Running From the Law

by Albright, Jami

  She brushed the hair from his forehead. “Charlie and Hank forever?”

  The pieces of his life snapped into place. “That’s right baby, Charlie and Hank together forever. Now come here.” He went back to the place where all the answers of his life were found, and everything that didn’t matter fell away. In her embrace, with their lips mating and his body fused to hers.

  Home.

  * * *

  Charlie’s knees came up on the sofa to give her better access to Hank’s mouth. The swooping dip of her stomach every time their lips touched was a sensation that was quickly becoming her favorite drug. Had she ever been so happy? Only briefly, and that was the night they’d made Pod.

  They were together now, and that was the bottom line. A tiny fissure of unease threatened to crack through her happiness. He’d made that weird face when she’d said she knew she could always trust him, probably because he wasn’t sure the same thing was true of her. After all, Hailey was right. She’d been the one to leave him.

  She’d have to show him that she was committed to him in every way. “Hank.”

  Big hands smoothed the hair from her face. “Yeah, baby?”

  “I want…”

  “I want too, but I’m not exactly in the best shape.” He chuckled.

  She could do this. She was a grown woman, and even though she wasn’t very experienced, she could do this. One more deep, soul-wrenching kiss and she stood. His fingers reached for her, but she stepped out of his grasp. “Hang on, greedy.”

  “I am greedy. I’ve been deprived of your kisses for too long.” The teasing grin slid from his face when she reached up and untied the straps of her sundress. “What are you doing?”

  She slid the dress down. The elastic top slipped easily over her rounded belly. “I’d think that was obvious.” Self-consciousness tried to worm its way into the situation, but she refused to let it. This was Hank, and he loved her. One arm went around her back, and she unhooked the strapless bra she wore, leaving her only in her panties. Her breasts were larger than when he’d seen them last…hell, all of her was larger than when he’d seen her last.

  “Oh. My. God.” The reverence in his voice and the dilation of his pupils stoked the fire burning her alive.

  Her hands went to his athletic shorts, and she pulled them and his boxers down his legs. The tips of her fingers ran over the part of him begging for her. A low, rumbling moan escaped his throat, and his whole body jerked with awareness. “You like that?”

  “You have no idea, but it’s not enough. Get rid of that scrap of lace and come here.” The tension in his body ran from the corded muscles in his neck to his straining erection. She shimmied out of her panties and straddled his hips, kneeling just above him.

  “Like this?” she teased. But her teasing died when the look on Hank’s face hit her. Had she done something wrong? “Hank?”

  “You are the most gorgeous thing I’ve ever seen.”

  The blush started at her toes and bloomed over her body. “Thank you.” The strange thing was that she felt beautiful in his eyes. Not since that moment earlier, when she’d had a slight pang of self-consciousness, had she had an ounce of discomfort. This was right and where she belonged.

  Warm, strong fingers slid into her hair at the back of her head, and he pulled her to him. This kiss was different than before—long, lazy slides of their lips. His tongue chased hers. Hers chased his. They played and teased, both trying to outdo the other. It was a game where there were no losers, only winners.

  An incoherent sound fell from her lips when he began making circles around the tip of her breast with his other hand. He gently tugged on her hair. His teeth captured her lower lip then scraped along the flesh until he released it. He soothed the sting with a velvety lick.

  Her body began the climb. Each sensation built on the last, soft, rough, pleasure, pain, until she was hanging on the brink ready to fall. When he brought his mouth to her sensitive nipple and sucked while still toying with the other, she crashed over the edge with his name ripped from her throat.

  She collapsed on top of him, but caught herself with her hands on either side of his head, so she didn’t hurt his injured chest. Her ragged breaths blew the coarse hair on his chest. A minute. She needed a minute to recover.

  “Charlie?”

  “Hang on.”

  He chuckled. “Take your time. I’m here when you’re ready.”

  She glanced up at him through her lashes. “You think this is funny?”

  “I think this is heaven.” His erection teased her opening…or was she teasing him? It was hard to tell. “You’re going to have to do most of the work, Charlie. I’m a little banged up. You alright with that?”

  Her response was to lower herself onto him. She moaned low and loud. Sparks flashed before her eyes. This position and the added pressure of the pregnancy changed everything. More intense, more intimate, more everything. She gripped the back of the sofa with one hand to make sure she didn’t try to steady herself by placing her hands on his wounded chest. One rock, then two, and she found her rhythm.

  “You feel so damn good.” He never took his eyes from her. His hands came to her hips and increased her speed. With every rock of her hips, the white-hot glow of release grew higher and hotter. “I’m almost there. Are you close, Charlie?”

  She bit her lip and nodded. The delicious friction made speech impossible. He slid his hand between them and found the sensitive bundle of nerves that had the potential to set her off. She closed her eyes and let her head fall back reveling in the deliciousness of the sensation as his fingers rubbed quick circles around the spot.

  “Charlie, look at me.” The command couldn’t be denied.

  She did and lost her breath in the process. There was lust and need in his hot gaze, but mostly it overflowed with love. Did she deserve this much love and happiness? She didn’t know, but she craved it from him.

