Page 49 of His Forgotten Colton Fiancee

The Groom Killer again. Unease pricked her. Had this Groom Killer targeted her because she’d beenengaged to West? They’d kept it secret, but her bestie, Austin, had found out. Quinn realized others could, as well.

Valeria heaved a dramatic sigh. “Have you ever been so much in love that it hurts?”

Yes, I believe so. Except I don’t remember such a love. All I know is the man who professed to love me could be the agent who’s investigating me. How can I trust him? And if you can’t trust,how can there ever be true love?

“I can imagine it,” she told Valeria. “You’re young, in love and impatient. It’s natural.”

And I’m thirty years old. I must have had relationships, but they came to a dead end. Nothing worked for me. I’m single and it seems up until a few weeks ago, I felt content to stay that way.

What happened with West Brand that she had fallen madly for him? Quinnlooked around the kitchen and felt a burst of pride. Maybe the business was floundering, but it was her business, built through hard work and dedication. No one told her what to do, dictated her life to her. She didn’t live at home with parents who made demands on her life and her time.

She was free. Independent.

Career had been everything. Quinn stared at the expensive electric mixer.She knew this deep in her heart, that career had been everything to her. She’d wanted to be a success and she had pride in her work.

Her creations. The compulsion to succeed came from never having enough money, enough respect...

Odd how she remembered that from her childhood, and yet remembered nothing of the business that she’d started to overcome those issues.

Quinn checked the oven.Gas. Cooking with gas meant better ability to control temperatures. She remembered that much. A cooking class, perhaps.

Maybe she could control the heat in the kitchen better than the heat in the bedroom. Nothing was certain right now. But those flashes of memory with West indicated they’d had a very good time in that particular room.

“We’re thinking of eloping in Las Vegas,” Valeria blurtedout.

Eloping? Quinn switched off the electric mixer. “That’s a big step. Just the two of you, no family with you?”

“Yes. Don’t tell anyone?” Valeria made a zipping motion across her mouth.

Quinn offered a faint smile. “Don’t worry. I’ll probably forget we had this conversation ten minutes after you leave.”

The little joke failed to make her cousin smile. Instead, Valeria bit herlip. “I’m sorry, Quinn. I can’t imagine what happened to you... It’s so terrifying.”

“I’m fine,” she hastened to assure her.

“Good.” Valeria looked around the kitchen. “Did you get my letter with the monogrammed stationary? What did you think?”

“What letter?”

“The one I sent in the mail days ago. There was a red heart on the envelope. It was a sample. I wanted to get your opinionon the stationery.”

Laughing, she checked the recipe. “The boys on the bomb squad blew it up.”

Valeria’s eyes widened. “Blew it up?”

“There was no return address and everyone got suspicious, after what happened at Tia’s office.”

“There was no return address because everyone in this town, including the postmaster, is nosy. I didn’t want anyone but you to see it was from me.” Valeriasighed. “Oh well.”

“If I were you, I’d hold off on sending any more mail without a return address,” Quinn advised.

“Do you think the Groom Killer would still pursue Vincent if we were married?”

The cake batter splashed into the pan.Glop, glop, glop.Quinn scraped out the rest with a wide spatula. “Marry, after what happened? I wouldn’t. It’s too risky, Valeria. Whoever is doing thismay not only want grooms dead, but future brides, as well. Look at Tia.”

Her cousin frowned. “Tia Linwicki was getting married? I didn’t know she dated anyone that seriously.”

Quinn pressed two fingers to her head. A dim flash of memory. Phone call. Angry voices.