He pulled a tiny camera, smaller than a matchbook, and a mic from his back pocket and glanced around. He stuck it in the eaves above the patio door. It had a clean shot through theopen-concept layout. Kitchen to living room. Nothing blocked the view.
Travis had followed Lainey to the school earlier. Now he knew what school the boy went to. He wasn’t sure what he was going to do with that information, but still it was good to have options.
He slipped back into the dark, vanishing the way he’d come.
CHAPTER 39
Lainey wokethe next morning to the soft glow of the morning sun peeking through the curtains. She glanced at her clock. One hour. Enough time to shower, get dressed, pack Luke’s lunch, and get him to school.
She stretched, a slow smile spreading across her face, still feeling the delicious ache between her legs. Finn had been gentle, strong, and perfect. Her first lover. And if everything was good with Luke—her last.
She hadn’t planned on falling back in love. Hadn’t planned for Finn to find out he was a father or for Luke to meet the man who shared his eyes, his hair and that unmistakable dimple.
Funny how things turn out. Still, she didn’t kid herself. Relationships were messy. Complicated. All tangled up in love and fear and second chances.
Gah. It was time to get ready for the day.
She swung her legs over the side of the bed and padded to the bathroom, already mentally going through her day. Lunch with the girls at the Red Rooster Diner. Then over to the site. She received an email late last night to meet a couple of council members there later in the afternoon. Finn offered to come with her, but this was her project. Her responsibility.
She suggested he pick up Luke and spend some quality time with their son. He was thrilled.
Their son. It still didn’t feel real. Not in a bad way, just different.
She was sure Luke would be okay with it, but she’d still pass it by him when he got up and also notify the school if he said yes.
Win-win. Finn would get quality time with Luke, and she’d get a chance to handle her own problems.
Hopefully, everything would fall into place.
Ha.
Lainey actually laughed at that. When had things in her life ever just fallen into place? Letters to who knows where? Richard’s disappearing act? Problems at the site?
But she’d deal. One roadblock at a time. She always had. She always would. Her momma didn’t raise a coward.
Although … it was nice having people in her corner this time around. For once, she didn’t feel like she was facing it all alone.
Showering and dressing for the day took no time at all. Waking Luke took a little more time. He was usually a morning person, but today she had to go in twice to get him up. She couldn’t help but wonder if finding out about his dad was a comfort to him or just another thing to process.
She tried not to overthink it. She put the coffee on and had just poured herself a mug when Luke’s voice made her jump.
“Mom, could I have a PB&J for lunch?”
Lainey turned and smiled at him. “Sure, buddy. Sit and eat your breakfast. I want to ask you something.”
He grabbed his favorite cereal and poured milk over it, questions in his eyes. “What?”
She told him about her meeting and wondered if he would be okay if Finn picked him up from school.
Luke didn’t answer right away. He stared at his cereal bowl. “Does he want to?” he asked in a small voice.
Lainey’s heart cracked. That was the question, wasn’t it? Trust didn’t just show up overnight, especially to a little boy.
“Yes,” she said gently. “He jumped at the chance but only if you were okay with it.”
Luke’s face lit up, and he grinned. “Yup.”
Okay then. She’d call the school and let them know.
