Page 71 of Christmas Homecoming Secrets
Just…wow.
The connection they’d discovered that day at the college wasn’t a fluke, and she found herself wanting to explore the possibilities of it more and more each time she saw him. But…while he was obviously attracted to her—and had definitely enjoyed the kiss—something was still eating at him, holding him back emotionally.
The fact that she was the mother of his child? Or something else? Or a combination of the two?
Whatever it was, she needed to figure it out—or simply ask him—before things progressed, because she was on the cusp of falling in love with him.
Okay, it was too late. She was already there. The admission shook her, and she decided she needed to talk things over with someone. Usually, that someone would be Heather, but would that be completely insensitive, to talk to her friend when she’d just had her own happily-ever-after smashed to smithereens? Or would it be a small slice of old normal in the midst of Heather’s new normal?
“Ahhh! Too much thinking, Jade. Just go over there and play it by ear. See what feels right.” The short pep talk helped.
Her phone buzzed. A text message from one of the detectives involved in the questioning of the four people arrested with the drug ring.
In spite of some pretty compelling incentives to roll over on their buddies—especially the one after Jade—none of the four prisoners had anything. And she believed they were telling the truth.
Which left Jade terribly confused.
Are you sure?she texted.
Not a hundred percent, of course, but it’s my gut feeling.
A gut Jade was inclined to trust. She sighed, grabbed a to-go coffee cup and filled it with the hot brew. She added two sugars and one cream and walked outside. Tom Williams leaned against his cruiser, tapping his phone screen. He looked up as she approached. “Tom, how are you this morning?”
“I’m all right. How are you feeling?”
“Beat up and very sore.”
He quirked a small smile of compassion at her. “Sorry about that, but it could be worse.”
“Much.” She handed him the cup of coffee. “How are the kids?”
He smiled. “They’re great.” He waved the phone at her. “Just letting my wife know I won’t be home for lunch. Darryl plans to take over around two for me.”
“Oh, I’m sorry you’re having to change your plans for me.”
“It’s okay. It happens.”
“I know that for sure. So… I need to go see Heather. I’m worried about her.”
He opened the driver’s door. “And I get to be your escort.”
“More like my chauffeur, if you don’t mind. I could drive my car, but if you’ll just take me, I won’t worry about it.”
“Happy to do it.” He lifted the cup of coffee. “I take bribes.”
“Be careful where you say those words.”
“Aw, you know I’m kidding.”
“I know. I’ll be ready in about ten minutes.”
“I’ll be here.”
True to his word, when she walked out ten minutes later, he was waiting. She climbed into the passenger seat and kept a watch on the mirrors while he drove.
“That’s crazy about Dylan, huh?”
“Yeah.” She really didn’t want to talk about it.