  They made love to each other with their eyes and their bodies. They didn’t speak again, but so many things were said in those moments.

  I haven’t been whole without you.

  You’ve haunted my dreams.

  I’ve missed you so much.

  I’m desperate for more of you.

  I love you. I love you. I love you.

  Who said what didn’t matter, they were bathed in the knowledge that they each felt the same way and it healed something deep inside her.

  He increased the movement of his finger. She increased her rhythm. Fire licked between them until her whole body went up in flames. The roll of her orgasm took her. There was no light, no sound, only sensation. She chased every pulsing beat until she was boneless and spent.

  He followed close behind. “Charlie.” He didn’t shout, there weren’t any deep moans, he simply whispered her name like a benediction and a prayer.

  For a long moment, he didn’t say anything else. Didn’t move. And she worried that she’d hurt him. “Hank?”

  “Mmh.”

  “Are you alright?” She wasn’t. Her entire existence had just been altered.

  He opened one eye and grinned at her. “I’m amazing. I was thanking whatever god brought you back to me.”

  “Oh.”

  Reverently, he placed his hands on her belly. “You know you’re never getting rid of me now. Right?”

  “I’m counting on it.” He wasn’t getting rid of her either, and she’d spend the rest of her life proving it to him.

  Chapter Fifty-Two

  Third Trimester

  Life had never been so good for Charlie. Not when she won her first talent contest. Not when she became a star. Not when she received her first Teen Choice Award. All of those things paled in comparison to her sweet life in her little hometown.

  It was common knowledge now that she’d lost all of her money, that she was pregnant by the sheriff, and that they weren’t married. The good folks of Zachsville generally regarded her just like everyone else in town. She was gossiped about just like Chelsea Raer />
  when people found out she was making jewelry with her own hair and selling it on the internet. Or Lonnie over at Lonnie’s Tires and More, when it was discovered that he and his sister, Loretta used to play lick tongue with each other as kids. Eww.

  And she couldn’t be happier.

  Let ’em talk. With every rumor spread, or tongue that wagged, she became more and more Charlie Klein, resident of Zachsville, Texas, and less and less Charlie Kay, Hollywood star. Which was why when the story broke in the media about her pregnancy, it was nothing more than a trivial footnote in the gossip rags. She guessed Ron and Marci had been right. She was a nobody.

  Thank God.

  Pod was getting bigger and thriving. Who knew she’d be so good at growing a baby? Some days her ankles swelled, some days her breasts were so sensitive that it hurt to wear a bra, and every day she was so thankful for this little miracle that her heart barely contained her joy.

  She was still singing at Boon’s a couple of nights a week. While she enjoyed it, she’d be glad when Beau Callen got to town and could take over for her. Performing wasn’t something she wanted to keep doing. But she did love being able to help her friend keep her bar in business.

  But the most significant source of happiness was her relationship with Hank. Every thump of her heart was for him.

  Thump, thump, joy.

  Thump, thump, love.

  Thump, thump, trust.

  She’d laughed more in the last couple of months than she had in the previous eight years. She was safe with Hank, so were her hopes and dreams, and she told him so every chance she got.

  Her days were spent making up for lost time with him, growing her baby, and getting her shop ready to open. And they were some of the happiest she’d ever known.

  Now she glanced around the little store she’d put together with hard work, sweat, and the help of her friends and family.

  “Charlie, do you want the mother and baby care products together?” Her new manager, Roxanne, asked her. It had turned out Roxanne had lots of retail and management experience at a boutique in Austin but wanted to work in Zachsville to be closer to her twins, so it was a win, win for both of them.

  “Yes. I have a few things in the back that I’d like to use for the display.”

  Roxanne set the dusting cloth on the counter. “I’ll get them. What am I looking for?”

  “A couple of wicker baskets, a few stuffed animals, a blue robe and some slippers. Arrange it however you like. I’m not picky.” They were only a week from opening. It was thrilling, but there was still so much to get done, and to make matters trickier, Raul had gone MIA. Thomas had assured her that everything was still a go, but it was unnerving. She had enough product for a month, but she’d need supplies soon. She’d bought all that Thomas had, and not at the wholesale price she’d agreed upon with Raul, but she’d wanted to make sure she was fully stocked.

  Hank had been trying to get her to find a new wholesaler, but the deal with Raul was too good to give up. So she was willing to wait a little longer for him to get back to her before she went with someone else.

  Her phone rang, and Hank’s name popped up. The butterflies that always came out to play when she was with him did a dive roll in her belly. “Hello.”

  “Hey, baby.” The warm tenor of his sweet voice breathed life to the fire that simmered just beneath the surface of her heart.

  “Hey, handsome. What’s shakin’?” She broke a dead leaf off a potted plant on the counter.

  “Not much. I was wondering if you could take a break and grab an early lunch with me.”

  She surveyed the stack of work she needed to get done and almost told him no, but one thing she’d learned about running her own business was that there was always work to be done. This pile of papers would still be here when she got back in a couple of hours. “Sure. Where should I meet you?”

  “At the courthouse. I have something to take care of there.”

  “Alright. Are you headed over now?”

  “On my way now. See you there.”

