Reaching Rachel (32 page)

Rachel sat on the back porch of her parents’ house, her coffee mug warming her hands. It was a chilly morning, but she felt so at peace out here, listening to the sounds of the creek rushing over the rocks, wild animals howling and running, and birds tweeting in the trees, announcing the sunrise. She had slept well, way better than she expected without Devin by her side, but had woken up restless. Everything was scrolling through her mind: Devin, Zack, Mark/Justin, and the upcoming trial. Her thoughts were a swirling mess.

Sipping her coffee, she clicked the photo app on her phone and took some pictures of the beautiful property. She wondered what Devin was doing. One of the worst parts about his job was how secretive he had to be about his cases, but after what she had been through, she understood why that was so important. It had turned out that Devin’s team had been looking for Mark Stevenson for a while before he had figured out who he was. The fact that Devin had been in the same area as her for over a month before she ever saw him was crazy to her. The town wasn’t that big.

As if on cue, her phone started ringing, a picture of her and Devin flashing on the screen. Clicking to accept the call, she wondered if he could sense her smile through her hello.

“Good morning, my love,” Devin’s velvety voice caused her stomach to flutter. She hoped she never stopped feeling that way about him.

“I was just thinking about you,” she answered. “How’s it going down there?”

“It’s going. I’m still on track to be home Sunday evening. Will you be home then?”

“Yes. I’m leaving here Sunday morning.”

“How’s the visit been?” Devin knew she was planning on telling her parents all of the missing information she had been keeping from them all these years.

“Fantastic. My parents were very supportive and helpful. Of course they wished I would’ve told someone to help me through that time, but they understood. We all had a good cry over the baby …” her voice broke. Clearing her throat, she got control back of her voice. “I feel so much better, Dev, just having them on my side and knowing it all. They were shocked, of course. When you really think about it, I’ve attracted a lot of drama.” She chuckled a little, and he was glad to hear her make light of it a little.

“No nightmares?”

“I slept well last night. It felt weird, not being with you, but I feel safe here, especially after telling my parents everything. How about you? What did you do last night?”

Devin groaned. “Well, I met Ellis at one of our favorite bars for some drinks. He got some of the guys to come too. And then Cammi showed up.”

Rachel’s hackles raised at the name. She knew that Cammi had been his “buddy”, if you will, for part of the time he was in Miami. She didn’t know much else about her. Jealousy ripped through her. If she knew anything, she knew she was probably drop dead gorgeous. She was a cop like Devin. She understood the life.

“Rachel,” he said when she didn’t respond. “Nothing happened, honey. Well, she thought it was going to. She had no idea I had a girlfriend. I told her as soon as she showed up, wanting to hook up.” He paused, not knowing if he should tell her what Cammi had actually said.

“You told her about me?” Rachel’s voice was small, and he hated that. He wanted to be honest with her, would always be, but he didn’t want to hurt her.

“Of course I did! I love you!”

“Did she say she loved you?” Devin paused. How did she know that?

“Yes,” he admitted, and he heard Rachel’s sharp intake of breath. “But I told her that was never going to happen.”

Rachel concentrated on her breathing. She was a strong woman, what was her problem? She had turned into a sniveling baby over the last few months. “That’s harder to hear than I thought it would be.”

“Why? I only love you, baby. My whole world is you.”

“Because maybe you being with someone like her would be better for you. I’m a mess. You’re constantly worried about me being by myself because I’m such an emotional disaster. Because of me, you almost lost your job. She’s probably better for you than I am.”

Devin stared at the phone, his mouth dropping open. No. She wasn’t going to push him away. Anger filled his veins, and before he could stop it, he bit out, “Really, Rachel? That’s what you think? After all the times I’ve professed my love to you? After all we’ve been through together, you’re still going to try to push me away? I didn’t have to tell you about that at all, you know! I’m being honest with you, because that’s what someone in a relationship does! If you’re trying to get rid of me because you don’t love me, then just say so. Don’t try to start this stuff about someone else being better for me.
I’m
the only one that can and should make the decision of what is
best for me!
” He was angry, and she was silent after he finished.

Rachel opened and closed her mouth. She did what she always did—she tried to ruin it in order to save herself the pain she thought was inevitable.

“I’m sorry,” he breathed when she didn’t answer. “I was angry, but that in no way means that I don’t love you. God, Rachel, I don’t care how fucked up you are, don’t you get that? I’ve screwed my way through Miami over the last 5 years to try to bury your memory. You did the same. We were both even more fucked up without each other, so what does that show us? We need each other. So much shit has happened, but even though it was crazy and awful, it happened to bring us back together. I can’t bear the thought of living without you ever again. Rachel Elise, are you listening to me? I want you to be mine. I want you to have my name, bear my children, and argue with me over whose turn it is to get up at night and change diapers. I want it
all
, and only with you.”

Relief washed over her like a wave in the ocean. “I’m sorry. I love you so much it scares me, and sometimes that means all I can think of to do is protect myself. It’s been my second nature for so long, it’s going to take me a long time to stop doing it. Thank you for being honest with me about Cammi. Of course she’s in love with you, who wouldn’t be? You’re hot, and the nicest guy I’ve ever known.”

