Just One Kiss (Whisper Lake #4) - Barbara Freethy Page 0,80

the frustration and fear in her voice, and despite the wall they'd just rebuilt between them, he couldn't just sit there and do nothing. He pulled her into his arms and held on tight.

"You have to keep the faith," he murmured, happy that she was actually letting him comfort her. "Focus on what you do know. She's alive. She bought gas and food. She didn't ask anyone for help."

Hannah pulled back and lifted her gaze to his. "She wouldn't ask for help if she's running from the cops."

"True. But the important thing is she's all right."

"Yesterday morning she was all right, but I don't know about now. I wish I could do something to help."

"You are doing something. You're taking care of Brett."

"Not tonight I wasn't. I was just having fun."

"Hannah, stop," he said forcefully, refusing to let her wallow in guilt. "You took a short break. That's not a crime. Brett was bonding with his grandmother, which was good for both of them. And whether you'd sat at home all night or gone skating, whatever is happening with Kelly would still be happening."

"I know, but I feel helpless. I hate this feeling of being out of control."

"I get it. But Kelly is alive and well, even if we don't know where she is. One thing we do know is that your sister is a survivor. She's very resourceful. She's been on her own since she was nineteen. She has a son and a daughter on the way. She'll fight for them. She'll do whatever she needs to do."

"Except maybe turn herself in."

"There could be a reason she's buying herself time. She could be trying to build a case for self-defense. Or maybe it's something else entirely. She could have asked you for help, but she didn't. All she wants you to do is take care of Brett, and that's what you're doing."

"Maybe." She didn't sound convinced, but the bleak look was fading from her eyes. He suspected that had more to do with her fighting spirit than his words, but he was still happy to see her bouncing back. "I should go in." She put her hand on the door, then looked back at him. "I know this night has gone a lot of different ways, Jake."

"That's an understatement. Look, we don't have to decide anything tonight, Hannah."

"I think it's already decided," she said with a heaviness in her voice that disturbed him.

"I don't agree. We need to have another conversation. We'll talk tomorrow," he said firmly.

She hesitated, then shrugged. "All right. Good night, Jake."

"Good night," he said, happy she hadn't said good-bye. It gave him hope that he could turn things around. Because he intended to do just that.

He would tell her everything, but first he had to tell someone else.

Chapter Twenty

Hannah woke up Tuesday morning to the ringing of her doorbell, a small boy jumping on her bed, and a splitting headache. She'd gotten stress headaches ever since her dad had died, but she hadn’t had one this bad in a while. Apparently, having sex with Jake had not been the stress release it should have been.

Actually, it was the after-sex part that had created all the tension, as well as the sleepless night she'd spent trying to figure out if she was willing to push Jake away because of something he didn't want to talk about that had happened twelve years ago.

She still hadn't come to a conclusion on that. Thankfully, she had way too many distractions to worry about it at the moment. She heard voices downstairs and realized that her mom was talking to someone. Her mother had been on the pull-out couch in her living room when she'd gotten home last night and said she would just spend the night there, so she didn't have to go out in the cold. She'd offered her mom her bed, but that invitation had been declined, and she'd been too tired to argue.

"Is Santa here?" Brett asked, drawing her attention back to him.

"No, that's not Santa. He won't come until tonight, long after you go to sleep." She slid out of bed and threw on a robe. Her tension eased when she recognized the familiar voice downstairs. "That's your Uncle Tyler. Want to meet your mom's brother?"

Brett nodded and followed her down to the living room. When she saw her brother's smile, happiness flooded through her. He'd made it home. At least, one thing had gone right.

"Tyler," she said, giving him a big hug. Her little