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Marlowe smiled at her mother. “I thought this might provide a little shelter in this storm we’re enduring.” At least that was her hope. “Bowie just asked me to marry him—” she glanced at Bowie “—and I said yes.”
For a moment, the silence in the room was almost deafening, and then Callum rose to his feet and clapped Bowie on the back by way of congratulations.
“Well, it’s about time!” her twin declared, moving on to Marlowe. He gave his sister a bear hug. Looking over toward their grim-faced mother, Callum said, “This is a good thing, Mother.”
“I know,” she replied. “I realize that. I just wish that this news came at a better time,” she told her children sadly.
“It’ll be better soon,” Rafe promised, squeezing the older woman’s hand before he moved on to shake Bowie’s and hug Marlowe. “Congratulations,” he whispered into Marlowe’s ear, genuinely pleased for her.
Ace was just adding his own voice to the congratulations when Marlowe, facing the doorway, stiffened slightly. She saw a tall, slender woman entering the room where they were all gathered.
Marlowe had a bad feeling.
“Can I help you?” Bowie asked, stepping forward. This was not the time to bother Marlowe’s family, he thought, acting as a buffer. He had noticed the uncomfortable look on Rafe’s face when he saw the woman walking in.
The redhead walked over toward Bowie. “I’m Detective Kerry Wilder,” she said, introducing herself. Next to her, Rafe noticeably stiffened. Marlowe wondered why.
Marlowe instantly reacted. “Do you have any information to tell us about my father?” she asked eagerly.
“No, not yet, I’m afraid. We’re still looking into all the possibilities.” She turned toward the men in the waiting area. “Which one of you is Ace Colton?” she asked.
Ace stepped forward, moving around Grayson. “I am,” he told the detective.
She nodded, as if she already knew which of the men he was but wanted to see if he would volunteer the information.
“Would you come with me, please?” she requested.
“Where are you taking him?” Grayson asked, clearly ready to protect his older brother. Like Marlowe, he had never stopped thinking of Ace as that, no matter what his father had said about switched babies.
“To the police station,” Kerry answered. “There are some questions that need clearing up.”
It was apparently all that the detective was willing to say at this time. Putting her hand on Ace’s arm, she began to usher him out of the room, leaving the others to exchange looks and wonder what was going on.
“Are you arresting him?” Ainsley asked.
But the detective didn’t answer. That left everyone wondering: Did Ace shoot his father? Was this what Ace had meant when he’d told the older man that he would be sorry for having thrown him off the board?
Marlowe refused to entertain that thought, but it certainly looked that way.
She was determined to find out as soon as possible for everyone’s sake—most of all for Ace’s, even as she looked forward to her own future with Bowie and their child.
* * *
Don’t miss book two in
The Coltons of Mustang Valley series,
Colton’s Lethal Reunion by Tara Taylor Quinn
r /> Available now wherever
Harlequin Romantic Suspense books are sold.
And check out book three—
Colton Family Bodyguard by Jennifer Morey—
and book four—
