Racing the Hunter's Moon (Entangled Bliss) (11 page)

Another job. Another town. The general feeling of dissatisfaction expanded out into full-blown revolt at the idea of embedding himself in another community for months on end. “I don’t think I can do it.”

Bond’s eyes widened. “Are you saying you don’t want to work in the field any longer?”

The other option was a desk job, based full-time in the office. The FBI had been his life for years now, but what did he have to show for it apart from a regular wage? Joe ran his hand through his hair.
Could I have a different life?
The furniture business in Meadowsweet had been a cover, but there was a genuine demand for his pieces. The cabin had been perfect—and he’d signed a six-month lease. And Meadowsweet had Betty. Betty. He’d shoved her out of his waking reality, but couldn’t banish her from his dreams. Despite the fact that she hadn’t trusted him enough to know that he wouldn’t screw up if she shared everything with him, a part of him couldn’t let go, couldn’t say good-bye. She’d called, and texted, but rather than have that final conversation, drive a nail through the coffin of their relationship once and for all, he’d ignored all of her attempts to contact him.

When he’d confessed that he was the agent who’d let Charmers walk the first time, she’d managed to get past it—had managed to forgive. He couldn’t make sense of his churning emotions when it came to Betty, but he couldn’t definitively end it either. Being miles away brooding wasn’t working; it was time to face the problem head-on.

“I’m burned out.” The words came from the heart. “I think my time here is through.”

“You want to transfer…”

Joe shook his head. “I’m handing in my notice. I’ll work out the month, but then I’m leaving the FBI for good.”

Chapter Thirteen

Mel walked into the conference room where the three owners of Under the Hood were holding their morning meeting—which had always been, and continued to be, an excuse to drink coffee and eat pastries before starting work for the day.

She put a thick manila envelope in front of Betty. “This just came in the mail.”

Betty ripped it open and pulled out the
Crime Bites
script Joe had bid on. “This can’t be right—the FBI…” Her words trailed into silence as a piece of paper fluttered out.

I want you to have this.

The letter
J
was scrawled underneath.

Betty’s chest ached as though it had been crushed in a vise. Tears blurred her vision.

“What is it?” Mel asked.

Wordlessly she handed the note over. Mel read it and passed it to Alice.

“You know what this means, don’t you?” Alice said. “It means he forgives you.”

“He hasn’t taken any of my calls, or responded to my texts.” On returning to Meadowsweet she’d been buoyed with hope that the fact that Charmers had been charged for conning Christine and Helen would be enough.

That he might forgive her, and they might have another chance. So she’d called him and left messages. None of which he’d answered. She’d texted, too, but his silence was as eloquent as any response could have been.

He didn’t want to talk. Wasn’t prepared to listen to any heartfelt apologies. Didn’t want her any more. She’d tried to stop talking about the pain in her shredded heart. Had tried not to be envious when Mel and Heath had announced that she’d accepted his proposal on their last night in the Amazon, and that they were going to be married.

Had tried without success to stop crying herself to sleep every night.

“Mark heard from him last week. This is his last week with the FBI,” Alice whispered.

Shock stabbed through Betty. “Were you even going to tell me?”

Alice glanced away. “Mark didn’t tell me the details and I didn’t want to make things worse. I know he hasn’t called, and you’ve been so sad lately—”

They might be over because of something she’d done, but Joe shouldn’t lose his job because of it. Betty jumped up. “I’m sorry, guys, but I need to book a flight to Chicago.”

…

A paperwork mountain was no substitute for the real thing. The air in Joe’s tiny office was stale and the view from the window…well, you could hardly call it a view. He puffed out a frustrated breath. Two more weeks, then he’d be back in Meadowsweet. Back to the dusky-blue mountains and his cabin. There was too much between Betty and him to be solved by a phone call or a quick text, but when he was back maybe they could meet and talk it out.

Anything had to be better than life without her.

Patrick Murphy stuck his meaty head around Joe’s door. “You might want to go into Bond’s office.” Going into Bond’s office was a routine he was getting darned sick of. His boss was determined to get him to retract his resignation and gave talking-him-out-of-it a shot every day.

