Page 98 of Ardently Yours

Racing into the hallway, I nearly collide with Arden as he emerges from Henry’s room, his expression thunderous.

“Have you seen Henry?”

“Have you seen Bronnie?”

We ask our questions at the same time.

Arden swipes a hand down his face. “He took her with him?”

“Who took herwhere?”

Arden has already turned and headed for the steps but calls over his shoulder, “Henry. We’ll find them. Try not to worry. We’re on it.”

Gabriel emerges from his room, tousled and sleepy, dragging what looks like an ancient blue blanket. “Dad?”

Arden pauses on the stairs. “Get dressed, buddy. Code Orange.”

The sleepiness leaves his little face, and he nods. “Affirmative.”

Affirmative?!From a six-year-old?

Arden continues down the stairs, and I chase after him. “What thehellis going on? Where is my daughter?”

“We’ll get them back. There’s no sign of foul play.”

I yank on his arm. “Our kids are gone, and you’re acting like it’s nothing. What is wrong with you?”

“Panic doesn’t help.”

I slap him, or I try to. It’s not a deliberate move on my part, but my hand flies out before I even process the thought that I want to hit him. The mama bear is not just awake inside me, she’s terror-stricken.

He catches my wrist before I make contact, holding it there, inches from his cheek, then he pulls me against his body in a tight hug. “Shhh. I know you’re scared, but I’m going to get Bronnie and Henry back, and they’ll both be fine.”

“Where are they?”

“They took the pontoon for a night cruise,” he says.

“What?” I shove out of his arms, turning in the direction of the lake, as if I can run straight out into the water to find them.

“The security team was giving us privacy, so they weren’t close enough to see or stop them in time.”

Arrested, I stare at him in horror.

He runs a hand through his hair. “I’m sorry, Charlotte. I got . . . too comfortable. But there’s no sign anyone else is involved. It’s probably not a kidnapping.”

“Probably?” Rapid breaths saw in and out of my lungs until spots dance in my eyes, but I can’t make myself stop.

He rubs my back. “Highly unlikely. There’s no indication of a request for ransom or foul play. It’s just two kids on an adventure.”

I twist away from him. “They’re four and eight. How does Henry know how to drive a boat?” I clutch his shirt when blackness encroaches on my vision.

“Charlotte, you need to calm down. Honey, you’re going to pass out. Breathe slowly.”

“They’ll die from hypothermia or drown. Bronwyn tells everyone she can swim, but she’s barely past the guppy stage. She can’t—Henry said this lake is almost 23,000 miles of surface distance. They may as well be lost at sea.”

“Henry is very good at figuring things out. There’s not a doubt in my mind he took supplies with them. They won’t freeze, and they won’t drown.”

“Why are you standing here?”

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