by Reus, Katie
“Joe’s eighteen, Mac.” He was a grown man, not a kid, so it changed things from a legal standpoint.
“I know I can’t file a missing person’s report yet because of his age.”
“That doesn’t mean we can’t do anything. Do you know what area he was gigging in? What boat was he on? And do you know the name of the girl he was supposed to be meeting up with?”
The tension in Mac’s shoulders eased and he quickly gave Lincoln all the information.
“I’ll reach out to all the local fishermen, call the marinas and tell them to keep an eye out for him. And I’ll go talk to the girl.”
“She’s a few years older than him. She’s twenty-three, not exactly a girl.” Mac’s mouth curved up slightly as he shook his head. “My brother apparently has more game than both me and Dylan.”
Lincoln simply snorted and headed out, already making the first phone call by the time he’d made it to his cruiser.
The probability was high that Joe had hooked up with the woman he’d been seeing and turned off his phone because he was having too much fun. But on the chance that wasn’t the case, Lincoln was going to do his due diligence. He looked out for his town, loved Verona Bay. They’d seen enough tragedy recently, and he sure as hell didn’t want them to see any more.
Chapter 9
“That was a great class everybody,” Autumn said as she stepped away from her own easel. She taught at the cultural community center two nights a week and over the summer she taught week-long classes. Not every single week, but for most of the summer. It was a good way to give back to the community that had embraced her, do something she loved—and she got paid for it.
Plus the people in charge of the center had been very accommodating about not using her photograph in any online type of advertisements. She’d simply had to tell the director of the board that she had an ongoing stalker issue and that was that. And it wasn’t very far from the truth.
“Pretty sure my llama looks more like a yak,” Serenity said as she started cleaning her brushes.
Autumn stepped around and looked at her friend’s colorful painting. She blinked once, and bit back a grin. “As long as you had fun, that’s all that matters.”
“So no comforting words that all art is beautiful?” Serenity raised her dark eyebrows as she started drying her cleaned brushes.
Autumn snickered. “I was going to say it looks like a cross between a dolphin and a yak. You know you’re only here for the free wine anyway.”
Serenity let out a startled laugh. “It’s true. Pretty sure even Harper wouldn’t let me hang this monstrosity in her room.”
“Now that kid has some talent,” Autumn said, as around them, people started packing up to head out. Everyone was so good about cleaning up so while she’d have to stay afterward to tidy things, it would require minimal effort before she could head home. It was one of the reasons she didn’t mind teaching mid-week on a Wednesday.
Though tonight she’d been distracted, trying to wrap her mind around being pregnant—and everything that entailed, including telling Lincoln. She’d just found out, so she wasn’t keeping it from him, but she couldn’t figure out a good way to say “hey, I’m preggo and you’re the father.” Ugh.
“She loved the classes she took this summer with you and has been begging me to put her in something after school. I swore I would never overwhelm her with extracurricular activities but she’s been pushing hard for this.”
“The classes I teach now are too advanced for her but I can recommend a couple really great instructors here for her age group.”
“Thanks, I’ll text or email you later.”
She nodded, smiling and moving on to Adeline’s painting, which was…incredible. She’d apparently eschewed tonight’s theme of animals and gone with a Verona Bay sunset. The water was choppy and wild and she’d used shades of gold to give it a sparkling effect. “This is amazing,” she murmured. “Really, really good. I didn’t realize you painted so well.”
Adeline shrugged. “My mom was into painting.” She paused, cleared her throat, and Autumn thought she might continue down that path, but then she said, “You feel like going to grab a drink or pie after you finish up?”
“I want to say yes, but I’m pretty beat from the day. And I’ve got to pick Shadow up from my neighbor’s. She’s having a puppy date this evening.” She also had to get up fairly early for school tomorrow. Another reason she was thinking of taking the job offered by the cultural center; the flexible hours. They were a little bit later—which would be nice. She’d also get to bring Shadow with her to work on occasion, which would be really great. But…she now had a bun in the oven and had things to think about, like healthcare. It was a little bit too much to worry about right this moment, however. Especially since she needed to talk to Lincoln first.
“I get it, and thanks for another good class. I had fun tonight. But I really want to paint nudes. And I can think of some perfect models we could get in here.”
“You’re just a pervert.”
Lifting a shoulder, Adeline grinned. “I’m not saying you’re wrong.”
Shaking her head, she moved on to Maris Carson—a wonderful woman in her late forties who ran a shelter for abused women. She’d painted an adorable cluster of flamingos with blue and purple feathers instead of pink. It was whimsical, something the world needed more of. “I shouldn’t have favorites, but I love this,” she murmured to her friend.
“I do too,” Maris said matter-of-factly. “I think I’m going to hang this in my office. So are we still on for next month?”
“I’ll be there—as long as you bring that biscotti.” She was kidding, she’d be there regardless, but Maris had brought her homemade biscotti to the last painting class Autumn had taught at the shelter and it had been mouthwateringly delicious.
