wall behind him. Crap.
“Here.” He tossed the paper back at Floyd. “I’ve got to go.”
“Go?” Floyd goggled at him. “Hell, no. You’ll stay and write your story. This is perfect timing. We’ll sell a ton of papers. Get busy finishing it up. I’m putting it on the front page.”
But Colton ignored him. He ran for the parking lot, keys in hand. He had to warn Jewel, see what she wanted to do.
Leo was out. He’d escaped from prison the night before. Despite a massive manhunt, he hadn’t yet been found.
“Out? Are you sure?” Jewel dragged her hand through her disheveled hair for the tenth time. She paced, her long-legged stride eating up the distance quickly, before she pivoted and headed back toward him. Leo’s escape had taken precedence over their other issues, now temporarily tabled by mutual silent agreement.