“I don’t suppose you could just tell him I’m busy?” He waved at the teetering pile of paperwork.

Patrick shook his head. “I’m telling you, Joe, you want to be there.” He grinned.

Joe frowned, stood up, and walked around his desk. There was a buzz in the air. Agents seemed to have stopped working and taken to staring at him instead as he strode to Bond’s open office door.

What he saw made him realize why.

Betty.

Dressed in a smart gray skirt and matching jacket with a hot-pink shirt beneath. Nude hose and high heels. Chestnut hair twisted up in a topknot. She stood in front of Bond’s desk with her back ramrod straight.

The breath left his lungs at the sight.
God, I’ve missed her.

“Come on in, Joe.” Bond looked up at his approach, and waved him in. “You need to hear this.”

Her gaze darted to him and a nervous smile trembled on her lips. “Hello, Joe.”

She looked thinner, as though like him, she couldn’t be bothered with food anymore. Pale. “Hi, Betty.”

“Miss Smith wishes to make a statement.” Bond steepled his fingers.

Joe frowned. A statement? The incongruity of the situation almost made him laugh aloud.
Too many cop shows.
But she wasn’t just “in the neighborhood.” She’d traveled all the way out there; what on earth could she be there for? “A statement?” he echoed.

“Yes.” Bond waved to a chair. “Won’t you sit, Miss Smith?”

She shook her head. “I’d prefer not to.”

“Betty…” He took a step forward.

“No, Joe. I have to do this.” Focusing her gaze on Bond, she twisted her hands together. “I have discovered that this is Joe’s last week.” She cleared her throat. “I know you must be disappointed, Agent Bond, by the fact that the operation against Charmers was compromised, but I want you to reconsider your decision to fire Joe for it. I made the mistake—Joe didn’t know until after the capture that I had transferred money into Leonora’s account. He’s blameless in this, and a damn good agent.”

Her eyes flashed fire and she leaned forward and placed the tips of her fingers on Bond’s desk. “We need people like him in the FBI. I’ll do anything to get you to reverse this decision. I’ll give a statement, I’ll take full responsibility in front of a judge, I’ll even talk to the press. He’s the most trustworthy man I know. He’s hardworking, dedicated, and honest. Please give him another chance.”

Joe’s pulse was racing. She’d do all that for him?

Bond smiled. His gaze moved from Betty’s impassioned face to Joe’s. “Do you want to tell her or shall I?”

Joe stepped up and took her hand. Stared into her gorgeous face. He could tell her, but first…

He cupped her face and kissed her hard.

Her lips were as soft and yielding as he remembered. He breathed in her familiar scent, loving the feel of her face against his palms. Sounds came from the room behind him—every single agent had heard her words, and their claps and hoots of approval filled in the air. When he finally let her go they were both breathing rapidly.

There was hope in the depths of her eyes. Confusion, as though she didn’t understand how her words, her heartfelt declaration, had earned such a reaction.

He let her in on the secret. “I resigned.”

“You resigned?” With a gasp, she covered her flushing face with her hands.

“Yeah. I’m leaving.” He pulled her hands down and held on to them. “And moving to Meadowsweet.”

…

Joe grabbed her hand and took her into a tiny office. There was nowhere to sit except for the swivel chair behind the desk stacked high with paper. He closed the door firmly. “I’m sorry about that lot.” He waved at the closed door. “What can I say, the sight of a pretty woman getting kissed fires them up.”

It was so good to see his smile. The smile she’d just about given up on ever seeing again. She reached out and touched the dimple creasing his cheek. Placed the flat of her palm against his skin. “I’ve missed you.”

“I didn’t want to call you. When we almost lost the case, I was angry.”

“I know.” The case was everything. Had always been everything to him, and she’d jeopardized that.

“I was angry that you didn’t share the information with me. Which is pretty ironic seeing as I rarely share anything with anyone.” His mouth twisted in a wry smile. “I grew up hiding everything. Being self-sufficient. I thought you’d hate me when you found out about the mistake I made years ago with Charmers.” He stroked a hand down her arm. “But you didn’t. You sucked it up, processed it, and forgave me. I’m sorry that I couldn’t forgive you so easily.”

