Page 76 of Fierce-Colson

“I’m not sure about anything else,” he said. “But I see potential and she does too. That’s the best I can say for now.”

“I understand. Thank you for telling me that much. So I can let Tiff know we can go there on Saturday?”

“We can do it, but hold off on the time. I’ll reach out to Marly, but she might not get back to me right away. For all I know, she could still be at work. She’s working on a big case right now.”

“You can still text her now,” Bella urged.

He’d seen his sister before when she got like this. And since it was a typical teen reaction and he was happy to see it, he picked his phone up and shot off the message.

“Happy?”

“Yes. Is it bad if I say that sometimes I like living with you more than I did Dad? It’s not like I’ve got anyone else.”

“It’s not bad if it’s how you feel,” he said softly. “You’re not alone, don’t think that.”

“I kind of am.” Her head was down again. “What would happen to me if something happened to you? With your job and all?”

“Right now,” he said, sighing, “you’d end up with my mother. I’ve made arrangements just like Dad, for all his faults, he made sure you were taken care of too. I know it’s hard. Not just for you, but me too. But try to think of some of the good things if you can about him.”

“I try. I really do, but he wasn’t around much. I guess it’s better than my mother, who hasn’t been around in years.”

This was such a touchy subject.

He’d tried to find Holly for months after his father died, but every lead he had ended up dead.

He had custody of Bella. Legal custody. He was covered there.

But if she wanted to see her mother. If she wanted that contact. Should he try again?

He wasn’t sure he wanted to do that though. To disrupt her life or worry that he might lose her.

And that was it right there.

This girl who was dropped unexpectedly in his life was now so rooted into it, that he’d do anything to make sure she stayed.

Even if it meant sacrificing his own happiness.

He just hoped it didn’t come down to that.

18

HIGH PRAISE

Marly pulled her car into the parking lot, looked around and found Colson standing outside his car with two teen girls.

Not exactly how she thought their next date would be, and maybe it was moving a bit fast meeting Bella so quickly, but she also understood that concessions had to be made.

She lifted her arm and waved, he returned it, then both girls’ heads swiveled in her direction.

It was easy enough for her to tell who was Bella, and who was Tiff.

Bella had the same dark features as her brother. Not really tall, maybe five foot five, so about Marly’s height.

She made her way closer, her heart hammering away while she portrayed this as nothing more than a normal gathering with friends.

Yet it felt like nothing even close to that.

“Hi,” she said when she got to Colson’s side. “I’m Marly and you’ve got to be Bella.”