A game?
He swallowed and stood, moving around the desk and approaching her like he would a snake about to strike. When she handed over the game, he stood there, unsure where to go. What to do.
“What do you say, Denver?” she asked quietly, her blue eyes sparkling.
He glanced at the game and then up at her. “Why?”
She blinked. “Excuse me?”
“Why did you bring me a present?” His breath heated, and his stomach hurt. It didn’t make sense. People didn’t give him things. Ever.
A very small pink blush colored her high cheekbones. “I thought you’d like it.” She smoothed her hair back from her angled face. “Do you?”
“Yes.” He glanced down. Ryker and Heath would love to play with a game. He almost smiled. They’d have fun. Catching himself, he made himself meet her gaze. “Thank you very much for the present.”
Pleasure lit her face. “You’re very welcome.”
He shuffled his feet. At ten years old, he really wasn’t sure how to talk to adults. To anybody but Ryker and Heath, actually. “Why me?” he whispered. She hadn’t brought gifts to Ry or Heath, and she studied them, too.
“You’re special. I’ve told you that from the beginning.” She watched him as if taking mental notes on every movement he made. “You understand that, right?”
No. There wasn’t a damn thing special about him. He didn’t want to lie to her, so he didn’t answer.
She sighed and looked around the dismal classroom, one of several at the boys home. “I know you don’t get it right now, but I have to believe someday you’ll put the puzzle pieces together. It’s obvious if you ask me.”
He shook his head. “I saw your suitcases by the door.” When she stayed there, so did the sheriff, which just meant more pain for Denver. “You’re leaving.”
She reached out and cupped his cheek.
His stomach revolted.
“I am leaving, but I’ll be back. You and I are going to work together forever, Denver. I promise.” She smiled.
Denver’s phone jerked him out of the dream and into the present. “What?” he whispered as he answered.
“Den? It’s Ryker. We found the evidence that we’ve been compromised in South Dakota,” Ry said, the sound of rapid movement coming over the line.
Denver sat up. “Can you get to Montana to meet us?”
“Yes. We have a clear escape that they can’t trace or follow, so we’re heading to Montana. We’ll meet you there by tomorrow night,” Ryker said tersely. “Where’s your location? Jory will monitor all of us via satellite. He’ll watch your area as well.”
Denver gave his location. “Be careful, brother.”
“Ditto. See you soon,” Ryker said, hanging up.
Denver breathed in Noni’s orchid scent. As soon as he got her to safety, he was going hunting. There really was no other option.
Noni jerked out of a deep sleep. Her body was pleasantly sore, and her heart ached. They’d had sex plenty of times, but last night had been different. The whole sex-versus-making-love debate now made sense. It had been more than sex.
She lifted her head and listened. Denver breathed softly at her back, his arm wrapped around her waist. Silence came from the other room. Even so, she slid from the bed.
He shifted slightly in the bed.
“Just checking on Talia,” Noni whispered, tugging his T-shirt over her head. For good measure, she found clean panties and drew them on. “Go back to sleep.”
His breathing deepened. It was probably exhausting planning a mass kidnapping attempt. She bit back a chuckle and tiptoed into the other room, closing the door behind her.
She switched on a small lamp and moved quietly toward the baby.
