By Request Collection April-June 2016. Оливия Гейтс

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       13

      TUCKER RESENTED THE BEAUTIFUL spring morning. Resented having to get out of bed, resented that she needed to get back to Safe Haven. That he had to make his own plans to return home. While they were still in Kalispell, there was no way he’d drive them back to Safe Haven before Annie had breakfast, and more. the in-room coffee hadn’t been nearly enough for her. But then, the energy boost was necessary after spectacular wake-up sex.

      He shook his head, dismissing the idea that what they’d experienced was just sex. He’d had that. He knew what it felt like, and what they’d done in the past couple of days was far more. Dangerously more.

      He looked through the window of the beauty shop to find Annie leaning back over the deep sink where the hairdresser was washing her hair and giving her a scalp massage. Tucker had caught her cursing at her hair this morning, preparing to wet it all over again because it evidently made her look like something from a “before” photo. So he’d gotten the name of a salon from the front desk, and while he’d had to practically hog-tie Annie to agree, she’d eventually given in. But only after swearing she’d be cranky the whole ride home.

      He’d deal, although he didn’t honestly believe her. She hadn’t been pampered in so long. She’d never indulge herself with so much as a simple professional trim, and it gave him great pleasure to be able to step in.

      It also gave him some time alone. Satisfied that Annie was all set for a while, he pressed his mother’s number as he walked to the hotel’s parking lot.

      “Tucker. I’m so glad you called. I have to leave in fifteen minutes, but I wanted to know if there’s any news.”

      “Good morning to you, too, Mom.”

      He heard her tsk. “Good morning. Now, what’s happened?”

      “What’s happened is that you told Christian. We spoke about that.”

      Her pause wasn’t long. “I know you asked me not to, but he was so depressed. He’d just found out he hadn’t gotten that job with the insurance company. The news had brightened my day so much, I simply couldn’t keep it from him. Forgive me?”

      He sighed, not trying to hide his frustration. “Did you mention where I am?”

      “No. I didn’t think that was necessary.”

      So Tucker had told her. He wished he hadn’t. “Good. Christian doesn’t need to know. We don’t want him doing anything rash. Understand?”

      Her silence unnerved him. “That’s not quite all my news,” she said, her reluctance plain.

      Tucker stopped his idle pacing. “What?”

      “Even though he was thrilled that you were trying so hard on his behalf I could still hear how down he sounded. There’s a long road ahead, even if it turns out you have found that woman. There’s a trial and evidence and his name will be suspect for who knows how long.”

      That wasn’t his mother’s reasoning. In fact, Tucker could hear the words coming out of Christian’s mouth. “How much?”

      “Enough for him to take a nice vacation and to keep him in rent for a few months.”

      “So, what, ten thousand? More?”

      “It’s my money.”

      Who was he to talk when he’d given Annie twice that amount. “You’re right. Of course. Did he say where he was going for this vacation of his?”

      “Bali. Turns out he has friends there who run a hotel. He even got a deal on the flight, so that’s wonderful. I think it will do him a world of good. He’ll keep in touch, though. Get all the updates.”

      Tucker’s blood chilled at her first word. Christian had left the country. Out of fear, certainly, but of what? That uncovering Leanna’s whereabouts would stir up a hornet’s nest? Or that Leanna coming forward would take away his scapegoat?

      He supposed his brother could be telling the truth. He could very well have friends in Bali. He hadn’t been able to find a job, and to the best of Tucker’s knowledge Christian hadn’t traveled often.

      Still, Tucker couldn’t deny that knowing Bali belonged to one of the few nations that didn’t have an extradition treaty with the U.S. made him nervous.

      “Tucker? Are you still there?”

      “I’m here, Mom. You didn’t tell me where you were headed this morning.”

      “I’m going to Dallas, where I’m shopping with Nancy Voorman and then we’re having lunch before we get our nails done.”

      “Glad you’re getting out.” He glanced at his watch. George needed to know about Bali. “So I’ll see you soon.”

      “Soon? I hope so. Your assistant has been, shall we say, pensive about your return. And I’ve missed you.”

      “I’ll be back as quickly as I can.”

      “I suppose that’ll have to do. Bye, dear.”

      Tucker disconnected, then moved out of the way of a car attempting to park as he tried to gather some perspective about Christian’s disappearing act. He didn’t have enough information to go on, that was the problem.

      His palms growing clammy, he speed-dialed George. Annie had left everything she had behind. Now, so had Christian. What the hell had they gotten involved with?

      George’s phone went straight to voice mail, so Tucker left a message, then headed back to the salon. Annie probably wasn’t ready yet. Or maybe she was. All he really cared about was that he knew exactly where she was and that she was safe.

      Nothing he’d learned had changed Tucker’s opinions about her. He still believed in her. Even if she’d made a mistake, he was completely convinced that she hadn’t intentionally done anything malicious or underhanded.

      ANNIE TURNED TO CHECK THAT THE cooler, purchased to hold all the deli treats she’d bought, was really there. Sitting on the backseat of Tucker’s rented Land Rover. It was.

      She thought of pinching herself as a secondary verification, but that seemed over the top. Besides, if she’d been clever enough to dream the past twenty-four hours, she’d be smart enough to include a pinch to go with it.

      Instead, she looked at Tucker, remembering the feel of his dark hair through her fingers. Lord, he had a great face. The profile was rugged and handsome enough to be on a billboard. But, as with all people she grew to know, his looks had taken a minor position in her list of reasons she’d never forget him.

      She wasn’t immune, and she enjoyed his attractiveness, but there was so much more to him. The salon had been his idea. She couldn’t think of a man in her life who would have had that kind of insight and care. “Thank you for the beauty shop,” she said. “I’m surprised it occurred to you.”

      “I figured it had been a while since you’d taken the time to get pampered.”

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