“Sounds like a fair deal. I’ll be by tomorrow to pick up my painting.” Maris gave her a quick hug, then hurried out.
She spoke to a few more people as they packed up and before long, it was just Autumn and a math teacher from the school. Stella was standing in front of her canvas, slightly trembling as she knocked over her cup of paintbrushes.
Autumn hurried over and stilled her when she tried to pick them up. “Don’t worry about the brushes. I’ve got this. Are you feeling okay?” she asked, even as she guided her to a seat at the table behind the canvases.
Stella didn’t protest, just collapsed into one of the chairs. “I just got an alert on my phone that those bank robbers escaped.”
Stella had been there at the bank that day with Autumn and the others. Autumn knew about that, Lincoln had already told her. “The Feds will catch them,” she said, reaching out and squeezing her hands in her own. “They know who they are now and have their faces, so they’ll be recognized or caught on camera.”
“What if they come back?” Stella asked, her dark eyes wide.
“To Verona Bay? Why on earth would they do that? No way, these guys are going to head north, I guarantee it. They’re long gone from Florida.” Or at least she hoped so.
Stella nodded but then started trembling, taking in shallow, unsteady breaths.
Oh hell. Autumn recognized a panic attack when she saw one. “Come on, bend over a little bit more and put your head between your legs. Take a deep breath.” As Stella did, Autumn hurried to her desk and grabbed her cell phone. Instead of calling the station, she called Lincoln, who thankfully picked up immediately. The man was a steady rock.
“Hey, what’s up?”
“Are you working tonight?”
“I was just about to leave the station.”
“I’m down at the cultural center and Stella is having a bit of a panic attack about those guys escaping.” The sheriff’s station was only a few blocks away. “Maybe if you talk to her… I don’t know, it might make her feel better,” she whispered the last part. “I hate to put this on you but she’s known you a long time.” She’d actually been Lincoln’s math teacher, and while Autumn g
enuinely liked the older woman, she didn’t know her well.
“I’m on my way.”
She set her phone down and hurried back to Stella, who was now sitting up straight, her breathing steadier. Her dark eyes were more focused now as well.
“You want some water? Or maybe soda?” The sugar would probably be good for her.
“Coke would be good.”
By the time she’d grabbed one from the employees-only area and made it back into the room, Lincoln was already there, not in uniform. So he really must’ve been about to leave, or maybe he’d even already been on his way home.
He really was good at what he did, had worked incredibly hard to foster a trust of law enforcement in this town, something that wasn’t common everywhere. He was one of the good ones, and when she saw the concern on his face as he crouched down in front of his former math teacher, warmth spread through her chest. It was impossible not to like this man, to respect him, to think about what kind of father he would be…
Oh, no. She wasn’t letting her head go there.
Or her heart. She had too much to deal with right now to let wild emotions get involved.
Autumn hung back quietly as Lincoln talked to Stella, expertly calming her down. She’d heard through the grapevine that he had experience negotiating with terrorists—something that both horrified and impressed her.
He’d been in the Marines, she thought, or one of the military branches. She’d gone out of her way not to learn too many things about him because the more she learned, the more intrigued she was. A few of the women she worked with had huge crushes on him, which was just annoying because they talked about him on occasion. When they’d found out Autumn lived next door to him, they’d talked about coming by to see him, which had made all of her hackles rise. And this was all before she’d actually slept with the man. She had no reason to feel territorial about him.
She started gathering up all the paintbrushes and cups, emptying out the dirty water and putting everything up while Stella and Lincoln quietly murmured in the corner. She figured that Stella would want privacy anyway, and as someone who hated being the center of attention, she understood.
“I’ll be back in a minute.” Lincoln’s delicious voice wrapped around her, making her turn as he headed to the door with Stella, who seemed much better now.
Stella waved at her as they headed out. As Autumn was finishing up and drying her hands, Lincoln stepped back inside. In dark jeans and a T-shirt with the logo of a past music festival on it, he looked younger than he did when in uniform. More approachable. She understood why the women in town thought he was attractive—she certainly wasn’t immune. It was weird, he was the youngest of the Jordan brothers, but didn’t fit the mold of youngest. From what she’d seen, he was more serious compared to Easton, a man who was like a big puppy dog, always smiling and joking.
“I think she’s okay now,” he said quietly.
“Thank you for stopping by. I know that’s not exactly law-enforcement territory but… I didn’t really know what else to do. I figured it would make her feel better to hear from you that those guys would be caught.”
“They will be. They never should’ve gotten out in the first place,” he muttered. “How much longer do you have? I’ll walk you out.”
“I’m pretty much done and just need to lock up at this point. But…” She cleared her throat as she tried to think of how to tell him what she really needed to tell him. There really was no easy way to say “hey I’m pregnant and you’re going to be a father.” Nope, no easy way to say that. She was just going to have to rip off the Band-Aid. She had no idea how he would react, if he would want to be involved…and she didn’t even want to guess. She needed to tell him and then figure things out based on his reaction.
