28. Chapter 28 #2
Pulling into a spot, he lowered the stand, then swung his leg over his bike.
Scanning the park as he stalked to the play area, he forced himself to take a deep breath when a woman holding the hand of a toddler shot him a wary look and scooted away.
He didn’t care so much about the stranger, but he didn’t want to scare Amber or Zoe when he finally laid eyes on them.
Pausing outside the fence of the massive wooden structure, he crossed his arms as his gaze skimmed over the towers, bridges, slides, and alcoves.
His muscles tightened, his joints locked, and his heart started a heavy thud in his chest when he didn’t see them after the first pass.
Telling himself to calm the fuck down, he took another deep breath and another look.
Three-quarters of the way through his survey, a pair of familiar Chuck Taylors appeared at the end of a slide facing away from him.
Two seconds later, Amber’s feet landed on the ground, and she swung Zoe up into her arms from where she’d been sitting between her legs, their laughter floating toward him on a warm summer breeze.
The sound eased the panic simmering under his skin; even so, he did another quick scan of the area, this time on the lookout for pervs.
He hadn’t heard of any problems like that in Mystery Lake, but he sure as shit wasn’t going to hide under a rock and pretend it never happened.
Not on his watch, not with Zoe and Amber.
Amber set Zoe down and turned toward him as she brushed the static from her shorts.
He waved, drawing her attention, and he’d swear the fucking sun glowed a hundred degrees brighter when she smiled.
She guided Zoe toward him, a slow process at toddler speed.
He didn’t mind, though. Seeing the two of them holding hands, the summer light filtering through the play structure as they came to him, did things to his body, his heart, he couldn’t explain but fucking loved.
“Hi,” he said, pulling Amber toward him when she was within reach and dropping a kiss on her lips.
“And hi, you,” he said, picking Zoe up and giving her a raspberry through the green cotton shirt she wore.
Her tiny fingers grabbed onto his hair as she laughed.
If he lost a strand or forty, it was totally worth it.
“I thought you were working today,” Amber said, taking his free hand and leading them toward a bench, Zoe perched on his hip.
“Something came up we need to talk about.” He hated the concern that filled her expression.
She glanced around. “Do we need to worry?”
He wouldn’t lie. “Not right now, but it would be good to get back to the clubhouse and we can talk there.”
“What about Clara and Adrian?” she asked as she began gathering the diaper bag and toys she’d brought.
It was just like Amber to be concerned for others. She questioned her strength, her bravery, but she was every bit as strong and brave as the women she admired. Hers was quieter, for sure, but unquestionable.
“They’re at the clubhouse already. I called Dulcie on my way here in case we needed to send someone for them, but Clara is working on your garden, and Adrian is in the garage with Philly and Wesson.”
Amber frowned as she swung the packed bag over her shoulder. “The garage?”
A ghost of a smile touched his lips. “Turns out she knows a thing or two about restoration. She’s looking at our newest project.”
Amber paused, then shook her head. “I’m parked there,” she said, pointing to her car, four cars down from his bike. “I’m not sure what I did to deserve having Clara and Adrian in my life, but I wonder if I can convince them to stay in Mystery Lake when, well, when this is all over.”
He kept his eyes peeled as they walked toward her car.
“They seem pretty settled in Virginia, but they also seem pretty attached to this one,” he said, poking Zoe in the stomach and eliciting another giggle.
“We’ll never know unless we ask,” he said.
She squeezed his hand. He thought she might like the sound of “we” as much as he did.
He saw the two settled in Amber’s car before heading to his bike. As requested, she waited until he was ready before backing out of her spot so he could follow her home.
He felt a little chagrined about his anxiety when they pulled into the parking area without incident. Still, he’d felt better having them in his sights. And Amber was the furthest thing from reckless. Once she heard the news he had to share, she’d be cautious going forward.
“I gave her a cup of milk on the drive, but I think it’s nap time,” Amber said when he joined her beside her car as she unclipped Zoe from her car seat. “Can whatever you have to say wait?”
He nodded, taking the diaper bag from her hand.
“Now that we’re all here, it can wait.” He trailed her upstairs and distracted Zoe as Amber changed her diaper and clothes, slipping her into a footless onesie for her nap.
Then, so as not to be a distraction, he kissed them both and headed downstairs.
By the time Amber rejoined him, Clara, Adrian, Philly, Dulcie, and Dottie were gathered in the lodge room. “Do we need to wait for the others?” she asked.
Juan shook his head. “I called Mantis earlier. He let everyone know.”
“Know what?” Clara asked.
“That Anthony hired a PI to find you two and Zoe,” Juan answered. Then setting his eyes on Amber, he added, “And I was watching the cameras at his place just before I called you. The PI paid him a visit and now he’s looking for you, too.”