Page 33 of Fatal Vision

Shelby hadn’t heard that term since high school. She grinned. “Maybe I am a little.”

The stairs outside the room squeaked and they shot each other a look. Colton appeared in the doorway, a fake smile on his face. “Anyone hungry?”

Salisbury shot off the bed as if he understood the call to breakfast. Shelby could see behind the fake smile that Colton had heard every word of her conversation with Jaya.

Great. Just great. Way to start things off this morning.

She gave him a smile that she hoped conveyed an apology, and pushed herself upright. “I’m starving.”

Jaya took one of her arms, Colton the other. Neither said anything, but Shelby had the distinct feeling they each wanted to rip her away from the other.

At the top of the stairs, Colton stopped her, then chugged down two of the steps with his back to her. “Hop on.”

“You’re kidding, right?” She exchanged a glance with Jaya. Her best friend had the same incredulous look on her face that Shelby knew was on hers.

“Just like when we were kids, Shel. Get on my back.”

Jaya motioned silently for her to do as Colton said. “I’ll grab your walker.”

Shelby wrapped her arms around Colton’s neck and he hefted her up by her thighs. The sensation of leaving the ground completely was one she hadn’t felt in a long time. Having him supporting her and feeling suddenly free of gravity, she giggled.

“Ready?” he asked.

She had no doubt he could carry her weight down the steps—he’d carried her up and down them many times—but she still had to ask, “You sure you want to do this?”

“Honey, I would carry you across the desert if I had to.”

A little thrill went down her spine as he started down the steps, the second one from the top not squeaking, even with all of the weight.

Because Colton knew how to avoid that spot on the step. When he’d lived here, it had become second nature to him. SEALs moved with stealth and silence, even at home.

So he’d heard her and Jaya for sure, going back down and stepping on that squeaky spot to announce his presence.

Guilt sat in her stomach, but it was soon replaced with laughter as Colton jogged down the stairs, carrying her on his back.

He didn’t put her down until they were in the kitchen, where he deposited her in a chair at the table. A plate of bacon and another of toast were in the middle. Two glasses of orange juice, utensils, and napkins were carefully laid out.

Jaya followed with the walker, and Shelby’s grin faded a bit. That damn thing was going in the trash as soon as possible.

Colton set a plate of scrambled eggs in front of her and made a frownie face at Jaya. “Sorry, J. I only made enough for Shelby and myself. You weren’t staying for breakfast anyway, were you?”

Jaya set a hand on her hip. “You really think you’re going to chase me away that easily?”

“A boy can hope, right?”

The two of them squared off, and Shelby rolled her eyes behind their backs. Salisbury, sensing trouble, whined.

This is how it always was—Colton at odds with everyone.

“Jaya,” Shelby said, picking up her fork. “I need to go over a case with Colton. The one I called him here for. We really could use some privacy.”

Jaya shot her an incredulous look. “You aren’t even back to work and you’re diving into a case? With him?”

Shelby took a bite of the eggs. Delicious. “He’s a source.”

An exasperated noise bubbled up from Jaya’s throat. “Whatever.” She leaned over and hugged Shelby, sliding Shelby’s cell phone next to her plate. “Answer my texts and call me if he gets out of line.”

From the corner of her eye, she saw Colton grin as he fed Salisbury a spoonful of eggs.