She nodded. “I need to get back. I want to check on Zach, make sure he’s okay.”
“Then let’s go home.”
It sounded good, except that when they got there, they would have to turn Zach over to the authorities.
Weariness settled over her like thick oil sludge. She heard Linc’s heavy footfalls coming to a halt in front of her, felt his fingers beneath her chin, forcing her eyes to his face.
“We aren’t going to let that boy down,” he said. “We’re going to make sure he understands that.”
Her heart squeezed. Linc wouldn’t let Zach down; she knew that souldeep. Some of her exhaustion fell away. Linc wouldn’t let Zach down, and no matter what happened, neither would she.
* * *
They were back at the mansion, the helicopter lifting off the asphalt pad as Linc led Carly up the front steps to the big stone house. Using his key, he let her into the entry, walked her past the sweeping staircases, down the main hall. For a moment, he stopped in the kitchen to introduce her to his housekeeper, Betty Delinski, then guided her into his study, the only room in the house he actually liked.
It was the one room he’d had designed to his taste, a beautiful space, two stories high, with skylights in the upper part of the ceiling, polished rosewood furniture, and dark jewel-tone upholstery on the sofas and chairs.
The wood-paneled walls were filled with leather-bound books, and a huge fireplace dominated the far end of the room.
According to the phone calls Carly had made to her friend Brittany during the day, Britt and Zach were still out by the pool. The weather was warm and slightly humid, but the exhausting heat of the summer was beginning to wane.
Seated behind his massive desk, Linc phoned his attorney, Graham Steiner, for an update on Zach’s situation, while Carly waited impatiently for him to finish. He could tell she was eager to see the boy, but they needed to know where they stood before they talked to him.
“We’re going at this full tilt,” Steiner told him. “As per your instructions, my staff is making this a top priority. I spoke directly to the Department of Family and Protective Services. By now the DFPS has informed the authorities, let them know the boy is safe. But with Archer still on the loose and fresh charges filed in the vandalism case, they want the child under their protection.”
“You pressed them to leave the boy with his cousin or me until we can get things worked out, right?”
“I did, but that isn’t going to happen right away. You know how these things work.”
Linc knew from personal experience exactly how they worked. He thought of the armed guards patrolling the ranch. Blackland was the safest place he knew. Wouldn’t matter to the bureaucrats who ran social services.
“Will you be bringing him in or do you want them to pick him up?” Steiner asked.
Linc looked at Carly, read the anxiety on her face. “We’ll bring him in.”
“They’ll have people in Iron Springs waiting to transport him to the facility in Hunt County,” Steiner said. “What time should they expect you?”
“We need to talk to the boy first. We’ll be there in an hour.” Linc ended the call and rose from his chair. He looked at Carly, knew how worried she was. “Come here,” he said softly.
With a shuddering breath, she walked into his arms and he tightened them around her. He tried not to think how good she felt, how perfectly she suited him. He remembered the day he had taken her to the ranch house, how she’d said the place fit him. He remembered the wild, hard-driving sex they’d had that day. Since now wasn’t the time for erotic memories, no matter how pleasant, he eased her a little away.
“Come on. Let’s go get him. We’ll explain things, make sure he understands.”
Carly nodded. They walked arm in arm through the house, out the French doors that led to the wide expanse of pool decking, the huge kidney-shaped swimming pool, twin hot tubs set at different degrees, cabana, and landscaping that stretched for nearly two acres.
They found Britt sunbathing on a chaise lounge, Zach sitting in front of her as she slathered sunscreen over the boy’s still-healing back, careful not to hurt him.
“Hey, you two!” Carly called out with a wave. “How’s the swimming?”
Zach jumped up and raced to meet them. “The water’s great! Why don’t you guys grab your suits and come in with us?”
“We’ll do that next time for sure.” Carly smiled, but her lips barely curved. “I need you to go get dressed, Zach. There’s something we have to discuss.”
The kid’s big smile faded. “Is it my dad?” He glanced from her to Linc.
“In a way,” he said.
Carly gave him a playful shove. “Go get dressed and we’ll talk.”
