Chapter 14
The tiny exam room at Doctor Richie Colton’s veterinary practice smelled of antiseptic and wet dog—thanks to Ripley, who’d decided to splash in every puddle on their way in.
And because Sabrina couldn’t bring herself to be the bad guy while Ripley beamed up at her with those fudge-colored eyes, she’d let her get away with it.
It wasn’t a crime. And this was her first dog. First vet visit. First a lot of stuff. She got a pass.
“Up,” Noah commanded, patting the metal exam table, and Ripley executed a perfect jump without hesitation. Show-off. Not that Sabrina minded. They’d been crushing their training sessions lately.
“Your girl has perfect form,” Noah said with a wink, sliding an arm around her waist.
Noah was the most easily affectionate guy she’d ever met, by a mile. Most people gave her a lot of distance, but not this one. She kind of liked it. Reminded her that being prickly with everyone had earned her a lot of loneliness.
Who knew withdrawing her quills would lead to such a great time? Though lately she’d started thinking Noah had done a lot to dissolve those quills versus her making any kind of conscious choice.
“She’s smart.” Sabrina leaned into him, because why not? His shoulder was right there and he was warm. “Unlike her owner, who let her play in puddles before her vet visit.”
“The techs have seen worse. One time, Dancer rolled in something dead, and they told me I had to bring him in after-hours.” His fingers traced circles against her hip. “Uncle Richie made me hose him off in the parking lot first.”
“Uncle Richie sounds wise.”
Noah grinned. “Sometimes family has its perks, but most of the time, they just treat you like family.”
The door opened and Dr. Richie Colton strode in, somehow managing to look both distinguished and approachable in khakis and a crisp blue button-down under his white coat. He had the same eyes as Jacob and Noah. His weathered face creased into a genuine smile the moment he spotted Noah.
“If it isn’t my favorite nephew.” He clapped Noah on the shoulder, then turned a keen eye on Sabrina. “And you must be Sabrina West. I hear you’re Ripley’s new partner.”
“Yes, sir.” She caught herself straightening and fought the urge to salute. Force of habit when dealing with authority figures.
“None of that around here.” Richie’s warm eyes crinkled at the corners. “We’re all family. Though this one—” he jerked a thumb at Noah “—nearly lost his Colton card when he put a frog in my coffee during a family camping trip. He was seven.”
“It was a toad,” Noah protested. “And you never proved it was me.”
“Like father, like son.” Richie winked at Sabrina. “Sam pulled the same stunt when we were kids.”
The easy banter knocked something loose in Sabrina’s chest. Her own father had never been the type for pranks or fond remembrances. Everything was serious. In fact, she couldn’t remember a time when her father had taken her on vacation or even said the word frog out loud.
“Well, let’s take a look at our girl.” Richie moved efficiently through Ripley’s exam while keeping up a steady stream of conversation, asking about their training progress and Noah’s latest search-and-rescue operation.
He had a way of drawing out information without making it feel like an interrogation.
“Perfect health,” he pronounced after checking Ripley’s teeth. “Noah mentioned you’re starting SAR certification?”
“Yes, s—” She caught herself. “Just beginning the process.”
“Breezed through the application.” Noah’s voice carried that note of pride that did funny things to her insides. “She’ll have her certification in no time.”
“That’s our Noah.” A woman’s voice drew their attention to the doorway, where a striking brunette leaned against the frame. “Always the cheerleader.”
She carried herself with the kind of polished grace that made Sabrina’s muddy boots and brown uniform feel extra ugly—which they were, even without the contrast.
“Sassy.” Noah’s grin widened. “Sabrina, this is my cousin, Uncle Richie’s daughter.”
“Sabrina West? Officer West? I can’t believe I’m meeting the great officer herself.” Sassy paused to mock-fan herself. “Noah talks about you all the time. Nonstop. Even if you ask him nicely to pick another subject. Any at all.”
Heat crawled up Sabrina’s neck.
“Ignore her.” Noah squeezed Sabrina’s hip, completely unfazed by his cousin calling him out. “Sassy owns the gallery downtown.”
“The one with all the incredible landscapes in the window?” The words slipped out before she could stop them.
“You know my gallery?” Sassy pushed off the doorframe, instantly warming. “I’ve got some new pieces coming in next week. You should stop by—I’d love to get your perspective on the local scenery.”
It was such a natural invitation. These people made everything feel natural. Easy.
Like family.
The thought hit her sideways, leaving her slightly off-balance.
What did she know about family, about being part of something like this?
Nothing. They made it seem easy because they’d all grown up in this environment, where people cared about each other and spent enough time together that they’d heard about the woman Noah was dating.
She hadn’t even mentioned Noah’s name to her mother.
“Maybe.” She focused on scratching behind Ripley’s ears. “If I can find time between training sessions.”
“As your current training instructor, I think we can work something out,” Noah teased.
Great. Now she didn’t have a ready excuse. Nor did she have a good reason why she’d been looking for one. It was just…a lot to be absorbed into this family dynamic. They’d just folded her right in, like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Like she belonged here.
The door opened again, this time admitting a tech with a question for Dr. Colton. The interruption gave Sabrina a moment to breathe. Because she needed one.
“Speaking of family,” Sassy said when the tech left. “What’s going on with Mark? He hasn’t been answering my texts.”
Something in Noah’s expression shifted. “I wish I could tell you, but you’re not the only one he’s ducking.”
“Sam mentioned he still hasn’t given anyone a reason why he suddenly quit the Army.” Richie’s weathered face creased with concern. “Do we need to be concern—”
“Jacob and I are handling it.” Noah’s tone carried an edge Sabrina hadn’t heard before. “We’ll let you know if we need anything.”
The undercurrent of worry in the room felt familiar. She’d sensed it at Jacob’s office too, though she hadn’t known what it meant then. Now the picture was clearer—the Coltons closed ranks around their own. Protected each other.
Must be nice. Did Noah have any idea how lucky he was?
“Well—” Sassy’s bright tone didn’t quite mask her unease as she changed the subject “—you two should join us for lunch. Giuseppe’s has outdoor seating. Ripley can come too.”
For a moment, Sabrina let herself imagine it. Lunch with Noah’s family, listening to the stories, learning more about what Noah had been like as a kid. Being a part of this dynamic, these people, for a little while longer.
The surge of want in her chest terrified her.
This wasn’t what she did. Families were full of other people who weren’t her. She and Noah were having fun. That’s all this was supposed to be. If Noah wouldn’t set the record straight, she had to be the one to set the boundaries.
“Thanks, but I should get back to work.” She managed a smile and stuck out her foot. “Still breaking in these new boots.”
It sounded pathetic out loud. Noah’s slight frown said he wasn’t totally on board with her excuse either, and that didn’t bode well for someone who should have been the one to decline on her behalf.
He didn’t push though, just helped gather Ripley’s paperwork while trading goodbyes with his family. Sassy hugged her, which threw her for a loop. What was with these Coltons and their easy affection? Did they not get the memo that she could double as a porcupine?
The drive back to her place stretched under weighted silence. Noah kept shooting her careful glances that she pretended not to notice.
“Any word on Camille?” she asked finally, desperate to think about anything besides how much she’d enjoyed his family. And how she’d had to push back.
He sighed. “Dead end so far. No activity on her social security number, no new address. She’s gone completely dark, just like Annie did.”
“That can’t be a coincidence.”
“My thoughts exactly.” His hands tightened on the wheel. “But without more evidence, we’re stuck. I’ve got some contacts checking into similar cases in neighboring states, but it’ll take time.”
Time they might not have, if there really was a baby involved. The thought of that carefully folded pink blanket haunted her.
“We’ll figure it out.” She meant it to sound confident, but her voice wavered slightly.
Noah reached across the console to tangle his fingers with hers. “Of course we will. We’re partners.”
Her chest tightened. That’s what scared her. How easy it was to want the bigger meaning behind that concept, to want to be the person his family thought she was.
But she wasn’t built for that. Her father had made sure she understood early that no one was in her corner. That she had to fight for every inch, every piece of her place in the world. No one could be trusted not to take it from her, especially not men.
“Hey.” Noah squeezed her hand as he pulled into her driveway. “You okay? You got quiet after we left.”
“Just thinking about the case.” It wasn’t entirely a lie. “Seems like we hit nothing but dead ends.”
“We’ll get there.” He lifted their joined hands to brush a kiss across her knuckles. “I’ve got a few more leads to chase down. Maybe they’ll pan out.”
Normally, she loved his charm and optimism and casual affection. Right this minute, it felt dangerous. Like something that could crack her wide open if she let it.