Heather shifted slightly against him.
He kissed the top of her head, keeping her right where he wanted her. “We can argue about the arcane language later, darlin’.” For now, he needed Jack to get him. “Are we clear?”
Jack slowly nodded, still holding his nose. “Yeah. We’re clear.” Truth be told, the guy looked a little relieved.
Chrissy started to roll over, and Heather dropped her casted foot onto her ass. “Stay still,” Heather said.
Quint fought a grin. “You’re something, sweetheart.” Oh, it was way too early to be thinking about the future, but everything inside him knew she’d be there. He’d give her time to get used to the idea, however.
She sighed and buried her face in his side. “It’s been a rough day.” Then she lifted up as sirens trilled outside. “But I’d take any day with you, Quintino Albertini.”
He leaned down and kissed her nose. “Ditto.”
Chrissy screamed into the carpet, and Jack made a gagging noise.
The sirens grew louder and closer.
Zena barked, long and loud.
Heather jolted and tried to pull away.
“Too late, darlin’,” Quint said, meaning every word. “I’m keeping you.”
Chapter 14
Heather blushed as Quint’s Nonna fussed over her, bringing yet another glass of wine. She sat up on the deck beneath a toasty heater as the snow lightly fell onto the river. The family was spread out over the deck, inside, and beneath heaters closer to the tree line for their weekly barbecue. “Thank you,” she murmured, her body already nicely numb from wine.
“You’re welcome.” Nonna patted her head. “You were such a brave girl to take care of that nasty Chrissy. You know, I never liked that girl.” She clicked her tongue and shook her head.
“Me either,” Heather agreed, lifting the wine glass.
“I do like you, though.” Nonna leaned in. “After we staked out that motel together, I started thinking about opening a detective agency. If you ever get tired of writing and illustrating, you give it some thought, no?”
“I’d love to,” Heather said, wondering if the wine was affecting her judgment.
Nonna nodded. “Good girl. You keep that spoon I gave you, okay? You’ll need it with our Quintino.” She moved on with the wine bottle, pouring for people as she walked.
Quint returned from snatching another piece of the delicious apple pie. He sat next to her. “Are you sure you don’t want anything else?”
She leaned against his side, trying to remember where she’d put that spoon. It was probably back in her purse. Something told her Quint wouldn’t take to being smacked with it by her, however. Maybe she’d find out one day, but right now, he was just being too sweet. “I’m stuffed. You can stop babying me.” She didn’t mean it.
He took a large bite of the pie and chewed thoughtfully. “It’s only been a few days since you charged a woman with a gun. Enjoy the babying while it lasts.”
She had a feeling his protective nature might last forever, and she couldn’t find fault with that. Even so, she didn’t want to slide herself into a fantasy world like Chrissy had. “Any news on Chrissy?”
“Yeah. She’s been charged in Montana, and I think they’ll find her a nice looney bin for a while. She has family to help out, and the farther away I stay from her, the better.” Quint’s voice hardened just enough to go hoarse. “We’re both going to stay away from her.”
“No argument from me on that,” Heather said easily. “I also heard from Jack. He’s back home and said to tell you that he’s never coming north again.” For some reason, Jack had seemed frightened of Quint, which made no sense. They’d all been on the same side when Chrissy had gone crazy with the gun.
“Good,” Quint said.
She looked at his assembled family, and one of his brothers winked at her. It’d take a while to learn everyone’s names. She liked this group of people, and she felt at home with them. Even so, she didn’t want to get ahead of herself. “Your family is acting like we’re a couple.”
“We are,” he said simply, digging into the ice cream.
She turned to stare at his topaz eyes. “We are?”
He lifted one powerful shoulder, his gaze keeping hers. “Yeah. Oh, you can take your time and we can date for as long as you want, but we’re meant, Heather. My family usually senses when that happens.” He grinned. “I’m a patient man.”
A patient man who’d carried her down a mountain and then had charged into possible gunfire when he’d thought she was in danger. She smiled. “Maybe this was my plan the whole time.”
“It’s a good plan.” He nodded at her wine glass. “Though don’t get too fuzzy because I have plans for you tonight.”
A thrill, the one she equated with Quint, shot through her. “Last night wasn’t enough for you?”
“Nope.” He finished off his pie and sat back, slinging an arm over her shoulders. “This morning was close, though.” His grin turned wicked this time.
The shiver that took her had nothing to do with the falling snow and everything to do with the hottie Italian smokejumper holding her so close.
He kissed her nose and made her sigh.
Even so, if he was going to be so upfront, so was she. “It’s way too early to say the l word,” she murmured.
“Sure. Although you fell for me the second I saved your butt on the mountain.” It probably wasn’t arrogant if it was true.
She was too mellow to argue. “Maybe. Every girl wants a hero.”
“Is that a fact?” He took a drink of her wine. “Well, you’ve got one if you want one.”
“I want one,” she whispered. “But just you. Not anyone.” Her head was spinning a little, but she was safe with him. Completely. “You’re the perfect hero for me.” He and his rescue dog who’d found her on the mountain. Both of them had planted themselves squarely in her heart.