“Nice? Aw, come on, you’re going to ruin my reputation,” Devin teased, glad that they seemed to move past that hurdle. “I’ll take hot, though. That’s good.”

Rachel laughed. “I can’t wait to see you tomorrow night,” she whispered, looking back to make sure her parents weren’t coming out. “Just wait until I give you a welcome home present.”

Devin groaned. “The only present I want to have is you, naked in my bed.”

“I think that can be arranged,” she teased. “Are you in bed right now?”

“Yes, why?”

“Well, it just so happens I’m alone. What if we had some fun right now?” Devin groaned again, and she laughed. This was one of the many things she had missed out on not being with him all these years, and she was determined to live her life to the fullest, starting with showing him how much she loved him, even if it was over the phone.

“No news on the plea deal?” Rachel asked Devin, sitting down across from him at their table. He was reading the paper and drinking coffee. It had been two weeks since they had survived their first weekend apart. Rachel had been more agitated in the past two weeks, knowing the trial was coming up. Justin, Mark, whoever he was, had still not accepted the plea deal from the D.A. He had up until the trial date to accept it—once it started, she would be forced to testify to try to get him convicted of the charges.

Devin peered at her over the paper, weighing his answer carefully. He had taken over talking to the D.A. because it sent Rachel back 100 steps every time they had to talk to her about testifying. He was terrified that she would actually have to do it, seeing as how the ass didn’t seem to be doing the smart thing and taking the plea deal. He actually had a plan in the works, but wasn’t telling Rachel anything about it for fear of her reaction.

“Last I talked to the D.A., they said his attorney hasn’t contacted them back. He knows the stakes here, Rach. He’d be stupid not to go for the plea. They have him backed in a corner. They have so much evidence against him in your case, there’s no way he won’t be convicted. I think they are hoping that the other girl never wakes up, so they can’t pin that one on him, even though they have a pretty good case there as well even without her statement.”

Rachel sipped her coffee, feeling like a lead weight had settled in her stomach. “I’m so afraid, Dev. I don’t think I’m strong enough to testify in front of him. And what if he gets off because they say he was insane? Then what?”

Devin put his hand on hers across the table. “He’d be in an institution. He’s not going to get to you. Rachel, if you have to testify, we are going to do whatever we can to make sure you’re comfortable. I will stand right in the middle of the courtroom if I have to, so you can’t see him.”

She stood up and walked around the table, taking his paper from his hands. He watched as she straddled him, wearing only a long tee shirt and underwear. His body immediately responded as she ran her hands through his hair, then down his face, chest, and abs. His mouth quirked up in a smile as she started kissing his neck, making her way to his morning stubble, then his lips.

“Let’s stop talking,” she whispered, parting her lips as she took his in between hers. Sucking his lips into hers, he cupped her face with his hands as he matched her move for move. She grinded herself against him as they both panted with desire. He moved her panties aside to touch her, and she arched her back, putting her perfect breasts right in front of him. Even with a shirt over them, he knew there was nothing containing them. Shifting her slightly, he shoved his shorts down so he was free, then moved her underwear to the side so he could sink himself inside her easily. She was ready, so ready for him, and his eyes rolled back in his head as she fit over him, rocking slightly.

Rachel stared into the eyes of the man she loved, watching him as he started to come apart. Gripping her hips, he drove into her faster, his eyes still trained on hers. She wanted to close her eyes against the sensation, but looking into Devin’s eyes, she knew she had to hold his gaze. He looked at her with such possession, desire, love, and protection, she couldn’t look away. He was the only one in her life that had ever looked at her that way, and would be the last. As they fell over the cliff together, they held onto each other, the meaning in both of their eyes not lost on each other.

“Devin, can I see you for a second?” Andrew called as he walked past. Having just arrived at the office, a little late due to his kitchen
and
shower time with Rachel, he knew he had a busy day ahead. It had been totally worth it. Every day she let another piece of her concrete wall fall around her heart, and he finally felt like someday, she’d be his Rachel again, 100%.

“Hey Drew, what’s up?” Andrew had become a lot more than a boss to Devin in the months he had worked here. After the debacle that had been Rachel’s rescue, Andrew had been more than just a boss, he had been a genuine friend.

“Got a call this morning from Michael Raymond.” Michael was the D.A. prosecuting Justin’s case. Devin searched Andrew’s face, wondering what he was going to tell him. “She’s awake.”

Devin looked at him a moment, processing what he said. She’s awake? Who? Then, it hit him like a ton of bricks. “Alana Daniels is awake? Are you serious?” He almost started jumping around the room, he was so happy. “Is she talking?”

Andrew smiled. “She’s talking. The police are taking her statement now. Michael said it was looking good to add those charges to his current ones.”

“Do they have actual evidence, or just her word against his?”

“Well, now that she’s talking, she can give more information and details about where they can find proof that he was the man that she was involved with. Plus, they have the evidence on her body from the night they got her, and the house. That puts him with her, definitely. Of course he denied that he did any of that to her. He said when he left, she was fine. Her statement will show otherwise.”

“This is
fabulous!
Have you gotten anywhere with my request?