“What’s wrong?” He’d moved through the tables and chairs in mere moments, his movements economical and stealthy. Frowning, he studied her and reached out, as if he might touch her, but just as quickly he drew his hand back. “You look a little pale.”
“I’m fine. I need to talk to you about something. It’s… I just… I’m pregnant.”
Chapter 10
Lincoln stared at Autumn as he digested her words. “Can you repeat that?”
She shoved out a breath, color returning to her face as she gave him a wry smile. “Sorry, I thought saying it quickly would be best. I’m pregnant. And you are the father, in case that wasn’t clear.”
He blinked, looking into her dark brown, amber-flecked eyes. “Wow. Okay.”
“I know it’s a lot to take in.”
Hell yeah it was. “You’re sure you’re pregnant?” Inwardly, he cursed himself. Of course she was sure. This was…a lot to deal with.
She nodded and absently picked up a hand towel that was stained every color of the rainbow. She ran it through her fingers over and over, clearly nervous. “I took a couple tests when I realized that I’d missed my period. I’ve always been kind of spotty anyway, but… It had been a solid two weeks so I was getting kind of worried. All the tests were positive, and I just saw the doctor earlier today. She confirmed it. I’d planned to tell you tomorrow, but since you’re here, I figured there was no sense in waiting any longer. Now I feel like I’m rambling, so please say something.”
“What did the doctor say? Is there anything special you need to be doing? Should you be working around paints? Not that I’m criticizing anything you’re doing right now. I just want to make sure we’re on the same page.” This was huge news, and he was certain it would hit him later just how huge. For now, he didn’t want his response to something so big to be something she would hate forever. He was in shock, yeah, but he imagined she had to be too. This wasn’t something they’d planned.
She blinked once before narrowing her gaze at him. “I’m fine being around these paints… You don’t want to take a paternity test or anything?”
“No. Unless it makes you feel better.” He might not know her as well as he wanted to, but he was good at reading people. Autumn wouldn’t lie about this.
“I don’t need one. I have no doubt that you’re the father. I just thought… I don’t know, that you’d want to be sure.” She wrapped her arms around herself.
He wished he had the right to touch her, to comfort her. “Well first of all, I believe you. Second, I’ve never seen random guys staying at your house. I mean, I guess you could be…” He cleared his throat, realizing he didn’t want or need to voice that thought. “We’ll do whatever you want.”
“I’m keeping it,” she blurted, as if he hadn’t figured that out.
“I kind of figured, since you’re telling me.” Which meant that they had a lot of decisions to make.
“Okay then. I don’t… I don’t actually know what else to say right now. I never got further than telling you I was pregnant in my rehearsed conversations.”
“You rehearsed telling me?”
Her mouth curved up slightly. “Like a million times in my head today.”
“One of those condoms must have broken,” he murmured. They’d used quite a few. He’d never really thought about being a dad. He’d assumed that one day he would want to be, but only with the right person.
Autumn is the right person.
That thought flared in his mind but he quickly suppressed it.
“So…” She seemed to flounder as she watched him.
He was in the same boat, having no idea what to say. He just knew that he didn’t want to be a giant dick. “When’s your next appointment?”
“Why?”
“Ah, because I would like to go with you to the doctor—if you want me to be with you. I want to be involved with everything.” This wasn’t what he’d planned for his life, but if she was pregnant, then he’d been fifty-percent involved in making that happen. And he would step up every way he could and hopefully ease her load some. He wanted to be completely involved but didn’t want to overwhelm her with questions about the future—because the truth was, he was overwhelmed as it was.
>
She blinked at him again.
“Are you so surprised?”
“Kind of, yeah. I don’t know, in my experience, men are…”
His jaw tightened. “Whatever experience you’ve had, it sounds like those guys suck. Look, I want to be as involved as you want me to be. This is definitely a lot to take in but we’ll face it together. You won’t be alone in this.” The protectiveness he’d always had for her grew inside him—and the most caveman part of him wanted to tell her that they should get married. Which was stupid, he knew that. She had all sorts of walls between them and wasn’t letting them down anytime soon. Maybe not ever. It didn’t matter what he wanted.
When her eyes welled with tears, she quickly dashed them away and waved him off when he stepped forward to pull her into a hug. “I’m fine. I promise. And I’m not normally a crier.”
“That might change during pregnancy. I have enough cousins to know,” he said dryly. “Apparently there’s something called pregnancy brain that is very real.” God, his parents were going to be ecstatic. Even if he and Autumn weren’t together—though he wished they were—his mom especially had the biggest heart of most people he knew. She would be so happy to add someone else to the family.
She laughed lightly, and he let the sound wrap around him. “Honestly, I don’t even know what to do right now,” she said. “I just can’t believe how well you’re taking this. I’ve gotten so worked up in my head that this was going to be an awful conversation.”