“He almost escaped.”

Joe nodded. “And when the case looked in danger of falling apart, I realized I didn’t care about it half as much as I cared about losing you.” He snaked an arm around her waist and pulled her close. “I didn’t call you because I didn’t want to tell you good-bye. I couldn’t walk away while there might be some chance of repairing our relationship.”

Betty laid her head against his chest. Felt his heartbeat, strong and true. He’d always been good at repairs. “So you’re going to be a carpenter?”

“I’m going to repair things that are broken. Build things. Be with you, if you’ll have me. I’m almost finished up here, and then I’ll be packing my bags and returning to Meadowsweet.”

Betty tilted her head up to his. “I’ll be waiting.”

Epilogue

Six months later

The bride wore white. She walked out of the tiny Meadowsweet church into the spring sunshine on the arm of her new husband, followed by her two best friends dressed in matching rose-pink bridesmaids’ dresses.

Bells pealed out, filling the churchyard with sound. Mel and Heath were swarmed with delighted guests, offering congratulations and snapping pictures.

Alice and Betty stood to one side, watching their friend live her happy ever after. They each had their own best man—it had been too difficult to choose just one, so the groom had broken with tradition to nominate two.

“Ouch.” Alice rubbed her stomach.

“Are you okay?” Betty asked.

“He’s kicking.” Alice winced. “I think he likes the music.”

Betty’s heart melted as Mark’s arm snaked around his very pregnant partner.

“Maybe our son would like another trip up the aisle before he makes an appearance,” Mark clutched Alice’s hand. “I know you wanted to wait until after he was born, but we have a couple of months and you look so gorgeous in that dress—you’d look even better in a wedding dress.”

“I’d look like a giant meringue. I doubt we can organize it that quick…”

“Ah, that’s where you’re wrong. I’ve already organized a license and spoken to the priest.”

Alice smiled and gave in. “Well, in that case…”

Someone started throwing confetti, and within minutes the sky was filled with pastel petals, as though someone had shaken a cherry tree until it spilled its blossoms.

Betty brushed away a stray heart-shaped fragment of paper from Joe’s shoulder. “They look so happy, don’t they?” She gazed at Mel and Heath, posing for the wedding photographer. “And they’ll love the seat.” He’d worked so hard on the beautiful hanging bench for two, carving details of vines and flowers around their friends’ entwined names. They’d sneaked out of the wedding rehearsal and installed it on the porch the night before. Heath had stayed the night at their house and Mel at Alice and Mark’s, so the newlyweds had yet to see their very special present.

“Do you miss it? The FBI?” He seemed so happy, so content, but sometimes she worried that he’d regret swapping the excitement of investigation for a simple, small-town life.

“I wouldn’t trade what we have for anything,” Joe said. “And if I feel the need to investigate, I can always raid your stash of fingerprinting powder, bugging devices, and Tyvek suits. Being here, seeing Mel and Heath so happy, makes me impatient for our wedding day.”

He ran his thumb over the sapphire-and-gold band on Betty’s finger. It would be a few months yet—they’d decided there was only one day they wanted to marry. One moon overhead, the first night they would spend as man and wife. The hunter’s moon.

Betty’s mouth parted a fraction as she gazed into his eyes. “You know what?”

“What?” He pulled her close.

Betty smiled. “I love a happy ending.”

* * *

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Acknowledgments

I’d like to thank the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains for inspiring me to write this entire series of novellas.

About the Author

Sally Clements writes fun, sexy and real contemporary romance, partnering hot heroes with heroines who know what they want, and go for it!

Her first novel was published in 2010, and she is now a full-time author. Sally lives in the Irish countryside, and when she isn’t writing can usually be found in traffic, driving “Mum’s taxi.”

Always a voracious reader, she considers writing for a living the perfect job—the only downside is saying good-bye to her characters at book’s end!

You can find her at:

Blog:
http://www.sallyclements.blogspot.com/

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https://www.facebook.com/SallyClementsAuthor

Twitter:
https://twitter.com/Sallywriter

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