by Lara Lacombe
“We can handle this.” He didn’t approach the bed, didn’t want to crowd her.
Emma looked up, her eyes bright with unshed tears. The sight hit him in the gut, made him want to reach out and fold her into his arms.
“I’m scared,” she whispered. “I want to believe you, and I hope Dave and Skip can deliver on their promises. I just can’t stop imagining the worst.”
“That’s only natural,” he said. “I trust these guys because I served with them. We have a history together, and I know how they act when everything goes to hell. You don’t have that benefit—you just met them. It makes sense you have doubts.”
She nodded, appearing a little relieved. “That’s exactly it. I’m trying to stay positive, but it’s hard not to let my fear take control.”
“If it makes you feel any better, I’m afraid, too.”
She lifted one eyebrow. “No, actually. That doesn’t help me.”
He laughed at her dry response and stepped over to the bed, holding his arms out for the baby. “Let me take her. They should be calling soon.”
Emma passed the baby over as she swallowed with an audible gulp. “Do you really think they’ll agree?”
He shrugged. “What choice do they have? If they truly want Christina, they’ll do whatever you ask.”
“I hope you’re right,” she muttered. As if on cue, her phone buzzed.
“Hello?”
“Emma Foster?”
“Yes, it’s me.”
“So you can follow directions.” The man’s voice was smug,
Emma ignored his tone, wanting to get down to business. “You said you have my mother. Is that still true?”
“Maybe.”
She bit her lip, glancing at him for guidance. Matt nodded encouragingly—he’d warned her they might try something like this to scare her, keep her on the defensive. She took a deep breath and spoke again.
“You’re going to have to do better than that,” she said. He was proud to hear a note of steel in her voice.
“Oh?”
“If you no longer have my mother, then I have no reason to talk to you.”
“Okay, okay,” said the man on the other end of the line. “We still have her.”
“Prove it,” Emma said.
The man cursed, but they heard the sound of shuffling. After a few seconds, a new voice came on the line. “Emma?”
Matt could tell by the look on her face it was her mother. “Mom, I’m coming for you. I’m going to get you out of there.” Her tone was emotional, her distress written in the lines of her face. Matt reached out and grabbed her hand, squeezing it gently to remind her she wasn’t alone.
“Emma, no. Forget about me. Protect Christina—” She was suddenly cut off, and the sound of a muffled protest made Matt think she’d been gagged again.
“Happy now?” said the man who’d called.
“Hardly,” Emma replied. “But at least I know she’s still alive.”
“Only if you do what we say,” he threatened.
“I want to meet. Tomorrow.”
“That’s not your call,” he said.
Emma ignored him. “I’ll be at the truck stop off I-10 and Highway 90 at ten thirty tomorrow morning. If you don’t meet me in the diner, I’ll assume you no longer want my baby.”
“Now wait just a—”
Emma hung up without another word and turned off the phone so they wouldn’t have to listen to the traffickers try to call her back. She placed the phone on the nightstand with a sigh.
“You did great,” Matt said encouragingly. It was the truth. She’d held up extremely well, under the circumstances. If it had been his mother’s safety on the line, he doubted he could have been so composed.
Christina seemed to echo his sentiment. “Ga, ga, ga,” she babbled. She patted his cheek with her pudgy hand, giggling as her palm made contact with his stubble. The sound wrapped around his heart, another invisible thread anchoring him to this little girl.
Emma smiled at them. “If you say so,” she said. She sounded a little dejected, and sympathy welled up in his chest. He hated that she’d had to hear her mother in pain again, but it was important they knew she was still alive.
“What happens now?” she asked.
“I’ve got some things to take care of, but you need to get some rest.”
She let out a humorless laugh. “I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep tonight.”
“Maybe not, but you need to at least try,” he said. “At least lie down and close your eyes for a bit.”
“What about Christina?”
Matt shifted his hold on the baby, bouncing her a little to keep her happy. “She and I are good friends now. I’ll take care of her until she falls asleep.”
Emma studied him for a moment, and he got the impression she was debating whether or not to argue with him. He found himself silently urging her to let him stay with Christina. He wasn’t sure how or when it had happened, but somewhere along the way he’d fallen head over heels for this baby. Since their time together was growing short, he wanted to be with her as much as possible.
“Okay,” Emma said finally. “If you really don’t mind watching her for a bit, I’m going to take a bath. I need to wash that man’s voice off my body.”
“We’ll be here,” he replied. He watched as Emma entered the bathroom, wishing there were something he could do to take away her fear and anxiety. But maybe he was helping; hopefully by watching her daughter, he was giving her an opportunity to focus on herself for a change. She just needed to take advantage of it.
“Come on, little one,” he said. “We’ve got a project to work on.”
He placed her on the bed, arranging the pillows to make a soft fence around her. He’d seen her crawl and knew the pillows were no match for her skills, but the point was to make it harder for her to motor off the bed. While she was occupied with a toy, he grabbed the bags sitting nearby on the floor and dumped their contents on the spread.
