by Nan Dixon
She was almost there. And the world flipped so she was underneath him. He drove into her. She locked her ankles around his thighs and hung on as he thrust into her again and again.
Stars flashed behind her eyes.
“So good,” he groaned. His teeth were gritted, his expression fierce as he found his own completion. “So good.”
He collapsed on her. It took all her energy to stroke his damp back.
After their breathing leveled to gale force winds, he kissed her. Then, rolling on his side, they lay face-to-face. “Amazing.”
Her gasps ruffled his hair. “Amazing.”
They both gulped air. The frantic beat of her heart slowed. And lethargy filled her body. She couldn’t keep her eyes open.
He kissed her nose. The mattress moved and Kaden took his heat away, but pulled up the comforter. “You never did tell me whether you wanted pizza or Chinese.”
She rolled to her back and laughed. “Your choice.”
* * *
“WHY ARE YOU SMILING so much?” Josh asked Courtney while she supervised the kids’ snack.
“It’s a good day.” She’d heard people hated Mondays, hated going to work. If everyone had had her kind of Sunday, they’d still be smiling, too.
Eating Chinese had been fun, because Kaden had never used chopsticks. She’d tried to teach him, but ended up feeding him most of the food. In bed. Between making love. The only sad part was after dinner, he’d walked her home.
“You’re doing it again.” Josh rolled his eyes. “My mom gets that face sometimes. After Papa kisses her.”
She chuckled. Josh’s papa probably had done more than kiss Cheryl. Courtney ruffled his streaky blond hair. “Finish up. It’s a beautiful day, and I’m in the mood to have art time in the courtyard. What do you say?”
Issy and Josh nodded.
Since she’d been studying the child care regulations, she was more aware of getting the kids outside and keeping them active. This week she was working on schedules, testing what held their interest and what didn’t.
But first they needed to clean up. Issy hummed a cleanup song and Josh sang the words.
The classrooms needed sound systems. Especially if there was a cleanup song.
She was going to make her center a success. On her day off next week, she planned to visit Issy and Josh’s previous day care and spend the morning with the director.
“Do we have everything?” she asked the kids, slathering sunscreen on Issy’s shoulders.
“Yeah,” Josh said. Issy nodded and they shrugged on their backpacks.
With her first paycheck from the Foresters, she’d bought a big tote, even though she’d been in desperate need of a facial. It wasn’t a couture bag, but it did the trick. She double-checked that they had water and additional art supplies. “Let’s go.”
After locking the apartment door, they headed down the steps. “What a beautiful day.”
“You said that already.” Josh rolled his eyes.
Issy pointed at a butterfly flitting between the flowers.
“Maybe you want to draw a picture of a butterfly?” Courtney asked.
Issy grinned.
Courtney had spent a lot of time in the courtyard, but she’d never noticed how pretty everything was. Bess’s garden sparkled. Red and purple flowers brightened small corners and vines covered in yellow flowers spilled from dark blue pots. She wanted to learn all the names so she could teach the children.
They headed to the empty Carleton House patio.
Would Kaden be interested in taking a walk tonight? She wanted to hold his hand and really see Savannah. She wanted to kiss him as the streetlights blinked on.
As they settled at the table, she looked at her phone. “We can spend forty minutes here.”
Josh and Issy pulled out their sketch pads.
“I went with Papa and checked out the new play equipment. It’s cool,” Josh said.
“Thank you for helping pick the colors,” Courtney said.
“Can Papa and I paint a mural?” Josh scrunched up his face. “Not that princess stuff, but something else.”
“I like the idea of a mural.” Courtney made a note in her almost full notebook. Maybe she could start a tradition of adding handprints of all the children to the wall. She could include notes on something special about each child.
Issy drew what Courtney thought were flowers in a pot. Josh did a sketch of the Carleton carriage house.
The alarm on her phone buzzed. Forty minutes were up. “Once we pick up, I thought we could check out the new books that arrived today. Josh, you can practice your reading.”
“I want to pick the book.” He shoved his sketch pad into his backpack.
They could grab a book and work on reading in the play area.
As they walked toward the frog fountain, Josh tugged on her hand. “Can we make a wish?”
She shook her head. “I don’t think Bess wants coins in the fountain.”
“I want to wish for a puppy,” he said.
“I know.” Courtney set her hand on his shoulder. “Next time we go by Bledsoe fountain we’ll make wishes.”
Her wish would be spending more private time with Kaden.
Josh kicked a pebble in the path. “I just want a puppy.”
“Patience is a virtue.” Something her mother had always said.
“Come on, let’s go to the day care.” Maybe Kaden would be working. Her smile bloomed again.
* * *
KADEN LOADED THE trolley with the final stack of chairs from the Sunday event held in the Fitzgerald House ballroom. Thank goodness, neither he nor Courtney had needed to work yesterday. He grinned. Sunday had been...incredible. He wanted to make love to Courtney again tonight. And every night.
His phone alerted him that Courtney and the kids were moving from the Carleton House patio back to Fitzgerald House.
Since he was working alone in the ballroom, he called Roger.
“Any word on getting some backup down here?” Kaden asked.
