Lost Innocence

by Jannine Gallant

  Nina’s heart ached for her. “I’m glad you have good memories of your mother.”

  “Her picture is by my bed. Looking at it helps me remember stuff.” She ate another strawberry. “Can I bring my animals downstairs? I think they’d like to come outside.”

  “Sure. Everyone should take advantage of a fog-free afternoon.”

  When Keely scrambled to her feet to race into the house, Nina pulled out her phone to check for missed calls. One from Lola Copeland. She wondered if the woman had gotten her finances in order and wanted another painting. Before she could return her call, Keely returned with a bear under one arm and an elephant clutched to her chest. The screen door slammed shut behind her.

  “Trudy and Anna-Banana are missing.” Her high-pitched voice sounded as if she was on the verge of tears.

  Nina patted the step beside her, then slipped her arm around Keely when she sat down and scooted in close. “Who are Trudy and Anna-Banana?”

  “My fluffy kitty and my monkey. They weren’t in my room.”

  “Maybe you left them downstairs or in the backyard. Did you look?”

  “I tucked them both into bed with me last night. They were still there when I woke up.”

  “They must be somewhere. I’ve seen Coco carry around stuffed animals before.”

  “Her animals. She doesn’t take mine.”

  Nina wasn’t so certain the dog knew the difference. She stood and pulled Keely to her feet. “Don’t worry. We’ll find them.”

  Fifteen minutes later, Nina was beginning to have her doubts. After searching the entire upstairs with no luck, she paused in Keely’s bedroom doorway. “What are you doing?”

  The girl jumped down from her bed. “Looking on the closet shelf. My Belle dress isn’t on the floor anymore.”

  “I bet your dad put it in the dirty clothes. Let’s go downstairs to look for your animals.”

  “I didn’t leave them down there.”

  After a fruitless search, Nina had to agree. “We’ll check outside. Coco might have dragged your animals through the doggy door.”

  “How could she do that? I think Anna-Banana is bigger than she is.”

  “We’ll still look.” Nina reached for the dead bolt and frowned. “Did you unlock the door before we left for the park?”

  “No. Why would I do that?”

  Nina opened the door and scanned the yard. “I don’t see your animals, but let’s look around.”

  Coco shot past her feet and headed straight to the back gate. Giving it a head butt, she pushed it open far enough to squeeze out.

  “Hey!” Keely ran after her dog. “Come back here!”

  Nina followed and swung the gate wide. Thankfully, Coco hadn’t gone far.

  “Back inside. Both of you.” She herded the dog and Keely into the yard before closing the gate. When she gave it an extra jerk, the latch clicked into place. “Did you notice anything else missing?”

  “I don’t think so.” She turned in a circle as her lip began to quiver. “See? Trudy and Anna-Banana aren’t out here.”

  “I guess not. Hey, no crying.” Nina hugged the girl close. “We’ll figure out what happened to them. I promise.”

  If she had left the back door unlocked, no one in his or her right mind would have stolen stuffed animals. There definitely had to be another explanation.

  Chapter Twenty

  Teague gave Keely a huge hug, questioning if spending two days and a night away from her was the right thing to do. She felt so small in his arms. Fragile. All he wanted to do was wrap his daughter up and protect her from the world. But a glance across the street to where Nina loaded her suitcase into her Mini reminded him of all the reasons why they needed some time alone together.

  “Dad, you’re squeezing me too tight.”

  “Oh, sorry.” He released her. “You mind Stella.”

  “I will.”

  He looked toward the porch and smiled. “Thanks for doing this, Stella.”

  She came down the steps to lay a hand on Keely’s shoulder. “Happy to help out. I’m just glad my back is feeling better. I had a rough few days there, but I seem to be as good as new.” She snorted. “Well, as good as can be expected of an old broad.”

  “You aren’t old, just well-seasoned.”

  “Isn’t that the truth?” She waved a hand. “Go. Enjoy your getaway. Keely and I will have a great time together, and I’ll make sure she gets to summer camp on time tomorrow.”

