“Who’s is that?” Indigo whispers as she walks out through the door, I’m now holding open.

“He’s mine,” I tell her, and she smirks at me.

“You go, girl.”

“Thanks.” I laugh then say goodbye to everyone else as they file out. Once the bank is clear I step back inside, set the alarm system then walk back out as it begins to beep. When I turn from locking the door, Clay is standing on the sidewalk between me and his jeep and my feet take me to him before I even know what I’m doing. As his arms wrap around me, my muscles relax, and I swear my soul sighs in happiness.

“You okay?” he asks as his lips touch the top of my head.

“Better now.” I tip my head back and look into his eyes.

“Long day?”

“Very.” I nod and he bends down brushing his lips across mine.

“Sorry, baby.” He takes my hand and leads me to the passenger door. “After you meet with the sketch artist you can relax for the rest of the night.”

“I hope so.” I climb into my seat, and he reaches across me and pulls out a familiar white cup and hands it to me. “What’s this?”

“Hot cocoa.”

He steps back slamming the door while my heart trips all over itself inside my chest.

Chapter 14

Willow

“ALL RIGHT, HERE’S what we’ve got.” Johnny, the sketch artist I’ve been working with for the last two hours says while turning the paper note pad in his hands around to face me. I stare at the image of a man who looks familiar but also not, and twist my hands in my lap. He looks like he could be anyone, or no one. “Do you see anything else you want to add or anything you think I should change?”

“I don’t know.” I close my eyes and drop my face into my hands as I try to remember Matthew’s face. I wish that night wasn’t so blurry, that everything didn’t seem to be shrouded in a thick layer of smoke, but that’s what it’s like every time I try to recall anything from my time with Carly at that bar.

Hearing a knock, I lift my head, then a second later the door is opened behind me, and I turn around.

“Dad,” I gasp, jumping to my feet before I rush across the short distance between us. “What are you doing here?”

“I got your text when we hit Juneau and I caught the first flight I could back here.” He wraps his arms around me, and tears start to fill my eyes.

“You didn’t have to do that.”

“Miles and Tucker filled me in on what went down. How are you holding up?” he asks, ignoring my comment as he palms the back of my head.

“I’m okay, just wish this wasn’t happening,” I tell him softly, then tip my head back. “Where’s mom and everyone else?”

“Finishing the cruise. They wanted to come but I told them to stay,” he says, and I nod then look to my side when a shadow fills the doorway.