Page 42 of Strangers She Knows

“Yes. Unless it’s me and you’re not telling me.”

“You think you’re sleepwalking?”

“No, I think I still have a brain that’s healing and I could be blacking out. How would I know?” She said that as if she was calm about the possibility.

She wasn’t. Of all the conditions that her medical team had told her could happen, the possibility of blackouts terrified her most.

“I’d tell you. I’d take a chance with Mara and return you to the mainland for treatment.” Max scooted his chair close to hers and kissed her, soft and comforting, with a warm undercurrent of passion that tugged at Kellen’s senses. “Trust me. Ask me next time. Don’t wonder and worry.”

“I do trust you.” She kissed him, too, and looked into his eyes. “I love you.”

“I know,” he said smugly. “This wasn’t what I intended for our honeymoon. It’s a couple of years late. I planned a sailing trip on the Mediterranean. I thought the sun would shine all day and the moon would shine all night and we’d make love wherever and whenever we wanted.”

“This is a great honeymoon.” She had never meant anything so much.

“Except for the wherever and whenever part.”

She giggled. “I like making love as fast as we can while hushing each other so Rae doesn’t hear.”

He laughed, too. “Yes, it’s great. Just great.” He drew back. “I do wish the police would intercept Mara so we could get off this island. I thought they’d have her by now.”

“Do they have any idea…?”

“Where she is? Not the last time I talked to them. But I’m keeping contact to the bare minimum. I’m not taking any chances.”

Kellen nodded, then turned her head to listen. “What’s Luna barking about?”

Olympia walked in. “That dog is scratching at the back door. It’s going to ruin the paint!”

Max and Kellen got to their feet and hurried into the kitchen.

Kellen opened the door.

Luna jumped at her, barking, then ran outside and to the foot of the stairs. She turned and barked again.Come on!

Kellen leaped off the porch and sprinted across the yard.

Max raced ahead.

Luna outpaced them both.

They met Rae pushing her bike, dust-covered, limping and crying.

Luna circled her until Max and Kellen got there.

Max gently took the bike from her.

“Mommy…” Rae’s lip trembled and her eyes welled. “I hurt myself.”

“I see that, sweetheart.” Kellen slid her arm around Rae to support her. “Broken bones?”

“No.”

“You’re sure?” Max asked.

Kellen shot him a look. “She’d know.”

“But would she tell us?”

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