  “I know you will.” He retreated across the lawn. “I’ll check in tonight and again tomorrow morning. We should be back by early evening at the latest.”

  “No worries. I don’t have any place I have to be.” She made another shooing motion. “Go already. Nina’s waiting.”

  “Okay, I’m out of here.” Reaching down, he grabbed the handle of the bag he’d dropped on the grass to hug Keely one last time. “Bye, Keels.”

  “Bye, Daddy.”

  Turning, he hustled across the road and tossed his case through the open hatch and slammed it shut. He met Nina’s gaze. “Ready?”

  “Are you sure you want to do this?”

  He smiled . . . or at least tried to. “Positive. Who’s driving?”

  “I am.” She gave him a long, contemplative look before opening the driver’s door. “You can chill in the passenger seat, maybe figure out why you asked me to go away with you in the first place.”

  “I know why I asked you.” He pushed the seat back to accommodate his long legs and waited while she started the engine. “Letting go is always a little tough, but I’ve got this.”

  “Good.” She backed out of the driveway and gave a couple of toots on the horn. “I’m looking forward to this trip. A break from painting is mandatory every now and then, but we could have taken Keely with us.”

  “No, we need some alone time. I’ve barely seen you all week.” He waved a final goodbye, then turned to face forward. “I really want this.”

  “I bet. A week without sex is pretty hard to take. Which direction?”

  He couldn’t hold back a grin. “Well, there is that. Head south.”

  She turned left out onto the coast road. “Are you going to tell me where we’re going? Your instructions to bring casual clothes and sturdy shoes didn’t give me a whole lot to go on.”

  “I guess I can let you in on the surprise now. Crater Lake.”

  “Oh, yeah?” A smile tilted her lips. “The lake is spectacular. I haven’t been there since I went with my Girl Scout troop twenty years ago. We camped, and I earned three badges that weekend.”

  “No camping this time. I booked a room at the Crater Lake Lodge.”

  “Seriously?” She turned to stare. “I can’t believe they weren’t sold out.”

  “I guess we got lucky. They had a single day available between two longer stays, so I took it. We can do some hiking and just hang out.”

  “Sounds wonderful.” She reached over to squeeze his knee. “Thanks for planning this.”

  “I told you your needs matter to me. This is my way of trying to make up for ditching you at Leah and Ryan’s wedding.” He grinned. “In addition to getting a little action.”

  She smiled back, and the heat in her eyes made him wish they didn’t have a three-and-a-half-hour drive ahead.

  He shifted on the seat to adjust his shorts and cleared his throat. “So, what have you been doing all week?”

  “Finishing up a few projects and framing them, including Keely’s painting of the roses. She’s very proud of that picture.”

  “We hung it in her room. Thanks for taking the time to help her frame it.”

  “I enjoyed spending the afternoon with her.” She passed a slow-moving camper on a straight stretch. “I think I convinced her less is better when it comes to both paint and glue.”

  “I’m forever in your debt.” He studied her profile and wondered how anyone could be so . . . perfect. With an effort, he focused on their conversation. “That’s all you’ve been doing? Just work?�
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  “That and sending out follow-up emails to art enthusiasts who’ve bought paintings from me in the past. Marketing for the Summer Art Fair is fairly time consuming, but having a good turnout is critical. This is my major selling event of the season, actually for the whole year.”

  “Most of the time you paint on commission?”

  She nodded. “I have pieces in a few galleries on the West Coast, but I rely heavily on orders from past customers for income.” A frown creased her brow. “I had a call from one of my regular patrons last week. Apparently she made some bad investments and is in financial difficulties. She’ll be selling her house and leaving the area.”

  “That’s too bad.”

  “Yeah, it sucks for Miss Lola, but also for me, since she won’t be buying any more of my paintings. She mentioned being closer to her granddaughter, though, which seemed to make her happy.”

  “You’ll make up for the loss by selling a lot of your art next weekend.” He reached over to lay a hand on her knee and squeeze. “Have faith.”

  “One can only hope.” She slowed to make the turn onto Route 38.

