Chapter Twenty-Six
Taylor woke to an empty bed but her heart was full and happy. Her daughter was safe. Her body was sated. In fact, muscles ached that she didn’t even know existed. They’d made love three more times during the night…four if you counted him pleasuring her with his mouth, and she definitely did. She lost count of how many times she climaxed but it was in the double-digits. He was amazing and insatiable and her dream come true.
All that aerobic activity added to the fact that she hadn’t eaten much in days worked up her appetite. She was ravenous. She tossed back the covers and practically floated to the bathroom to shower. The hot water felt good on her overused muscles. Soaking in a hot tub would do wonders…soaking with Dante in a hot tub… She shook her head to banish the image. She was turning into a sex addict.
After brushing her teeth and securing her hair into a ponytail, she brushed on some lip gloss and headed downstairs. Even though she wasn’t a coffee drinker, the scent of a freshly brewed pot guided her to her kitchen. “Good mor…ning.” She tried to mask her disappointment with a breezy smile.
“Not who you were expecting, huh?” Sawyer Oldham smirked, lifting a cup to his mouth for a sip. “You’ve wounded my fragile ego.”
Taylor snorted. The man was gorgeous and he knew it. “I wasn’t sure you’d be coming back.”
“Until Sweeney’s recaptured, I’ll be here.” He paused before taking another sip. “And in case you’re wondering, he went for a run.”
On cue, the door opened and Dante walked in, his spectacular body glistening with sweat. He pulled earbuds out and wrapped them around his iPod. He met her gaze and smiled. Time stood still. The whole world stopped. Her breathing sped up and her body tingled with awareness and need. She didn’t even realize she was moving. It was as if they were two poles of a magnet, inexorably drawn together by an unstoppable force.
Sawyer cleared his throat. “Suddenly I feel like a third wheel,” he muttered. He grabbed the newspaper and his mug. “I’ll just be in there.” He indicated the office and headed inside, slamming the door in his wake.
“Good morning,” Dante rumbled, his voice low and gravelly and so damn sexy. She wanted him again, sore body and all, any way and every way she could have him. “I’d kiss you but I’m all sweaty.”
“I don’t care.”
She reached for him. He yanked her against him and covered her mouth with his. The kiss was long and slow and deep and breathtakingly thorough. She was just about to suggest they go upstairs when the doorbell chimed. They broke apart breathing heavily. He leaned his forehead against hers and brushed a thumb across her lower lip. “We’ll finish this later.”
She watched him disappear upstairs to shower. The bell rang again, followed by a knock. Inhaling deeply, she slid into her ice queen persona as she opened the door. Seeing Maureen Davenport standing on her porch was like a bucket of cold water on her libido.
Before she could speak, the woman breezed inside. Taylor left the door open, hoping she could send her on her way quickly and painlessly. She still hadn’t forgiven her for pleading Cassie’s case, but she allowed her back in the house…when her parents were around to deal with her. She turned to face her mother’s friend, who looked anxious and upset as she paced and twisted her hands together. “What’s wrong, Maureen?”
“I can’t get in touch with your parents,” she fretted. “Are they here?” She glanced around the house.
Here came her first fib. She couldn’t look her in the eye so she fixed her gaze on the floor. “Between Grace’s abduction and Cassie’s betrayal and subsequent disappearance, it’s taken a toll on my mother. She doesn’t want to see anyone. They’re in seclusion.”
“Oh, no. I was afraid it would wear her down. But she’ll want to see me, I’m her best friend,” she argued.
“Not right now she doesn’t, Maureen. She specifically said she doesn’t want to see anyone.”
“Taylor, I’m worried about her.”
Her anger fled. No matter what Maureen had done, she was loyal to her mother. “I’m sorry.”
She sighed. “Will you at least let her know I was here and that I want to see her when she’s feeling stronger?”
“I’ll tell her.”
Maureen narrowed her eyes. “You look better today. Rested. You’re practically glowing. Your parents said you weren’t feeling well so you stayed in bed yesterday.”
Taylor fought a blush. “I took some pills the doctor prescribed.”
“So you finally got some sleep?”
Car doors slammed, saving her from spouting more lies. Technically, she didn’t get much sleep at all last night. They both turned to see Gina, Marla and Laurie approaching. Her friends had made a daily vigil to support her since Grace disappeared. She hated having to lie to them, too. They’d stood by her, held her hand, let her cry on their shoulders. It felt like a betrayal to look into their worried eyes and pretend that her daughter was still missing.
“Well, I’ll be going,” Maureen said as she slipped on sunglasses and breezed out the door. “Please have your mom contact me,” she called out over her shoulder.
Taylor opened her arms to hug her friends in turn.
“It’s so good to see you. How are you feeling today?” Gina asked with concern.
“We were so worried about you yesterday,” Laurie added.
“The female agent told us you collapsed,” Marla chimed in.
A breakdown from exhaustion was the story they were feeding everyone about her disappearance yesterday. It was plausible since she hadn’t been eating or sleeping. Maggie told everyone that Taylor had been medicated and was sleeping upstairs.
“I’m better, thank you.”
“Any word?” Gina asked.
“No, but they’re getting closer.”
“Oh Taylor, I don’t know how you are holding up,” Marla said.