She played contentedly while he worked, apparently happy to listen to his running commentary as he narrated what he was doing. She seemed to enjoy the sound of his voice, so he kept talking to her after he was done.
“I don’t know how to tell you this,” he said quietly. “But I’ve fallen for you and your mother.”
Christina babbled a reply. It sounded encouraging, so he continued. “I’m not sure what will happen after all this is over. I just know that I want to stay in your life. If you and your mom will have me, that is.”
It was so easy to talk to the baby. She looked up at him with those big blue eyes, seeming wise beyond her years. He poured his heart out to her, confessing all his hopes along with the worries holding him back.
“I want a family so badly,” he finished. “And you came into my life. It almost seems like a sign.”
Christina sighed as if in agreement.
“That settles it. I’m going to have to say something to your mama.” If only he knew where to begin!
The baby yawned and rubbed her eyes, clearly over this conversation. He checked her diaper and laid her down on the bed, then sat next to her, gently stroking her back until she fell asleep.
It was a humbling thing, to help a baby drift off. They were so innocent, so trusting. It made him feel special to know Christina was comfortable enough around him to settle down quickly.
“We’re going to take care of you,” he promised softly. “Your mom and I. We won’t let anything bad happen to you again.”
The bathroom door opened and Emma emerged, her skin pink from the heat of her bath. “Is she out?” she whispered.
He nodded. “Just now.”
She walked over to the bed and gazed down at her baby, her heart in her eyes. “Thank you,” she said softly.
“It was my pleasure.”
She turned to him, her expression shy. “Do you mind if we share the other bed tonight? Just to sleep, not for anything else...” She glanced away, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
“That’s fine,” he said. He nodded at Christina, who was lying diagonally across the mattress. “Not much room in this one anyway.”
Emma smiled. “True.” She turned around to face the other bed. “Which side do you prefer?”
“I don’t care,” he replied. After sleeping in the desert, he was just happy to have something soft to sleep on. “I’ve got to take care of a few more things. Go ahead and pick a side.”
“Do you need my help?”
He shook his head. “Thanks, but no. You get some rest.”
She offered him a half smile. “I’ll try.”
Matt scooped the keys off the dresser and headed for the door. He drew it closed behind him, his eyes on Emma’s slender figure under the sheets. She looked so small, so vulnerable.
But you’re not, he told her silently as the door snicked shut. I’m with you. And I’m not going to let you down.
* * *
She wasn’t sure what time he came to bed. It was late, that much she knew. Or rather, very early.
He slipped between the sheets, moving carefully. It was clear he was trying not to wake her, but he needn’t have worried about that. She’d been staring at the ceiling all night, counting heartbeats in a vain attempt to lull her brain into a stupor.
Without thinking, she rolled over and reached for him. He jerked when her hands found his body, but he didn’t pull away.
She scooted across the mattress until she was lying flush against him, feeling his warmth in a continuous line from her shoulders to her toes.
“Emma?”
She heard the question in his voice, knew what he was asking. “Just hold me, please,” she said. She wasn’t opposed to sex—it might actually help her fall asleep. But she’d already given him a large piece of her heart the first time they’d made love. She didn’t think she could give him another and still survive when he walked away. Christina needed a mother who could take care of her, not a lovesick wreck who spent all day crying.
Matt’s arms folded around her, and she rested her head on his chest. The steady thump of his heart echoed in her ear, a reminder that no matter what the future held in store, right now, in this moment, they were together.
It wasn’t enough. If she had her way, she’d stop the world so she and Matt could spend more time together. She wanted the opportunity to explore the attraction between them. Her silly heart still held out hope he might change his mind about being a father to Christina. He was so good with her—why couldn’t he just let himself love her?
It was on the tip of her tongue to ask, but she swallowed the question. She couldn’t make him love her daughter, any more than she could control the tides. She wasn’t sure what it said about her, that she’d fallen for a man who didn’t want to help her raise her child. No matter, though. He’d be gone soon enough.
But he’d take a piece of her with him.
Emma could already feel it happening. Right next to the Chris-shaped hole in her heart, new cracks were starting to appear. She wasn’t sure how extensive the damage would be, but she knew this experience—this man—would leave her forever changed.
Would Christina remember him at all? She was still so little, but growing more aware every day. Maybe Matt would be no more than a warm memory for her, a sensation of strength and safety. But at least the experience was a positive one, hopefully erasing any fear and anxiety left over from her kidnapping.
Matt stroked her back, his touch gentle and reassuring. Emma focused on the repetitive sensation, using it as an anchor to help her ignore her swirling thoughts.
She heard a low hum in his chest, followed by what might have been a whisper. “It’s going to be okay.”
I hope you’re right, she thought, desperately wanting to believe him. She was ready to wake up from this nightmare, once and for all.
Chapter 14
“Emma. It’s time.”
She stirred, letting out a soft moan. Matt hated to wake her—she hadn’t fallen asleep until the wee hours of the morning, and even then, her rest had been fitful.