  He settled back in his seat. “I assume you know where you’re going?”

  “Sure. We follow this road along the Umpqua River, then take Route 138 across to Crater Lake. It’s a pretty drive.”

  “I’ll sit back and enjoy the scenery, then.”

  The drive through heavily forested countryside was certainly beautiful, but he spent more time looking at Nina than out the window. They discussed topics ranging from music to politics, not always agreeing but finding common ground more often than not. They’d definitely needed this quiet stretch of togetherness to get to know each other better. Nina was confident and assertive without being overbearing, and she was willing to listen to his opinions before sharing her own. He found the combination of self-confidence overlaid with respect incredibly attractive. There were layers to this woman that went far deeper than her surface beauty.

  “You’re awfully quiet.”

  “Hmm?” He blinked and dragged his gaze away from her to glance out the window as the car slowed. “Are we stopping?”

  “Bathroom break. There’s a trail to a waterfall that’s pretty amazing. I thought we’d take a short hike to stretch our legs. Paige and I stopped here once when I went on an antiquing trip with her.”

  “I’m all for getting a little exercise.” After she pulled into the parking area and turned off the engine, Teague climbed out and worked a few kinks from his back. “Your Mini doesn’t give a person a lot of room to stretch out.”

  “I refuse to apologize for my car.” She met him at the front bumper and snuggled in when he slid an arm around her waist.

  “No need to. I’m the one who wanted to leave my truck for Stella. When she suggested letting Keely ride on the back of her motorcycle, I nearly had a heart attack before I realized she was just yanking my chain.”

  Nina grinned up at him. “I bet.” She slid out from beneath his arm. “Let me use the restroom, and then we’ll go see the falls.”

  A few minutes later, they set out through old-growth forest, following the trail toward Toketee Falls. Deep blue water frothing with white foam flowed between moss-covered rock walls below them, and the damp air was redolent with the scent of dense vegetation. Overhead, birds tweeted and chirped in cacophonous chatter.

  “This place is primeval.” Taking her hand, he swung their clasped fingers. “I feel like I’m in an ancient world where time no longer exists.”

  “Except for the path, this place probably hasn’t changed much in the last millennium.” She moved ahead of him as the trail narrowed. “Wait until you see the falls. They’re spectacular.”

  Spectacular was an understatement. The two-tier falls dropped over a hundred feet into a deep pool at their base. Wrapping his arms around Nina from behind, he rested his chin on her head and let the beauty of their surroundings ease away all his stress. After a few minutes of quiet contemplation, he shifted to meet her gaze. “Looks like we could get over the fence and climb down to the pool if we want.”

  “Probably, but we’d get soaked by the spray. An adventure for another day.”

  He liked the idea of future trips with Nina. “Next time we’ll bring raincoats.” When a family group descended onto the viewing platform, he reluctantly released her. “Time to go?”

  “Let me take a photo or two first.” She snapped a couple of shots with her phone, then glanced over at a teenage boy who’d distanced himself from his younger siblings. “Would you mind taking our picture?”

  “Sure.” The kid took her phone and waved them toward the rail.

  Teague slid an arm around Nina’s waist and smiled.

  “Got it.” The boy handed her cell back.

  “Thank you.” She slipped the phone into her pocket.

  “Let’s go.” Teague touched her arm. “My breakfast is wearing thin. Didn’t I see a bag of snacks in the back seat?”

  “Lucky for you, I planned ahead. Crater Lake is only about forty minutes from here, so I don’t think you’ll starve.”

  He bent to drop a kiss on her smiling mouth. “I’d better eat an apple and not risk it.”

  The look she gave him was long and lingering. “We definitely need you to keep up your strength.”

  * * *

  Nina flopped over backward, breathing heavily as the sheen of perspiration on her bare skin dried in the breeze coming through the open window. “Wow. Just wow.”

  At her side, Teague grunted but didn’t bother to open his eyes. “I may never have the energy to move again.”

