Her heart cracked.Lord, even if I don’t get to see the harvest, let me plant this seed.“You don’t have to believe it. It’s true. Just don’t completely give up and resign yourself to a life of torture.” She stood on her toes and placed a kiss on his cheek, then went to join JJ in the living room.
Reid disappeared to his bedroom for a bit. Presumably to compose himself. He gave her a wide berth the rest of the evening.
The next morning, Reid walked into the kitchen, dressed in pressed black dress pants, a white button-up shirt, and shiny black shoes. His hair was damp and combed back. He’d shaved the stubble that had grown over the last couple of days and removed the bandage from his hand. He cleaned up well. She couldn’t take her eyes off him. Butterflies started swarming in her stomach. He was wearing that cologne—it was strong and intoxicating.
“You look fancy, Mr. Reid,” JJ said around a mouthful of cereal.
“Thank you.” Reid smiled at her son.
“Where are you going?” JJ asked.
Reid looked at her, waiting for her to answer.
“Reid has to go to a funeral. While he’s gone, you and I are going to stay here.”
“Okay.” He went back to his breakfast like he’d just asked what time it was. He didn’t ask what a funeral was.
Reid lifted an eyebrow. She shrugged.Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth. JJ was young, and Quinn had lived with him alone since birth. JJ didn’t know what funerals were. She wasn’t trying to protect him from the harsh realities of life. It’s just that she hadn’t had to attend a funeral since he was born. She didn’t have many friends or family members.
“I’m going to go to the funeral and then come straight back here. I’ve downloaded the photos of people you didn’t recognize and sent them to my phone. I’ll see if any of them show up. I also want to see if maybe I can talk to Victoria’s brother.”
She nodded.
“Don’t answer the door for anyone. Stay inside, and keep the doors locked.”
“Yes, sir.” She felt like a child getting the speech about staying home alone for the first time.
He angled his head toward her. “I know I’m telling you things that you already know. I’m sorry. I’m just—” He rubbed the back of his neck. He seemed to do that when he felt a little uncomfortable.
“You’re worried.” She was, too, but no one knew they were in town. They hadn’t seen anyone since they’d been here. They’d see Reid at the funeral, but they’d have no reason to believe she was in town, too. At least, she hoped that was true
He put one hand on the back of her chair and the other on the table before leaning down, eye to eye with her. “I am.”
Her stomach flip-flopped at his nearness. He leaned in a little closer. Was he going to kiss her again? She wanted him to. Really wanted him to. Her heart and her brain warred. His head changed trajectory, and he planted a kiss on her forehead. That tender kiss was almost as intimate as a kiss to the lips. It was a kiss of protection. Something much deeper than attraction. To her, it was a more emotionally connected display.
He pulled away and stood.
She looked at JJ sitting across the table from her. He had a wide grin on his face. Was he plotting against her?
“I’ll be back as soon as the funeral is over.” He rubbed JJ’s head before walking out of the kitchen. She heard the front door shut.
JJ swallowed his food. “He loves you.”
“And just how do you know this?” Her cheeks were on fire.
“He kissed you like you kiss me.”
Her heart melted a little. Her son understood protection.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
What was he thinking? Reid grippedthe steering wheel. He’d almost kissed Quinn. Again. He’d leaned down close to her in the kitchen, and his mind went back to the kiss from Wednesday night. Her lips had been soft and warm. He wanted to know whether she’d let him kiss her again. He’d almost done it, intoxicated by her, but he changed course and softly kissed her forehead instead. He had to remember she needed his protection and not his heart. His heart was no good.
Reid arrived at the funeral home an hour early. He wanted to see who showed up, and it would be easier to watch everyone from outside. There would be no one to bother him or ask why he was staring at everyone.
Victoria arrived at 10:30. A black sedan dropped her off at the entry and then proceeded to a parking space that wasn’t part of the procession. Andrew exited it and walked to the funeral home. He and Victoria wouldn’t be in their personal vehicle during the processional because they’d be in the limo. An elderly couple arrived moments later. He couldn’t be sure because he’d never met them, but he believed they were Joe’s parents. The man favored Joe.
The rest of the mourners began to trickle in at 10:45, and the closer to 11:00 it got, the quicker they came. If he had to guess, he’d say about one hundred people were in attendance.
