Every Move She Makes (18 page)

“Well, I’m grateful to you both for the support.”

“Speaking of support, you’ve been terrific this weekend. I know Erica has been a drill sergeant when it comes to this party. Thanks for putting up with her.”

“I get the feeling the cost is worrying her. If she needs some help—”

“Thanks, but we have it covered. Ford realized the expenses got out of control and is going to cover the excess. Erica’s relieved, and so am I.” He gave her a half smile. “Now, what can I do to help take that strained look off your face? Would you like a glass of wine? It might calm your nerves.”

“I had one, but I set it somewhere. Anyway, alcohol isn’t going to help. Nothing but seeing Lark will steady me at this point. Darn that girl! Where do you suppose she is?”

* * * *

“Mind if I join you?” Kane slid onto an empty chair at the table. The missing kids were sitting on the deck of a lakefront restaurant eating fried zucchini and drinking something pink and icy. He reached for Lark’s glass, took a sip and grimaced. “Unless I miss my guess, not one of you is twenty-one.” His eyes narrowed. “I suggest you pay your tab and head back to the party before I report you to the manager for underage drinking.”

“Oh, God, this is so embarrassing.” Lark’s face turned pinker than the drink. “I can’t believe my mom sent you after me.”

“Your mom is worried sick. I’m going to let one of these gentlemen pay for your drink. We’re leaving. After yesterday, Rachel doesn’t deserve one extra minute of anxiety.”

“Fine.” Lark stood and smiled shyly at the kids around the table. “Sorry I got you guys busted.”

“Hey, no worries.” A tall boy pulled a wad of cash from his pocket. “We’ll see you back at the party.”

“I doubt that. My mom will probably lock me in my room for the rest of my life.”

“It would be no more than you deserve.” Kane took her arm and led her down the steps to the beach. He stopped and flipped open his phone. “What’s your mom’s cell number?”

“What, you don’t have it memorized?”

“Don’t push me, Lark.”

When she rattled off the number, Kane punched it into his phone.

“Did you find her?” The panic in Rachel’s voice sent his anger level toward her daughter up another notch.

“She’s fine. I’ll bring her back in a few minutes, but first we’re going to have a talk.”

“Are you kidding me?” Lark screeched.

Kane smiled in grim amusement at the girl’s protest. “I won’t go into what she was doing. She’ll tell you all about it when she gets back.”

Rachel’s sigh was heartfelt. “As long as she’s safe.”

“We won’t be long.” He clicked the phone shut.

“I don’t have to talk to you.” Lark’s blue eyes flashed. “I’ll go back to the house on my own.”

“First of all, you don’t go anywhere alone while the maniac who attacked your mother is on the loose. Is that clear?”

“Why?” Her tone was hostile. “It’s Mom the guy wants, not me. I’m not in any danger.”

“Are you sure about that?”

“Well, duh. He’s got a thing for Jordan Hale, remember. I’m nothing like her.”

“Maybe not, but he might use you to get to Rachel.”

Lark’s eyes widened. “That’s not going to happen, is it?”

“Look, I’m not trying to scare you, but you need to be careful. This guy is a predator, and he’s made it clear he’s willing to take considerable risk in his pursuit of your mother. At this point, I wouldn’t rule anything out. You need to be smart, and that means always telling your mother or me where you’re going and never leaving the house alone.”

“I wasn’t alone today.”

“No, but your mother didn’t know that. She was really worried, and she doesn’t need that kind of aggravation.”

“Fine, I should have told her, but if I had she wouldn’t have let me go.”

“Come on, Lark. Rachel doesn’t strike me as unreasonable.”

She scuffed her sandal across the rocks. “She treats me like a baby.”

“Can you blame her? You’re fourteen, for God’s sake. What were you thinking, drinking with those kids? And why in hell did the waitress serve you? Even if you have a fake ID, it would be obvious to anyone you aren’t twenty-one.”

She scowled. “You don’t have to swear.”

“Don’t avoid the question.”

“For your information, I don’t have a fake ID. I ordered a virgin drink.”

“Honey, I know tequila when I taste it.” He stared down at her mutinous face. “Oh, I get it. One of the kids snuck in the booze. I should haul their asses—excuse me—their butts down to the sheriff’s station just to scare some sense into them.”

“You wouldn’t! Kane, they’d know I ratted on them.”

“Ah, hell, let their parents worry about their delinquent behavior. They aren’t my problem. You are.”

