Sinister Intentions & Confiscated Conception
Page 36
He tipped his head toward his wounded shoulder. “Hard to do much of anything with this.”
“Wuss,” she grumbled. But she did it with a wink and a smile. Thornton went to the bathroom door and tapped on it. “By the way, Rachel, you should hear this next part.”
Rachel came out. She’d changed her clothes and was wearing one of those thin floaty dresses that went to mid-calf and skimmed along her body. Jared smiled to let her know that he liked her choice of fashion—and that later, he’d enjoy getting her out of it.
“The jury’s back on Esterman,” Thornton explained. “Thanks to your testimony, Rachel, he’s a goner. Life in prison without the possibility of parole. And after browsing through Livingston’s computer records, we’ve managed to round up all their little henchmen. And the final blow—Agnes McCullough will turn state’s evidence so she can spill her guts about anything and everything else. That should put a cap on this Esterman-Livingston fiasco.”
“And what about Sergeant Meredith?” Rachel asked.
“Ah, the scum sucker. Well, he’s behind bars, where he’ll stay because Agnes can pin Merkens’s murder on him. I hate dirty cops. Hope he gets a cellmate who feels the same way and isn’t afraid to show it.” Captain Thornton waved goodbye. “Enjoy your new family. You two deserve it,” she added before she closed the door.
“We do deserve it,” Rachel agreed. She walked closer and glanced down at the badge. “Did you two work out everything?”
Jared nodded. “How do you feel about that?”
“I’m pleased.” She lifted the baby from his arms and gently placed him in the bassinet next to the bed. “I know the danger will always be there. It’s part of who you are. I still don’t like it, but I’ll accept it because I love you. And because I know that badge will never mean more to you than what we have right here.”
His response wasn’t automatic, not some rote words to accommodate the moment. Jared pulled her to him and looked into her eyes. “You are...everything to me. Everything. My hope. My happiness. My future. I love you, Rachel.”
The tears came immediately. Smiling, she tried to blink them away. “Just my luck. I wait years to hear you say those words just the way you said them, and I start crying.”
“Let’s see what we can do about drying these tears.”
He ran his fingers over the tiny buttons on the front of her dress. “Considering my injuries, I think sex against the wall is out. Let’s try for something equally satisfying but a lot less dangerous. And we might want to do it soon, before Ben wakes up for a bottle.”
“But what about Tanner?”
Jared looped his good arm around her and pulled her onto his lap. “He’ll have the good sense not to come anywhere near this bedroom with that door shut.”
“You’re sure?” She smiled. Kissed him. And helped him with the buttons.
“Absolutely. Now, hush and have your way with me.”
She did.
* * *
ISBN: 9781488058028
Sinister Intentions
First published as King of the Castle in 1987. This edition published in 2020.
Copyright © 1987 by Heather Graham Pozzessere
Confiscated Conception
First published in 2003. This edition published in 2020.
Copyright © 2003 by Delores Fossen
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