Page 9 of Night Moves
“She’s going to update me via email when she knows anything, but I’m not surprised that I haven’t heard from her. With Gentry being a police officer, this isn’t like any other investigation. Malone has to get the right officer out there who’s willing to forget the police officers’ code if needed.” From Drake’s past experience in law-enforcement, he knew she would have a hard time finding such a person. “We should get the kids moved to my vehicle.”
“What about my car?”
“We’ll arrange to have it taken to a safe location.”
“And where are we going?”
“Let’s get on the road, and then we’ll talk about it. I’m assuming Malone told you to disable your phone or destroy it.”
Natalie nodded. “I smashed it then threw it out the window on the highway.”
“Then let’s move.” He stepped back, hoping she wouldn’t insist on knowing the destination. His rustic hunting cabin probably wouldn’t be tops on her list of places to visit.
She closed her window and opened her door. Long shapely legs capped with a short black skirt slid out, and he had to work hard not to stare at them. Or at the sky-high heels with a shiny black finish she was wearing. They were open in the front, her toes peeking out. They might be stylish and professional, but the wrong kind of shoe if she needed to run. And not at all friendly with his wooded property.
It was his job to keep her out of any situations where she had to run. Traversing his property? That would be up to her.
He glanced back at Erik to make sure he was still there and had their backs. His truck sat at the curb, his lights beaming into the night. Gentry couldn’t be nearby. Clay was watching the guy at his house, but the man could’ve somehow tracked Natalie and sent someone else to deal with her. Not likely, but possible, and Drake worked on possibilities.
“Which one are you?” She straightened the short suit jacket that covered a silky pale pink blouse. “Of the brothers, I mean.”
Well, shoot.An introduction would’ve been the logical thing, but he let the surprise of a beautiful woman get to him. Something he would call out his brothers on, and here he was gawking at her. “I’m Drake. My brother Erik’s in the truck.”
She opened the back door and bent in. He kept his focus on the roof of the vehicle and not on how well her skirt fit. She backed out holding a small female child sporting a thick head of curly red hair and dressed in pink footie pajamas. Natalie held the little girl out to him.
He flashed up a hand. “I don’t know anything about kids.”
“Which means you probably know far less about installing car seats.”
“Well, yes, but…”
“Take Sadie, and I’ll move the seat.”
“I—”
“She’s asleep, for goodness’ sake. She won’t hurt you.” She lifted the child to him.
He clasped the toddler under the arms and held her out, feeling like a fool for letting the child dangle in the air. That wouldn’t do for long. He hefted her into his arms, and she snuggled close to his chin and settled in next to his neck. She smelled like honey and something else sweet that he couldn’t identify, and her hair was soft and feathery against his skin. He’d never been charged with protecting a child this young before and didn’t know what to expect. He sure wouldn’t have guessed his heart would melt as some primal need to keep this child safe raged inside his body.
Natalie pulled out a car seat and lugged it to his SUV her heels clicking on the asphalt. She hefted it up and struggled to get it to his vehicle. He should be the one carrying the heavy seat, not letting a woman do it. His mother would have a fit if she saw this. She’d instilled manners of bygone days in them, and he and his brothers always held doors and chairs for women unless they protested. Natalie had protested. Made this fine, right?
No.No, it wasn’t fine with him. He marched over to the SUV. “I’ll do the next seat.”
She glanced back, a cute grin on her face. “A two-year-old too much for you, huh? I mean, she’s really giving you a run for your money there with the way she’s sound asleep on your shoulder.” She chuckled, and the sound of her voice lightened the mood.
But he didn’t know how to respond to her comment and felt his face flush. Good thing it was dark. He wasn’t coming across as the professional he’d hoped to portray.
She took Sadie, lifting the child as if she’d had many years of practice. Maybe she was a mother. He glanced at her ring finger. No ring or dent where one had been. Didn’t mean anything.
She put Sadie in the seat. He couldn’t see what she was doing, but she had to be buckling straps as he heard clicks like a seatbelt might make. He had to admit he wouldn’t know what to do, and the children’s safety came first. Still, he could carry the next seat to his vehicle and let her install it.
They returned to her car, and she lifted a larger boy out of the backseat.
“Logan,” she said. “He’s four.”
Drake didn’t know if the child or the safety seat weighed more, but after a few tries, he figured out how to release the vehicle strap.
He took it to his SUV and located the latch system, which he knew existed because Clay had used them on the investigation when he’d met his fiancée. Drake got the seat connected and beamed with pride at the major accomplishment.
