Page 5 of In Hiding

Kit stepped forward but Lucy’s hand on his arm stayed his movement. “I’ll speak to him.”

“Lucy?” Kit pleaded.

She patted his arm and smiled at her husband. “It’ll be okay.”

Kit leaned toward him, the intensity in his blue eyes menacing. “You shouldn’t be here.”

He nodded. “I know and for what it’s worth, I am sorry.”

Kit pulled away. Confusion darkened his expression and Lucy pushed him back inside, closing the door. She joined Jake on the front veranda and only then did he notice the roundness of her belly. Seeing him pay attention, she covered the baby bump with both hands.

“You have a nerve, Jake Langley, turning up at our door. I should kick your ass down the steps.”

Her threat made him smile. “Why don’t you?”

She sighed. “I have my hands full, as you can see.”

“It’d only take one kick, Lucy.” He was tempted to turn around and present his behind for her foot. “You look stunning.”

Her cheeks colored. “When did you get out?”

“A few weeks ago.”

“Why are you here?”

From his pocket, he pulled out a small, tattered slip of paper and held it toward her. Taking it, she read the name and then looked at him through narrowed eyes. “That’s a mouthful. And just who is Katherine Margaret Sarah Christensen Mitchell?”

“Someone I need to find.”

“Because...?”

How much to tell... “I promised to look out for her.”

She glanced down at the paper again and shook her head. “Who did you make this promise to?”

“Her brother.”

“Is she in danger?”

“Not yet.”

Lucy walked across the veranda to look out over the forest. Mountains rose in the distance, the carpeted green hills rolling up to the peaks. Jake felt peace seep into his veins. Was this how Lucy felt every day? Envy kicked him in the guts, but he wouldn’t wish anything else for her. She deserved happiness.

“Will you put her in danger by finding her?”

Her words stung. Of course she would think he was still the same bastard she knew. He’d put her in danger once before, too. Why would she expect he’d changed? “Not from me.”

One corner of her mouth quirked. “You claiming to be a new man, Jake Langley?”

He shook his head. “Not at all, but I made a promise.”

“So, jail didn’t make a difference, then?”

He shrugged one shoulder and stepped to her side. “I’m not claiming it’s cured me of my ways, but did it make a difference?” He met her stare. “I hope so.”

“I was surprised when they told me you turned yourself in and confessed everything. Why did you do that? You could have disappeared and continued living like nothing happened.”

He glanced at the dusky sky and debated how much to tell her. “I needed to make things right. Seeing you reunited with your son forced me to consider every shitty thing I’d done. How is Wyatt, by the way?”

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