Page 144 of Fierce-Colson

He turned and smiled. “Are you sure?”

“Positive.”

“You’re much smarter than I think. It’s kind of scary.”

She pointed her finger and wiggled it around. “Just remember that when you want to lecture me on something else.”

“I will.”

He didn’t know if she was putting on a front or not.

He was good at reading people and it didn’t seem it to him.

And since she was smiling and he was too, he’d take it as a win.

34

SPEAK HER LANGUAGE

“How did it go?” Marly asked when Colson came in the door that night.

“She was a rock star,” he said grinning. “Is that what they call it now?”

“I believe it’s GOAT or legend now.”

“Jesus, how do you know that shit?”

She smiled and pulled him into her arms for a hug.

She thought for sure he’d come in down, tight, tense. Not really upset. He didn’t always let her see it.

Though she did and she was glad she was privy to as much as she’d been.

And the meeting today for lunch? She was okay not going.

She one hundred percent would have been there if Bella had asked, but work was piling up, her mind was filled with pressure and stress and, knowing she was going to spend hours with them tonight, it gave her the time to finish up things she didn’t get done this week.

“I hate to say how many kids come across my docket. You, you’re not getting as many in the fraud division. Maybe not as many in sex crimes. Or not those that are talking trash and slang, even opening up.”

“Tell me about it.” He stepped out of her arms. “I feel as if I need a cheat sheet or something to catch up.”

She rubbed his arm. “Be the cool... oh sorry, be the dope big brother who not only hears Bella, but can speak her language.”

“We speak just fine. Or we do now. If I changed too much, then she won’t have that to bust on me about.”

“So you’re doing that on purpose?” she asked.

He winked at her, which said that maybe he was.

Maybe he was thinking more of Bella than anyone realized.

Because when it came down to the important things, Colson was right there by his sister.

She pulled him to the couch. “Tell me how it went if you want.”

“She was mini Marly Conway with her questioning.”

“Good for her. She did ask my advice.”