Page 56 of Hero Unbound

“I’ll call Bear Bollinger and get him over here to tow it. Until then, why don’t you use one of the company trucks to get around and get back to town.”

He heard her brief sigh of relief. “That would be great. Thank you.”

He nodded up at the cabinet with his chin. “Plates.”

He loaded her up with pancakes since last night had made him realize exactly how thin she truly was. Maybe that was her biological makeup, but he definitely wasn’t going to let her leave here hungry in case it wasn’t.

He’d known true hunger too. And once you did, it was a feeling you never forgot.

They ate quickly and washed the dishes, both of them needing to get to the work in front of them and maybe neither of them knowing how to talk about the night before.

She hung the kitchen towel and turned to him. “I’ve got to go check on the animals.”

And just like that, he found he didn’t want to let her go.

He placed a hand on the counter on either side of her, trapping her there. “Kiss first.”

She smiled—a genuine smile that nailed him right in the gut—then rose up on her tiptoes and gave him a peck on the lips.

“Not nearly enough,” he growled, loving how her smile got even bigger.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and stepped into his body. This time when she pressed her soft lips against his, it was for much more than a peck.

The damned animals and property could wait. He was taking her back to bed.

He was reaching down to scoop her up when his phone buzzed on the counter next to them. He glanced over at it. “Sheriff Webb. Damn it. I’ve got to take this.”

She grinned. “And I’ve got to get to the animals. I know what was on your mind.”

He winked at her. “Oh, I hope so. And just know that tonight, we’re going to pick up right here where we’re leaving off. Take the white truck, and I’ll talk to you later. Keys should be in it.”

She was still smiling at him over her shoulder as he patted her ass and answered the call. “Sheriff. What can I do for you?”

She gave him a wave as she walked outthedoor, pups at her heels.

“Wondering if you could spare a couple of employees, or yourself, to help ussearchfor some hikers who didn’t make it in before the storm hit. We’re leaving in about thirty minutes. They were supposed to befollowingthe old Intermann trail.”

“Yeah, absolutely. Everything else in town seem to fare all right?”

“Nothing too major. Some roof damage and windows got blown out. Everything okay out there?”

“All structures still standing. Eva’s car got washed off the road, but she’s fine. I’m about to call Bear to see when he can tow it.”

Callum let out a sigh. “I meant to call you about Eva yesterday, but the day got away from me with all the storm prep.”

Theo sat down on the couch to slip on his shoes. “What about her?”

“I went by the Mayor’s Inn a couple days ago to apologize for insinuating that she was part of the break-in at the hardware store. Ends up, it was a couple of kids from a rival high school near Reddington City.”

“I’ll tell her.”

“That’s not the problem. She wasn’t staying at the hotel, Theo. Evidently hasn’t stayed there at all.”

The shoelace he was tying slipped from his fingers. “Are you sure?”

“Yes. No record of her at all. I checked with Mrs. Crow too. You know how she sometimes rents out her guesthouse.”

There wasn’t anything much else in terms of rentals in a town the size of Oak Creek. “Okay. Maybe Eva was staying with Becky and I didn’t realize it.”

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