Page 8 of Threatened

“I’m sorry,” the jogger said. “Can I call the police for you? Walk you home?”

“Thank you, but no.” She shook her head. At least her phone hadn’t been stolen too. “I’ll call myself. After I get the twins settled down.”

“If you’re sure,” the guy said, smiling down at the babies. “My wife and I just had a kid a year ago. I know what it’s like. It’ll get better, I promise.”

“Thanks.” She waved as the guy took off again then bent to comfort each crying child. Finally, once the babies were settled again, she turned to head back to Gage’s house. It was only then that she realized how badly she was trembling. Her skin felt too tight for her body and every car door slamming or twig snapping sent her blood pressure into overdrive. This was a nice neighborhood. People shouldn’t get mugged here, and yet it seemed that was exactly what had happened to her.

Kylie scanned her surroundings as she neared the house, ready to break into a sprint again at the first sign of her assailant’s return. Luckily, there was no sign of him, and she made it back up onto the porch. Then she caught sight of herself in the glass of the door and lost it.

She looked like a wild woman, hair going everywhere from the breeze and from running after the mugger. Her clothes were askew, and her heart felt ready to beat out of her chest. The stress of the attack and the fight with Gage from earlier mixed with her lingering grief and boiled over into useless tears.

Angry with herself, she brushed the back of her hand over her cheeks just as the front door opened.

Gage took one look at her, his expression instantly shifting to look concerned as he ushered them all inside. “Are you okay? Is something wrong with the kids?” He ran his hands over their little arms and legs before turning to her. “Tell me what happened.” He was calm, focused and somehow that made her completely lose it.

Voice shaking, she said, “W-we w-ent to the p-park and it was n-nice and then there was a m-man there and he t-took the…and I t-tried to c-catch him but…”

She never finished because the next thing Kylie knew she was wrapped in Gage’s strong arms, her face pressed into his hard, warm chest and all coherent thoughts left because he just felt so good. So safe.

5

“It’s okay. You’re home now—you’re safe,” Gage promised. With her ear pressed to his chest, she could feel the rumble of the words inside him. She wanted to stay right there more than anything.

Kylie took a deep breath and moved back a step, her knees still wobbling. She nodded and swallowed hard against the sandpaper in her throat. Now that she was safely home and the adrenaline had started to wear off, she felt like she could collapse at any moment. Luckily, Gage’s strong hands were holding onto her arms, keeping her upright. She managed to speak more coherently this time. “There was a man…at the park. He stole the diaper bag… My wallet was in it.”

“Jesus.” Gage said, letting her go to run his hands through his hair. “You’re all right? He didn’t hurt you, did he?” he repeated.

Sagging back against the wall for support, Kylie gave a weak shrug. “No, he didn’t touch me. I’m just rattled. I tried to go after him, but with the stroller it was hard.”

Gage froze and gave her a stony stare. “You tried to go after him? Why the hell would you go after the guy who mugged you? Especially with the twins in your care?” He cursed again and turned away, muttering under his breath. “Of all the absurd, irresponsible, dangerous things to do.”

A mixture of anger and guilt bubbled up inside Kylie causing the backs of her eyes to sting with unshed tears. He was right. What the hell had she been thinking? Going after a stranger who might well have been armed and taking the twins right along with her. Oh, God. Her stomach knotted and she doubled over, clutching her midsection as a tiny sob escaped her. She was a horrible person. Would make an even worse mother. That’s why her sister hadn’t given her custody of the twins in the will. Christine had known. She’d always known. Of course, she’d never said it out loud. She’d been far too kind for that, but here was proof, laid out for everyone to see. Kylie wasn’t a fit mother.

Her blood thundered in her ears and tears streamed down her cheeks. Kylie had never felt so all alone in the world. Then, just as the universe seemed to close in around her, just when she thought she might collapse completely in a puddle on the floor, a warm hand squeezed her shoulder.

“Hey.” Gage’s voice was soft as he crouched beside her. “Hey, don’t cry. I’m sorry for what I said, Kylie. This wasn’t your fault. I didn’t mean to make you feel that way. I was just so worried when I heard what happened that I overreacted.” He sighed and tipped her chin up with one finger. “Please forgive me?”

His sincerity only made her cry all the more. Gage straightened and pulled her into his arms, holding her against his chest, rocking her slowly and murmuring against the top of her head until finally her tears ran out. At last, she took a deep breath,feeling drained but marginally better due to his unexpected kindness.

Kylie finally pushed away from him, her eyes puffy and her cheeks stinging with heat, whether from her crying or from her nearness to him she wasn’t sure. She couldn’t seem to meet his gaze now, embarrassed by sobbing all over him and yet feeling more connected to him because of it.

The invisible string of connection she’d felt between them since the first night she’d arrived on his doorstep pulled tighter. Which wasn’t good, considering she was supposed to be here to assess his qualities as a caretaker and quite possibly fight him for custody of the twins. She couldn’t lean on him, no matter how right it felt.

She tucked her loose hair behind her ear and turned to focus on the twins instead, who’d fallen back to sleep in the stroller. “We should get them out of there and into their cribs for a proper nap.”

Gage unfastened Brennan while Kylie did the same with Maya. Together, they carried the babies back to the nursery and put them down to sleep. She lingered a minute to look at their sweet faces, thanking whatever force in the universe that had protected them. Slowly, she retreated from the nursery suddenly unwillingly to be alone with Gage. He followed her back into the hallway. The scene by the door hung between them, feeling as heavy as an anvil.

“We need to call the police and file a report,” Gage said, his tone low and expression serious. “Whoever did this needs to be stopped so other people aren’t at risk.”

Much as she didn’t want to remember those terrifying moments at the park, Kylie nodded. “You’re right. I don’t want anyone…”

“You’re safe now.” Gage held her gaze for a moment, giving her silent reassurance. “Go make yourself a cup of tea. I’ll call the station and have them send out someone to take your statement.” He walked toward the living room, pulling his phone from his pocket. On still shaky legs, she went to the kitchen and brewed a pot of chamomile tea.

While she went through the motions of preparing the drink, she did her best to regain her composure. By the time an officer showed up an hour later, she felt ready to answer his questions.

“Was there anyone else present at the time of the theft?” the officer asked her after listening to her description of what had happened.

“Besides the twins?” Kylie said, thinking back. “There was a jogger. He stopped and asked if I was okay. He offered to call the cops for me, but I told him no, that I’d do it myself.” In hindsight, another screw up on her part, at least if the look on the officer’s face was an indication. “I’m sorry I didn’t report it sooner.”

---