Page 46 of Luke

Luke chuckled. “I am not about to go freeze my balls off justso I can see how nice your green lights look.”

“You men and your precious jewels.”

“You have no idea.”

She turned around in his embrace to face him. “I can honestly say, I don’t.”

He grinned and kissed her lips. Just as things were heating up between them, Bryce heard Leah fussing.

“I’m sorry,” she said apologetically.

Luke laughed. “Don’t be sorry. Is she hungry again?”

“She probably just needs changed.”

“Okay.”

Bryce smiled as she went to the bedroom and picked up Leah. After changing her diaper, she carried her back to the living room and saw Luke sitting on the sofa. He stood when she approached.

“Can I hold her?” he asked.

They both chuckled when Leah turned her head toward him.

“She just loves your voice,” Bryce remarked. “Can’t say that I blame her.”

Luke leaned in close and whispered in her ear, “I’ll whisper in your ear anytime.”

She shivered. “Looking forward to it.”

Handing Leah over to Luke, he sat down on the couch and talked to Leah. Her little Cupid’s bow lips lifted in a smile.

“She’s going to be a flirt,” Luke said with a grin, then laughed when Leah smiled again.

“Good Lord,” Bryce muttered. “She’s got you where she wants you.”

Luke looked at Bryce. “So does her mama.”

She could feel her cheeks warming at his comment but couldn’t help but smile. She was surprised at how quickly he’d become a part of her life. She did worry though what would happen if…whenMick found her, because she knew he waslooking for her and he would not stop looking until he found her. She hated putting Luke in such a position. Mick wouldn’t hesitate to hurt him, given the chance, and she cared for him way too much to want that to happen.

****

Mick sat at his cluttered desk in the clinic, his fingers tapping nervously against the smooth surface. His eyes flicked repeatedly to his phone, willing it to ring with good news. But it remained stubbornly silent, and Mick couldn’t shake off the growing sense of dread in his gut. Time was running out and Sally’s impatience was flaring up like wildfire.

With a frustrated sigh, he turned to his computer and pulled up an extensive map of the United States. His gaze scanned over the familiar layout, searching for any clues that could lead to Bryce. As he traced a route from Minnesota to North Dakota, through Montana, and into Washington, he couldn’t help but feel a glimmer of hope. If she hadn’t made it to Washington yet, then she had to be somewhere along that path. But where exactly?

The possibilities were endless. She could have taken a wrong turn or stopped at any number of towns along the way. Mick picked up his phone and quickly sent a text to Craig’s number.

Did you check hospitals along her possible routes? She’s had that baby by now, so there must be a hospital record.

Yes, I did. No one recognized her. The only place we didn’t check is a few little towns. One was Spring City, another was Hartland, then the last was Clinton. All in Montana. No, that’s not right. Hold on. I’ll pull over and look at the GPS.

Mick sighed as he waited. Damn Craig thought he had all the time in the world.

Clifton. It’s about two hours from Kalispell.

Check it out!

But I’m almost into Washington.

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