She licked the chocolate from her finger—she never wasted chocolate. “Better. Try one.”
“Yeah, try one,” JJ echoed. “Mrs. Stevenson let me do all the mixing.”
“Then, I’m sure they’re good.” Reid grabbed his own cookie and ate it a little more gracefully than she had hers.
Quinn studied him. He had dark brown hair, long enough for him to run his fingers through on top. Bright blue eyes contrasted with the five o’clock shadow that framed his square jaw. He was rugged and handsome. He wasn’t muscular like the actors in the movies, but he was fit. He emanated strength.
His gaze connected with hers. Heat started at the base of her neck and rose to her cheeks. He gave a small smile. Butterflies swarmed in her stomach. Attraction should be the furthest thing from her mind right now. She tamped it down; she didn’t need a man right now. The only man in her life was JJ. He was the center of her world and would stay that way.
“Here we go,” Mrs. Stevenson sing-songed as she came down the stairs. She was carrying a large pile of blankets, pillows, and towels.
Quinn jumped up and met her at the base of the stairs. “Let me help.”
Mrs. Stevenson handed over the stack. “The cabin has been shut up for a while. I imagine all the linens there will be a bit dusty. These will do while you wash the others.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Quinn set the pile on the couch next to the front door, where Reid had dropped their bags.
Mrs. Stevenson held out a key to Reid. “The address is on the key tag there.” Then, she turned to Quinn. “Now then, Quinn, let’s gather a few groceries for you. I’ll be leaving soon. No reason to keep it here and let it go to waste.”
“You don’t have to do all of this.” Quinn followed Mrs. Stevenson into the kitchen.
“I know I don’t have to. I want to. Besides, I won’t be here to eat it.” She opened a drawer and withdrew several plastic sacks from the local grocery store. “I know you’ve probably been asked this many times today, but do you have any idea who is doing this?” She pulled some boxes out of the cabinet and put them in the sack.
“No. I don’t. I wish I did. I hate that I’m uprooting you. You can’t even stay in your own home.” Quinn squeezed her eyes shut, holding back tears.
“The reason I’m leaving isn’t the best, but it’s good for me. I need to go see my son. I haven’t seen him or my grandkids in a while.” She handed Quinn a couple of sandwich bags. “Go pack up those cookies to take with you.”
Mrs. Stevenson’s cheery disposition at going to see her son didn’t dampen the guilt that was eating at Quinn.
“That should hold you over for a couple days.” Mrs. Stevenson put four sacks on the kitchen table, then grabbed Quinn’s hand. “I’ve got to get my bags packed and get on the road soon. You three should go on before it gets dark. You’ll want to air the cabin out a bit.”
“Come on, JJ,” Quinn said. “We need to get going.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He shoved a whole cookie in his mouth and took a large gulp of milk. Quinn couldn’t help but smile at him.
“I’m going to carry this stuff out to the car,” Reid said as he started gathering the items piled by the door.
“Thank you.” Quinn turned to Mrs. Stevenson and gave her a hug. “And thank you.”
Quinn and JJ followed Reid to the car. “Get in while I load this.”
They did as he said. Quinn wasn’t too excited about being out in the open, even if a squad car still sat on the curb, waiting for the last fire engine to finish packing its equipment. After putting everything in the trunk, Reid climbed into the driver’s seat and plugged the address on the key tag into his phone. “Let’s get to the cabin.”
She looked at her hands folded in her lap and prayed.
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll keep you two safe.”
She looked up at him and studied his eyes. “I believe you.” She didn’t know why, but she did. But God was her ultimate protector.
He turned right onto a silent street. She turned in her seat to face him. “Don’t we need to stop and get your stuff first?” She’d been thinking only of herself and JJ. Shame flooded her. Reid was putting his life on hold—and in danger—for them.
“No. I don’t live here, so when Joe called, I packed a bag and drove down. Everything I need is already in the trunk. It’s almost a four-hour drive. I was lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, when Joe texted. I packed a bag and hit the road within thirty minutes.”
“Okay.” Quinn turned toward the back seat to make sure JJ was buckled up properly. She’d grabbed the booster seat from her car, and he’d insisted on buckling himself.
Reid looked in the rearview mirror, then back at the road in front of them. Seconds later, he was back to staring at the rearview mirror. He gripped the steering wheel and pressed the accelerator. “Quinn,” he said quietly. He split his attention between the road ahead and the car behind them.
Panic crawled up her spine. She glanced behind them and then back at him. “Are we being followed?”
