She chuckled. “I would be.”
“Are mom and dad safe? Is everyone settledin?”
“Hold on,” Issy said, and he heard the phonebeing passed off.
“Ian!” his mother gushed into the phone. “Wewere so worried about you!”
“I’m fine,” he assured her. “How is everyonethere? Are they doing ok?”
“Everyone is fine. This new location isbeautiful. There are already three separate houses on the property,so there’s plenty of room for everyone. There’s even a barn andWillow, Cassidy and Kyle are already angling for horses.”
“Of course they are,” he murmured. A twingetugged at his heart at the mention of his siblings; he rubbed atthe stubble lining his chin at the thought of the home they’d beenforced to leave behind. “Where are you?”
“We found a beautiful place in Maine.”
“I think it would be safe if you returned toOregon. Paige won’t tell anyone anything about us.” He didn’t tellher Paige would be coming to live with them; he should probablybroach the topic with Paige first.
“Paige is it?” his mom asked.
“Yes. She’s been through a lot.”
“You trust her?”
“I do.”
His mother became silent before she releaseda small sigh. “In all honesty we probably should have left Oregonyears ago. We’d been putting ourselves at risk by staying, and youknow this family, as long as we’re together we’re happy.”
“Yeah,” he muttered. He was still going tomiss the home he’d grown up in and the other homes they’d built forhimself and his siblings.
“Don’t feel bad. Now, are you sure you’resafe?”
“Positive.”
“Good. Your father would like to talk toyou. I love you.”
“Love you too.”
The phone was handed off to his father andthey talked for a few minutes. Isabelle reclaimed her phone just asPaige emerged from the bathroom with a towel wrapped around her.Ian bent to press a kiss against the top of her head and tugged herup against him.
“Did you just kiss the enemy?” Isabelleinquired in a low whisper. He didn’t have to see her to know she’dturned away from the others and cupped her hand around the phone asshe spoke.
“What?” Ethan demanded. “Let me talk tohim.”
“Wait Ethan,” Isabelle protested.
“Let me talk to him, Issy.”
Ian kept the phone away from Paige, so shecouldn’t hear the exchange or their struggle over the phone.Bending low, he kissed her again before giving her butt a lightswat. “Why don’t you get dressed so we can get you something to eatand maybe do some shopping? I don’t know about you, but I’d likesome new clothes, and this place doesn’t strike me as the kind ofmotel with a washer and dryer.”
Her eyes lit up; she gave an enthusiasticnod before rising on tiptoe to kiss his cheek. “I’d love some foodand clothes,” she admitted before practically skipping away fromhim.
“Ian. What are you doing?” Ethan demanded ina low hiss. Judging by the different sounds coming through thephone, he’d walked outside. Ian would bet a hundred dollarsIsabelle was hovering at his side.
“What are you talking about?” he askedinnocently.
“Look, I’ve never said one word about yourparade of women, but that girl is dangerous.”
“No, she’s not,” he said flatly.
