Holding his Hostage - Amy Gamet Page 0,31

I feel for one minute like I’m the same man with a prosthetic that I was with flesh and bone? Letting me into their lives might be a good thing for us all.”

She had so much sympathy for all he’d lost in service to his country, but that didn’t make his analogy fair or his reasoning sound. “I respectfully disagree. Their needs have to come first for a while.”

Laughter came from the back of the camper, where Evelyn was playing a game with the kids. Fiona squealed with delight. “They love her already,” he said. “Does that mean you want her to go, too?”

She shook her head. “Of course not. Can you please just respect what I’m saying here, and not pretend the kids playing Uno with your mother is the same thing as you and me dating? I have too much on my plate already, with David and this money and with Bannon. I just can’t handle any more.”

“You make it sound like I’m part of the problem.”

“No. You’re going out of your way to help us, and I couldn’t be more grateful.”

“Grateful.”

“Yes.”

He drove along for several miles. Had her words stung him? She found that hard to believe. But he was clearly upset. When he spoke again, he surprised her.

“I’m sorry.” He picked up a Twizzler from the open package on the center console. “You’re right.” He grabbed another and handed it to her. “Truce?”

She took it and nodded, torn between feeling relieved and suspicious. “Truce.”

He exited the highway and continued on a winding mountain road, the sun coming out to shine on the winter woods. Her heart was heavy, wishing she could have given him a different answer, but she knew she was making the only choice she could in this circumstance. This wasn’t about what she wanted, but what was best for her children.

Sloan picked up his phone and handed it to her. “Can you call one of those car rental places? The one that will pick you up. We could use a car with some get-up-and-go. We’ll leave this beast with my mother.”

“You sure there’s one out here?”

“We’re not far from civilization, believe it or not. The address of the cabin is in my wallet.”

She picked it up from the console and opened the billfold, doing her best to ignore the outline of what was clearly a condom. She did an internet search on his phone and found he was right, there was a rental car company less than ten miles from here. She placed the call, wondering against her better judgment when he would end up using that condom, and with whom. “They can be at the cabin in an hour.”

He nodded, turning off the main road and onto a more narrow one that followed a stream, its water rushing past snow-covered ground and snow-laden trees. The camper rounded a wide turn, a log cabin with a wraparound porch coming into view.

Jo unbuckled her seat belt. “This is beautiful.”

“It is.” She turned to him, his stare heavy and pointed. He wasn’t talking about the cabin, he was talking about her. Her face grew hot. How was she going to stay clear of him once the children were no longer traveling with them? One single look, and she was melting into the ground.

He moved to get out, breaking their connection. “Come on, Buckley, I’ll show you around.”

19

Joanne pulled a set of plaid flannel sheets out of the linen closet. Sloan said Wiseman’s cabin was now an Airbnb and well-stocked and ready for guests. “Fiona should be okay sleeping here with April. But if she wakes up during the night, I usually just let her climb in bed with me. Don’t judge.” She tossed the fitted sheet over the bed, and Evelyn grabbed the opposite corner, pulling it around the mattress.

“I wouldn’t dream of it, dear.” Evelyn winked.

“She’s been having nightmares lately.”

“I imagine so. You’ve all been through a great deal. I’m sorry for your loss.”

“Thank you. We were separated, but it’s still hard.” The anxiety Jo had been carrying deep in the muscles of her shoulders and back eased a bit. “Thank you for doing this. The kids really need some downtime, just to sit around and watch TV, maybe make some cookies, even if it’s just for a few days.”

“It seems like you could use some of that, too.”

Jo blew out air. “As soon as I’m able. I’m sorry about your trip.”

“There’ll be other trips.” She waved her hand. “Sloan filled me in a