He choked. Sputtering blood across her face, he leaned back, reaching for the knife buried in his chest.
A shot rang out and echoed off the trees.
She jumped and gasped, as a trickle of blood seeped from a small black hole in the center of Dan’s forehead.
Then he fell forward.
The knife handle dug into her ribs as Dan draped over her body. Even dead, he suffocated her.
Bile rose in her throat. Sure she’d vomit, she kicked and screamed. She coiled her body, trying desperately to free herself from his vile, disgusting deadweight.
A booted foot kicked Dan off of her, then strong arms carrying a familiar scent were wrapping her in a cocoon of safety, security.
John.
“I’ve got you, baby,” he said, and held her tight against his chest.
She clung to him and closed her eyes. As he ran his hands over her body, likely checking for injuries, she remained still, relieved to be alive and in his arms again. Even as dozens of men approached, their voices mingling together, none more distinct than the other, she didn’t move. She couldn’t. Exhausted, every inch of her body ached. And her head...she swore it suddenly weighed a hundred pounds. She couldn’t lift it, move it. The voices around her grew tinny, distant. All but John’s.
“EMTs on their way with a stretcher. Just a few more minutes and we’ll get you to the hospital.”
“Stay...with...me,” she managed to whisper against his chest.
He tightened his arms around her, which hurt, but at this point she didn’t care. The pain had become a blessed reminder that she’d survived. That she’d changed her fate. Yet fate and murder had brought her and John together. Fate had also brought Ian into her life. Which had potentially destroyed what she had with John.
She would survive if she lost him. She’d go on, fulfill her own dreams, but knew in her heart, fulfilling those dreams would be so much sweeter if John was there beside her. She didn’t want to lose him. And although her fingers ached, the tips numb from clawing at the dirt, she gripped the front of his coat. “John,” she said thickly, keeping her eyes closed as her head grew dizzy.
“Shh.” He kissed the top of her head. “They’re almost here.”
“I...” she began again, and on the verge of blacking out, she clung tighter. She had to finish, had to tell him. But her mouth wouldn’t cooperate.
“Where are they?” he shouted, his tone desperate as he rocked her.
Mustering the last bit of strength she possessed, she whispered, “I love you,” then everything went black.
*
She loved him.
John paced the hallway for the millionth time since Celeste had been brought to the hospital. At least he thought that’s what she’d said before she’d lost consciousness. God, he hoped that’s what she’d said, and not his mind playing tricks on him. He loved her and didn’t want what they had together to end.
Today had been utter hell. More times than he could remember, he’d feared the worst. And each time those thoughts crept in throughout the painful day, terrifying, desolate blackness swallowed his heart and soul. How he’d managed to roll through life without even knowing Celeste until days ago, he didn’t know. Because now he couldn’t picture his life without her.
The door to Celeste’s room swung open as her doctor and a pair of nurses exited.
“How is she? Can I see her?” John asked anxiously.
The doctor nodded as the nurses moved down the hall. “She’s dehydrated, suffered a concussion, and needed a half dozen stitches for the laceration she received on her left side. The wound on her stomach required a few stitches as well. Other than being pretty banged up, she’s in good shape. She’ll be free to leave in a few days.” He glanced at his watch. “I’ve just given her a mild sedative, so if you plan on talking to her, you better do it now.”
John thanked the doctor, then rushed into the room. He fought a wince when she looked up at him. Banged up didn’t even come close to describing her appearance. It had been too dark in the woods for him to notice her swollen eyes, mouth and jaw, let alone the bruises marring her skin, the split lip, and cut on her forehead.
“That bad?” she asked with a tilt to her lips.
“You’re still the most beautiful woman I’ve ever known.”
She rolled her eyes. “Yeah right.”
He sat on the edge of the bed, and reached for her hand. With his thumb, he gently caressed the gauze around her wrist. “The doctor said you could go home in a few days.”
Nodding she looked at him. “Are you?”
“Going home? That depends.”
“On?”
“You.” He leaned forward, careful of her stitches. Caressing her bruised face, he then fingered one of her curls. “I was such an ass last night. I’d actually planned on apologizing to you today, only not like this. When I found out Malvern had taken you, I...I’d never been more scared in my life.”
She reached for his hand and gave him a small smile. “That makes two of us. Thank you for coming to my rescue. I’d bat my lashes and tell you that you’re my hero, but my eyes are so swollen I’m afraid it will hurt too much.”
“You did just fine on your own.” He kissed her bandaged fingers. “You outwitted a very smart, very dangerous killer. Your strength and determination amazes me.”
When she frowned, he moved closer. “I’m sorry for what I’d said about you hiding here. I didn’t mean—”
“No, don’t apologize for that. You were right. I stayed in Wissota Falls for all the wrong reasons. Nurturing is in my nature. I want to help whenever and wherever I can.”
“That’s one of the things I love about you.”
