Healing Rain (30 page)
Raina clears the dinner plates, and she and Kas send Mamaw Pierce and Pops to the living room while they wash the dishes. The air from the open windows blows her hair, and Kas brushes his lips across her forehead. After finishing the dishes, they spend the rest of the evening passing bittersweet time with his grandparents before they have to leave the next morning.
The
rooster
crows
, waking Kas and Raina, and they reluctantly pack, not ready to leave their mini-vacation away from the depravity waiting for them. They have breakfast with Pops and Mamaw Pierce before they go. His grandparents walk them to their jeep, his grandmother pulling him into a tight hug as tears well in her eyes. Raina gets teary-eyed watching her telling Kas bye. She pulls Raina into a warm hug next, and Raina hugs her back just as tight, promising to visit soon. Pops gives Kas a squeeze, pulling away, looking him straight in the eye, his voice a combination of a warning and a plea, “Remember what I said, son.”
“I will, Pops,” he assures him.
Pops wraps Raina in a big hug before telling her to come back anytime she wants. They wave as they pull away, both dreading what’s waiting on them back home.
After a few hours, they stop for lunch, then stop later for dinner. Raina knows that Kas is trying to prolong taking her anywhere close to Chris for as long as he can. It’s very late when they get back home, and Raina has fallen asleep in the jeep. Kas opens her door, sliding her out of her seat, into his arms, shooshing her gently when she protests. He carries her to the bedroom and sets her down on the bed, grabbing the hem of her shirt and pulling it over her beautiful, sleepy head.
“I can undress myself,” she yawns.
“I know, but it’s so much more fun when I do it,” he winks at her, causing all of her sleepiness to vacate her body, leaving tingles of anticipation in its wake.
Raina is working with Erik on recovered equipment when Kas pops his head in the room, telling her that he has to follow up on a lead and will have to miss their lunch date. He reminds her to eat, winking at her when she gives him a playful smirk. He glances at Erik, who gives him a quick nod, silently telling him that he’ll make sure she eats, knowing how her appetite has diminished the past few days since they got back from Tennessee.
Raina is painstakingly working on a damaged platter when her cell phone rings. She asks if Erik can answer it for her so she can finish what she’s doing. Erik talks with Kas on the phone for a few minutes before handing her the phone when she’s ready.
“Hey, I thought you were following a lead?”
“I had a few minutes to talk.” She hears Kas’ voice on the other end, worrying at how he sounds a little hoarse.
“Are you getting sick?” she asks, knowing that he’s exhausted, not getting enough rest.
“No, I’m just tired, baby. I need you to meet me at the docks. There’s someone I need you to translate for.”
“I’m in middle of recovering data for Lawson, do you need me right now?”
“Yeah, it’s important.”
Raina slips off her gloves, “Okay, I’m on my way. Love you.”
She hears a pause on the phone before she hears Kas’ voice again, “I love you, too.”
“Do you mind letting Lawson know that I will finish this as soon as I get back, Kas said he needs me to translate, and it’s important.”
“Sure, I’ll walk you to your car,” Erik tells her, grabbing his jacket on the way out the door.
Raina waves to him as she pulls out of the parking deck, driving towards the docks, wondering why Kas needs her to meet him there, he usually brings everyone to the office. Turning on the radio, she sings along as she drives, her mind wandering to Kas and the feel of him making love to her that morning. Pulling into the empty dock, she looks for Kas’ vehicle when she steps out of her car, not seeing it anywhere.
She hears his voice calling her from inside. It takes her eyes a few seconds to adjust to the dim lighting as she walks into the concrete room. Once her sight has acclimated to the darkness, she glances around, calling for Kas. Her heart stops when her eyes land on the person standing in front of her. Her breath leaves her in a rush, and an ice cold shiver violently quakes through her body when she sees Chris staring back at her, a gun pointing straight at her head.
Chris tilts his head, his smile chilling, as his haunting gaze runs over Raina, “Hey, honey, did you miss me?”
I hope you enjoyed
Healing Rain, the Second Novel in the Rain Trilogy
. To read the rest of Kas and Raina’s story, look for
After the Rain, the Final Novel in the Rain Trilogy
. Visit www.karen-annestewart.com for excerpts of my other novels,
Ash to Steele
and
Feel
, and for updates on future works. You can also follow me on Twitter, @SKarenAnne.
To report Human Trafficking or receive information call 1-888-3737-888 or text HELP or INFO to BeFree (233733). Contact information was received from the Polaris Project for the National Human Trafficking Resource Center.
A
New Adult author who doesn’t shy away from hot heroes or sensitive issues.
Karen-Anne Stewart has always adored reading and has now fallen in love with writing. Her written works are The Rain Trilogy: Saving Rain, Healing Rain, and After the Rain, Ash to Steele, and her newly released paranormal romance novel, Feel. Her debut novel, Saving Rain: The First Novel in The Rain Trilogy, was a nominee for the Book Junkie’s Choice Awards, and Saving Rain and After the Rain were nominees for the 2014 RONE Awards.
When Karen-Anne isn’t writing, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, hiking, and visiting new places. She fuels her addiction of creating new stories by her only other addiction, caffeine, and listening to a myriad of musical genres. Tucked away near the Blue Ridge Mountains, Karen-Anne lives with her husband, daughter, three dogs, and their cat. She plans on writing new adult romance as long as her fingers maintain dexterity.