Page 39 of Fatal Vision

“If I start digging again, he’ll come after me, right? We can flush him out and arrest him.”

Colton threw his head back and laughed. There was a snide incredulity in his tone. “You think it’s a good idea to make yourself bait in your condition?”

Pushing herself out of the chair, she used the table for leverage. Once she felt confident she wasn’t going to land flat on her face, she pointed a finger at him. “Don’t underestimate me.”

“I never have.”

Feeling braver than she had in days, she took one step, then two. Without her walker. Without any help at all.

Colton stared at her, gentle challenge in his eyes, egging her on. A familiar curve lifted the corners of his lips. She stared back, those small steps giving her a wild sense of courage.

I can do this.

Salisbury skipped around Colton’s legs, watching her. He let out a joyful bark.

Another step. She was close enough she could touch the countertop. How awesome would it be to walk over and fill her own coffee cup? One more step and she’d be able to reach out and knock that nettling grin off Colton’s face.

Pride laced its way up her spine. All her hard work the past few weeks was paying off. With Colton here to harass her and a serial case waiting for her to solve, she had all the motivation she needed to work even harder on her balance and strength. She’d be back in shape in no time, and…

Her ankle twisted and—whoops—balance gone, she pitched forward, knocking Colton’s cup out of his hands. Coffee splashed in her face making her gasp, and crash!The cup landed at her feet.

Colton’s large, firm biceps were the perfect thing to grip to keep from going down. Salisbury, thinking it was a game, jumped against Colton’s legs, barking. Shelby swore softly as Colton steadied her, and then he laughed again.

This laugh came from low in his belly and echoed off the ceiling and walls. He pulled her close and nudged Salisbury away from the broken cup. “God, that was priceless. I wish I had that on video.”

She brought her good knee up and tried to land it in his crotch, but he was adept at dodging her, and the action only made her wince at the pain in her ankle. He half carried her back to her chair, continuing to chuckle as she fumed.

Her butt hit the wood and he grinned down at her. “You keep falling into my arms like this and I’m going to think you’re flirting with me. Seriously, if you want to rub naughty parts, all you have to do is say so. Don’t ruin a perfectly good cup of coffee.”

He danced out of the way of her hand. “Not funny…”—the word was right there—“donuts!”

Donuts?!!? “I mean…Dog breath!”

Both words started with d, but neither were the one she’d intended.

Colton’s laughing continued, hearty bellows that rankled her ears.

Thank goodness the coffee had cooled a little. She used her sleeve to wipe her wet chin and sighed heavily at the mess she was now in.

Still chuckling, Colton cleaned up the cup and spilled coffee, his own shirt damp as well.

“How’s the ankle?” he asked, bending down to check it.

“It’s weak like the rest of me,” she groused. “I am so sick of this!”

“Stay put. I’ll grab you a clean shirt.”

He disappeared, Salisbury on his heels.

Shelby made a fist and punched the top of the table.Pride goeth before a fall, she heard her father admonish.

Boy, was he right. For each small achievement, every two steps forward, she took one back. A giant one, in fact.

Not for long. One way or another she was going to get back on her feet—literally—and bring a killer to justice.

Colton swung back into the kitchen, two shirts in hand. He eyed the buttons on her blouse. “You need a hand getting that off?”

For a second, Shelby wasn’t sure if he was serious or just teasing. The look in his eyes—the same heat from before—told her he was serious all right.