Chapter Twenty Four
Snow began to fallas Kelly drove out the gate. The vehicle just reached the bottom of the dip in the road when Prisha tapped Reece on his shoulder. “I forgot my gloves.”
He turned to Kelly with a grin. “Sorry, can we go back? The snow’s coming in pretty fast. I don’t want her to freeze.”
“Sure.” Kelly swung the vehicle around and headed for the gate. Ten minutes later, she stopped outside the front porch.
“This will only take a sec.” Reece climbed out of the vehicle and entered the house seconds later. The open door puzzled him for a moment before he called out, “Aria?”
She came down the passage. “Reece?”
“Pri forgot her...” he trailed off when his gaze met hers. His instincts buzzed. Something was wrong. He’d seen that look, twice. First, when she kissed him in the bar, and the second time when she relayed her past with her ex-husband. He read the fear, clear as the mountain air. His body tensed. Each cell spiked with adrenaline.Jay!
“Everythin’ okay, babe?”
The tight-lipped smile shadowed by a quick flick of her gaze toward the bedroom door answered his question.
“Yes.” He caught the stiffness in her reply as she reached for Prisha’s gloves on the arm of the couch.
When she stepped closer, he pulled her to him and kissed her softly. The rigidity in her body confirmed his instincts. His heart hammered harshly, but he needed to assess the danger first. “I’ll see you later, okay,” he whispered with another quick kiss.
She nodded and stood at the doorway as he left the house. Outside, Reece silently cursed and jumped into the SUV. He waited until the vehicle reached the bottom of the driveway then turned to Kelly. “I gotta go back and fetch Aria.”
“Want me to take you?”
“No. I’ll open the gate then run back.” He smiled and leaned over the seat. “Prisha, Kelly will take you to the play. I’m goin’ up to fetch your mom, okay?”
Caught up in her game of spot the difference with Laney, the child gave him half a smile and nodded.
When he swung back in his seat, Kelly eyed him intently. Her green gaze crammed with concern. “Is everything okay, Reece?”
Indecision ate his insides then he shook his head. “When you get to town, send Sheriff Banes out here. Tell him Aria has an unexpected visitor. He’ll understand.” Reece kept his voice low so the kids couldn’t hear.
“He’s here, isn’t he? The bastard found her?” Kelly bit her lower lip, her fear evident.
“Kelly, it’s gonna be fine. I won’t let him or anythin’ hurt Aria.” Reece reached over and squeezed her hand. He’d make the bastard pay for hurting Aria. “Trust me.”
“I do.”
“Go. And don’t hang around in town or stop to talk to anyone besides Banes. Get on the ferry. It will keep Prisha occupied. Okay?”
