Page 106 of Never Quiet

Chapter Twenty-Three

November – December 2016

The official United States launch of the organic beauty line had been building in Amanda’s life for weeks.

There were multiple photo shoots, several interviews with fashion magazines Morgan made certain already knew her name, and consultations with the original marketing team from the company purchased by Harper Delkin.

On Thanksgiving, she spent hours on video calls with her family in Colorado, catching up with them, laughing, crying, as she worked on her speech for the gala. Her mom, as usual, was an excellent resource for feedback on her research.

Everyone asked questions in private chats about Hayden and she just smiled and told them they were two peas in a pod as they’d always been and not to worry.

Seeing them around the big table in Cedarton while she sat around hers in New York with her uncles, Callie, and her team went a long way to easing her heart. She sent the Florida family photos in their group chat and Davis as well, wherever he was at the moment.

She texted Hayden throughout the day and he mentioned he was several hours behind her but trying to get back. It made her smile and she sent him another message.

I’m thankful for you every day. This particular one is no different. Be safe and I’ll see you when you’re back.

Seconds later, she received a response.

You wreck me. I’ll see you soon, Amanda.

He walked through her door close to midnight. Roark locked up behind him and bid them goodnight with a salute.

Hayden was a mess. “I was going to stop at my place but…”

“Let’s shower together.” She held out her arms and he walked into them, dropping a bag at their feet. “Seeing you sooner is always the best option.”

“Amanda?”

“Yes?”

“Happy Thanksgiving. I wanted to be here…”

Placing her fingertips over his mouth, she replaced them with her lips. After a gentle kiss, she pulled back and stroked her palm over his cheek.

“You are here. The day doesn’t matter.”

Leading him through her bedroom, she waited for him to remove weapons while she stripped and turned on the shower. Then she slowly undressed him. The black he wore had hidden the blood on his skin.

Eyes wide, she whispered, “Hayden…?”

“It’s not mine. It’s…rarely mine.”

Guiding him into the shower, she washed his hair and he smiled when she conditioned it. She poured body wash on a washcloth and instructed, “Tell me one positive thing from your mission.”

“We saved a set of siblings.”

She met his eyes and whispered, “Children?” He nodded. “How many?”

“Three. Two girls and a boy. Their parents were bartering them for meth.”

“Where are they now?”

“A safe house in Arizona. One of the places we hide them, to try to acclimate them. Then we work to place them with families we vet, families who don’t typically get approved through standard channels.” He rubbed his forehead. “The system is so broken. These kids, they’d been monitored by Children’s Services for three years. No one took them out of that home.”

“You did.” She rinsed him and wrapped her arms around his wet body. “You took them out and now they’ll have a chance.”

“Thank you, Amanda.”

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