Quickly, she put her wet hair in a single braid, fastened the end and let it hang down her back. A glance in the mirror told her her eyes were reflecting the lack of sleep, but the last thing she felt like doing was trying to hide the ravages of what had happened. She felt better, if not good, and figured that was the best she could do for now.

She found Hayley with her phone in hand, sitting at the kitchen counter. “Quinn’s getting ready to take off,” Hayley said. “Good thing he at least got a little sleep yesterday.”

Amanda blinked. “Already?”

“Airport’s only about a half hour away, and he called ahead to have them ready the plane.”

Amanda smiled. “He looked like a kid at Christmas.”

“That’s how he feels, I think. It’s a great little plane. Prop, not a jet, but one of the few with a pressurized cabin, so it’s more versatile.” She grinned then. “And it’s pretty. Even he admits it.”

Amanda’s own smile widened. Hayley had such a way of making her feel better. Just like her dog. Speaking of which... “Where’s Cutter?”

“Out with Adam.”

“Still?” She’d heard him say he was going to make a circuit, but that was over an hour ago.

“He texted an all clear, and said he’d be looking for a better lookout spot.” Hayley grimaced. “He was really stressed about not being able to get to you in time.”

“But he—they—did,” Amanda said. “If that guy hadn’t seen him and Cutter charging them, I... I...” Hayley reached out and laid a warm hand over hers. “Sorry,” Amanda muttered.

“Don’t worry about it. When Quinn first kidnapped me, before I knew who and what he was, I was a wreck. My brain wouldn’t shut off.”

“Exactly.” She grimaced. “But Adam should get some sleep. He was up all night.”

Hayley gave her a considering look. “He’s been up all night every night.”

Remorse flooded Amanda again. “He’s really been standing guard.”

“Yes. And sleeping in his truck, so he could still be close.”

In his truck. In this cold.

Because you don’t want me in your house.

The sudden knot in her stomach seemed to suck all the strength from the rest of her, and she swayed on her feet. Hayley quickly urged her to sit on the stool next to her.

“Quinn told me, before he left, that you hadn’t known how badly Adam was hurt. I was glad to hear that.”

Amanda stared at her. “Glad?”

“Because I didn’t understand why you blamed him so...fiercely. You didn’t seem to me the type to blame someone unfairly. Now I get it.”

“I feel so awful,” she admitted. “He didn’t deserve any of the things I thought. Or worse, said.”

“You’ve told him that?”