one. I’m not going to leave any stone unturned. I am going to help find that woman if it means bringing Landon home.”
Some might think Reed’s words were crazy or arrogant, but she wouldn’t use those words to describe him. Determination was a much better word. As Reed walked back into the house, she realized right then one thing with absolute certainty. Reed wasn’t the kind of guy to give up, on anything. Including the game for winning her heart.
“I’m so screwed.”
****
Progress was slow as Reed made his way through the information in the boxes that popped up by staring into Alice’s face through her social media account. Even Reed himself was creeped out by his ability. He shouldn’t have been surprised by Avery’s avoidance since he’d shared his secret. His shoulder ached as he repositioned himself so he could use both hands to type instead of picking at the letters with one hand. A quick glance at the living room clock told him what his body already knew. He would be in a world of hurt tomorrow if he continued to work. The house was eerily quiet. Every occupant was sound asleep. Reed was the only one still awake.
Reed pinched the bridge of his nose and clenched his eyes closed. The glow of his laptop screen started to mess with his head. He pushed the complaints to the back of his mind and concentrated again on Alice Page.
The woman was incredibly smart, working her way through med school by herself, never relying on anyone else. She was the brightest student and top of her class. As Reed continued searching her school records, he froze. Staring at him on the screen were two words he knew well. Computer Engineer. “I’ll be damned.”
Alice Page had a minor in computer engineering. His lips twitched, and his fingers moved faster over the keyboard with nothing more than a hunch. Ten minutes later, he ran his hands through his hair, ready to pull it out. He was so sure he’d find something to indicate she was the one responsible for the thumb drive heating system and codes. “It doesn’t make sense.”
“What doesn’t?” a female voice answered back.
Reed glanced over his shoulder to find Emily standing on the threshold in nothing more than a nightshirt that hit her knees. She was a beautiful woman in her own right as she stood in the glow of the hall light, but Reed had eyes for only Avery.
“Does your sister like computers?”
“Yeah.” Emily smiled as she approached and joined Reed on the couch. “She’s a computer nerd. Growing up, she loved to tinker and create new things. We all thought that she’d go into that field one day.”
“Why didn’t she?” Reed asked and clicked back to Alice’s social media page, looking at her picture in a new light.
Emily slid her legs beneath her bottom and rested sideways against the couch cushion. “She was in a car accident at the age of fifteen . ”
Reed’s brows dipped, as he tried to piece the puzzle together. He came up short.
“It should have killed her. We still don’t understand how she walked away. She had internal injuries, and that’s when she found out she’d never be able to conceive. Never have a baby of her own.” Emily took a deep breath. “She changed after that. She became more determined than anyone I know.” Emily smiled. “She decided if she couldn’t have one of her own, then she’d help other woman bring them into this world.” Emily held Reed’s gaze. “I think it was her way of dealing with a part of herself she’d lost. She’s a fighter. That’s what gives me hope that she’s still alive.”
“I’m so sorry.” Reed’s heart clenched at the thought of that right being stripped away from any woman. He couldn’t imagine the damage that could do to a woman’s psyche. “Is that why she quit toying with computers?”
“Oh, she still toyed. The last time we spoke she was talking about a new invention that involved a thumb drive. Her whole voice vibrated with excitement as she
Some might think Reed’s words were crazy or arrogant, but she wouldn’t use those words to describe him. Determination was a much better word. As Reed walked back into the house, she realized right then one thing with absolute certainty. Reed wasn’t the kind of guy to give up, on anything. Including the game for winning her heart.
“I’m so screwed.”
****
Progress was slow as Reed made his way through the information in the boxes that popped up by staring into Alice’s face through her social media account. Even Reed himself was creeped out by his ability. He shouldn’t have been surprised by Avery’s avoidance since he’d shared his secret. His shoulder ached as he repositioned himself so he could use both hands to type instead of picking at the letters with one hand. A quick glance at the living room clock told him what his body already knew. He would be in a world of hurt tomorrow if he continued to work. The house was eerily quiet. Every occupant was sound asleep. Reed was the only one still awake.
Reed pinched the bridge of his nose and clenched his eyes closed. The glow of his laptop screen started to mess with his head. He pushed the complaints to the back of his mind and concentrated again on Alice Page.
The woman was incredibly smart, working her way through med school by herself, never relying on anyone else. She was the brightest student and top of her class. As Reed continued searching her school records, he froze. Staring at him on the screen were two words he knew well. Computer Engineer. “I’ll be damned.”
Alice Page had a minor in computer engineering. His lips twitched, and his fingers moved faster over the keyboard with nothing more than a hunch. Ten minutes later, he ran his hands through his hair, ready to pull it out. He was so sure he’d find something to indicate she was the one responsible for the thumb drive heating system and codes. “It doesn’t make sense.”
“What doesn’t?” a female voice answered back.
Reed glanced over his shoulder to find Emily standing on the threshold in nothing more than a nightshirt that hit her knees. She was a beautiful woman in her own right as she stood in the glow of the hall light, but Reed had eyes for only Avery.
“Does your sister like computers?”
“Yeah.” Emily smiled as she approached and joined Reed on the couch. “She’s a computer nerd. Growing up, she loved to tinker and create new things. We all thought that she’d go into that field one day.”
“Why didn’t she?” Reed asked and clicked back to Alice’s social media page, looking at her picture in a new light.
Emily slid her legs beneath her bottom and rested sideways against the couch cushion. “She was in a car accident at the age of fifteen . ”
Reed’s brows dipped, as he tried to piece the puzzle together. He came up short.
“It should have killed her. We still don’t understand how she walked away. She had internal injuries, and that’s when she found out she’d never be able to conceive. Never have a baby of her own.” Emily took a deep breath. “She changed after that. She became more determined than anyone I know.” Emily smiled. “She decided if she couldn’t have one of her own, then she’d help other woman bring them into this world.” Emily held Reed’s gaze. “I think it was her way of dealing with a part of herself she’d lost. She’s a fighter. That’s what gives me hope that she’s still alive.”
“I’m so sorry.” Reed’s heart clenched at the thought of that right being stripped away from any woman. He couldn’t imagine the damage that could do to a woman’s psyche. “Is that why she quit toying with computers?”
“Oh, she still toyed. The last time we spoke she was talking about a new invention that involved a thumb drive. Her whole voice vibrated with excitement as she
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