Page 38 of One Forbidden Moment

Her mom was in a care facility.Jillian was alone.He was responsible for her.

And he was the last person who should be around a young woman like her.Even stepping out of the house with her put her in danger.Besides the police, he had no idea who else was out to get him.

"Today is the day you kidnapped me."She shook her head slowly, eyes wide and lost."No time has passed.My mom, if she was aware of me leaving work, hasn't had time to miss me.None of this makes sense."

"Once we find Finn, hopefully we'll have more answers.He's been here longer and will have figured things out."He kissed her forehead before thinking about what that would do.

She opened her mouth but gently closed it again.He cleared his throat.Time might've stood still for Jillian, but his feelings for Jillian had sped forward.

Jillian shook her head, grabbing his hand."We have to go now.The nursing home closes to visitors at seven o'clock."

The ride to the nursing home was short, but every second of it scraped at Moe's nerves.Jillian sat behind him, arms wrapped around his waist, pointing out turns with quick taps to his stomach.Her voice was tight, breathless, threaded with urgency every time she leaned close enough to tell him where to go next.

He kept his eyes on the road, but his mind wouldn't stop circling the idea that someone could recognize him and it would be all over.Not only for him, but for Jillian, too.He'd drag her into the fallout, and he couldn't let that happen.

A squat brick building with a faded sign and a parking lot half full of cars came into view.His stomach churned.There were too many people around.Too many windows.Too many chances for someone to take a hit on him.

The second that opinion entered his head, he accepted that was how he'd lived in the past.He never claimed to have an easy life, but he had forgotten many of the details of how he lived while riding with his club.

He pulled into a spot near the back, where the shadows from a row of trees stretched across the asphalt.Jillian climbed off the bike before he even killed the engine, her hands shaking as she brushed her hair out of her face.

Her chest rose and fell too fast, and her eyes darted toward the entrance like she was afraid her mother might vanish if she didn't get inside fast enough.

"Jillian," he said quietly."We need to think this through before we rush in there."

She turned to him, desperation shining through the fear."I need to see Mom first.Then, I'll think."

There was more at stake.He was responsible for taking her away from her mom, scaring the shit out of her, and then holding her captive in Everstill.

While he believed they'd found common ground, she was young and unpredictable.Would she turn on him?Would she feel safe around her mom and call the cops on him?

"I know you want to see your mom."He swallowed hard."But I can't get arrested."

Something in her expression softened.It wasn't enough to calm him, but enough to remind him she wasn't ignoring the danger he was in.She stepped closer and took his hand, her fingers threading through his like she'd done it a thousand times.

"I'm not going to tell anyone what happened to me.You brought me back.That's all that matters," she whispered.

He studied her and then nodded.

"Stay close," she whispered."Let me handle everything."

He didn't know if having her beside him would keep the cops off him.Probably not.But when she tugged gently on his hand, he followed her anyway.

Inside, the air smelled like disinfectant and old carpet.A woman at the front desk looked up, offering a polite smile.Jillian smiled back and motioned ahead of them, receiving a nod of approval.Moe angled his face away, letting his hair fall forward, pretending to study the floor tiles as they walked.

His heart hammered so hard he could feel it in his teeth.His thoughts sped forward, trying to plan what he'd do if someone yelled, chased, or pulled a gun.He had no weapon, but he wouldn't go out easily.He'd do whatever he could to remain free.

Jillian led him down a hallway lined with framed paintings of flowers and landscapes.The kind of art meant to soothe people who were already too tired to fight the world.Moe kept his head down, but he didn't miss the way Jillian's steps quickened the closer they got to her mother's room.

When she reached the door, she stopped.Her hand hovered over the handle, trembling.He touched her lower back.She inhaled deeply and opened the door.Moe stayed in the doorway with his back toward the hallway, giving Jillian space to deal with her mother.

"Mom?"Jillian's voice cracked.

Her mother sat in a recliner by the window, a blanket over her lap, a magazine open but unread in her hands.She looked up, blinking but otherwise showing no emotion at seeing her daughter or a strange man in the room.

"Mom, it's me.Jillian."Jillian dropped to her knees in front of the chair and grabbed her mom's hand.

Life flowed back into her mother's expression."Jillian?Honey, what are you doing here?You just left."