Chapter 23
Chapter Twenty-Three
“Iguess we should get down to business.” Sitting in the chair next to Riley’s desk, Avery fairly glowed.
Riley returned her beaming smile. “Guess we should. But I’m happy for you, Ave. I truly am. John’s terrific.”
Riley had spent the last five minutes listening to her friend gush about her first kiss from her new beau and how wonderful it was to find such a fine man of God after praying for one for so long. It gave Riley hope that one day, she too might find her soulmate.
“That’s an understatement. But you’d better not get me started again, or we’ll never get this publicity blitz planned for your new project. Okay. Media. I assume you want print ads …”
“Check.”
“Radio spots …”
“Check.”
“Flyers until we get the brochures done?”
“Check.”
“What about television?”
“You tell me. You’re the marketing expert. Do we have time?”
“This already being Tuesday, it could be a challenge. But I’ll do a press release, and we might be able to get you on one or two of the local newscasts. Maybe a morning show or two.”
“That would be terrific.”
“I’ll fax the release out first thing in the a.m.”
“It’s almost eight, Avery, and you’re still going to work on this tonight?”
“Absolutely. We all are. What you’re doing here is phenomenal. Babs should have your papers together to file tomorrow for your non-profit status, and Fran said she’d have the logo to me tonight, along with the graphic design for the brochures I’m sending out.”
“You guys are the best. What on earth would I do without you?”
She prayed she’d never have to find out.
All three of her friends had known since Sunday afternoon what she’d been working on and jumped on board from the first minute.
During a conference call right before she went down to talk to the guys, they’d wrapped up the final pieces.
Avery said she’d come over since she was out already, anyway. At dinner. With her dreamy detective.
So, while Avery still appeared every inch the put-together professional, Riley had wasted no time in changing into an oversized sweatshirt and jeans after work.
“We’re a team. Always have been, always will be.” Avery put her notebook into her large handbag. “Anything else we haven’t covered?”
Riley scanned over the spreadsheet on her laptop. “I think we’ve got it.” She turned back to her friend. “And thanks for sharing your good news with me. If I can’t have a sizzling love life myself, I at least get to live it vicariously through you and Frances.”
Avery harrumphed. “You absolutely need to let Graham know what’s what, friend of mine. Please. You are way too much woman for that … man.”
“Good girl.” Riley chuckled. “I was worried about what you were going to say there.”
“Just sayin’. The longer you wait, the more he’s going to think of you as a couple. And you can’t move on to the bigger, better thing you have waiting until you do.”
“What thing?”
Avery gave her a sardonic look. “You know, Ri, you don’t play dumb very well. I mean that hunk of a bodyguard of yours.”
Riley glanced up at her door, grateful she’d remembered to close it. “Please, Avery, not this again.”
“Tell me you don’t feel anything for him. Going to all this trouble because of the pain he suffered losing someone who didn’t get a transplant in time. This has lovestruck written all over it.”
Riley’s stomach knotted, and she prayed Colton wasn’t of the same opinion. That could get … awkward. “I am not lovestruck. It made me sad listening to what happened to his … to Theresa. And when I did some checking, it seemed to me I could do something.”
“You can’t even say it.”
“Say what?”
“His wife.”
“Okay. His wife. It’s sad his wife died so young when she didn’t need to. I want to help others not to suffer the same fate.”
“Is he going to chair the board?”
“He said he’d be proud to.”
“Of course he would be. It’s a huge compliment you asked him. That you did all of this for him.”
“Avery.” She shook her head. “I didn’t do this for Colton.”
“Okay, okay. I’ll drop it. And I’d better go so I can get started on all this.” Avery closed her laptop, slipped it into her bag, and stood. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow to bring you up to speed and let you know about news and radio spots.”
“Thanks, Avery.” Riley stood to walk her friend downstairs. “I know doing this all so quickly is a huge ordeal, but I wanted to get some donors tested before the holidays. How cool would it be to get a bone marrow transplant for Christmas? It would be like getting a new life.”
“It certainly would be.”
They reached the top of the stairs, and Colton came out of the study. “Hey, Avery, you taking off?”
“Yep. A lot to do to get this off the ground. But I’m excited to be involved, and we appreciate you being willing to chair the board.”
“It’s an honor. I’ll walk you out.”
Avery threw a questioning glance at Riley.
“I’m not allowed to go to the door,” she explained with a roll of her eyes.
“Ah. I see. Then, I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
Riley returned her friend’s hug. “Tomorrow.”
She waited until Colton and Avery had gone, then made her way back to her suite.
Sitting at her desk, she stared at the screen on her laptop.
She needed to get started on the work she’d brought home from the office—go over the interviews her investigator had gathered from the defense witnesses, read over the depositions of the responding officers who found Shane, shocked and despondent, with Caitlyn’s blood all over him.
Instead, she found her mind wandering back to the upstairs study—back in Colton’s arms. The way he’d held her—so tight yet tender against him, his chin resting on her head.
She’d never been so aware of a man before.
His scent, a combination of musk and that earthiness one carried after going about business for the day.
The fabric of his dress shirt against her cheek, softness covering the hardness of his chest.
He’d been touched by what she’d done. Surprised, a little unnerved, maybe. Emotional. She tried not to get lost in his embrace but had conceded defeat the second her cheek laid against him. It had been a thank you, a gesture of appreciation, gratitude. Nothing more.
If only she could convince her runaway imagination.