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TWELVE
Faith gently pushed against the carpet with her feet to keep the rocking chair in motion. Anna’s bright blue eyes were latched onto her face, even as her mouth worked the bottle. She smelled like baby soap. A warm bath had put color in her cheeks, the glow from the lamp on the end table caressing the curves of the baby’s face. One tiny hand clung to Faith’s pinky finger.
Anna was so small…so vulnerable. A love unlike anything Faith had ever experienced lodged inside her heart. It’d been growing for days, from the first moment she touched the baby in the barn, and denying it wasn’t possible anymore. She’d do anything for Anna. Anything. Including risk her own life to protect her, if it came to it. Faith prayed it wouldn’t.
Who had killed Hillary? They were no closer to figuring that out than they’d been hours ago. The black ski mask that’d fallen out of Dr. Whitcomb’s jacket didn’t prove his involvement. It was winter and the temperatures were cold enough for snow. Not to mention, he had an alibi for at least one of the attacks. Still…it made Faith nervous.
Silas, Hillary’s brother, was still missing as well. It was horrifying to think he might have murdered his own sister and attempted to kidnap his niece, but Faith wouldn’t dismiss the possibility. If Hillary and Anna were both dead, Silas stood to inherit a large sum of money. Greed could twist people into doing evil things.
But what about the mystery man Hillary had been dating? Who was Anna’s father? The police in Austin had interviewed friends, coworkers, and neighbors, but no one had seen Hillary with a man. Nor had she ever talked about the baby’s dad. It was a strange set of circumstances, and nothing about it sat right.
Anna’s fingers relaxed against Faith’s pinky. The baby’s eyes were drifting shut, now that her belly was full. Faith waited for her to take a few last sucks from the bottle before gently removing it from Anna’s mouth. She brushed a kiss across her forehead. “Sleep, little one.”
Her heart swelled when Anna released a sigh of contentment. Faith tried to remind herself that the baby wasn’t hers to keep, but the mental gymnastics weren’t working. Much like they hadn’t with Chase. The memory of the kiss they’d shared hours ago seemed imprinted on her lips.
Chase appeared at the base of the stairs. He wore a pair of beat-up blue jeans and a soft gray T-shirt that molded to every inch of his muscular chest. His feet were bare. The sling holding his injured arm should’ve made him appear weaker, but had the opposite effect. To Faith, it was a symbol of his bravery. He’d nearly died today while protecting her.
Chase separated the blinds with one finger and peeked out into the night. His hair was still damp from his shower. He scanned the yard. Faith’s muscles instinctively tightened. “Is something wrong?”
“No.” He dropped his hand. “I’m just being cautious. David is parked nearby and will make patrols on the property. We’ll reassess the situation in the morning, but for tonight, there’s no reason to worry. The house is secure.”
It was something to be grateful for. They could all use a good night’s rest after the past several days. Faith lowered a sleeping Anna to the playpen and then covered the baby with a fleece blanket. Chase sidled up next to her, close enough to tease her senses with the warmth of his body and the scent of his aftershave. A smile played on his lips. “She looks so peaceful. I wonder what she dreams about.”
“Soft hugs and tender touches, I hope.” Faith kept her voice lowered to a whisper out of habit more than a fear of waking the baby. Anna slept through almost everything. “We have a few hours till the next feeding and I could use your help with something.”
“What?”
She gestured to the plastic tubs on the other side of the room. “Holly helped me bring down the decorations from the attic and set up the Christmas tree. I thought we could decorate.” Faith bit her lip, a sudden wave of nervousness washing over her. “If your shoulder hurts, you don’t have to do anything. Or if you’re too tired, we can skip it.”
“No. I’d like to help.” His gaze met hers, confusion creasing his brow. “I’m just surprised. You didn’t want to decorate a tree last year.”
“Not since Mitch died. I know.” She took his hand and gently tugged him across the room. Faith opened a tub. Neatly packed string lights rested next to a pile of tinsel. “But I’ve been thinking a lot of the last few days. You know, when I wasn’t busy running for my life or making brownies.”
That last comment earned her half a smile. Chase removed the lights and sat down on a dining room chair to test the bulbs by plugging them into the socket. The bright colors blinked to life. “These work.” He unraveled them and started draping them on the tree branches. “Don’t stop talking. I’m listening.”
Nerves once again jittered her insides. It didn’t make sense. She’d faced near-death experiences with less panic. But sharing her thoughts with Chase, after their spontaneous and passionate kiss earlier today, felt dangerous. Like she was voicing something that couldn’t be taken back.
Then again, boundaries had already been broken. The unspoken attraction humming between them wasn’t going away. Chase, to his credit, had attempted to keep things normal. But eventually they had to talk about it. In her mind, the sooner, the better. Time would only make it more awkward.
“I’ve been stuck in a holding pattern since Mitch’s death. There were so many things I wanted for my life. Children, for example.” She glanced at the baby, sleeping sweetly in her playpen. “Anna’s arrival forced me to realize that maybe those things aren’t as out of reach as I thought.”
Chase paused. “You’re thinking of adopting her?”
“I can’t bear the thought of letting her go, so…yes.” Faith swallowed hard. “I know it won’t be easy—”
“Nothing good worth having ever is.” He placed a hand over hers. A current of warmth coursed up Faith’s arm, and when she lifted her gaze to meet his, the admiration shining from his eyes stole her breath. “You’re going to make an amazing mom, Faith, and if you want to adopt Anna, I’ll do everything I can to help you.”
She was at a loss for words. How could she have been so blind? These feelings she’d been developing for Chase weren’t one-sided after all. His love for her was as clear as a summer's day. Her heart thundered so loud, Faith was certain he could hear it. She took a step toward him. One more and she’d be in his arms. The desire to kiss him again overwhelmed her, but the wary look in Chase’s expression stopped her. Faith froze.
Was she wrong about his feelings?
Chase’s cell phone chimed with an incoming message. He dropped Faith’s hand, the swiftness of his movements catching her off guard. She wrapped her arms around herself. Heat crept into her cheeks as the sense of foolishness swept over her. Heavens, she might have seriously embarrassed herself. First with that kiss and now by misinterpreting Chase’s offer to help with Anna. Faith wanted the floor to swallow her whole.
The last few days had been fraught with emotions. It was making her see things that weren’t there.
Chase frowned as he read the text message. “David says your neighbor, Tom Bradley, is headed up the drive. Were you expecting him?”
Clinging to the distraction like it was a lifeline, Faith shook her head. “Not at all. But maybe he thought of something else pertaining to Hillary and the case.”
