Eloise put a hand to her mouth. “What are you saying?”
He leaned forward, his fingers templed together. “She knows about you, Eloise. And she was so determined to find you that she almost got herself killed. Vincent is out to get both of you now. And if he’s the one who sent those roses, then we have to move you immediately.”
The pulse building inside Eloise’s temple throbbed into overdrive. A silent prayer screamed throughout her mind as she stared at Jackson. “Dear God, what do I do now? What if he finds Kristin?”
She hadn’t realized she’d said it out loud until Jackson’s dark eyebrows lifted in a reaction. The phone rang, causing both of them to jump—Eloise in sheer terror and Jackson into high-alert mode.
Jackson put a hand on her arm. “Whoever it is, act normal. Don’t give anything away.”
She nodded as she went into the kitchen to get the cordless phone. “Hello?”
“Girl, I’m worried about you. Where are you? And where is Meredith? She’s not answering her phone. You girls have a late night or something?”
Eloise steadied herself, the image of Meredith’s body still fresh in her mind. “Hi, Verdie. I’m sorry. I was feeling kind of sick and I thought it would pass. I should have called you back. I might be a while.” She shot Jackson a glance. “If I even make it in.”
“Take your time, honey. I called Timothy in for backup since I can’t get Meredith on the phone. We’re kind of slow today, anyway. Except for this delicious-looking blond-haired, blue-eyed stranger who keeps winking at me, it’s just a few of the locals and me, Timothy and Frank. You rest up. Between my old man and that scrawny teenager, we’ll take care of things. We got plenty of cinnamon rolls turning brown in the oven and I know how to bake bread and cook French toast, even if you make the best in the world. I just wish Meredith would show her pretty face. I could use her help with Mr. Delicious. The man’s already been through a whole pot of coffee and he wants two of those cinnamon rolls.”
Eloise didn’t comment on Meredith. She couldn’t. And she was pretty sure Mr. Delicious was probably one of the FBI agents Jackson was communicating with right now. “Thanks, Verdie. I’ll call you later, I promise.”
“Okay, then. Hey, are you sure you’re all right?”
Eloise wanted to laugh again. She might not ever be all right. “I’m fine. Just a bug or a summer cold.”
She hung up then came back to the living room, her knees too weak to keep her standing straight. “My coworker, checking on me again. I rarely miss work.” Grabbing the arm of the couch, she managed to fall back against it. The dizziness returned, forcing her to put her head down and close her eyes.
Jackson was beside her before she took her next breath. “You don’t look so hot. Are you really sick? Is that why you didn’t go to work?”
Eloise didn’t dare open her eyes. “I don’t feel so hot, either, but I’m okay. And I need to know the rest.” She lifted her head but avoided looking directly at him. “Is…Kristin safe?”
“She is. But she’s stubborn like her mother. She wouldn’t let up. She hired a private investigator to help her track you down. And somebody out there found out about it and tried to harm both of them. But…for now, she’s safe. I might as well warn you, though, she wants to see you and if she tries, that could lead Martino right to your door.” He stopped, shook his head. “She did see you down in Mountain Springs, at the fair. I was there with her.”
“That was just last month.” Eloise shot off the couch. “I won the prize for my Huckleberry pie. I used the money to do some quick renovations at my place here.” She paced around, holding on to the back of the couch. “You were there? Kristin was there? But why—”
“I couldn’t let her talk to you,” Jackson explained without really answering her question. “We were being watched by Martino’s men, and later we saw him there. It was too risky.”
“And now?”
“And now, she knows you’re safe and she knows I’m going to make sure of that. She’s willing to wait, but not for long. She wants to get to know her mother.”
Eloise clutched the couch, her stomach roiling, a white-hot heat of fear flaring through her system. She hadn’t managed to eat any breakfast and now she felt empty, so empty. But this emptiness didn’t come from lack of nourishment. It came from that deep, gaping hole in her heart. She’d missed out on so many things.
“I can’t see her, Jackson. It’s too dangerous for her. I can’t see her ever.”
He got up to come around the couch. “Listen to me. We’re so close to capturing Martino and when we do…it will all be over. You won’t have to hide anymore. Then it won’t be dangerous for either of you.”
“You can’t promise me that,” she said, anger giving her strength. “You promised me that once before, remember? And I almost lost my baby girl. I gave her up to protect her and I won’t change on that. I have to stay away from her for the same reason.”
His hand on her arm steadied her, but the warmth she felt from his touch only added to her misery. Because she’d put him in danger, too. He’d die for her; she knew that. And she couldn’t have that on her conscience. Not now, when she had yet another threat hanging over her like fog over a mountain. If Jackson found out she’d witnessed Meredith’s death, he’d go into double time trying to save her. She couldn’t risk the exposure or the scrutiny. Or the guilt that would come if something happened to Kristin or him.
She whirled, gathering her purse as she headed up the stairs. “You’re right. I have to leave. I have to get out of here.”
“Wait,” Jackson called, stomping to the bottom of the stairs. “You can’t run away without my help, Eloise. Not this time.”
She pivoted to stare down at him. “And you can’t come in here and announce that after twenty-two years of no other choice, Jackson. I’ve done nothing but run since the last time I saw you. And you did suggest that I might need to move.”
He held on to the banister. “Yes, but just to a safe house. I’m here to see that you don’t have to go anywhere permanently again. If you’ll let me help you. I’m telling you—you don’t have to do this by yourself anymore.”
“Yes, I do. I have to protect Kristin. And you.”
He followed her to the landing, grabbing her to pull her around. “Don’t worry about either of us. Kristin is with a good man now. And he knows how to take care of her.”
That declaration floored Eloise. “She’s…happy?”
“I think so. His name is Zane Black and he cares about her. He’s the P.I. I mentioned. He went through the same thing—he was adopted and he recently found his brother.”
“She fell in love with the man who helped her track me down?”
He nodded. “What are the odds?”
His words echoed her earlier thoughts. Eloise knew the odds, though. Hadn’t she fallen in love with her protector all those years ago? But that love hadn’t survived the Mob, even if seeing Jackson again made it feel as strong as ever. She couldn’t give in to that notion; she’d just lose him all over again.
Ignoring the keen loneliness that shrouded her soul, Eloise said, “I’m glad she found someone.”
“Me, too. Zane is crazy about her and now he has his brother, too.”
“Good, then he has his happy ending. And if I leave her alone, maybe Kristin will have one, too.”
“She will. They’re engaged but she wants you at their wedding.”
Eloise