Page 77 of Strike Fast

Sarah pulled back to meet Tess’s gaze, her expression somber. “It wasn’t nothing to her.”

Well. “I was glad to be there.” She smiled at Autumn. “Wasn’t I?”

The smile she got in return squeezed her heart so hard it hurt. “Yes. I kept praying that my dad would come, but when I saw you I knew he’d sent you instead.”

God, this kid just slayed her with her words. “Yeah, he did.”

Reid moved in close and closed his arm around Tess’s shoulders. She stiffened, her gaze automatically darting to Sarah, but Reid’s ex was smiling softly at them.

“You better be good to her, or else,” she said to Reid, startling Tess before she turned to her daughter. “What do you say, time to get you to the hotel? We can order room service.”

Autumn frowned. “We’re not going home?”

Sarah and Reid exchanged a brief look. “Not tonight. But yes, we can have room service.”

“Cheeseburgers and root beer floats?”

“Anything you want.”

“Two root beer floats?”

“Have three. Or four. I don’t care, whatever you want.”

Autumn grinned then it faded and she looked at Reid, uncertainty in her eyes. “Are you coming with us?”

“Absolutely I am.”

Autumn relaxed visibly at that and Tess inwardly let out a relieved breath. He and Sarah must have come to some kind of an agreement before meeting here at the hospital, because there was no sign of any animosity between them. And not letting Autumn go to either parent’s house was probably for the best right now, at least until the agency could figure out how extensive the information breach for the team was.

“Can Tess come too?”

All three adults looked at Autumn. A slightly awkward pause followed, but Tess was the first to speak, rushing to smooth it over. “I’m sorry, honey, but I can’t tonight. Your parents need some time alone with you, and I need to go take my medicine for my arm and get some sleep.”

“Are you going back to Texas soon?’ Autumn asked, worry clouding her eyes.

“Not for a few more days at least.”

“I’ll make sure you see her again before that,” Reid said.

“If that’s okay,” Tess added quickly, looking at Sarah, who smiled and nodded her consent. Tess smiled back and shifted her attention back to Autumn. “That sound good?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, baby girl, say goodnight to Tess,” Reid said.

Autumn stepped forward and wound her arms around Tess’s waist, her little cheek resting against Tess’s stomach. “Thanks, Tess, for saving me. Hope your arm gets better.”

Aw, hell, there went that lump in her throat again. “Thanks, sweetie. You have a good night with your parents, and have a good sleep.”Because you’re safe now. And no one will ever hurt you again. Your daddy will make sure of it.

Reid stayed where he was with his arm tight around Tess’s shoulders as Sarah and Autumn walked back to the SUV. The driver’s door opened and Kai stepped out. A huge grin lit his face as he bent down and opened his arms. Tess heard Autumn’s delighted “Uncle Kai!” as she ran for him, and couldn’t help but smile when those huge arms gathered her up in a bear hug that lifted her four feet off the ground.

“Just when I thought I was all cried out,” Tess said on a shaky laugh, wiping at her wet cheeks.

Reid gently turned her around and took her face in his hands, doing the wiping for her. His eyes were intent on hers, burning with too many emotions for her to decipher. She gazed up at him, heart hammering, a tiny bit afraid of what he would say next.

But he didn’t say anything at all, just bent his head and kissed her softly. Slowly. A tender claiming in front of his daughter, ex and teammate, and whoever cared to watch. “I have to go with them now, but I need to see you tonight. Call you later, once everything’s settled down?”

She nodded, needing him desperately too. “Okay.”

---