“No, I’m not.” Lark fisted her hands on her hips. “Just because you’re doing my mom doesn’t give you the right to butt into my life.”

“You have quite a mouth on you, young lady.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m going to say this once, and you’d better listen. What your mother and I may or may not be doing isn’t anyone’s business but our own.”

“I notice you didn’t deny it.”

“I didn’t confirm it either. It’s not your business.”

“It is my business. She’s my mom. I don’t want some jerk—namely you—thinking you can act like my dad or something.”

“I’m not trying to be your father.”

“You could have fooled me. This lecture seems awfully parent-like. You could have brought me home and let Mom yell at me. Now I’m going to have to listen to it twice.”

“The only reason I’m still talking is to impress upon you the seriousness of the danger. I was hoping to avoid upsetting Rachel even more. Christ, you’re a piece of work.”

Lark smiled. “Thank you.”

Kane stared at her in consternation but couldn’t suppress a reluctant chuckle. “Look, can we call a truce for your mother’s sake? I’m not saying you have to like me, but could you try to be civil? This situation with the stalker isn’t going to end when we leave Tahoe, and if I have to maintain armed warfare with you indefinitely, it’ll wear me out.”

“What do you mean, indefinitely?”

“I mean, you’ll be seeing a lot of me until we catch the guy. I promised your mom I would keep you all safe.”

“Isn’t that what the police are for?”

“I am the police.”

Lark stared at him, eyes widening. “Do you think you’re going to move in with us?”

Kane couldn’t suppress a spurt of satisfaction.
That got her attention.
“Let’s call it keeping an eye on you—up-close and personal.”

“Mom agreed to this?”

“She will when I tell her. She knows I’m planning to come back to Vine Haven when you leave here, but we didn’t get into any specific arrangements.”

Lark’s smile grew. “She won’t allow it. What kind of example would she be setting if she let you move into the house after knowing you for a week?”

“All it would prove is she cares about your safety and her own. Think of me as a bodyguard.”

“Grandma will have a cow. Nope. I don’t have a thing to worry about.”

“What does Olivia have to do with this?”

“Not Grandma Olivia. Grandma Audrey. She won’t stand for her daughter shacking up with some guy she barely knows. Grandma Audrey has strong opinions on that subject, and she tells everyone what she thinks.”

Kane gritted his teeth. “We aren’t shacking up.”

The girl gave him a very adult smile. “Sure you aren’t. I’ve seen the way you look at my mom. I may not be as smart as Ivy, but I know you and Mom are more than just good buddies.”

He rubbed a hand across his face and sighed. “I thought Ivy was the precocious one in the family.”

“She is, but I know people. It’s a talent.”

“Your talent didn’t tell you your mom would be angry if you left the party without permission?”

“Sure, but I decided it was worth it. You know, like the hair and the tattoo. Everything has a price. For example, the price you pay for dating my mom is me. That might be more than you bargained for.”

“You may be right. Now, about that truce?”

“I would consider it if you leave out the part about the tequila when you tell Mom what I was doing.”

“I’m not going to tell her a thing.”

“You’re not?” Lark’s expression brightened.

“Nope. You’re going to do it.”

“That sucks.”

Kane patted her shoulder then turned them both down the beach. When she didn’t shrug him off immediately, his spirits lifted. “Sometimes life sucks. You just have to roll with it.”

“Is that what you do?”

He nodded. “Do me a favor and try not to worry your mom again the way you did this afternoon.”

“I’ll think about it.”

“That’s all I can ask.”

He’d given it his best shot. The rest was up to Lark.

Late Monday morning Kane squeezed his Jeep into the driveway next to Rachel’s SUV. Car doors slammed.

“Nice place.”

She glanced over at the pale blue Victorian complete with a wide front porch, wicker furniture and gingerbread trim. “We like it.”

“Very Norman Rockwell, right down to the white picket fence and rose bushes. It suits you.”

“Old Norman probably wouldn’t approve of the overgrown lawn. I need to get out the mower.”

“Your dog doesn’t mind.”

Daisy lay in the middle of the yard, wiggling vigorously as she scratched her back on the grass.

“She isn’t the brightest bulb in the pack.” Rachel turned back toward the vehicles.

Sleeping bags spilled onto the driveway, scattered everywhere by Daisy’s mad scramble for freedom.

“I suppose we should unpack.”

