“Come on. We’re family here.” Remi snatched tissues from a side table and handed them to Jo, who wiped her face clean.
Remi crossed her arms. “I thought you would have poured all that out on Cole’s shoulder.”
“How do you know that I didn’t?”
Remi gestured to the sofa. “You want to talk about it?”
“No, actually. I just wanted you to know that I’m done with my day off, and now I need some work. Got any major leaks that sprang up while I was gone?”
“If you want to wait around a half hour or so, I’m sure something will come up. Tell me what I can do to help?”
Okay, well, maybe she did need to talk about it. At least she could tell Remi what happened. “There’s more, Remi. Much more.” Jo explained about witnessing the murder. Almost getting killed.
“Okay, that’s it. You are officially on paid leave. You need time to recuperate.”
“I don’t need time off. What I need is to work.”
“Look, I get that. I really do.”
“Are you saying you’re not going to let me work?” Jo lifted her trembling chin. And she lifted her hands and wished she hadn’t.
They were shaking. “I need to use these. I can think better, I can clear my mind.”
A knock came at the door. Great. She moved to the exit that led outside. “I’m leaving. I’ll find something to do.”
The door opened, and both Hawk and Cole stepped inside. Cole’s eyes zeroed in on her, concern twisting his features, and maybe a hint of relief in his eyes that he’d found her.
And just like that, her heart skittered around inside her rib cage. She really couldn’t get this guy out of her system. But she had to try.
9
“I’m glad I caught you.” Cole steeled himself against the hurt. He’d texted her multiple times to ask about coming out to check on her, but she’d wanted her space.
He’d wanted to talk about her father. Her mother. The ferry killer. And well, maybe he’d wanted to finally talk to her about ... them. Maybe he wanted to explain where he’d been in the many months since he’d seen her last.
But she was pushing him away now. As soon as she’d seen him, she’d taken another step out the door. Jo peered out into the late evening. Yeah, he hadn’t seen her in twenty-four hours, and it might have driven him out of his mind.
Hawk had come into the office with him and closed the door to the lodge so they had privacy.
“Jo?” Remi approached the door where Jo teetered between staying and going.
Remi pulled Jo inside and shut the door. “Let’s talk it through. Make a plan. I just want you to be okay.”
What had Jo told Remi? After yesterday, would she ever be okay again?
Funny about running and hiding, Jo had done it oncebefore. He suspected by that look on her face that she might consider doing it again, especially since her father had taken that same path. But Cole couldn’t see Jo leaving behind her new friends, especially Remi.
And Cole? Who was he to talk? He’d done this to her a few months ago. He’d left and not come back. He couldn’t talk her out of disappearing again if she slipped into the night without saying goodbye.
A pain jabbed at his heart.Please don’tgo,Jo.
If only he could say the words, but he had no right. Not until he told her everything about why he’d stayed away. He hoped Remi could persuade her to stay with her friends here. People who loved her and were prepared to protect her. How long could she survive on her own with what seemed like multiple nefarious entities coming at her from different directions?
She looked at him. Held his gaze. Maybe she read the complete dejection on his face because suddenly her shoulders dropped as if all the pent-up energy had drained out of her.
She drew in a breath. “Okay. Let’s make a plan. Then I need to go home. I’m exhausted. I thought I needed to work because my mind just will not stop, but I can’t do this anymore.”
“You need to rest,” Remi said. “I could come over and stay with you tonight. Or you could just stay here in the lodge.”