“It’s not a bad quality,” she agreed. “But I also need to start putting myself first now and then. When I woke up, handcuffed and strapped to that cot…” She shivered. “As I tried to free myself, I swore that if I survived, I’d make sure I started living
my
dreams. For me, not someone else.”
He stared at her battered face, into her blue eyes which held such conviction and strength. He’d never been more proud of anyone in his life. She’d taken a horrifying ordeal, and was determined to use it to better herself, whereas most people would use it as a crutch.
That last thought hit home. Celeste had accused him of using his past as a crutch. Not anymore. A strong woman deserved a strong man.
“I love you, Celeste. I’m sorry for everything. I said a lot of things—”
She placed a finger on his lips. “I love you. And we
both
said a lot of things. I’m sorry, too.”
Relief burst inside him. “Will you still come to Chicago?”
“I’ve always loved the city. Plus my sister’s there, and my brother will be in less than a month. Then there’s Ian.”
“So am I.”
“That you are.” She tilted her head against the pillow. “Only you hate my, ahem, gnomes. I’m not sure I can be with a man who has issues with—”
He silenced her with a gentle kiss. “Bring every gnome you own. I don’t care, as long as you’re with me. In less than a week, you taught me what it is to love, and to be loved. Last night I realized how right you were. That I
had
been living in the past and that dwelling there was only going to screw up my future. With you. I breached
your
trust when I walked out last night. When I saw Ian at the dinner, then learned about him being your father, I should have been holding you, asking how you were handling the situation. Instead, I—”
“Stop, you’re rambling.” She touched his cheek. “You had me at gnome.”
Laughing, he kissed her again, not the way he wanted, but there would be plenty of time for that. God willing, for maybe the next fifty years.
A knock at the door had him pulling away with reluctance.
“It’s probably Ian or Roy back from the cafeteria coffee run. You up for a few visitors?”
“Absolutely.”
Only Ian and Roy hadn’t entered the room, but Dr. Alex Trumane. “I’m sorry to disturb you,” Alex said, as he cautiously approached, his eyes on Celeste. “But I thought Celeste might want to hear about Miranda.”
“Are you her doctor?” she asked.
His face reddened. “I will be when she moves back to Jackson, Mississippi.”
When she frowned, John explained how Alex knew Miranda, as well as how he’d led them to Malvern.
“You can’t possibly blame yourself for this,” she said adamantly.
He smiled. “That’s what Miranda said, but I still do.”
“Get over it and move on.” She shifted her gaze from Alex back to him. “Guilt is an unnecessary emotion that only holds you back. From what you love, and those you love. Do you have someone you love in Jackson?” she asked, looking to Alex now.
“Her name’s Kira. But she doesn’t...know how I feel about her.” He closed his eyes. “She doesn’t know about any of this.”
“Tell her,” John said, and looked to Celeste. “Celeste is right. Guilt’s an ugly thing, and the past can be, too. Quit living in it, and embrace the future.”
“And buy her a gnome,” Celeste added with a rueful smile.
*
Two days later, Dr. Alex Trumane rolled onto his side, bringing Kira with him. They’d made love twice already tonight, and despite pushing forty-six, he was ready to go again. He hadn’t planned on sex. He’d just wanted to be honest and upfront with her, before they’d gone out to dinner.
They’d never made it to the posh, exclusive restaurant, though. After he’d given her every sordid detail, from the past all the way to the present, she’d pulled him into her arms and held him.
And when he prematurely told her he’d loved her, she’d held him tighter, and told him the same.
“Thank you for accepting me, faults and all,” he said, and kissed the top of her head, as he caressed her back.
She shifted on top of him, and kissed him on the lips. “I love you, Alex. I swear from the moment I met you. But this sealed the deal for me.” Straddling his arousal, she reached over to the nightstand.
Kira embraced the kissing gnomes Celeste had recommended. “I love these two,” she said, then set the plaster couple on the bed next to them. “They’re so cute, I think I might have to buy myself a few more.”
He moved her onto her back, and kissed her. “I’ll buy you as many as you want,” he murmured, then tossed a pillow over the kissing gnome couple. “Let’s just keep them out of the bedroom.”
Epilogue
Three weeks later…
Celeste sipped wine and scanned the crowd. According to the owner of Zuko Art, an exclusive gallery located in the heart of downtown Chicago, over one hundred people were expected for Will’s debut. Based on those waiting on the sidewalk to enter, and the shoulder-to-shoulder crowd inside, she believed him. She’d also never been more proud of her brother.
She smiled when she caught sight of him surrounded by a group of men and women. She couldn’t ever remember seeing him so animated and happy. Still the artist, just no longer brooding, Will had finally accomplished his lifelong dream. Before the gallery had even opened, the owner allowed a select few to view Will’s work. All of them had bought either a couple of paintings or one of his sculptures. One anonymous art aficionado had supposedly paid over twenty thousand dollars for one sculpture in particular. Yes, everything was right in Will’s world—she met John’s gaze from across the room—and in hers, too.
