Page 44 of Dear Santa, Send Me a Cowboy
“You better explain to me why you got my woman all upset and start from the very fuckin’ beginning.” Lawson's voice had dropped to an intimidating octave as his chest rose and fell to the same beat as mine.
“Doesn’t matter who I am. Now man the fuck up, and focus on where you think Silvan could be.”
My knees felt seconds from giving out as every mother’s worst fear collided painfully in my chest. Violent shakes, a racing heart, I was swiftly pulled into Lawson's comforting embrace before I could collapse.
“Check the yard, check the neighborhood or anywhere else you think he could have gone, and call us back the second you hear or find anything.”
Everything that was said after that had turned into static. All I could hear was the wild thumping of my heart.
“Diana,” Lawson whispered. “Baby, look at me.” Gripping my chin, he forced my eyes onto his. “Silvan, does he have a phone?”
Nodding, he held up my phone between us.
“A mom like you, a fuckin’ good one, made sure that no matter where your son went, you’d be able to find him by tracking his phone, am I right?”
Through misty eyes, I peered into his as a flash of hope fluttered through me.
“Oh god, you’re right!” I snagged my phone from his hand and opened the tracking app. Sure enough, there he was. A small picture of his face popped up as I zoomed in on his location.
“He’s… he’s at a movie theater.” An unbelievable sense of relief washed over me as I peered up at Lawson with eyes shimmering with tears.
He’s okay.
Silvan is okay.
Smiling, he placed a tender kiss onto my forehead before pulling away and walking toward the hallway.
“Where are you going?” I questioned.
Stopping just at the entrance of the hallway, he peered over his shoulder. “Gettin’ my things so we can go get your son and bring him back home.”
His words sent my heart fluttering.
“You… you want to come with me?”
Although we agreed to take things slow, there was a small part of me hoping he’d demand his way into coming with me.
Immediately his features softened, his eyes shining with a promise of forever that sent my heart galloping.
“Nowhere else I’d rather be, darlin’.”
Chapter Fifteen
DIANA
To my reluctance, I let Lawson drive us in his big-rig truck as we set off to go find Silvan. It didn’t take much to persuade me considering it was turning into a damn blizzard outside, yet it still felt oddly foreign to relinquish control and let someone else take charge of my safety.
It wasn’t that I didn’t appreciate it, but more so, it wasn’t something that I was used to.
After multiple attempts of calling and texting Silvan, the fear of his well-being was beginning to weigh heavy on me. Though his location hadn’t moved from the movie theater, I was still plagued with worries.
“Hey, darlin’, breathe.” Lawson reached for my thigh, squeezing it reassuringly.
I wasn’t aware that both my knees were bouncing uncontrollably but the instant his large palm made contact, my whole body relaxed.
“Deep breaths, baby, we’re almost there.” His soothing voice wrapped around me like a warm embrace. It was comforting for my frayed nerves.
I stole a quick glance at him and noticed a flicker of concern in his gaze each time he brushed over at me. His worry was blatant, but it was a reminder he was here to stay every step of the way.
