Page 10 of Night Moves
“All yours,” he said, embarrassed by the ridiculous satisfaction in his tone.
She cocked her head and looked at him. Her hair fell back, revealing the angular bent to her square jaw and the streetlight emphasized her high cheekbones. “Then I’ll just get Logan in the seat, wake Willow up, and we’re good to go.”
She settled the boy inside then Drake followed her back to the car. She gently woke Willow and led the sleepy young girl out of the car as the child clutched a well-worn monkey.
Willow rubbed her eyes and peered up at Drake. “Who is he?”
“A friend named Drake who’s going to drive us the rest of the way in his car.”
“Did yours break?”
“Something like that.”
Willow eyed him suspiciously, but Natalie steered her toward the SUV. Drake got the booster seat disconnected and carried it to his vehicle.
“Just let me grab my purse, and the children’s backpacks, and I’ll be right back.” Natalie took off for her car, those heels breaking the silence with each step and leaving him alone with the kids.
Willow continued to eye him suspiciously as she climbed into the seat.
“How old are you?” he asked.
“Eight.” Willow looked up at him. “How old are you?”
He worked hard not to laugh at her earnest question and buckled her seatbelt. “I just turned thirty.”
“That’s old. Not as old as my dad, but still old.”
“It is indeed.”
“He was in a car accident tonight. That’s why we’re with Natalie. She’s our social worker. She checks on us since Mom went missing. I like her. Natalie, I mean. I like my mom too. I just wish she didn’t have to leave.” Willow let out a long breath and drew in another one as if she planned to launch into another speech, but Natalie joined them, and Willow’s attention shifted.
“Ready to go.” Natalie opened the front door before Drake could do it for her.
He closed the back door and ran around to the driver’s side. He nodded at Erik and climbed in. Resting his hand on the wheel, he glanced back at Willow. Her eyes were narrowed, confusion clear on her face.
Drake couldn’t blame her. She’d been hauled out of bed by her social worker and didn’t know her destination.
And what about her mother taking off? Malone hadn’t mentioned that. Something Drake needed to know more about. He might not possess much information about Natalie or the kids, but learning everything he could about them was priority number two. Right behind their safety. If he was going to provide the level of protection they all deserved, he had to know every detail. Every single one, even if she didn’t want to share them.
3
Heading down I-5 toward his hunting cabin in Linn County, Drake adjusted the heat flowing from the vents and glanced at Natalie, who’d been staring out the window since they’d gotten on the highway. The dashboard light reflected against her creamy skin, and he was distracted by her impossibly long lashes, which brushed her cheeks when she blinked. And highlighted large eyes a very unique color of brown. He was looking forward to seeing them in the light other than a street light or the dash lights.
Oh. Man, Come on. Focus.
He glanced in the mirror to make sure Erik tailed them and no one else. They had several hours to go yet, but as the miles rolled under the vehicle, he kept checking the mirror for a tail and to see if Willow remained awake. She’d fought sleep hard but finally nodded off.
He took a quick look at Natalie. “Care to tell me what evidence you located at Gentry’s house?”
She swiveled and glanced over her shoulder.
“Don’t worry,” he said. “Willow’s asleep.”
“No.” Natalie shook her head. “No, I won’t talk about it until I’m sure the children can’t possibly overhear me.”
“But they—”
“No!” She lurched forward.