She broke eye contact with John, and looked to her dad, Hugh, who was laughing at something either Ian or Roy had said. The day she’d been released from the hospital, she’d spoken with her dad. When she’d told him she knew the truth about Ian, he’d sighed and said that it was about time. And when she told him about John, and her plans to move to Chicago, he hadn’t mentioned the diner, or asked who would run it. Instead, he’d given her his blessing.
Between recuperating from her injuries and packing for the move, the next two weeks had flown by with a whirlwind of activity. Her dad had sold the diner to Karen, her assistant manager, and Rick, the short
order cook, who had promptly eloped to Las Vegas after the transaction. How she hadn’t caught on that the two were dating, she didn’t know. Not that it mattered. Karen and Rick both loved The Sugar Shack and she knew they’d make sure the diner would prosper.
She’d sold her house to the young deputy, hired by Roy after CORE had done an extensive background check that went beyond the norm, and his wife who was expecting her first child. They, in turn, had decided to rent the studio apartment above her garage to the other deputy Roy had hired to replace Lloyd, who had moved to Chicago with Will and was now the newest member of the CORE team.
Yes, everything was right in her world. She loved John’s condo and living with him. She loved waking up in his arms, dreaming
pleasant
dreams while lying beside him, laughing, loving, and planning for the future.
He snared her gaze, then smiled as he broke away from her dad, Ian and Roy. Carrying a fresh glass of wine, he moved next to her and kissed her cheek, where the bruises had finally faded.
“Isn’t
that your sister?” he asked, and nodded to the corner of the room.
She glanced around and spotted Eden on her cell phone. In the week that she’d been in Chicago, she’d only seen her sister once. While still beautiful, Eden’s super thin figure and the tired smudges under her green eyes worried her.
“Yes, that’s her. Probably following a hot lead or something. I swear she’s a certifiable workaholic. My dad’s been here for two days. Tonight’s the first time he’s had a chance to see her and instead of mingling she’s on the phone.”
“Bitter much?” he asked with a grin.
“That
did
sound bad.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy for her. Network is seducing her away from Chicago with the opportunity to have her own show. I’m so proud of both Eden and Will. They both had big dreams and are now living them.”
“And I’m proud of you, and the way you’re finally fulfilling
your
dreams,” he said, and kissed her again.
She rolled her eyes. “Let’s not get carried away. I’m a baker, not a famous reporter or artist.”
“Once the people of Chicago taste your apple pie and chocolate chip cookies, you’ll become the most famous baker this town has ever seen.”
Thanks to the money she’d made off her house, and the unexpected cut her dad had given her from the sale of The Sugar Shack, she would open her own bakery/coffee shop in a few months. Ian had his lawyer negotiate the rent and renovations for the coveted space on Michigan Avenue. He hadn’t been disappointed that she’d decided to not take his job offer at CORE, but instead made her promise he’d be her first sale once she opened the doors.
She nudged him with her shoulder. “You’re biased.”
“Because you’re my fiancée?” He nipped her earlobe. “Or because I not only get to sample the baker, but her sweet treats, too?”
“Stop before my dad sees?”
“Which one?” he asked.
“Does it matter?”
“After how they’d both grilled me when I asked each of them for their permission to be your husband? Not at all.”
“They did say yes, though,” she reminded him.
“True, but I could have done without the threat of bodily harm should I ever make their baby girl cry.”
She laughed. “Then I guess you better make sure you keep me happy.”
“Why don’t we go home and let me get to work on making you happy enough we’ll wake the neighbors.”
“Mmm, sounds good, but you’ll have to wait. I’m not about to leave in the middle of Will’s big night.”
“Your sister is,” he said and nodded toward the door.
Celeste ignored her disappointment as Eden left without a word to anyone. But she couldn’t fault her sister for living her dreams, not when her own were finally coming true.
“John,” she said with a raised brow. “If you promise to exercise some patience, I’ll let you—”
He cupped her rear. “Exercise this hot body?”
Warmth rushed through her, and settled between her thighs. “Yes,” she said, fighting a moan, and wishing they really could leave. “You’ll need it.” She licked her lips and dropped her gaze to the bulge he was trying to hide against her hip. “After I do some serious sampling of my own, I have plans for that talented mouth of yours.”
His hot breath fanned across her cheek as he released a chuckle. “I had no idea how demanding you could be.”
“What can I say? If I’m fulfilling my dreams, I might as well fulfill my fantasies, too.” She kissed his cheek and started to move toward her dad, Ian and Roy before he could sweet talk her into leaving. “Coming?” she asked, when she looked over her shoulder at him.
“Not soon enough,” he said as he offered her his arm.
She pressed her breast against his bicep. “I’ll make it up to you.”
“Promise?”
“With all my heart. I promise to love you forever.”
His smile melted her heart. “That wasn’t the promise I was looking for, but I’m still going to hold you to it.”
The End