  She pushed to her feet, an activity that was becoming more and more difficult. Being eight months pregnant was no joke. “Roxanne.”

  The pretty brunette poked her head out of the storeroom. “Yeah?”

  “I’m headed to lunch with Hank. I’ll be back in an hour or so.”

  “Sounds good.”

  Charlie grabbed her purse just as her phone rang again. She quickly punched the button when she read the screen. “Raul?”

  “Hello, chica. How are you?”

  “I’m big as a house, but well. How are you?”

  “I’m well. I’m sorry my business called me away, but I’m back and will have your first shipment to you tomorrow.”

  The squeal that escaped her was not professional at all, but she didn’t care. “That’s fantastic.”

  “Thomas told me about you and the sheriff. Congratulations.” There was the tiniest bit of an edge to his voice.

  Maybe Hank had been right, and Raul had wanted more than a professional relationship. “Thank you.”

  “I think it would be better if we made the delivery at a time when he’s not around. I don’t think he likes me very much.” He chuckled.

  That was an understatement. “No problem, but I don’t involve him in my business, Raul.” She looked both ways at the street before she crossed to the courthouse.

  “That’s good. I’d hate not to be able to do business because of your boyfriend.”

  What a weird thing to say. Male pride was ridiculous. “That’s not going to happen.”

  “Good. That’s very good.”

  She nodded and mouthed, “Thank you,” to a man that held the courthouse door open for her. “What time should I expect you tomorrow?”

  “The delivery will be there around two.” The sound of computer keys clacking came through the line. “I’m making this first delivery myself to explain the recyclable crates, the best way to handle them, and the retrieval process.”

  “Great. I’ll see you then.” She looked up and down the hall. Hank hadn’t told her where to meet him.

  “Goodbye.” Raul disconnected.

  Her already good mood went up about a hundred percent. Things were falling into place.

  The goofy smile she’d been wearing got even wider when she saw Hank come out of one of the offices. The sun coming through the high windows shone down on him, making the natural highlights in his light brown hair look like spun gold. He took her breath away, and he was all hers. Her lady bits did high kicks when he caught sight of her and grinned. Lord, he was handsome.

  “Hi.” She weakly waved, and that was a feat. The man struck her stupid.

  He strode toward her. No doubt what his purpose was. His lips came down on her in a kiss that wasn’t at all appropriate for the courthouse. He nipped and sucked her bottom lip before he pulled back and smiled down at her. “Hi. I’ve got a question for you.”

  “Okay.” She hoped he wouldn’t ask her to operate heavy machinery, because at the moment that was out of the question.

  “Marry me?”

  “Okay.” That seemed to be the only thing she could say to this man. “Wait, what?”

  He laughed and kissed her quick and hard. “Too late to change your mind. You’ve already agreed.”

  “Hank, your divorce was only finalized last week.” She glanced around the empty hallway. “What will people think?”

  The look he gave her communicated clearly that he knew she was full of shit. “You don’t give a rat’s ass what anybody in this town thinks.”

  “That’s not true.” It was pretty much true. “I care what our family and friends think.”

  “Yeah, and they’ll all be thrilled.”

  The happiness spread across her face until her cheeks hurt. “You’re right.”

  He started dragging her down the hall.

  “Where are we going? You cannot drag me into another closet and maul me. The poor janitor hasn’t been able to
look me in the eye since he caught us in there last time. Besides, I hardly fit in a closet anymore.”

  He laughed and kissed her hand. “You’re perfect just the way you are. But we’re not going to find a closet.”

  “Then where are you dragging me off to?”

  “To get the marriage license. I’m not letting you change your mind.”

  Yeah, like he had to worry about that. It would take a full-on disaster to rip her away from him. “Okay.” There she went again, agreeing to everything.

  “I want to get married before Pod comes, so I’m thinking in a couple of weeks.” He yanked open the door to the marriage license office.

  “What’s the hurry?”

  He glanced around then fake whispered, “Because of what people will say, of course.”

  She laughed. “Okay.” It seemed to be the word of the day.

  Chapter Fifty-Three

  “Are you going to feed me, or was this all a ploy to get your way?”

  Hank hugged Charlie to his side and placed his hand on her belly. “Anything you want, baby.”

  She tried and failed to keep a put-out look on her face. “Good, because I’d hate to have to hurt you, you being the law and all.”

  His laughter filled the town square. “Where you from, girl?” He led her to the City Cafe. The familiar smell of home cooking hit him in the face, and he soaked it in.

  Her long lashes fluttered. “Why, I’m from the great state of Texas, sir. Why do you ask?”

  “Every day your accent gets thicker and thicker. I love it.” He pulled her to his side and kissed her head, then led her to an empty booth.

  “The regular, Charlie?” Trudy, their waitress, asked.

  She’d ordered the same thing for a month—chicken livers with mashed potatoes and fried okra.

  A happy sigh passed through her lips. “Yes.”

  “And for you, Sheriff?”

  “I’ll take the special, Trudy.”

  “Iced tea for both of you?”

  “Yep.” He reached across the table and took Charlie’s hand. “Trudy, you can be the first to know. We’re getting married.”