One month after Brian’s proposal, they married in a simple dawn ceremony on the beach as the sun tinged the sky in soft pinks. Those in attendance included Rita and Special Agent Dunning. Brian was surprised to see them together. She wasn’t.
A quiet breakfast reception followed. After the reception, they’d returned to their honeymoon accommodations, a sailboat docked at a slip in the San Diego harbor. When he told her they’d be honeymooning on a boat, she’d first thought of the big cruise ships that sailed from San Diego on a daily basis. This was so much better, quieter, and more romantic. They could thank Brian’s rich novelist friend for their floating hotel.
Brian appeared in the doorway dressed in shorts and a T-shirt.
“Come back to bed.” She patted the silk sheets.
Smiling, he came to her. He kissed her soundly as he caressed the side of her bare breast. Sexual need bloomed and she pulled him onto the bed.
“Have I created a monster?” he murmured, kissing her again.
She smiled. “Maybe. Why don’t we test your theory?”
“Angie, we’ve a lifetime to enjoy each other. Let’s go up on deck for our first sunset as husband and wife. The champagne is chilling.”
Reluctantly, she slid out of bed and stretched again. Glancing at his shorts, she smiled noting the arousal prompted by her naked body. “Are you sure you want to go up on deck?”
“Yes,” he said, his voice raw with passion as his eyes took in every inch of her.
Wishing he’d change his mind, she slipped into shorts and a tank top and joined him topside. He handed her a glass of champagne. “To us.” He saluted her before taking a sip.
“To us,” she replied, tasting the bubbly.
They stood side by side at the railing watching the sky turn from pink to orange and then blood red. San Diego’s downtown high-rise windows reflected the skies deepening shades. As the sky darkened, the intensity of the colors increased. It soon appeared as if the buildings glowed with fire.
“Wow,” she said. “In my haste to run from this city, I’d forgotten how beautiful it is.”
“Well, you don’t need to flee from it again, Angela Martin Murphy.”
“Vegas was always the place I escaped to when times proved tough, but I never liked living there.”
“Your running days are over.”
“Are you sure? My ex-husband is still alive and pissed.”
“He’s also in jail charged with two counts of attempted murder. He’s been denied bail,” Brian replied.
“But with his money, power, and the best lawyers, he could get off.”
He wrapped his arm around her waist. “I’m here now and nothing is going to happen to you. Thinking he might try to buy his way out of the current charges, I checked on your ex-husband’s business dealings. When I’m done exposing all his illegal activities, I think he’ll be in prison for the rest of his life.”
“My crusading husband,” she said pecking him on the cheek. “I’m glad you’re returning to investigative journalism. That’s where you belong.” Her smile faded to a frown. “I love you. Promise me you’ll be careful. The man’s ruthless.”
“Don’t worry. I can take care of myself and you.”
The passionate kiss that followed left her breathless.
“I’m proud of you, Angie,” he said. “You’ve faced your fears and conquered them.”
“Why do you think that?”
“You stood up to a man who pursued you for far too long.”
“You are making much too much of my actions. He could have killed us both.”
“Have more faith in yourself, honey.” He planted another kiss on her lips.
“I’m trying.”
“I’ll never give up on you. You should never give up on yourself.” He hesitated. “I did some research on Tucker. He had no military training beyond a brief stint in the Army.”
“So my so-called psychic abilities failed me.”
“No, I think you intentionally blocked your psychic power. You feared making a mistake by providing the authorities with misinformation. You didn’t want that responsibility after what happened to Tucker’s son.”
Was Brian right? It made sense.
“And don’t forget it’s because of your vision that I rescued you and Polly.”
“Polly,” she said, tears filling her eyes. “Will I ever see her again? If only my daughter listened to me.”
“Give it time, Angie. Susan did reply to our wedding invitation. She didn’t have to.”
“But she didn’t come.”
He shook his head. “My dear sweet Angie. As I said just give it some time. Things between you will work out.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“Of course I’m right.” He grinned and squeezed her tight, once more kissing her. “You and I are going to make a good team, Angie Martin Murphy.”
“Don’t start with that Martin/Murphy duo crime team again.”
“I won’t. It’s now Murphy and Murphy.”
“You are incorrigible,” she said kissing him.
“I know. That’s what you love about me. That plus my charming ways, freckles, and amazing green eyes.”
“You are quite full of yourself.”
“Never,” he said. “I think we should continue this conversation below deck.”
“Or maybe not talk at all,” she teased. As she slipped into bed next to her husband a brief image flashed through her mind. A little boy with hair the color of Brian’s danced in the surf. Their child, she thought. She touched her stomach sensing the seed already planted. Maybe it was time to see what else she could do psychically.
A word about the author...
The daughter of a military man, Joan Beth Erickson developed a keen interest in travel at an early age. Combining this love with a degree in journalism, she eventually became a travel writer and editor. Now she enjoys weaving the exotic destinations she’s visited into novels packed with suspense and romance.
She lives in the mountains of Northern California with her husband, and a talkative cockatiel pet bird named “Paddy.”
Visit her at:
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