Chapter 19 #2
Maren watched the river flashing white in the sunlight as it poured over rocks in the narrow channel between the hill on this side and the sheer cliff wall on the other.
“I understand why Sean loved it,” she said. “It’s beautiful.”
Charlie nodded. “It is. It’s worth moving here just to be near it.”
Maren glanced up at Colin in time to see him staring at her before he looked swiftly away. Her mouth went dry and her heart flipped.
“Time to get back,” he said.
They pulled into the Watchdog parking lot and Charlie let them out of the truck. Maren thanked Charlie again.
“That was exactly what I needed.”
“I’m glad you enjoyed yourself,” Charlie said, still behind the wheel. “I had fun, too. I’ll see you at Arden’s. I’ve got to get Ben’s truck back to him.” She nodded at Colin, then backed out and drove away, leaving them alone together in the parking lot.
Maren blew out a breath and looked down at her shopping bags. “Back to the real world, I guess.”
“It’s not the real world,” Colin said. “This is temporary, Maren. You’ll get your life back sooner than you think.”
She nodded as she smiled up at him. “Thanks for making it—”
“Bearable?”
“—wonderful,” she said at the same time.
They both looked away.
“Better get inside before Jodie wonders what we’re doing out here,” Colin said.
“And I’ve got to check in with Kyle and tell him how the day went.
” They started for the door. Colin held it open for her with one hand as his other hand gently touched her lower back, sending magical shivers all over her body.
“It’s uncanny how good Nettie is at her job,” Jodie said by way of greeting.
“If I hadn’t seen you earlier and you weren’t with Colin, I’d have no idea who you were.
” She leaned back and opened a drawer. She took out a couple of boxes and a small bottle of adhesive remover and set them on the counter.
“I know,” Maren said. She tugged carefully at the prosthetics that completely changed her face, then picked up the bottle Nettie had left for her.
She’d given her instructions on how to remove everything while she was disguising her.
A couple minutes later, Maren had her face back, the prosthetics and wig sitting in their boxes ready to go back to Nettie.
Colin had already gone to Kyle’s office, leaving Maren alone with Jodie.
“I’ll call the kennel and let Shane know you’re back,” Jodie said. She hit a button on the phone on her desk and connected with the kennel. “Hey, Alex, tell Shane they’re back for me, please? Thanks.”
Maren stared at the boxes.
“Everything okay?” Jodie asked.
“Yeah. I just can’t believe this is my life now,” Maren told her. “I’m just way too ordinary to be doing all this secret agent stuff. Everyone here seems to have lived some sort of adventurous life,” Maren went on. “And I’m just normal.”
Jodie grinned. “Yeah, me too. I mean, it’s not like I’m a bodyguard or spy or go on any missions like they all do.”
“Oh, but you’re not normal.” Maren laughed and rolled her eyes. “Wait, I don’t mean it like that. But you’re the glue that holds this place together right now.”
Jodie smiled softly. “Oh, that’s very sweet. I just do my job the best that I can. And it’s a great job, don’t get me wrong. I love it. I kind of like being ordinary.”
Maren lifted an imaginary mug. “Here’s to ordinary.”
Jodie clinked her invisible mug with Maren’s. “Here’s to ordinary.”
The door to the offices opened and Shane emerged, followed by Kevin, and Juni, who was holding Colin’s hand.
He didn’t look the least bit uncomfortable with it.
As soon as she saw her, Juni ran to Maren and hugged her.
“Can I stay a little longer?” Juni begged. “Pretzel gets lonely without me.”
“Oh,” Maren said. “I don’t know about that.”
Actually, she was thrilled at the idea that Juni wanted to stay longer, that she wasn’t immediately wanting to cling to Maren or Colin and go home.
Because this is her home and this is her family and she knows it.
Guilt hit again, that she hadn’t tried to find them before.
“It’s not a problem,” Shane said. “You’re just up the road, and we’re happy to drop her off before we head home.”
“Yeah,” Kevin agreed in a serious, way-too-mature-for-his-age tone. “It’s not a problem at all, ma’am.”
Maren grinned at him. What a good kid. She turned her attention back to Shane. “Are you sure?” Maren asked.
“Yeah, absolutely,” Shane said. “Go on. Enjoy a little more grown-up time.”
Grown-up time.
That’s when Maren remembered Mac had the day off.
Oh, shit.
That would leave her and Colin at the safehouse, alone together for the first time since she arrived.
“Great,” she said brightly. “That would be great.”
She didn’t dare look at Colin, who shuffled his feet beside her.
“Perfect,” Shane said. “I’ll text you right before we leave.”
“Race you to the puppies!” Kevin shouted to Juni, all seriousness gone like it never existed.
They both stampeded back into the building.
“Oh dear.” Maren looked wide-eyed at Shane. “You still sure about this?”
Shane laughed. “Twice as sure. They’re getting along like a house on fire.
I love it. Kevin will sleep well tonight after all the energy he’s burned off.
Kid’s smart and gets bored easily.” His smile went soft.
“That, and it’s been a pleasure getting to know Sean’s daughter.
I…” He cleared his throat. “I can see him in her. So thank you.”
“Of course.”
Jodie was already coming around her desk. “Hang on and I’ll come with you. I need a puppy break,” she announced. “See you later.”
Shane gave a chin lift to Colin and a nod to Maren, then he and Jodie turned to catch up with the kids.
Without a word, Maren turned and headed out of the lobby, into the parking lot, and straight for Colin’s SUV. He was right beside her.
“You sure you’re okay with this?” he asked.
“Yes. Great. Perfectly fine.” She smiled while her insides turned to jelly.
Colin opened the passenger-side door and let her in, then circled the SUV and got into the driver’s seat.
He was quiet on the short drive back to the safehouse, which left Maren with her thoughts. Colin parked the car in the driveway, killed the engine, and came around the front. He opened her door and helped her down out of the SUV, then took her shopping bags.
Suddenly, she burst out laughing.
Startled, Colin looked at her. “What’s so funny?”
“Just…” She tried to catch her breath. “Everything. I don’t know my sister at all.
I left everything behind and met a group of strangers who act like they’re straight out of Mission: Impossible, and I’m turning into one of them, sending my car off to Iowa and spending the day in a full-blown James Bond-level disguise.
” She wiped away a tear from laughing. “Everything is so absurd, it’s hilarious.
I think it all caught up to me at once.”
She didn’t dare tell him what else she was thinking.
Now I’m going into an empty safehouse with the most beautiful man I’ve ever laid eyes on—who almost kissed me, God help him—a man I’ve only just met but who has quickly come to mean the world to me and my dau…niece.
“Everything’s absurd?” he asked, the ghost of a grin on his face as if he’d read her mind anyway.
And maybe…just maybe…liked what she was thinking.
“Almost everything,” she said, looking at him.
Without another word, they went inside.