She ushered them inside, hoping the sound of her stomach growling wasn’t obvious. She didn’t know how to explain her sudden voracious appetite.
#
It wasn’t even that late but the events of last night and the previous nights were catching up with Taylor. She could barely keep her eyes open. Most of the COBRA Security staff moved back to their compound, taking their equipment with them. Now that Grace and Kai were safe, they needed to concentrate on the cases they’d neglected to find the children. Dorian stayed to work with Dante and Sawyer on tracking Sweeney down. Thankfully, Nancy stayed, too. Every once in a while, her phone would still ring. She hoped the reporters would move on to another story but a missing child was big news. She missed a call from Sweeney yesterday and he hadn’t called all day. She hoped he’d given up now that he no longer had her daughter. Nancy said he’d been livid when he couldn’t talk to her. He demanded to know why and Nancy fed him the breakdown story. He’d laughed so long and hard, Nancy hung up on him. He didn’t call back.
Her doorbell buzzed again. With a sigh, she heaved to her feet and checked the peephole. Jane Wallis was standing on her porch holding a heavy-looking dish. She hadn’t stopped by since the first night of Grace’s disappearance. Pasting on a smile, she opened the door. “Hi, Jane. Thanks for stopping by.”
“Hi, Taylor. Any news?”
Taylor shook her head and hoped her nose wouldn’t grow with all the lies. Jane started to cry and it made Taylor question all over again why she singled out her daughter.
Jane waved a hand. “I’m sure you are wondering why I’m crying when I don’t know Grace very well. May I come in?”
Against her better judgement, Taylor stepped aside and ushered her inside.
Jane handed her the bowl. “It’s macaroni and cheese…an old family recipe.” She smiled tentatively. “Comfort food.”
“Thanks, I appreciate it.” She slid the container into the fridge and ushered Jane to the couch in the great room. Once they were seated, Jane spoke. “I have…had a daughter.” She swallowed and composed herself. “She was taken from me when she was two. Sh—she looked like Grace with red hair and blue eyes. When I saw Grace for the first time, I thought I was staring at my daughter…or what she would look like now.”
Taylor moved closer and grasped her hands. “Oh, Jane, I’m so sorry, I didn’t know.”
“You wouldn’t have known. I don’t tell people.” She pulled one hand free to dab at her eyes with a tissue. “I’ve tried to move forward but when Grace was abducted, it brought it all rushing back.”
“Did you find her?”
Jane nodded and her eyes flooded with tears. “Her father took her. We were in a heated custody battle. He said if he couldn’t have her, no one could. He, um…” she paused, gathering her strength. “He drove to his brother’s house where he was staying, parked in the garage and left the car running. They both died of carbon monoxide poisoning.”
Taylor’s eyes filled and she hugged her close. “I am so sorry.” She couldn’t even imagine the woman’s pain.
“Thank you,” Jane said, tears streaking down her face. “And I’m sorry I made you uncomfortable.”
A protest jumped to her lips but before she could speak, Jane held up a hand stopping her. “When I saw Grace, it was like looking at Bethany. It was almost if I could forget that she was gone.” She looked away. “I came very close to taking my own life. If the paramedics hadn’t arrived in time, I would’ve succeeded. I was hospitalized on suicide watch and spent many hours with a counselor. I finally decided that if I was going to go on living, I had to find a way to honor my daughter’s memory. But I needed a change of scenery. My cousin lives here so I packed up and moved. I’d been a teacher in Colorado, but I didn’t feel like I could handle a full-time position right away. When I hired on as an aide and then saw Grace, I thought it was Bethany.”
“Look, Jane, I didn’t…”
“Please, don’t apologize. I had a feeling it was you who requested that I be moved and I completely understand. If someone had paid undue attention to Bethany, I would’ve done the same thing. We have to protect our c-children.” She covered her face and wept.
Taylor wrapped an arm around to comfort her and didn’t try to stop her tears as they flowed. “It doesn’t excuse what I did and I’m truly sorry. I jumped to conclusions without the facts.”
When Jane composed herself, Taylor handed her a dry tissue. “I’m sorry for what you’ve been through. I’d like for us to be friends.”
Jane smiled sadly as she dabbed at her eyes. “I’d like that, too. But I’m leaving soon.”
“Why?”
Jane clasped her hands in her lap. “The school year is over and I’m restless. I need to keep moving until I find a reason not to run anymore.” She stood and arranged her purse strap over her shoulder.
“I truly am sorry, Jane,” Taylor said, feeling helpless and petty and mean.
“Don’t be. You’re an incredible mother, Taylor. You put your child first, as it should be.” She turned when she reached the door. “I’m staying until they find Grace, so I’ll be around if you need to talk.” She grabbed Taylor’s hands. “I do know what it feels like for your child to be missing.”
“I appreciate it.” Taylor pulled her in for one last hug. When Jane left, she stood in the middle of the living room, her heart breaking for the woman. She always thought there was something sad about her, but after seeing her pay so much attention to her daughter, her first response had been to remove her from their lives. Now she wished she’d taken the time to get to know her. If there was anyone who needed a friend, it was Jane.
She couldn’t imagine the pain she must feel and live with daily. The hopelessness, the helplessness. She felt like a fraud accepting this woman’s sympathy when her daughter was right now headed to Florida to eat cotton candy with Mickey Mouse.