12
As Sara put the happy but exhausted children to bed that evening, her thoughts were on Ezreal. He was so good with them, patient but firm. Kind. She’d never known such a goodhearted man before.
Sara wished she’d been able to accept Ezreal’s last-minute invitation to attend the banquet with him. His hesitation in asking her was understandable. Like he’d said. It was a trust issue, something she understood well. And she found it incredibly gratifying that he trusted her.
She sighed. If she’d had a fancy dress to wear, she might have gone. Francie would have watched the kids, Sara was sure. He’d insisted she could wear a regular dress, but she’d seen the look of relief on Darius’s face at Ezreal’s costume. He might not care, but his partners did. Even if he downplayed it, Ezreal Wallach was a big deal in this community, and she didn’t want to drag him down.
Still, that he’d wanted her there with him gave her a sense of elation. It seemed like the more she got to know about him, the more she liked him. Alotmore. She was falling hard for him. When her doubts tried to creep in, she pushed them aside. Sara liked how he made her feel. This was the way it was supposed to be. Hadn’t she suffered enough? Hadn’t she proved to herself that she was worthy of this happiness?
Sara was too wired to sleep, so she sat at her desk and considered playing a game of REKD, but she enjoyed it better when she played with Ezreal. It was hard to believe that a few months ago, she hadn’t known anything about him except that he was an absent-minded billionaire.
For the first time since she’d escaped from Landon, she felt safe. She’d been here more than a year, and he hadn’t found them. Sure, he was asking about her, but from clear across the country. Now that she had wonderful friends living nearby, an opportunity to finally make her dream of a music program come true, and a man she was learning to care for, she had a chance at a normal life.
Sara turned on the television. Not wanting to dwell on her past, she tried to think of the hours they’d spent with Ezreal. And those delicious kisses.Oh, my.She couldn’t believe that a man who’d never kissed a woman before could make her feel that way. Not that she was all that experienced herself.
Sara hadn’t been paying attention to the program on TV until her brain registered a reference to REKD Gaming in the “just in” report announcement.
At first she thought they were going to do a story on the Midsummer’s Eve event. Then they shifted to an on-scene reporter who was talking about a break-in. Police lights flashed in the distance, and officers were guiding out two handcuffed men.
Was Ezreal all right? Sara fumbled for her phone and sent him a text.
You ok?
It took a couple of anxious minutes before he responded.
It’s complicated but someone broke in. They caught the guys.
Was anyone hurt? Were you?
I’m fine. Rafe and Ahri were attacked, but it looks like they’ll be okay.
Sara stared at the screen. Rafe and Ahri had been attacked? She glanced at the time. The banquet was due to start any minute. She wanted to ask him more, but he might be busy.
Heaving out a breath, she checked the television, but the regular show had started again. She was about to change to streaming a movie when she decided against it. If there were any more alerts, she wouldn’t hear them there, so she turned on the show again.
It was almost over when her phone rang. It was Francie.
“Is everything all right?” Sara asked.
“I need to go to the hospital. Can we bring over the kids?” Francie’s voice shook, and she sounded like she was on the verge of tears.
Sara’s stomach knotted. “Is this about the break-in?”
“Yes. Rafe and Ahri were hurt, but they insisted on going to that ridiculous banquet anyway. The guys are taking them to the hospital now, and we need to get over there.”
“I’ll make up the beds for the kids.”
“Thank you.” Francie disconnected.
Sara grabbed some clean sheets and hurried into her guest room. The previous owner of the house had left behind a set of bunk beds, and the Diederik children had used them before. As she was finishing the top bunk, she heard their car pull up. She dashed to the front door and opened it for them. They entered, each carrying a sleepy child.
“This way.” Sara led them to the bedroom, and Alex put Lessa on the top bed while Francie settled Nik in the bottom one. He rolled over while Lessa watched them with doleful eyes. It was obvious the little girl could tell her parents were worried.
“I’ll make your favorite breakfast in the morning,” Sara said.
“Yes, won’t that be fun?” Francie stepped on the ladder rung and kissed her daughter’s forehead.
“Sara will help you with whatever you need tonight, okay, sweetie?” Alex asked. “We’ll fetch you in the morning.” He kissed the child and then guided his wife from the room.
