Page 65 of Colton First Responder (Coltons of Mustang Valley)

In a few minutes, they had gone out that door and through the gate. He held Savannah’s hand as they inched their way along the fence to the alley.

Soon, they were making their way along that alley. A breeze was still blowing, but it didn’t affect them now. In fact, Grayson was glad for that wind. It had sounded like the cops had accepted it as the reason the house’s front door had opened and set off the remote.

Did anyone look this way from their homes backing onto this alley or otherwise? Grayson didn’t think so, or at least he hoped not. They walked quickly to his car and got inside.

Grayson felt relieved. “Let’s listen to those recordings back at the bunker,” he told Savannah as soon as he drove away in that direction.

“Fine with me,” she said, “although do you have enough batteries to power the recorder along with the lights? We may be listening to it for a while and using up its juice.”

“I’ve got something better,” he told her. “A generator. As I mentioned, I used to spend a lot of time at my bunker.”

He hoped, though, that they’d be able to work things out so Savannah didn’t have to spend much time there. It was partially underground, after all, an even more stressful place for her to hang out than the fishing cabin, or so he believed. Still, although it was a former mine, since he’d closed off the shafts years ago he didn’t consider it dangerous.

Besides, now that they’d begun testing her disguise, maybe she would be able to get out and about, at least a little.

Better yet, prepare to move somewhere else altogether and let Grayson ultimately figure out how to clear her name around here. But his ability to do that might depend on what was on that recorder that was now on the center console between them.

“That bunker of yours is amazing,” Savannah said. “You’ve got the place furnished quite nicely for what is pretty much a cave. You must have really liked it while you were growing up.”

“I did,” he said, “though now I have even better ways of staying away from my family when I choose to. And I never let them control my life.”

“You’re fortunate,” Savannah said, surprising him a little. “My dad’s gone now, but I married Zane largely because of his urging me to. I miss my father, but I certainly don’t miss his pushiness.”

Interesting. “My dad’s on the pushy side, too,” he said. “Or he was, before.” He knew Savannah was aware of how Payne Colton had been shot and remained in a coma. Even though he still resented some of his father’s attempts to control him in the past, Grayson felt awful about what had happened.

Another thought struck him about his family, something he really ought to let Savannah know about. “By the way, I should tell you one of the reasons I acted a bit stupid while we were hidden and peered out toward the cops. I thought I recognized a voice, and I was right. My cousin Spencer Colton was one of them.”

He heard Savannah draw in her breath. “Oh, that could have been terrible. If he’d found you, I mean. I’m so sorry that I’ve been putting you into that kind of position, where even your family members might turn against you.”

“Oh, I doubt that would be the case with Spencer.” Grayson tried to keep his tone light, though he appreciated that this woman was smart enough to recognize problems like that without his suggesting them.

And it wasn’t only Savannah’s intelligence that he appreciated about her. He enjoyed her company, her warmth and caring, her body, and, well, nearly everything about her. Would there be any possibility of their developing a relationship after Savannah was cleared? He was beginning to hope so. A lot.

But none of that mattered now, while he still had to figure out how best to help her. Hopefully, that would get resolved when they listened to the recordings.

And the things he admired about her might not matter after this was all over.

They might wind up going their own ways...

But he certainly hoped not.

Meanwhile, now, he continued to drive around town as he had become used to doing, avoiding potholes and ruts still there after the earthquake, looking in the rearview mirror often to see what vehicles might be behind them, turning off onto smaller streets to ensure they weren’t being followed, then veering off again to keep checking all was well.

He knew the cops were smart, too, especially Spencer. It was possible his cousin had seen him in Zane’s house, or saw him after they left the house, and was now stealthily following them.

He had to be sure that wasn’t the case before they finally headed to his bunker. It was not someplace he had ever told Spencer—or anyone—about.

It was still late morning, so no chance of hiding easily if anyone happened to be following them. But Grayson was being careful. He pulled into the parking lot of a small chain grocery store. “We need some supplies for tonight,” he said. “And probably tomorrow, too.”

Like breakfast, he thought. Would he stay the night again?

Quite possibly. If he could.

“Wait here,” he told her, but she got out of the car at the same time he did. She drew closer to him on the sidewalk in front of the entrance. There were other people around, so he didn’t want to scold her.

Especially when she got close enough to kiss him on the cheek—just pretending they were an item, he figured. She also used the opportunity to whisper to him, “Just checking my disguise again.”

“Be careful,” he instructed, and shook his head as she stuck out her tongue and preceded him inside.

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