He placed his hand on her shoulder, gave her a gentle shake. She rolled onto her back, her eyes blinking as she focused on his face.
He offered her a faint smile. “Morning.”
She reached up to rub her eyes. “Is it?”
“I’m afraid so.”
Emma sat up with a sigh, pulling her legs up to rest her arms on her knees. Her head drooped, and he could tell she was exhausted.
“I’m sorry,” he said, sitting on the mattress next to her. “I wanted to let you sleep longer, but you’ve got to get going. Skip texted me—he’s already in the parking lot waiting for you.”
Skip was going to drive Emma and the decoy baby Matt had rigged up to the meeting at the diner. If everything went according to plan, the bad guys would be momentarily fooled by the fake baby, allowing Skip and Dave time to incapacitate them and free Emma’s mother. They’d have plenty of backup; the two men were making sure the diner was filled with their people, posing as customers. The odds were in their favor, provided none of the traffickers got trigger-happy...
And as for him? Matt was supposed to stay here with Christina, far away from the action.
“It’s okay,” Emma said around a yawn. “I’m a mother and a nurse. Fatigue is pretty much my default setting.”
He chuckled, wishing he had some caffeine to offer her. But their room didn’t come with a coffee maker, and he didn’t want to leave her to fetch her anything. With the meeting time drawing near, he wanted to spend every possible moment with her. Their time would come to an end soon enough.
She climbed out of bed and bent over her baby. Christina slept on the other mattress looking like a loaf of bread with her arms and legs curled up under her body. She’d woken a few times in the night, but Matt had managed to soothe her back to sleep before she could disturb Emma.
After satisfying herself that her daughter was fine, Emma headed into the bathroom. She emerged a few minutes later, her hair pulled back and dressed for the day.
“Are you ready?”
“As I’ll ever be.” But she didn’t head for the door. Instead, she walked over to the desk and sat in the chair. She grabbed a piece of paper and wrote something on it, then handed it to him.
“What’s this?” He kept his eyes on her, not liking her troubled expression.
She didn’t meet his gaze. “Chris had a sister. I guess I should say has, because she’s still alive. That’s her contact information and address.” She nodded at the paper in his hand. “If anything happens to me today...” She broke off, swallowed hard. “If something happens, promise me you’ll take Christina to her.”
“You don’t need to worry about that—”
“Promise me.” She looked up then, her brown eyes teary but filled with determination. Matt realized she needed to hear him say the words for her own peace of mind. It was the same with some of the men he’d served with in the army; before a big mission, they’d write letters home and entrust them to the care of others on base, with instructions to post them if the worst should happen. Matt hadn’t ever done that. Maybe he was a little superstitious, but he didn’t like to dwell on negative possibilities. Still, he understood that Emma, as a mother, would need to make sure her daughter was taken care of in case she couldn’t be there.
“I will,” he said, reaching out to grasp her hand. “Nothing’s going to happen to you. But if it makes you feel better, I promise to take Christina to her aunt’s if the need arises.”
Emma nodded. “She doesn’t know about any of this. But she’ll do the right thing.”
“She won’t have to,” Matt said. He needed Emma to believe him.
She was about to walk into the lion’s den. She needed to project confidence, or she might not make it back out again.
It won’t come to that, he told himself. He trusted Dave and Skip, and by extension, their people. They would keep her safe.
Or answer to him.
“All right.” Her tone was final—she was ready to get on with it. She stood and walked over to the bed, staring down at her daughter with so much love in her eyes Matt felt as though he could reach out and touch it.
“I don’t want to wake her,” she whispered. “But I have to kiss her goodbye.”
She bent and pressed her lips to her sleeping baby’s cheek. He heard her draw in a deep breath, then she straightened and walked toward the door, stopping only to pick up Christina’s car seat. He’d made a decoy baby of sorts last night while Emma bathed. It wasn’t sophisticated enough to fool anyone at close range, but hopefully it would buy Emma and her mother some time to get away from the men before Dave and Skip’s people closed in.
Matt chased after her, catching her just outside the room. “Hey. Don’t I get a goodbye, too?”
Her smile was brittle. “Of course.” She put the carrier on the floor and held up her arms, leaning in for a hug.
Matt drew her close, pressing his nose into her hair. He held her tight, trying to tell her without words how he felt. After a moment, she relaxed against him in a silent gesture of trust.
He pulled back, cupped her face with his hands, then leaned in to brush his lips against hers. An electric sizzle arced through him at the contact, but this wasn’t a kiss of passion or arousal—it was a communion. She was hurting, and he lacked the words to help. So he offered her support in the only way left to him.
Emma’s lips were stiff and unyielding, but after a second, she relaxed into his kiss. Her hands threaded through his hair, hesitant at first, then her touch grew stronger as the moment wore on.
She sighed against his mouth, a quiet, soft sound of surrender. Hearing it, Matt eased back, resting his forehead against hers as he stared into the brown depths of her eyes.
