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Unfortunately, the motion broke our kiss. It did give me another chance to gaze into those amazing eyes of hers, though — one green, one blue.
“Is everyone all right?” I asked.
Erin nodded. “Yes, thank goodness. The horses have wandered back too. And the really good news is, my mom talked Captain Edwards into keeping his questioning brief — for today, at least. We have to meet him at the county sheriff’s office tomorrow morning at nine.”
Wow. Edwards was a stickler for protocol, and I’d never, ever known him to grant exceptions.
“Your mother is amazing.”
Erin sighed. “That’s one way to put it.”
“Are you sure she’s not a witch?”
Erin shook her head. “No magic spells, thank goodness. Just good old-fashioned feminine charm. Or dragon charm, I suppose.”
I looked around, looking for Erin’s mother.
“Grandma had to leave,” Claire said sadly. “Too bad.”
“Yeah, too bad,” Erin echoed, though it didn’t sound too sincere. Then she took my hand. “That does give us time to talk, though.”
Claire looked at us, puzzled. “What do you have to talk about?”
Erin’s eyes met mine, and she bit her lip.
Thump, thump, thump,went my heart.
“Um…about tomorrow,” Erin said when Claire fidgeted. “Do you think there will be repercussions from the agency?”
I shook my head. “If Edwards was planning to lock me up, he would have already brought me in. Waiting until tomorrow sounds more like routine questioning for his report.”
She let out a long breath. “Thank goodness.”
“Hey, Claire.” Pippa motioned toward the kitchen. “You want to help me make brownies?”
I could have kissed her — Pippa, I mean. Well, not really — but I was grateful. Claire scampered inside, leaving Erin and me alone.
I raised an eyebrow. “You don’t want to make brownies?”
Erin broke into a smile, then went all serious. “Not just now. We really need to talk.” Then she gulped. “About tomorrow, I mean.”
“Maybe about longer than tomorrow,” I ventured, squeezing her hand.
Her eyes shone and she nodded, making my heart leap. So, whew. I wasn’t the only one thinking long-term.
“That too,” Erin whispered, leading me toward her house.
Chapter Thirty-Two
NASH
As impatient as I was to talk — and do more than talk — I paused on the way over to Erin’s cabin.
“It’s so beautiful here,” I murmured, taking it all in. The ranch. The rocks. The peace…
Erin laughed. “You only figured that out now?”
“No. Well, yes. I mean, everything looks clearer now. Like a dirty window wiped clean.”
