Page 87 of Reclaimed

“No,” I gasp, clutching a hand over my heart. “This is all for you, starshine.”

“Mhm. I think you wanted me to fake date you so you could trick me into falling in love.”

I snag her wrist hanging limp at her side and yank her into my torso. Her cute little bump sits between us. “Is it working?” I murmur in her ear.

She rises onto her tiptoes and kisses me softly on the cheek. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

Silas got tiedup with work, but he sent Officer Nelson back to Isla’s to assist us with a walk-through and statement. Besides a few pieces of cheap jewelry, Isla doesn’t seem to be missing anything. Her house was the least ransacked of the four. The fact that she doesn’t own many possessions, and the ones she does own are baby-related and stored in a closet, might have something to do with it.

Still. The worry on her face reveals she’s shaken and I’m even more grateful we moved her to my place last week, where she’s safe behind an alarm panel and I can keep an eye on her.

I wait by my car with my arms crossed over my chest. The move is vaguely familiar to that very first night when she was scared to be alone. With a small smile, I watch her chat with her neighbor, Julie, and ascertain she’s comfortable being alone.

This girl is so strong. So brave. My chest warms when I think about all the good things wrapped up in Isla. All the good things she’s brought to my life over the last couple of months.Without even trying she singlehandedly helped pull me out from a hovering dark cloud I thought I’d be under forever.

The thought sparks an idea. One that causes my palms to sweat and my returning confidence to deflate just a little.

With a wave to Julie, she departs her front porch. My heartbeat seems to match her steps closing the distance between us.

“Is she good?” Knowing we have an audience, I draw Isla into my arms. Knowing I want her there regardless, I pull her tighter than necessary.

She tilts her chin and the sun catches in the light brown of her eyes. “She’s insulted I even asked her that question. Says the detective gave her his personal cell number to call if there’s any trouble.”

“Pretty sure he didn’t mean for her to use that in lieu of 9-1-1.”

The chorus of her laugh is soothing. “Do you think she listened when I told her that?”

“I doubt it.”

“You’d be correct. Poor Officer Nelson is going to regret giving her his number when she calls him later because she’s lonely.”

I grimace. “Should I warn him?”

“Nah. She’s harmless.”

“It’ll make for an interesting bar story later.”

“You’d be right about that.” Isla smiles warmly, with an infectious happiness I can’t help but return. “What should we do now?”

“I thought maybe we could take a trip to the Sanctuary if you’re up for it.”

“Are you kidding? We can go right now?”

I lift my shoulder in a shrug. “Why not? We both have the rest of the day off. I see no reason to wait until the weekend.”

The press of her lips against my cheek almost convinces me I’m doing the right thing.

Almost.

Because I have to make it through the rest of the evening before I can deliver that final judgement.

“I’ve always wanted to come here.” Isla breaths against the passenger window twenty minutes later.

“You’ve never been?”

“No. By the time Juniper started working here, I was getting ready to move. I never made the trip out. Didn’t have a reason to seeing as I couldn’t take a dog with me.”

“It’s not really the type of place people show up to unless you’re family or make an appointment. We usually hold adoption events in town. We’re having one in a couple weeks to raise some money for Spencer Stone.”

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