He kissed her then, on the deck with his family all around. Then he leaned back. “You’re the perfect hero for me, too.” Drawing her close, he tucked her right into his side, where he seemed to want her.
Forever.
Epilogue
Anna Albertini settled beneath the heater at her usual table with her sisters on either side of her drinking red wine. Pauley had chosen to eat inside at this barbecue, and she’d play a video game with him later. For now, the river rushed by, the heater kept them toasty, and family was all around. It was a good night, and everyone was safe.
For now, anyway.
Donna sipped the Chianti to her right, her boots covered in snow. “Think they’ll have a spring or summer wedding?”
Anna studied Quint and Heather, noting how right they looked together. “Quint says he’s patient, but he’s really not.”
Tessa sipped her Cabernet to Anna’s left. “That’s the truth. We’re too close to Christmas right now. Does anybody know when Heather’s birthday is? She seems like an Aquarius to me.”
Donna snorted. “You already heard her tell Nonna that her birthday is in February. Don’t act like you can guess a person’s sign.”
“I can,” Tessa retorted. “It’s a gift I get from the O’Shea side.”
Anna took a deep drink of her Shiraz. “Regardless, February will be the perfect time to propose. They can have a summer wedding.” Her heart warmed for her cousin. He deserved happiness and Heather was his perfect match. She could handle his job and the stress that came with it. “I wonder if she’ll ask one of us to be in the wedding.”
“Maybe,” Tessa said. “At the very least, I’ll bet she takes us dress shopping with her. She probably doesn’t even know we have an aunt who owns a dress shop.”
Donna leaned toward them. “Make sure Quint takes one of us ring shopping when he goes. He’s a good guy, but he knows nothing about gems. He’ll totally screw up the ring.”
Anna nodded. “Yeah. You’re not wrong. Remember that necklace he gave mom for her fiftieth birthday?”
They all shuddered.
“She still wears it when he’s around, and the thing looks too heavy for her small neck,” Donna laughed.
“His heart was in the right place,” Tess chortled.
Anna’s heart turned over as Aiden strode over to Quint and sat to chat. Speaking of being in the right place.
Donna nudged her. “I swear you look like one of those cartoon characters with hearts shooting out of their eyes. Try to play it a little cool.”
“I am cool,” Anna said, glancing at her phone. “But I need to get going soon. Work calls.”
“Any interesting cases?” Tessa asked, watching Quint and Heather again.
Anna nodded. “Always. I’m defending Santa next week.”
Donna jolted. “Of course you are.”
Tessa erupted into peals of laughter.
Aiden looked their way, his gaze seeking Anna’s. Once he saw her, he visibly relaxed. Yeah, she probably gave him plenty to worry about. She sighed. “Don’t tell Aiden about Santa. He has enough going on right now.”
Her sisters laughed harder.
Quint caught her gaze and lifted a wine glass in salute.
She smiled and lifted hers, whispering to her sisters. “The plan is working. So long as we keep the focus on the Albertini boys, Nonna and the aunts will leave us alone.” So she could deal with work, Santa, and Aiden Devlin on her own with some breathing space.
Donna smiled. “Yep. One down and five to go. For now, let’s just enjoy the happiness on Nonna’s face.”
Anna couldn’t look away from Quint and Heather. They snuggled together in full view of the entire family. “You know, they really are.”
“Are what?” Tessa asked.
Anna set down her wineglass. “Absolutely perfect for each other.”
His cousin kissed the woman he loved again.
Yep. Just perfect.
Santa’s Subpoena
Available September 28th - special preorder price!
So Much for Peace During the Holidays!
* * *
Anna Albertini has her hands full during the holiday season. Her boyfriend Aiden is back in town after being undercover across the country for the last three months, and his sudden over-protectiveness is a little too much. In addition, Nonna’s latest matchmaking scheme has been so far thwarted by the two most stubborn candidates alive, and Nonna is out of patience and bringing out the big guns. Anna is forced to both protect her sister and run interference, when she’d like to jump in and find a happily ever after for everyone instead.
* * *
To add to her already hectic life, her life-long stalker is about to make a move and doesn’t hide that frightening fact, although Anna is more than ready for him. In fact, she’s willing to draw him out to finally bring him down—regardless of the consequences. Finally, Santa has been arrested and charged for murder, needing a good lawyer. Who would arrest Santa? Anna can’t let this stand. It’s a good thing Christmas is a time of magic and miracles, because she’s going to need one.
* * *
PURCHASE ORDER LINKS:
* * *
Santa’s Subpoena
Holiday Rogue
Check out the next Albertini Holiday Romance!
Danger and Mistletoe are a Deadly Combination
* * *
Bosco Albertini learned the hard way that focusing on his career is a lot safer than investing in love. So when he meets his sweet new neighbor, he puts her firmly in the friend zone, despite her soft hazel eyes, sharp wit, and tempting curves. It soon becomes difficult to keep her there because his brothers, his Nonna, and even his dog already adore her—and he’s not far behind.
* * *
Marlie Kreuk accepts the friend zone from the too sexy soldier because, hey, when a guy puts you there, he’s a moron who doesn’t deserve more. But when danger comes for her and Bosco risks his spectacular body to protect her, she can’t help but wish for romance. Although, he’s going to have to work for it.