“We don’t have time for that.” Jade crossed the porch and raced down the walkway. In less than five minutes, she’d changed into soccer clothes and cleats and carried a bag lunch. “You have to take me straight to soccer camp, remember? We’re late already.”

“How could she possibly forget?” Lark stepped over a suitcase. “You reminded her at least ten times on the way home.”

“I did promise.” Rachel sighed. “Okay, back into the car.”

Lark gave her an incredulous look. “I’ll stay here.”

“Sorry, not without an adult around.”

“Mom, I’m a little old to need a babysitter.”

“I’m sorry, Lark, but I’m not leaving you here alone until the police catch the person stalking me. We’ve been over this.”

“You’re only going to be gone fifteen minutes. What’s going to happen in fifteen minutes?”

Kane dropped an armful of sleeping bags on the front porch. “Hopefully nothing, but we aren’t taking any chances. Let’s go, Ivy. Hop back into the car.”

Lark crossed her arms over her chest and cast a dark look his way. “If you don’t want us left alone, then you stay with us. I’m sick of the car.”

“Get in.” Kane frowned. “I’m not letting your mom drive around by herself either.”

“This sucks!”

“Yes, it does. Hopefully it’ll be over soon.”

“It better be.” Lark kicked a bag out of the way and climbed into the backseat.

Ivy sat next to her and pointed. “What about Daisy? Shouldn’t she come, too?”

“Daisy will be fine in the yard.” Rachel slammed the car door.

“What, you don’t think the whack job is going to dognap her?” Lark’s tone dripped sarcasm.

Rachel pulled out onto the street and headed away from the center of town. “This is going to be difficult for all of us, Lark. We need to make the best of it.”

“I bet you and Kane plan to.”

He could practically hear Rachel’s teeth grinding.

“Lark.” Rachel’s voice held a warning.

“Fine. Whatever. I’ll try to be cheerful while you have him babysitting me like a four-year-old. Are you happy?”

“Ecstatic.”

Kane looked over his shoulder. “Are you always this much fun?”

“Sometimes she’s worse.” Jade jumped out of the car as soon as it stopped next to the soccer fields. “See you.”

Rachel shut off the engine. “I’m going to go talk to her coach. I’ll be back in a minute.”

After she left, Kane turned in his seat. “I know this isn’t fun, Lark, but can you lighten up on your mom?”

“It’s always all about Mom. What about my feelings? I’m the one who has to have a babysitter twenty-four seven.”

Ivy’s brows lowered. “So do I.”

“You’re eight. You have to be watched, anyway. You won’t even notice the difference.”

Kane sighed. “Sacrificing a little personal freedom is better than getting abducted, don’t you think?”

“What I think is you’re both overreacting.”

He eyed her steadily. “Maybe, but I’d rather err on the side of safety. All I’m asking is you cut us some slack. We’ll all be happier if we work together.”

“Not Lark.” Ivy’s eyes sparkled. “Lark is happiest when she’s making someone mad.”

“Drop dead, brat.”

“Ivy, you aren’t helping.” Kane studied Rachel’s youngest. Her angelic appearance was definitely misleading.

Lark’s lips curved in a satisfied smirk. “See, I’m not the only problem child in this family. Little Miss Innocence is a pain in the butt. And don’t get me started on Jade. She’s even dorkier than Ivy. If you’re smart, you’ll dump all of us.”

“Lucky for you, I don’t quit. Here comes your mother. Let’s surprise the hell out of her and get along for the ride home.”

Ivy giggled hysterically, and even Lark smiled.

Rachel opened the door and glanced from Kane to the girls. “What’s so funny?”

“Nothing. What’s next on the agenda?”

“We go home and unpack. Then Ivy has a swim lesson. I also need to go to the grocery store.”

Lark groaned. “Wow, I don’t know if I can take that much excitement. Can I hang out with Grandma?”

“I guess so, but you have a dance class this afternoon.”

“I haven’t forgotten. It’s obviously going to be the highlight of my day. I’ll grab my stuff, and you can drop me at Grandma’s when you take Ivy to her swim lesson.”

“All right, but I was hoping to avoid telling Grandma and Grandpa about the stalker until tomorrow or the next day.”

“I promise, my lips are zipped. I certainly don’t want to be the one to break the news.”

Rachel rolled her eyes. “Fine, are you happy now?”

“It beats following you around a grocery store.” Lark sounded a little more cheerful. “Maybe I’ll hang with Aunt Sharon in the gift shop. I want to talk to her about working there this summer. It’ll be a good way to earn some money.”