Page 17 of Stolen Hearts

“Denver.” Willow’s voice was mild now, like she was speaking to a wounded animal. He couldn’t look at her. Couldn’t tear his gaze from the little girl on the screen.

Hislittle girl.

He dragged his eyes away from the phone just long enough to glance up at the photo of himself as a baby. Gray eyes stared back at him. Same damn tilt of the chin. He snapped his gaze back to the phone, to Navy’s face, and everything fell away—all the silence, questions and dead ends. It was right there in front of him, staring back with his own eyes.

“Oh my god.” The words fell from his lips, jagged and raw.

Willow patted him on the arm, her touch featherlight. “Let the record show…I said nothing. See you at the bonfire.” She turned for the door, footsteps whispering over the floorboards.

His head shot up, voice coming out in a rough, broken rasp. “I need to speak to Rhae.” His hands were still clenched around the phone, knuckles white with strain.

Willow paused at the doorway, her long braid swinging like a pendulum along her spine. When she glanced back, her eyes shimmered with unspoken things, her mouth tipping in a sad sort of smile. “I know.” Her gaze softened, lingering just a moment longer. “See you at the bonfire. Bring my phone with you.”

And then she was gone, and Denver was left with nothing but the echo of her footsteps and the image of his daughter burned into his mind.

Chapter Four

Rhae sat in her office, door closed, blinds drawn. The air felt too thick, pressing against her lungs, suffocating.

She forced herself to take deep breaths, but it didn’t help. Her hands were shaking. She stared down at them, palms flat on the desk, knuckles white. Everything was too quiet, the silence wrapping around her like a shroud.

Dear god. Denver.

Seeing him again…she wasn’t prepared for that.

Seeing the way his lip curved when he looked at their daughter, cooing and gurgling like there wasn’t a storm beating down their door,slayedher.

Denver’s eyes. She could still feel the burn of them. Could feel the shock, the pain, theconfusion.

Hell, she hardly knew what happened. How could she explain how she got to the Black Heart Ranch with an infant? She couldn’t expect him to understand.

A shuddering breath escaped her, and she pressed her hands to her face, palms cool against her flushed skin. She’d been ready for a lot of things, but not them being on the same ranch with a thousand words unspoken between them, and a secret she wasn’t sure now if she was prepared to share.

Her gaze drifted to the small playpen that served as a crib for Navy in the corner of the office. The baby was asleep, cherubic cheeks rounded, her pink lips giving the occasional suck in her sleep, one chubby hand splayed.

Rhae watched her for a moment, heart giving a painful squeeze. Everything she’d done, she’d done for Navy. Everychoice, every sacrifice. Staying off the grid. All of it was to protect this precious little soul and to give her the best possible life a momma could.

A fat tear slid down her face, unstoppable.

The ranch felt like a safe place. Now everything felt fragile again, a soap bubble hovering in the air, easily shattered by the slightest mountain wind.

She swiped away the tear, but another fell in its place.

A rap on the door made her bolt upright. She dashed her palms over her face and slapped a pleasant look there in its place.

“Come in.” Her voice wavered only slightly. Maybe whoever was walking through her door wouldn’t notice.

Oh, god. What if it’s Denver?

Panic swept her, but a second later a familiar face popped around the doorframe.

Willow slipped through the door. The sympathy in her eyes wavered, softened by the flicker of uncertainty. Her gaze darted to the sleeping baby before settling on Rhae.

“You okay?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

Willow cocked her head in a way that made words unnecessary.

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