Page 48 of His Forgotten Colton Fiancee

Her hand rested on the ink stains as a memory jolted her.

Twelve years old. They were fighting again downstairs. Yelling at each other, hermother’s shrill voice rising higher and higher. She hated it. Hated this stepdad. Writing would help, block out the voices, make the hurt in her belly go away, the pain of knowing soon her mother would divorce yet again, and they’d have to move...

Butter pecan popcorn. Yummy and perfect for watching movies on television, just her and Mom, settling down to watch what Stepdad number four sneeringlycalled “chick flicks.” Corn syrup was essential, the light kind. Oh, and the pecans, shelled and chopped, so ripe and crunchy she could taste them...

Pulling herself back to the present, she pushed aside the notebook to take upstairs. For now she’d bake a cake.

Feeling more settled, she read over a recipe for organic cranberry-orange cake. Yum.

A batch of colorful bandannas were ina wicker basket near the door. She pulled one over her curls to secure them. Soon she was mixing this and adding that, humming as she worked.

A knock came at the front door.

Drying her hands on a towel, she went into the tiny storefront. Tom came to attention, looked at her.

“Do you want me to tell her the store’s closed?” he asked.

Quinn sighed. “She doesn’t look threatening.”She unlocked the glass door.

The girl looked younger than herself, and had dark eyes and dark hair. She beamed at Quinn.

“Hi, Quinn! I’m so glad you’re home again. I’m your cousin Valeria.”

The woman ignored the palm Quinn held out, and hugged her instead. Quinn winced.

“Oh dear, that was my fault. I forgot you’re probably still hurting.” Valeria looked her up and down. “You certainlylook like you were in an explosion.”

My hair?She went to touch her messy curls, secure under the bandanna.It looks like you stuck your finger into an electrical outlet, a voice droned from the past. Who had said that? Her stepfather?

A stepfather.

But Valeria stared at her face. Self-conscious, Quinn touched her bruised cheek.

“Oh, don’t worry about it. A little makeup will coverit,” Valeria told her.

Quinn gestured to the store. “I’m baking. Come on in.”

Tom gestured to the table where he’d been sitting. “I’ll be right here, Miss Colton.”

West had told her not to leave, but said nothing about inviting in family.

In the kitchen, she resumed mixing cake batter as Valeria perched on a stool and watched, chattering madly, asking questions about how Quinnfelt, explaining that she felt awkward visiting the hospital and didn’t want to disturb Quinn’s rest while she recovered.

Valeria. Pretty name to match the face. Valeria looked as young as Quinn felt old and weary.

Her cousin looked around the kitchen. “I’ve never been here. I did actually try to visit in the hospital, but Brayden and Shane said no visitors. So here I am!”

Was sheever this young and enthusiastic? Quinn smiled as she continued to find the ingredients. “I’m making cake, if you want to stick around for a snack.”

“Can’t. I have to get back to the ranch and chores soon.” Valeria studied the mixture. “Is it one of your special cakes?”

Everything is special to me now.“Of course.”

“Can I tell you a secret?” her cousin asked.

Sure, why not? I probablywon’t remember it anyway.The thought made her chuckle. “Sure, go ahead.”

“I’d planned on getting married. Christmas Eve. I told everyone my engagement to Vincent Gage was off because of the Groom Killer, but we can’t wait any longer. I’m tired of living at home and I want to be with him.”