  She eyed the man she’d come to love, in all his naked glory stretched out on the pure white sheet, and swallowed. “How lame would we be if we stayed in our hotel room for the next twenty-four hours and didn’t go exploring?”

  “I don’t think I have the stamina.” Finally he turned his head to stare at her. “Hiking burns fewer calories than making love with you.”

  “Are you complaining?”

  “Hell no.” Moving swiftly, he rolled her beneath him. “I’m bragging.”

  She wrapped her arms around his back. “I guess we should get up, maybe go for a walk before dinner. Nothing too strenuous that will tax your strength.”

  He grinned down at her. “Fine. Since we came all this way, we should at least go appreciate the lake.” He bent to kiss her and lingered long enough to make her heart beat faster. “Okay, this is me, climbing out of bed.”

  She held on tighter. “You aren’t moving.”

  “That’s because you’re clinging like a limpet.”

  After he kissed his way down the side of her neck, she finally let her arms slip to the mattress. “Okay, you’re free.”

  His gaze sobered. “I don’t think I am. At this point, we’re bound together, and I don’t want to let you go.”

  “Good, because I’m pretty happy all wrapped up in you.” She stroked her thumb across his cheek. “This is a good thing for us both, right?”

  He nodded. “You make me believe in happily ever after again.” A rueful smile curved his lips as he sat up. “Before you start thinking I’m a total girl for comments like that, let’s go enjoy the outdoors. I love the ocean, but that lake out there is practically a religious experience.”

  There was nothing feminine about Teague’s muscled backside as he bent over his suitcase to dig out a pair of jeans and a button-down shirt. With an effort, she tore her gaze away as he pulled on a pair of briefs and focused on getting herself dressed. She chose a short forest-green skirt and matching sleeveless top she could wear with flats that would be appropriate for dinner in the restaurant downstairs and comfortable for a casual walk beforehand. Ten minutes later, they left the lodge to stroll hand in hand along the path edging Crater Lake.

  Beneath the early evening sky, dark indigo water filled the deep caldera far below that formed the pristine volcanic lake. They walked for a half hour, not saying much, just enjoying the natural beauty on disp
lay.

  “That looks like a good spot to stop.” Teague pointed toward a fairly flat boulder a short distance from the trail.

  “I agree.” Sitting beside Teague, Nina rested her head against his shoulder as the breeze whispered through nearby fir trees. “I know I’m supposed to be on vacation, but my fingers are itching to paint that view.”

  “I bet. Did you bring a sketch pad?”

  “Of course. I don’t go anywhere without that.”

  “Then maybe you can draw tomorrow.” He tightened his arm around her. “I wouldn’t want you to go through creative withdrawal.”

  “Always a risk when I attempt to take a break.” After a moment, she changed the subject. “I’ve been meaning to ask if Keely ever found her stuffed animals. I didn’t want to question her if she was still upset about losing them.”

  He shook his head. “No, they flat out disappeared. It’s the damnedest thing. One of her princess dresses is also missing, along with a few other clothes. I have a feeling she left those at her friend’s house, though she swears she brought everything home. I’ve been meaning to call Bobbi Sandburg to ask but keep forgetting.”

  The breeze that had seemed warm enough a few minutes before chilled her. Goose bumps pebbled Nina’s arms. “Nothing else is missing? You don’t think someone broke into your house, do you?”

  “There’s no sign to indicate anyone was in our home. Anyway, why would a thief steal a couple of stuffed animals and leave a valuable necklace that belonged to Keely’s mother lying on her dresser? I have to think Coco is the guilty party in this mystery. My bet is she hauled the animals out through her doggy door and buried them somewhere.”

  “She does like to dig. Hopefully they’ll turn up eventually, even if they are a little the worse for wear.”

  “I bought Keely the American Girl doll she’s been wanting. It cost me a freaking fortune, but I hated to see her so upset.” He grimaced. “And, yes, I know I’m a sucker and that move wasn’t exactly stellar parenting.”

  “Wait until she’s older and some boy breaks her heart.” Nina tried to keep a straight face and failed. “Are you going to buy her a car to ease her pain?”