Page 17 of Mystery at Rescue Ridge

The little boy Luca came running into the room, rubbing his eyes.He bolted straight into Owen’s legs.Owen swooped him up and sat the boy on his knee in half a second.His quick reflexes, honed through years of work and sports, came in handy every once in a while.Tonight was one of those nights.Speaking of which, Evie still hadn’t eaten dinner, and neither had he.Both kids were awake.Outside, it seemed Mother Nature was about to throw a temper tantrum.And he had no idea what to do next.

Owen fired off a text after scooping up a toy for Luca.He gave a what-the-hell-do-we-do-next look to Evie.An idea seemed to be forming in her mind as her eyes lit up for a few seconds.

Olivia had polished off the milk.Was she about to unleash a storminthe house?

“Who wants to watchDino Doo Doo?”she asked.

Luca couldn’t have scooted off Owen’s lap fast enough.The kid made a beeline for the couch, dropping the toy and letting it crash onto the floor along the way.Olivia’s serious expression was replaced by a half-smile.

Taking care of kids was akin to walking a tightrope.If the balance shifted, hell broke loose faster than a tightrope walker free-falling.

Olivia settled on the couch beside her brother as Evie pulled a blanket over them.She located the remote and then clicked on the magical quiet-making show.

He’d been right about Evie making an amazing parent.It was almost too bad she’d sworn never to have kids of her own.

Evie returnedto the table more exhausted than she’d ever been.“I’m sorry about tonight.Are you sure you don’t have anywhere else to be?”

“I’m good right here,” came the response.

She rolled her shoulders and exhaled.“Good.Because I have no idea how I would’ve survived tonight without you.”

“I haven’t done a very good job of taking care of you, have I?”Before she could respond, he added, “You haven’t eaten dinner and have to be starving at this point.”

“Food.Right.I should’ve offered some of that to you by now,” she said.“My hosting skills could use some help.”

“Mind if I check the fridge?”

“Only if you promise to make me one of your famous omelets.”She’d missed those.While she was thinking about Owen, she missed a whole lot of things, which was precisely why she’d taken off and cut contact years ago.The minute she’d realized how deeply she’d fallen for him, she’d known there would never be a time when she could undo it.Contrary to popular belief, time didn’t heal all wounds.You learned to live with the pain.You learned to keep going.But the wounds didn’t magically heal.And that’s the way it would have been if she hadn’t gone away.

“Done.”

He stood up, and she forced her gaze away from his muscled back as he walked into the kitchen and toward the fridge.She joined him a few seconds later.

“You were asking about security earlier,” she said as he pulled ingredients from the fridge.Ms.Bart had her uses.One big one was how well she stocked the food supplies.Of course, there were pre-made dinners inside.Unlike in Dallas, no magic apps made food appear at your door out here in the country.Someone should come up with the idea, though.Even Saddle Junction needed a little convenience.

“That’s right.We should talk about security,” he said as he continued pulling out items from the cabinets.The man worked the kitchen like a pro.Then again, it wasn’t hard to impress someone who relied on takeout or ordering in.She had all her favorite foods at the tips of her fingers.

Evie exhaled again, slower this time.Every time she focused on what she was giving up, her chest squeezed.The thought of uprooting the kids and changing everything they knew so soon after losing their mother didn’t sit right.If and when Evie decided to move them, she would know without a doubt it was the right decision for all three of them, and not just her.Besides, she had no resources in Dallas.As much as Ms.Bart was a huge pain in the butt, she was also a godsend when it came to the kids.Ms.Bart was organized.She ran a tight ship.She’d taught Evie how to change Olivia’s diapers and help Luca use the kid potty.

“What are you thinking I should do?”she asked Owen, shifting her thoughts back to security.

“For starters, I’m spending the night.”He said those words in such a nonchalant manner they almost slipped right on by without notice.

“I was talking about security systems and how long it might take to get one installed.”She stammered over the words because spending the night under the same roof with a man who caused her body to wake up in ways she had never experienced felt like a mistake.Then again, she didn’t feel safe without someone here.It was too late to disturb Ms.Bart.

“Tell me to go, and I’ll sleep in my vehicle right outside your door,” he said.“Kick me off the property, and I’ll sleep on the side of the road.This situation has to be taken seriously.”

“I know,” she said.“You’re right, and I’m not discounting how much safer I feel with you here.”She wanted to point out that having him here wasn’t sustainable over time.One night got them through the next twenty-four hours, but what about after that?“It’s good for the kids to have someone else to keep watch, too.”

“So, what’s the problem then?”He shot a curious glance in her direction.It was the raised eyebrow and serious frown he’d always given when he thought he was about to hear something he didn’t want to.

You.

7

Call Owen confused, but the mixed signals he was getting from Evie didn’t make a bit of sense.They’d established the fact she needed security.Not much could be done tonight to bolster the home or property.So, why was she about to kick him out?Again.

She studied him long and hard for a long time.He couldn’t drum up another argument.At least, not one he hadn’t already said.The ball was in her court.He’d said it a few minutes ago and still meant it.She could kick him out of the house, but he would sit in his vehicle to ensure her safety.The vulnerable side of Evie came out.She’d opened up to him and given him a reason to think she might want him to stick around.

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