The First Death (Columbia River, #4)(59)

What if West had been asleep in there?

Even if Adam hadn’t been able to get to the boy, West would have been traumatized. It didn’t make sense that Adam would be interested in his son. Rowan suspected it had more to do with Ivy. Either he wanted something from Ivy and would have used West to get it, or he simply wanted to hurt her through her son.

Outside there was blood on the driveway and a dent in the car.

I’m not going to sleep tonight.

She would lock up the home once the police were done and then call an Uber.

Opening the fridge, she eyed the containers of leftover Italian food. It seemed so long ago that the sisters had sat at the table, eating, laughing, and making fun of the reality show. Not a care in the world.

I should throw it out. Ivy won’t want reminders of tonight.

Instead, she grabbed the half-empty bottle of red wine on the counter and poured a glass. She sat heavily on a stool at the kitchen bar, suddenly jealous of Iris, who had a boyfriend to comfort her. Thor lay on the kitchen floor, his head between his paws. His alert eyes had been following her every movement. Rowan made eye contact, and he lifted his head.

food

“Not now. We’ll go home soon.”

Disappointment flashed in his gaze, and he lowered his head. Rowan thought about how he’d growled, letting them know someone was in the backyard.

Just like he did yesterday morning at my house. Was that a reaction to Adam too?

But Adam had no motivation to be outside Rowan’s home.

Or does he?

If his main motivation was to hurt Ivy, Adam could have hurt any member of their family to achieve that goal. But he knew Rowan had a large, protective dog. He’d be an idiot to choose her.

Maybe I’m giving him too much credit.

Rowan sipped her wine and stared moodily at the most important male in her life. She loved him beyond reason, but he didn’t fill all the holes in her heart. A lot of them, but not all.

Voices sounded out front, and Thor got to his feet, his focus on the living room door. Rowan tensed and then remembered officers were still there. The door opened and Evan Bolton strode in, tension emanating from him. He locked gazes with Rowan and visibly relaxed.

“Thank God,” he muttered, stopping to greet a tail-and hip-wagging Thor, who’d met him halfway.

Rowan watched him pet her dog, feeling something shift in her chest, a piece tipping into place.

I’m falling for him.

It wasn’t just an attraction; it was more.





31


Evan had known the three sisters were unharmed, but his heart had been in his throat during the entire drive to Ivy’s home. It wasn’t until he’d stepped through the door and seen Rowan staring at him, a big glass of red wine in her hand, that his heart had returned to its proper place in his chest.

He stroked Thor’s head and then crossed the room to his owner, the dog close at his heels. Rowan looked confused to see him and was silent, just staring, making Evan wonder how much wine she’d drunk. He pulled her into a hug without saying a word. She shuddered and then relaxed into him. He smoothed her hair down her back with one hand, realizing he’d never touched her in that way before.

It feels right.

“You’re okay?” he finally asked.

“Yes. Just tired,” she said into his shoulder. “I want to go home, but I’m waiting for them to finish so I can lock up the house.”

He pulled back and searched her eyes, his hands on her shoulders. “You good to drive?”

She gave a half smile. “I’ve had three sips of wine in the last two hours. I’m taking an Uber anyway.”

“I’ll drive you.”

“You don’t—”

“I want to.” He let go of her and looked around the room. “I want to walk the scene and talk to the officers. Then we’ll go. They can lock up, and I’ll get the key from them tomorrow. Now tell me what happened.”

Rowan walked him down a hallway, explaining how Thor had acted strangely and she’d glimpsed someone in the backyard. Evan stepped into West’s room, studying the broken glass.

Asshole.

“Did he know ahead of time that this was the boy’s room?”

“I’m not sure. Ivy hasn’t lived here that long, and I know Adam has never been in the house.”

“I heard Adam might have a broken leg?”

Rowan snorted. “I wish it was more. He slammed into the car pretty hard at the same time I was backing up. I didn’t see him until a split second before he hit.” An odd look crossed her face, and she took a sip of wine.

“You describe it as him hitting the vehicle.”

She thought. “He hit the corner of the car, and part of the dent is on the side. I was going straight back. And I saw him rushing toward the car. We collided . . . it wasn’t just me backing into him.” She started to say more and stopped, that odd look returning.

“What is it?”

Rowan looked at him, concern in her eyes. “For a split second I swear I saw two men before the collision.”

“You think someone could have been with him?”

“I do. But it was so fast.”

“You didn’t tell anyone?”

“No.” Her mouth twisted. “He’d be long gone by now. I should have said something, but it was all a shock and happened so fast.”