Chapter Two #4
Maybe that was why? His brain was settling down, giving him more time to think?
Whatever the reason, he hated it. Harper and Kash would be good distractions. He hoped. The last thing he wanted was to continually relive those seven horrifying days of his life.
“Good,” he answered belatedly. “I’ll see what Kash and I can come up with.”
“I know you don’t want to hear it, but thank you again, Linc. Seriously.”
He nodded, then tapped his wrist, letting her know that time was ticking.
“Right. I’m out of here. See you tonight.”
Then Linc was alone in the small room Harper had moved into when she’d come back home. After he heard her minivan start up and head down the driveway, Linc didn’t hesitate.
He snooped.
Did a walk-through of Victor’s house.
Checked out the fridge and pantries, peeked into the other rooms in the house.
His intention wasn’t to steal anything, far from it.
He was curious about his neighbor. About the man who was as prickly as a cactus.
There were pictures of his late wife everywhere, as well as pictures of Harper.
Some looked as if they were professional shots, probably taken not long after she’d gotten to New York.
She was beautiful. Had a sparkle in her eye.
As if she was ready to take on the world.
And Linc supposed she had been. She’d been full of hope and certainty that she was going to be a huge success.
There were also a few pictures of Kash when he was a baby.
The one that stuck out to Linc was obviously taken right after he was born.
Harper was in a hospital bed, holding her newborn son.
She looked exhausted, terrified, and a little shell shocked.
Her entire life had changed, and it was more than clear to Linc that she wasn’t sure what the future held.
Much as he’d probably looked when the Air Force took his picture upon arrival at the hospital in Japan, after being picked up by the Night Stalkers who’d swooped in after he’d crossed into Russian territory.
Linc picked up the picture and studied it. Harper looked . . . gaunt. Too skinny for just having given birth. He wondered what Kash’s story was for the first time. Who his father was. Why he wasn’t in the picture.
But it wasn’t his business.
He put the picture back on the small table.
The kid was twelve, there was obviously no father in his life. The past was the past, Harper had obviously moved on.
But as soon as he had the thought, Linc winced. He was a hypocrite. The past was never just the past. It was always there, lurking, waiting to mess with your head.
Turning abruptly, Linc headed for the last door he hadn’t looked in yet.
Opening it, he decided this had probably been Kash’s room.
There were glow-in-the-dark stars on the ceiling and a poster of Saturn still on the wall.
The twin bed looked sad and lonely in the empty room.
The mattress sagging in the middle. There wasn’t even a dresser, just a closet with a few empty hangers.
Victor Rogers kept a clean house. Uncluttered but sparse. Once again, he had no idea of the man’s finances, but to Linc, they didn’t seem as good as he wanted the town to believe. Seemed Victor really did need the income he got from his rental properties.
And if that was the case, how in the heck did he think he was going to buy Lobster Cove? He’d been pestering Linc’s parents to sell for years . . . but with what money?
Linc also recalled that the man had spent all day on the water looking for Marit when she’d gone missing. The fuel had to have been expensive, and as far as he knew, Zach hadn’t offered to reimburse him. Hell, Linc himself hadn’t thought about it either.
Was that why Victor hadn’t stored his boat for the winter yet? It was still docked in Rockville Harbor. Storage costs money. Money the man didn’t have?
Making a mental note to talk to Chad about storing their neighbor’s boat on Lobster Cove, Linc headed for the boxes in Harper’s small bedroom.
The sooner he got everything into his SUV, the sooner he could head into town to find two beds, a couple of dressers, and stop by the grocery store to stock up.
He was determined to have whatever Kash and Harper needed to feel safe and secure. Food, a roof over their heads, and a comfortable place to sleep. Basic needs he could easily offer.
She wasn’t even living with him yet, and there was already something about Harper that was getting under his skin.
He didn’t know why, wasn’t sure he even liked the woman.
He’d gone out of his way to keep his distance from her since he’d been back in Maine, but that space was about to disappear entirely.
He still wasn’t sure he’d made the right decision, inviting her and her son to live with him, but he’d help her get back on her feet, and when it was time for them to get their own place, he’d gladly help them move their things out.
By then, he’d probably be itching for them to go. To have his own space back.
Probably.
Maybe.
Shit. What had he done?