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“No,” she told herself “He sim

ply wasn’t able to make it today”

As she fastened on the last earring, she caught the ru sound of a vehicle outside A second later, Cat realized that she could hear it so clearly because it was directly out front

Wade?

Pushed by a fresh surge of hope, Cat flew to the , reaching it as Sloan stepped out of the driver’s side and headed for the front steps Abruptly she swung away from the , squared her shoulders, and left the bedrooh

At the top of the staircase, Cat saw Sloan on her way up, taking the steps two at a tiry set of Sloan’s features ht Cat’s attention

“What’s wrong?”

“That Jake,” Sloan ot to the barn, I discovered his sandals were ht on top”

A laugh bubbled in Cat’s throat She fought it down “He hid them”

“I’ll find the to wear them if I have to—” Sloan left the rest of the threat unfinished and headed for her son’s bedroom

“Check his pajas he didn’t want Jessy to find”

Sloan halted halfway through the doorway and threw Cat a puzzled look “The pajama drawer? Why there?”

Cat shrugged “Who kno a little boy’s mind works? But would you have looked in his drawers?”

“Only if I couldn’t find the sandals anywhere else Thanks” Sloan swung back into the bedroom and crossed directly to the chest of drawers

Cat didn’t wait to see if Sloan found them there but went down the stairs in search of her father As expected, she found Chase in the den, seated behind his desk, an elbow propped on the chair ar his mouth Impatience was in his expression as he contemplated the scene beyond the den’s