Page 8 of Mystery at Rescue Ridge

“What’s his name?”Owen asked, forcing his thoughts out of the momentary reverie.

“Luca,” Evie said as she bounced the girl up and down.“And this is Olivia.”

The dark circles underneath Evie’s eyes made more sense now that he knew about her sister.Not to mention, she was left caring for her nephew and niece.He glanced at her wedding finger.No band.This information shouldn’t cause relief to wash over him as much as it did.In the thicket, he hadn’t had a chance to ask her personal questions.Personal questions had taken a backseat to the more direct ones involving them.

Based on the taut muscles in her face, he might never find out.Could he live with that?

Evie didn’t wantthe image of Owen as a father stamped in her thoughts.She’d checked his ring finger in the thicket, and a seed of hope had been planted in the darkest parts of her—parts that would never see the light of day, let alone provide soil to grow.

“Sorry, Olivia,” she whispered, truly sorry for the kid drawing Evie as a new guardian.I promise to get better at this.The kids’ worlds had been turned upside-down.

“Where’s Mommy?”Luca asked Owen, breaking Evie’s heart.How do you explain to a three-year-old that his mother was never coming home?

Tears pricked the backs of her eyes.Pull it together.

There was no time to break down.Food.

“I just realized that I haven’t fed these guys dinner yet,” Evie muttered, shooting an apologetic glance toward Joann.The woman had been a saint so far.

“What if I come back to collect statements after I check the area?”Joann asked.She must have realized that having an adult conversation would be next to impossible under current conditions.

“That works.”Evie tried to find the right approach to tell Owen he could go, too, except he was being helpful, and she needed all hands on deck if she was going to survive this evening.

Joann offered a smile.“I’ll check in later.”

Owen was on his feet and opening the door for the warden in a matter of seconds.The man could move fast.His athletic grace had always been impressive.She tore her gaze from his muscled back and moved to the fridge.

Balancing the baby on one hip, Evie managed to heat dinner for the kids.

“Can you get him back in his highchair?”she asked Owen, who was happily playing on the floor with Luca.The kid had a smile on his face that caused a pang in her chest.She didn’t know how to do that, to make him smile like he hadn’t just lost the one person in the world who had loved him the most.Like he hadn’t become essentially an orphan in a matter of minutes.And like he hadn’t inherited a completely incompetent caregiver.

She sighed as she managed to get Olivia seated.Owen somehow convinced Luca to leave the toy and come to dinner.Another miracle.

Or did the boy miss having a man in his life?

Being in the military, his father had spent most of his time overseas on active duty, and then he’d been killed on a mission before Olivia’s birth.There were no living grandparents on Simone and Evie’s side of the family.The ones on the other side weren’t fit, according to Simone and her husband.

In the next second, Owen was next to her.He stood so close their arms grazed.An electric jolt raced up Evie’s arm at the point of contact.She sucked in a breath before she could rationalize what she was doing.

“Are you okay?”he asked, turning to study her.

“Good,” she said quickly.Too quickly?

The short answer…yes.

Instead of going down that path, she thanked him for helping with Luca.

“How are you at feedings?”she asked as she retrieved a plate for the little one.The chicken and veggies were cut up, and Luca preferred to eat with his hands, but it was helpful to have someone keep watch.The little guy occasionally ate too fast and choked.

Owen’s eyebrow shot up.

“He just needs someone to keep an eye on him.”

“That, I can do,” he said.

By the time the kids were fed, bathed, and put to bed, Evie was beat.She picked up her cell and plopped down on the couch.“Thanks for all your help.”

Owen waved her off.

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