Page 156 of Fierce-Colson

If she could tell them to him, then she could believe them herself.

“Do you think Colson understands that?” she asked quietly. “I mean really does?”

Her mother smiled knowingly. “That man adores you. I think he understands more than you realize. But don’t assume he always will. Just like you can’t assume he’s always going to be there when you mess up and maybe make the wrong decision. Or one that he might not agree with.”

“Got it,” she said. “I won’t take advantage of that. I wouldn’t do that to him.”

“Talk to him,” her mother said. “Don’t just expect him to know what you’re carrying. Men are wonderful, but they are not mind readers.”

She laughed softly. “No.”

“And remember something else,” her mother added as she picked up another plate. “Bella is watching everything you do.”

“I know. I see it.”

“She’s watching how you love her brother. How you balance your life. How you treat your work.”

She blew a breath out. “It’s a lot of pressure, but I’m up for it.”

“It’s also a gift,” her mother said. “You’re showing her what a strong woman looks like. One who loves deeply and still stands firmly in her own life. She needs to see that as much as you needed when you were that age.”

“I hadn’t thought of it that way.”

“Well,” her mother said, nudging her shoulder lightly, “that’s what mothers are for.”

From the living room, Colson’s deep and easy laugh carried down the hall.

“And fathers,” she said.

“And fathers. He’ll be a great one someday.”

“I think so too.” But told herself not to get too ahead of herself.

Baby steps.

They just weren’t that wobbly anymore.

37

BOSS ME AROUND

Colson was in the car, coming back from a scene supervising the removal of computers from a fraud ring he’d been working on for months.

When he saw the school calling on the screen, he knew that had to come first.

“Colson Ryder,” he said.

“Hi, Colson, this is Madeline Hersey, the assistant principal. Bella fell during basketball practice and we have an ambulance en route.”

“What?” he shouted. “How hurt is she?” Ambulance meant serious.

He hit the lights on his car, looked in the rearview mirror, then did a U-turn to head toward the school.

“We aren’t positive. Another girl stepped on her foot by mistake. Bella was turning while it happened, she went down hard, then someone else ran into her, landing on her. It was a collision of a few girls at once.”

“Is she awake?” he asked, swerving through traffic. “Alert? Can I talk to her?”

“She is awake and alert. She said her ankle hurts. She can’t walk, but her head hurts too. She hit the floor pretty hard and we are going to have her checked over for all injuries.”