* * *
With danger all around, Bosco and Marlie must face their explosive attraction while defeating deadly attackers, but even that is nothing compared to handling the Albertini matchmakers during the Christmas season. Busting out of that friend zone and surviving will take all of Bosco’s training, Marlie’s courage, and the magic of the holidays.
* * *
PURCHASE LINKS:
Holiday Rogue
Disorderly Conduct Chap. 1
Take a look at the first Anna Albertini Novel!
My latte tasted like it was missing the flavor. It might be because I had less than a week until I received an anniversary card from a sociopath, and the waiting was painful. Sighing, I took another sip. Well, the brew wasn’t so bad, and the prosecuting attorney’s office was fairly quiet this morning, so I could get caught up on paperwork.
The outside doors burst open, slamming loudly against the traditional oak paneling. What in the world? I jumped up and ran around my desk, skidding to a stop at my doorway to see a cluster of men stalk inside. Weapons were strapped to their thighs. Big ones.
It felt like a blitz attack.
The receptionist in the waiting area yelled, and a paralegal walking while reading a stack of papers stopped cold in spiked pumps, dropping the papers. Her name was Juliet, and I’d just met her last month but didn’t know much about her except she liked to use colored paperclips when handing over case files.
She sidled closer to me; her eyes wide. Even though I wore thick wedges, she towered over me by about a head.
Six agents strode inside, all big and broad, all wearing blue jackets with yellow DEA letters across their backs. There should be a woman or three among them. Why just men? More importantly, why was the DEA invading the prosecuting attorney’s offices?
The shortest agent slapped a piece of paper on the reception desk, and the other five stomped around her, prowling down the long hallways and past my office which was the nearest to the reception area. Being the most junior of all the deputy prosecutors, I was lucky to have an office, if it could be called such. I waited until the grim looking agents had passed before walking across the scattered papers to read what predictably turned out to be a warrant.
An arrest warrant.
I tried to digest that reality when the tallest agent, a guy with light blond hair and light-refracting glasses that concealed the color of his eyes, escorted Scot Peterson, the prosecuting attorney, out of the office in handcuffs. My boss was around sixty-something years old with thick salt and pepper hair, bright blue eyes, and a sharp intelligence that had won him cases at the Idaho Supreme Court on more occasions that I could count.
He didn’t look right cuffed. I finally burst out of the fuzz of shock, and heat slammed through me. What was happening? Scot was a decent guy. He helped people and even taught for free at the local community college. The agent led him out the door, and then he was gone without having said a word.
The office went deadly silent for about ten seconds. Then pandemonium exploded. The remaining DEA agents started gathering manila files, case files, and random pieces of paper.
I cleared my throat and read the warrant again. It was for Scot’s arrest and any documents pertaining to…the distribution of narcotics? “Wait a minute.” I interrupted a tug of war between the nearest agent and the receptionist over a picture of her with Stan Lee at a Comic Con. She was in her early twenties, blonde, and very chipper. Right now, she had tears in her usually sparkling brown eyes. “That’s outside the scope of this warrant,” I protested. No doubt any warrant. Come on.
The agent paused. He sighed, his lips turning down, as if he’d just been waiting for an argument.
I nodded. “Yeah. You’ve just raided an area ripe with attorneys.” Yet in looking around, I was it. The only attorney on the floor. A pit dropped into my stomach, and I struggled to keep a calm facade. I’d only been a lawyer for a month. What did I know? The other attorneys were elsewhere, including my boss, who’d just been arrested.
I sw
allowed.
“Do something,” Juliet muttered, her teeth clenched.
I blinked. “What?” There wasn’t much I could do at the moment. While there should be a sense of comfort with that realization, it felt like I should do something.
“Anna.” Clarice Jones, the head paralegal, rushed toward me with two case files in her hands. She shoved them my way.
I took them instinctively and tried to keep from falling backward. “What’s going on?” If anybody knew what was up with Scot, it’d be her. They’d worked together for decades.
“I don’t know.” Clarice’s white hair had escaped its usually too-tight bun to soften her face with tendrils. She’d gnawed away half of the red lipstick customarily blanketing her thin lips. “Worry about it later. You have to take these felony arraignment hearings. Right now.”
I coughed as surprised amusement bubbled through me. “You have got to be kidding.” I’d been an attorney for a month and had only covered misdemeanor plea bargains to date. Plus, my boss had just been arrested. “Get a continuance. On both of them.” I tried to hand the files back.
“No.” She shoved harder than I did. Her strength was impressive. “These cases are before Judge Hallenback, and he’ll just dismiss if we don’t show. He’s not playing with a full deck lately, but he’s still the judge. You have to take the hearings while Scot gets this mess figured out.” She tapped the top folder, which seemed rather light in my hands. “Just follow the notes on the first page. Scot sets out a strategy for each case. The defendant will either plead guilty, in which case you ask for a sentencing hearing sometime in the next couple of weeks. Or they plead not-guilty, and you argue for bond—just read the notes.”
Holiday Rescue: An Albertini Family Romance Page 10