Page 10 of The Pilot

“I’m not going to get tired of him. I like Kash, Harper. He’s funny, and smart, and he keeps me on my toes.”

“Oh, well, yeah. I like him too. But he’s a lot. Sometimes he can be exhausting with his questions.”

“It’ll be fine.”

“All right. If you need anything, just text me. I can bring a rotisserie chicken home from work if you need me to.”

The thought of her spending her money on him when she had so little for herself and her son right now made Linc feel a little sick inside. “I’ve got it. Don’t worry.”

“Okay. But I don’t expect you to pay for our food, Linc. Kash eats like a horse. I’ve never seen a kid eat so much.”

“He’s a growing boy. The two of us will figure out something for dinner, and we’ll have it waiting for you when you get home.”

Harper stared at him for a long moment.

“What? Something wrong?”

“No. It’s just . . . sometimes Kash makes dinner for me, usually just sandwiches or something, but I can’t remember any other time after I went to New York that I came home to a hot meal waiting for me.”

And that was just too heartbreaking to contemplate.

“Well, don’t get too excited. I’m not a chef like Zach. But I’m not as bad as Knox either.”

Harper smiled at that. “I’ve heard he can burn water.”

“He can,” Linc confirmed.

“I’m not picky,” Harper said. “I’ll eat just about anything.”

And that was one more thing Linc had in common with this woman. He supposed when you were dead broke and living out of your car, you couldn’t afford to be picky.

Memories of the last nightmare he had filled his head. He’d woken up almost able to taste dirt and leaves in his mouth. He was tired of the nightmares but, sadly, had gotten used to them. Tired of remembering the terror he’d felt while he’d been on the run. While he was hunted down like a rabid dog.

He didn’t know why he had such vivid memories of every single nightmare. Memories that crept up on him when he least expected it. It had been years since his crash, and he was more content and settled now than he’d been in a long time.

Maybe that was why? His brain was settling down, giving him more time to think?

Whatever the reason, he hated it. Harper and Kash would be good distractions. He hoped. The last thing he wanted was to continually relive those seven horrifying days of his life.

“Good,” he answered belatedly. “I’ll see what Kash and I can come up with.”

“I know you don’t want to hear it, but thank you again, Linc. Seriously.”

He nodded, then tapped his wrist, letting her know that time was ticking.

“Right. I’m out of here. See you tonight.”

Then Linc was alone in the small room Harper had moved into when she’d come back home. After he heard her minivan start up and head down the driveway, Linc didn’t hesitate.

He snooped.

Did a walk-through of Victor’s house.

Checked out the fridge and pantries, peeked into the other rooms in the house.

His intention wasn’t to steal anything, far from it. He was curious about his neighbor. About the man who was as prickly as a cactus. There were pictures of his late wife everywhere, as well as pictures of Harper. Some looked as if they were professional shots, probably taken not long after she’d gotten to New York. She was beautiful. Had a sparkle in her eye. As if she was ready to take on the world. And Linc supposed she had been. She’d been full of hope and certainty that she was going to be a huge success.

There were also a few pictures of Kash when he was a baby. The one that stuck out to Linc was obviously taken right after he was born. Harper was in a hospital bed, holding her newborn son. She looked exhausted, terrified, and a little shell shocked. Her entire life had changed, and it was more than clear to Linc that she wasn’t sure what the future held.