Time seemed to stand still for a moment as it sank in that she had saved his life. Though if he hadn’t kneed Jim in the groin... But they weren’t out of the woods yet. There was no time for a play-by-play analysis.
“Get up,” Connie said, kicking Jim in the shoulder.
The man got to his feet on shaky legs, keeping his hands up as he did so. Luke expected him to say something nasty, but he kept his mouth shut. Maybe he knows he’s been bested? He wanted to throw his arms around Connie and shake her and embrace her all at the same time, but she apparently wasn’t done running the show, so he stepped back and waited to see what she would do next.
“Out you go. Now!” she commanded him, shoving his calf with her foot and making him lurch forward through the door. He barely managed to avoid falling down the stairs. She guided him to his black sedan and shoved him up against it. Right next to his car was a Maryland State Police cruiser. Out stepped Jessie Martinez from The Factory, and she wasted no time handcuffing Jim and shoving him into the back of her car.
She’s a cop?! Luke glanced over at Connie, who only nodded at his silent question.
Calvin Sr. was also waiting in the parking lot. “Great job, Connie! That was impressive work. Only took you about two minutes.” He turned to his son, “You have the evidence?”
Calvin Jr. nodded with a grin as he patted his pants pocket. The flash drive—he’d apparently been able to grab it, after all. “So, now what?”
“We’re off to the marina,” Calvin Sr. announced, giving a thumbs-up to Jessie. “There’s a shipment that just came in. Cap is down there waiting for us, stalling the captain of the Afternoon Delight.”
Jessie’s state police cruiser wasn’t the only one on the scene at the Ocean City marina. When they pulled up in Calvin Sr.’s car, there were three other police vehicles and an FBI van. “Wow, I feel like we’re in an episode of Cops or something!” Luke said as Calvin slid his gearshift into park.
Connie patted his knee and flashed him a smile, cool as a cucumber. No one would guess she just held a man at gunpoint only a few minutes ago. If he wasn’t in love with this woman before, he most certainly was now.
Calvin Sr. sidled over to the FBI van where two feds with bulletproof vests sat with their windows rolled down. He spoke a few words to them before handing over several file folders full of documents. Then his head jerked up and spun toward the entrance to the restaurant and bar perched by the edge of the water. Cap was walking out with a short man wearing a vintage-looking hat with a navy and white band around it and a beige linen suit. If Luke had to guess, he’d put money on it being Terry Barnes.
As soon as the man saw the police officers and FBI agents begin to leave their vehicles to approach, he took off in a sprint back toward his boat. Cap turned on a dime to chase him down and soon had him tackled, his limbs spread out and pinned to the dock. Luke couldn’t believe how quickly it all happened. Within seconds, the officers had swarmed the guy, and he emerged moments later with his hands in cuffs. Then the FBI agents jogged down the length of the pier and onto the man’s boat. When Luke squinted, he could barely make out the name “Afternoon Delight” in a gold script across the back.
Jessie and Calvin Sr. both broke off from the pack of agents and officers and returned to where Connie, Luke, and Calvin Jr. were enjoying the spectacle as civilians from the hood of Calvin Sr.’s car.
“That was something else!” Luke praised once the pair was in earshot.
“Thank you so much for your help, Detective Mitchell,” Jessie said, extending her hand to shake. “We had been following a few leads on this for a while but hadn’t been able to nail down the suspect.”
“Always happy to do my part to bring perps to justice,” Calvin Sr. offered with a broad grin. “So Dr. Thompson is going to be up on state and federal charges, is that right?”
Jessie nodded. “Yes. And Mr. Barnes as well. This was a huge bust. I don’t think Mr. Barnes had any human cargo on board with this shipment, but from what I understand, they’re expecting to bag a good amount of controlled substances. Plus, we’ll hopefully be able to break up this human trafficking ring that’s been working its way up the coast for some time now. Despicable, isn’t it?”
“What’s going to happen to Barbara?” Luke wondered out loud.
“Good question,” Calvin Sr. answered. “I’m guessing she could be facing some conspiracy and accomplice charges, but they will probably be reduced if she’s cooperative and gives up more evidence to help convict Jim.”
“Wow. I don’t even know what to say.” Luke stared off toward the water, that bluest point where it rippled like it was covered in diamonds under the hot June sun. “I’m speechless about all of this. It’s just completely blowing my mind.” His wife was probably going to be arrested. He might have to testify. It was all too crazy to fathom at the moment.
“I’m sure more details will emerge in the coming days and weeks,” Calvin assured them. “For right now, though, you all can relax and enjoy the rest of your weekend. I know that’s what I plan to do!”
“Do you think you could take us out to your house to get my dog?” Luke questioned. “I miss my old boy.”
Calvin grinned. “I think he’ll be mighty happy to see you.”
Luke squeezed Connie’s hand in his, and they all climbed back into Calvin’s car.
TWENTY
Time is generally the best doctor. – Ovid
There was a lot of recapping and gloriously reliving all the details of the day’s adventure once they got to the Mitchells’ house. All the while, Luke found himself unable to take his eyes off Connie. Her face was glowing, smile beaming, as she told the story of how she wielded a gun like a badass and took down Jim Thompson.
“So how did you end up there?” