Proving Colton's Innocence by Lara Lacombe

Author:Lara Lacombe
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2021-10-12T17:42:44+00:00

* * *

“I’m hungry.”

Baldwin glanced across the back seat of Bryce’s car and tried not to smile. “You’re always hungry,” he pointed out.

Jillian shot him a mock glare. “Yeah, but this time it’s for real. Breakfast was a long time ago.” She’d finally been released from the hospital around noon, and her brother had volunteered to drive them home.

Bryce let out a long-suffering sigh. “What do you want?” He spoke like a man who was used to catering to his sister’s culinary demands.

She thought for a moment, then said, “A spinach knish, some matzo-ball soup and some of Olivia’s raspberry rugelach.”

Baldwin’s own stomach growled in appreciation. Bryce chuckled. “Fair enough. I’ll swing by the deli on the way home. But I think we should get it to go.”

“Agreed,” Baldwin said. “It’s been a long night and I’d really like to take a shower.” The nurses had given him a scrub top and he’d washed up as best as he could in the bathroom sink, but parts of his skin were still sticky with the residue of Jillian’s blood.

Something flashed in Jillian’s eyes, there and gone before he could identify the emotion. “I could use a nap,” she said, stifling a yawn. “I didn’t sleep very well in the hospital.” She glanced away, avoiding his gaze.

Baldwin didn’t respond. When he’d finally returned to her room, her eyes had been closed. Maybe she’d been asleep, or maybe she’d been bluffing so she didn’t have to talk to him. Either way, he hadn’t tried to rouse her. Instead, he’d curled up on the foldout sofa again and managed to doze a bit until a nurse had come in for shift change.

They’d fed Jillian around seven thirty, and the doctor had visited around eight. She’d done a quick exam and checked Jillian’s stitches, then told her she could go home today. But it had taken a while to dot all the i’s and cross all the t’s, so she hadn’t been released until around noon. Fortunately, Bryce had come to pick them up, since Baldwin’s truck was still parked at Jillian’s condo.

Bryce pulled into a parking spot in front of Bubbe’s Deli. “Stay here,” he instructed as he climbed out of the car. “If you come in with me, Olivia might never let us leave.” With that, he shut the door, sealing them in together.

For a moment, neither spoke. The silence stretched between them, taking on an awkward, strained quality. Then Jillian sighed softly.

“I’m sorry.”

He turned to look at her, certain he’d misheard. “What?”

She glanced at him, biting her bottom lip. “I’m sorry. I said some things last night that I probably shouldn’t have. I didn’t mean to pry in to your life, or to act like I know what’s best for you.”

Baldwin blinked slowly, trying to process this turn of events. “It’s okay,” he said. “You were tired, in pain and probably still feeling the effects of stress. People say funny things when they’re upset.”

Jillian nodded, relief in her eyes. “Yeah. I was feeling.

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