His half smile melted her insides.
“While she’s asleep I’ll go out to the car and bring in my bedroll and groceries.”
“Groceries?
“I told you I came prepared. I stopped at the store on the way here. I’ll put my things in the den, out of sight.”
He’d thought of everything, she marveled. “Let me give you the second remote for the garage so you can pull your car in. I’ve got an extra house key for you, too. I asked Rod to give them back to me when he left for good.”
“Thank you.” He followed her into the kitchen where she started searching through a drawer.
“How soon do you think the police will release his car?”
“I’ll find out tomorrow.”
“I only ask because the baby quilt I made for Amy is missing. I can’t think why it would be in his car, but it’s the only place I haven’t looked. We only ever went places as a family in my car. He said his was for business only.”
“Everything they found when it was impounded will be returned to you.”
She nodded and handed him the key chain with the remote.
“Be right back.”
* * *
SO FAR, SO GOOD.
Kit walked outside, aware the surveillance team was still parked a little ways down the street. He phoned them and told them they could leave, but he wanted them back at six-thirty in the morning.
After activating the remote, he drove i
nto the straightened-up garage and then pulled Natalie’s car inside, next to the laundry room door. He got out and made a first trip into the house with the groceries.
While she put the items away, he went back for his tool bag and suitcase. He took his things to the den with its floor-to-ceiling bookcase on one wall. The entertainment center took up the other wall. He noticed more framed pictures on the end tables; pictures of Natalie with a woman he guessed must be her mother.
He could see where Natalie Harris got her beauty. And the barefoot little girl in a ruffled, lemon-colored top and shorts who now came into the den with one of her push toys had the look of both of them. She stopped short of bumping into Kit’s shoe and looked up at him with her grayish-green eyes.
Was she about to cry at seeing a stranger? It didn’t even matter—Kit decided she was the cutest little girl he’d ever seen.
Natalie had come into the den and leaned down to address her daughter. “Amy? This is Ranger Saunders. He’s going to stay with us for a while.”
“Ranger Saunders is too hard to say. You can call me Kit.”
Surprised, Natalie stood. “Kit? I thought you said your name was Miles.”
“It is, but most people call me Kit. It’s my nickname.” He hunkered down next to Amy. “Hi, honey. What’s your name?”
“Tell him you’re called Amy,” her mother urged. “You can say it. Ay-mee.”
“Me,” her daughter mimicked, leaving out the A.
He smiled and pointed to his chest. “I’m Kit. Kit.”
“You can tell her mind is working on it,” Natalie murmured.
“Kit,” the little girl finally pronounced.
“Yes.” He nodded, pleased she’d picked it up so quickly. “I’m Kit, and you’re Amy. Now what’s that toy you’re pushing?”