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I almost died. Worse than that thought was the fact thatDylanalmost died. It would have sucked if that had been the last time she’d ever crossed a street, but Dylan? No. That boy had a long and happy life coming to him, and he was going to have it.
Thanks to Reardon.
Brandy looked at him now, standing quietly beside her, his hand wrapped, but not looking any worse for wear after rescuing them. When something grabbed her around the waist and whisked her onto the grass, she’d been ready to put up a fight. She wasn’t used to being manhandled. She wasn’t used to being handled at all. The last man to touch her had been Hank and she was still furious about that.
Hank.
She grabbed Sheriff Olsen’s forearm. “Do you think it was Hank Swift?”
“He was certainly the first suspect to pop into my head, if that truck was targeting you specifically, that is,” the sheriff said. “We’ll check it out, Brandy.” His gaze shifted to Reardon. “How long have you been in town…Reardon, was it?”
Brandy shook her head. “He saved us, Sheriff. Don’t go getting all suspicious of the new guy.”
“Can’t help it. Suspicious is in my nature.” He narrowed his eyes at Reardon.
“Give me a call if you find out anything pertaining to Hank,” Brandy said.
“Will do.” With one more glance at Reardon, Sheriff Olsen joined his officers at the scene.
Brandy turned to Reardon, about to tell him not to worry about Olsen, but Meredith pushed through the crowd of onlookers, a wild look on her face.
“My God, are you all right?” She didn’t wait for an answer, but dropped her bags to the ground and yanked Brandy into the tightest hug ever. “Where’s Dylan? Is he…? He’s not…?” She stepped back from Brandy and swiveled in a circle.
“I’m right here, Gram.” Dylan ran over and burrowed into the embrace. The three of them stood like that for a few moments.
“I only saw your SUV,” Meredith said through tears. “I thought you were both gone. I thought the universe had taken everything from me.”
“Nah,” Brandy said around a tight throat. “The universe says you’re stuck with us.”
Meredith released them and wiped her eyes and cheeks. “Good. I want to be stuck with both of you. For as long as possible.”
“I guess you need to give us a ride home, Gram.” Dylan pointed to their crushed SUV currently being doused with water by some firemen.
“Are you sure neither of you needs medical attention?” Meredith narrowed her eyes at both of them.
“No, we’re fine because of…” She turned around, but Reardon wasn’t where she had last seen him. Where had he gone? She wasn’t done thanking him. She… sheowedhim. Her life. Dylan’s life. Dinner at least.
“Who are you looking for, honey?” Meredith asked.
“Reardon.” Dylan looked around. “He’s like a superhero!”
“He’s the one who pushed us out of the way.” Brandy got on her tiptoes and scanned the crowd, a hollow feeling coming over her when she didn’t see him. Had he walked away because of the sheriff’s suspicions? That wouldn’t do. She couldn’t have him believing they thought he’d caused the accident.
He was their savior.
When she caught sight of his crop of black hair heading away from the scene, she turned back to Meredith. “Watch Dylan for a minute. I think I see him.”
Meredith nodded and coaxed Dylan toward her car. “We’ll wait for you.”
Brandy took off, pushing her way through the crowd as they all tried to talk to her. She had to get to Reardon. She couldn’t lose sight of him. She was almost desperate to stop him from leaving, which was stupid because she didn’t even know him. He was this stranger who’d prevented their untimely deaths. This beautiful stranger who felt so familiar.
“Reardon!” she called out.
He faltered in his fast gait for a moment then turned around. Dylan was right. The man did have eyes like Alator’s. Inhumanly gorgeous eyes that went with an inhumanly gorgeous body.
She jogged to catch up to him, wanting very much to feel his arm around her waist again, to be in a tangle of limbs with him on the grass again.
What?She shook her head and focused on his face, which didn’t in any way get her thoughts out of the gutter.
