Page 158 of Buried Too Deep

He rolled to his back and sat up, lifting her onto his lap like she weighed nothing. It was enough to make her swoon.

She kissed his jaw. “Do you think you can go back to sleep?”

“No, but you should.” He settled her on the bed beside him, untying the belt of her robe so that he could lay his head on her chest.

She carded her fingers through his hair, gratified when he hummed his pleasure. “If you can’t sleep, will you listen to an idea I have?”

“Uh-oh. Is it an idea I’ll like or one that will make me want to lock you in this room and not let you out?”

“I think you’ll like it. But you can lock me in here later if you want. As long as you’re locked in with me.”

He laughed. “I like you, Cora Jane.”

“I like you, too.”

“What’s your idea?”

“Well, it came to me after you told me about the vets in that alley, how hard it is for them to get a new start.”

He lifted his head to study her face. “Yeah? And?”

“And…I have this big house and it feels wrong to keep it for myself.”

His brows went up, his eyes lighting up with interest. “And?”

“I wondered about opening the house up to vets who need a helping hand. Like a halfway house. A place they can stay while they learn a trade.”

Phin’s mouth opened and closed, his eyes growing shiny. “Wow. Not what I expected.”

“Do you think it’s a good idea?”

“Yeah. I think it is. More importantly, it makes you a good person. Which I already knew, but…God, Cora. The possibilities.”

She smiled at him. “I know. I figured I’d sell that necklace and have enough money to get started. There are grants for this type of thing, too. I’ve helped library patrons find them.”

“If they exist, you will find them. And if anyone can do this, it would be you. I’d like to help you.”

“Of course. I figured you would, even before we did…you know. This.”

His smile was slow and dirty. “Set the bed on fire?”

“Better you than some thug with a gas can,” she said wryly.

He winced. “Sorry. That fell flat. I guess it’s too soon.”

Her lips twitched. “It’s okay. You have time to think of something better. Lots of time.” She lifted her head enough to kiss him. “Now I have to go back to sleep or I’ll be mean to everyone come morning. Will you try to sleep some more?”

“I’ll try.” He shifted on the bed so that he could wrap her in his arms. “Sleep, Cora Jane. We’ll figure all this mess out with your father and then we can fix this place up and help a lot of people.”

21

Mobile, Alabama

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 6:05 A.M.

SAGE’S MOTHER DIDN’T ANSWER WHEN he knocked on the front door, but her car was here, so he figured that she was home. He hadn’t been here since he was eighteen. When they’d fought about him working for Alan. She’d wanted Sage to move away. To move in with her.

Sage didn’t know why she’d tried to get him to leave his grandfather. He’d never asked. He’d just…avoided her. For years. He’d been happy with Alan then. Useful. Valued.

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