“Give me another day,” Roger grumbled.
His neck itched. “Then let me tell Courtney about the possible threat.”
“I thought you were sticking close to the nanny and the kids.”
He’d been very close to Courtney Sunday. But that wasn’t enough. The alert sounded again. Had to be Courtney and the kids.
“If Bole grabs Issy, we’ll have lost our advantage,” Kaden said. And their lure.
He waited. He’d learned to let Roger think.
“Fine,” Roger said. “I’ll get some help down there. Give me a day or two.”
“Thanks.” After hanging up, Kaden finished closing up the tables.
The facial recognition alert went off again. Now where was Courtney taking the kids?
He flipped over to the cameras. Shit. Bole was in the parking lot.
He jammed his phone in his pocket. Pulling his gun, he streaked out the door.
* * *
“BELLA? BELLA!” A woman called.
Bella? Courtney didn’t see anyone in the courtyard. Maybe they were filming a sequel to the Twilight saga in Savannah. She giggled. Nothing would wreck today’s good mood. “Come on, kids, let’s pick out our books.”
Issy tucked herself between Courtney’s legs, trembling.
Courtney stroked her hair. “What’s wrong, sweetie?”
Issy bit her lips and didn’t answer.
“Bella. Come here.” The woman’s voice carried through the courtyard. “Now!”
Issy whimpered.
“What’s wrong?” Courtney put her hand on Issy’s head and then turned to look at whoever was calling for this Bella.
A redheaded woman stormed down the path from o
ver by the parking lot. Courtney frowned. She didn’t know many people in Savannah, but the woman looked familiar.
“Bella. Get over here.” The woman pointed to Issy. “We’re leaving. Right now.”
Issy’s whimpers escalated into sobs. Josh put his arms around his sister.
“Who are you?” Courtney put herself between this crazy woman and the children.
“Bella’s mom. Heather.” She closed the distance between them and reached for Issy. “I’ve come for her.”
Courtney pushed Issy closer to the fountain. Issy’s mother? That’s why she looked familiar. She’d changed her hair color to bright red. It made her skin look sallow.
“I’m afraid you’ll have to talk to Nathan.” Heather would not take Issy.
“Don’t tell me what I can and can’t do with my own daughter.” Heather grabbed again.
Courtney slid the kids along the fountain, closer to the apartment steps, batting at Heather’s grasping hands.
If she went to the apartment, no one was there. The kids would be safer in Fitzgerald House, but Heather blocked the way between them and the door.
“I want my kid.” Heather reached for Issy.
The courtyard was empty. Where was everyone? For once, no crew worked on the restaurant.
“Abby! Kaden! Cheryl!” Courtney yelled. She stretched out her arms to keep Heather from Issy. “Help!”
“Shut up. She’s my daughter.” Heather shoved Courtney’s shoulder. “I’m taking her. Now.”
“No.” Courtney’s heart pounded in her ears. She jabbed her elbow into Heather’s side, making her stumble.
Issy sobbed. Couldn’t anyone hear them? Courtney had to hold off Heather. “Josh, Issy, go to Abby.”
“I want my daughter.” Heather swung her purse and caught Courtney in the chest.
Courtney staggered. Pain surged through her. “Run to Abby. Now!”
She drove the kids around the back of the fountain, then swung her tote at Heather’s head. The bag ripped, and sunscreen and crayons spilled out.
Heather howled and rammed her fist into Courtney’s face.
White lights flashed. Blinding pain splintered Courtney’s head. She flailed and caught Heather in the stomach. They crashed to the ground. Twisting, she threw her body on top of Heather. “Help!”
“Courtney!” Kaden called from somewhere above them.
Thank God.
Heather bucked, rolling and punching. Courtney’s head smashed into the fountain. Stars clouded her vision.
“Stop! Leave her alone,” Kaden called from the terrace steps.
“Kaden,” Courtney squeaked. “Help!”
Heather punched her in the shoulder and scrambled to her feet, kicking her in the belly.
Waves of agony washed over her. She clutched her stomach, curling into a ball.
“Stop!” Footsteps hammered down the steps.
“Bitch.” Heather kicked her again. Then ran.
Nausea surged like a tidal wave. She couldn’t succumb. The kids needed her.
“Issy, Josh.” She tried to sit, but her head swam. She collapsed onto the stone path, her head throbbing. When she touched her cheek, blood covered her fingers.
“Courtney. God. Are you okay?” Kaden knelt next to her. He held a gun in his hand. A gun?
“The kids,” she gasped through the agony. “Make sure...safe. Abby. Kitchen.”
“Where is she? Where’s Bole?” he asked.
Courtney pointed. “Ran. Please. Check the kids.”
He scanned the courtyard. “I’ll be right back.”
She closed her eyes. Nothing made sense. Why did Kaden have a gun? But the hammers in her head shut down her thinking. She had to concentrate just to breathe.
Sirens sounded in the distance. For her or Heather?
Abby knelt next to her, clutching her hand. “Oh, no.”
“Kids?” Courtney choked out on a cough.
“Safe.” Abby brushed her hair back.
Courtney moaned.
