Page 53 of The Risk Taker
“Hey,” I say, and toss the last of the bags into the back of the SUV.
“Back to the real world for you guys.” I close the SUV and turn to Cole. “Nice to see you happy again.”
I laugh. “I am happy,” I say.
“She’s good for you.”
I look past his shoulder and my heart beats a little faster when Fallon walks toward me, a tired Chase dragging his feet beside her.
“You’re good for her too, Jamie,” Cole says. I nod in agreement, and Fallon gives Cole a hug when she reaches us.
“Thanks for inviting us. I had a wonderful week,” she says.
“Now all you have to do is convince Jamie here to buy the Johnson property on the cove. Then you guys can come every year, and stay longer with us all.”
She casts a glance my way, like she’s gauging my reaction to that suggestion, and I know we definitely have to sit down and talk.
“Time to go home,” I say to her. “You ready?”
She nods and buckles Chase into his car seat and circles the vehicle to slip into the passenger side. “Talk to you later, Cole. Thanks for the invite. We’ll shoot some pool when you get back to the city,” I say to him as I climb into the driver’s seat. I start the vehicle, my heart so full of love for the woman beside me, as well as the boy in the back seat, it’s a wonder I can even think. I back out of the driveway and soon enough we’re on the highway. Fallon yawns.
“Tired?” I ask and slide my hand across the seat to capture hers.
“Yeah, you?”
“Too tired to have a talk when we get back?”
She sits up a little straighter. “No, I think it’s a good idea
.” She gestures with a nod to Chase. “When little ears are asleep.”
I chuckle and give her hand another squeeze, not wanting to let go. Ever. Fallon sinks back into her seat and hums softly to the song on the radio—thank God it’s not that damn chomp, chomp alligator song—as I drive us home.
Home.
Man, I really like the sound of that. Her lids fall heavy beside me, and I lower the music, letting her drift off. Time slips by and as I pull onto our street, I notice the motion sensor floodlight over my garage is on. What the hell?
I had planned to take Fallon and Chase to their place, but I pull into my driveway to shine the lights onto the house, and Fallon stirs.
“We’re here?” She rubs her eyes. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”
I touch her leg as I scan the lawn and house, finding nothing out of the ordinary. “My motion sensor floodlight is on. It’s probably nothing, but with the break-ins I should check it out.”
“Are you sure you should go in?”
I glance into the back seat, and Chase is asleep. “I’ll take you guys home first, then come back.”
“No, we’ll wait here. If anyone is in there, Jamie…”
“Okay, don’t get out of the vehicle. Here are the keys. Lock up when I get out,” I say. As an uneasy feeling prowls through my blood, I exit the vehicle and Fallon relocks the door. I step up to my garage, key in the code, and stand back as the double doors lift. My heart jumps into my throat when I find a little white Honda Civic parked beside my black truck.
No fucking way.
I glance back at Fallon, and squint against the headlights. Her door cracks open, because she knows exactly who is in my house. She slides out of the truck, and quietly closes her door, not wanting to wake Chase.
“Jamie,” she says her voice shaking. “What’s going on?”
“Your guess is as good as mine,” I say and we both jump and turn at the sound of the front door banging open with a thud. Sara comes from the house, her steps a little wobbly as she grips the handrail and glares at us.