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“No.” Colton’s denial drew everyone’s attention, including Kendra’s. The thief still hadn’t said a word. “I already found a new place, but after talking to Joel, I didn’t follow up on it. I’ll just call the manager and see if it’s still available.”
“Colton—”
“It’s okay, really,” Colton insisted, ignoring Joel’s look of apology. “I’ve been debating whether I want to live where I work, anyway. I might get sick of you guys.”
He smiled to indicate he was joking, and thankfully Joel let it go. No way did he want Kendra staying in the main house with his friends and the kids. He could keep a better eye on her in the guesthouse, especially when he moved in anyway. No one would have to know if he talked to the building manager, and when the time came, he’d let Ms. Kendra Zelner know exactly what choice she had in the matter. Let her explain to her ‘brother.’
The doorbell rang, and Britt looked at her watch. She stood up with a frown. “It’s ten o’clock already—that’ll be the Coopers for their training session.”
Joel grimaced. “They’ll be here for a while.”
As Joel and Britt conversed, Colton watched Kendra struggle with her composure and saw a glimmer of panic and fear give way for uncertainty in her suddenly expressive face. It was like reading a book. He read wariness in the one glance she cast in his direction, and knew she wondered why he gave up the house for her; why he didn’t reveal her for the liar he knew her to be.
Well, let her keep wondering. If he kept the little klepto off balance, it might be easier to protect the Morgan’s while gathering solid evidence to expose her scam.
Britt walked toward the foyer. “Joel, I’ll stall them while you show Kendra the guesthouse so she and Noah can freshen up.”
“I’ll take her,” Colton offered.
A flash of dismay in her eyes confirmed she didn’t like that prospect one bit.
“That would help.” Joel turned to Kendra. “Do you mind?”
Colton’s direct gaze dared her to object. After a visible swallow, she shook her head no.
“Thanks.” Joel walked by Colton and gave him a clap on the shoulder. “Don’t have to tell you how the Coopers are.” Pausing at the door, he looked at Kendra. “We’ll all have dinner tonight, after you’re settled, okay?”
She offered a weak smile of agreement, and then Joel’s boots echoed across the floor with his departure. The moment they were alone, Colton braced his hands on the table and leaned forward. Her wide gaze met his, full of apprehension. In a moment of distraction, he thought how very pretty her brown eyes were.
As she reached for her coffee cup, her tongue appeared and swiped nervously across her lips. A jolt of awareness took him completely by surprise. Colton shoved back from the table. She jumped, then took a drink as if everything were normal.
Colton forced any thoughts of pretty or sexy from his mind and managed to sound relatively normal when he asked, “Ready?”
She to
ok her time setting the cup down before standing. He pushed his hands into his front pockets when she picked up the two dusty leather duffle bags near the entry between the kitchen and the foyer. He’d be damned if he’d offer to carry them, but then found himself holding the back door open.
“You’ll like it here,” he said, hoping to lull her into a false sense of security. She cast him a quick glance as they walked toward a house set back near the trees, halfway between the main house and three barns.
“Colorado is very pretty,” she finally replied.
He flashed a brief smile. “I meant the ranch. Joel and Britt are great, and they’ve got some of the best horses in the state.”
She nodded, shifting the bags in her arms. A glance at his empty hands told him she was annoyed that he didn’t offer assistance. Hah. As if he owed her any courtesy at all.
“Where’re you from?”
After a distinct hesitation, she supplied, “New York.”
“The city or just the state?” he pressed.
“City.”
“Hmmm. This is a far cry from New York.”
A small smile curved her lips. “You can say that again.”
“This is a far cry from—”
