Page 31 of Stolen Hearts

Rhae issued a teary laugh, and her cheeks flooded with a blush that had Denver’s blood pumping to have her again.

Carson broke in. “Willow already made Rhae an official part of the Black Heart family. Just the other day, she added Rhae to the website.”

Willow bobbed her head with enthusiasm and held up her phone. “It was going to be a surprise, but I guess now’s the time to tell you, Rhae. Your photo’s on the therapy site.”

Rhae’s smile froze. Denver was staring at her when her face drained of color.

“Wait…what?” she choked out.

Willow beamed. “It’s a great photo of you too, right here on the front page.”

“Oh my god. No. No, no, no! This can’t happen. You can’t put me on the website!”

Dead silence followed her panicked words.

“It needs to come down.” Rhae’s fingers dug into the blanket covering Navy, but he saw the violent tremble of them.“Immediately!”

Denver’s instincts blared with the sirens of an air raid. He reached her in three steps and held out his hand. “Come on.”

Honor jumped up to take the baby from her, and Denver secured Rhae against his side. When he led her to the security agency office, she moved woodenly, without a sound.

Denver sat at the desk and pulled up the website. It only took a quick login and few keystrokes to make her picture disappear.

He looked up at Rhae, as white as a sheet and looking about ready to bolt. “Problem solved,” he said gently. “Now you have to tell me what’s wrong.”

Chapter Seven

Rhae couldn’t believe this was happening. Not now, not when things were falling into place with Denver.

She glanced at the door, the urge to escape flaring hot inside her very tight, hot chest. And right on cue, as if her daughter sensed her high emotions, the low grunts and noises of Navy fussing trickled down the hallway.

She swung toward the door, ready to go to her. But Denver blocked her path.

She plastered a hand over her chest in an attempt to still her heart. “Navy’s fussing.”

His eyes pierced her like a tactical laser. “The uncles and aunts have it under control. You’re staying right here. We are having this talk.”

The air between them crackled.

She stood stiff and silent.

He guided her to the long leather sofa, and she reluctantly sat. Denver leaned against the big wooden desk, his focus drilling into her.

“I know you’re hiding out on the ranch.”

His words punched her, rocking her forward. She threaded her fingers in her hair and stared at the grain of the rustic wood floor. “You can’t know that, Denver.”

“Oaks told me you’ve only left the property twice in six months to take Navy to a doctor checkup.”

Oh, god. They were watching her that closely?

She shook her head, casting off the thought of the Maloneswatchingher. They were trained to observe the habits of the people in the security agency. And before that, they needed to be observant to stay alive.

She swallowed hard, saying nothing. What was there to say?

Denver continued. “You don’t even go into town for supplies. You have them delivered. That’s not just a cautious single mom. That’s someone hiding.”

The words hit her like a slap. Not because they were wrong.

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