“I’m sorry.” Instead of touching her head, Abby squeezed her shoulder. “Kaden’s calling 911.”
Kaden. Gun.
Her stomach churned and Abby helped her turn on her side as she threw up. Then her sister-in-law eased her away from the mess.
“S-s-sorry,” Courtney sobbed.
“Don’t be.” Abby set Courtney’s head on her lap and pressed a towel against her face. “Rest.”
Courtney closed her eyes against the glaring sun. She couldn’t stop shaking.
“Gray, get back to the B and B. Right now. Courtney’s hurt.” Abby sounded scared.
Courtney kept her eyes closed. It hurt too much to open them. Maybe if she slept, the pain would disappear.
There was a rattle of metal. Abby leaned close. “The paramedics are here.”
She was cold. How could she be cold in sweltering Savannah?
“Ma’am, can you tell us your name?” a woman asked. Another woman knelt next to her arm and touched her face.
“Umm?” Her teeth chattered.
“Your name.”
“Courtney. Smythe.”
She endured their pushing and prodding. Groaned when they strapped her on a board. Couldn’t they move her away from where she’d thrown up?
Running steps pounded on the paths.
“Courtney!” Gray called.
“I’m ’kay.”
“Your face.” Terror filled his voice.
“Hit. Fountain.” She flopped her hand up and down.
Gray caught it and held on. “I’ll come with her to the hospital. I’m her brother.”
Conversation swirled around her, but her world had narrowed to the wrenching pain in her head and chest.
More boots pounded up to the fountain.
“Where’s Issy? Josh?” Nathan cried.
“In the kitchen with Cheryl,” Abby said.
Kaden’s voice cut through the chaos. “How is she?”
“Where were you?” Nathan growled. “You were here to protect everyone!”
She opened her eyes, squinting against the light.
Nathan shoved Kaden, whose hands shot into the air in surrender.
“I ran as fast as I could,” Kaden said.
“It wasn’t good enough,” Nathan snapped back.
Nathan shouldn’t be pushing Kaden. He had a gun. Why did a handyman need a gun? She frowned, setting off explosions in her head. Tears poured from her eyes.
“Ready to transport,” someone called out.
“I need to talk to the witness,” Kaden said.
“Witness?” Now Gray was snarling. “That’s my sister. You’ll have to come to the hospital. Or better yet, wait until she’s recovered.”
Witness? Guns? Courtney closed her eyes. She didn’t understand anything.
* * *
KADEN PACED OUTSIDE Courtney’s room. Nathan had been right. He hadn’t kept Courtney safe. He hadn’t captured Bole. He’d failed.
If he’d paid attention to the first alert, Courtney might not be in the hospital. From the third floor terrace he’d watched Heather shove Courtney into the fountain. His heart had stopped. He’d been too far away. He’d yelled, hoping to distract Heather. By the time he’d run down the three flights, blood had poured from Courtney’s forehead and cheek. He should have chased Heather; instead he’d rushed to Courtney’s side.
They’d had a perfect night together and now she was in the hospital. How much more could he screw up?
A nurse emerged from behind her curtain.
“May I?” he asked, flashing his badge.
The woman’s eyebrows rose, but she nodded. “You’ll have to leave when the surgeon arrives.”
<
br /> Surgeon? Oh, God. He shoved through the curtain.
Gray blocked his view of Courtney. He turned his head and frowned. “What are you doing here?”
Kaden moved next to Courtney’s bed.
She was too pale. Bandages covered half of her face. Blood matted her beautiful hair and streaked her chin. He wanted to clean her up and take her hand, but Gray’s animosity and the fact that he needed to question Courtney held him back.
“I’m with the FBI. I need to ask Courtney some questions.” He locked his hands behind his back to keep from reaching for her.
Gray’s mouth dropped open. “FBI?”
He nodded.
Courtney closed her eyes.
“How are you?” Kaden asked her.
Courtney started to wag her head, but winced. “Fine.”
“She’s not fine,” Gray interrupted. “She needs stitches.”
“The nurse mentioned a surgeon,” Kaden said.
“I’m not letting a med student put stitches in my sister’s face,” Gray snapped at him. “I’ve requested a plastic surgeon.”
“Gray. Stop.” Courtney’s speech slurred.
Gray took his sister’s hand. “I’m just worried about you, brat.”
Was it more serious than the slice on her face? Did she have a head injury? “I need to ask you a few questions about Heather Bole.” He looked at Gray. “In private.”
“I’ll stay with my sister.”
“It’s okay, Gray.” She squeezed his hand.
Gray glared but left the room.
Didn’t Gray know Kaden agreed with him? It was his fault Courtney was hurt. People around him got hurt. He’d thought it was only children. Now he was afraid it was anyone he cared about.
She slowly tilted her head toward him. Pain-filled blue eyes drilled into his.
“FBI.” Her eyes narrowed, as if she was trying to remember something. “Did you have a gun?”
“Yes.” He touched the furrow between her eyebrows. He couldn’t stop himself. Then he took her hand when he really wanted to kiss her. “I’ve been working undercover at the B and B, hoping Heather would show up. We assumed she’d come back for Issy.”
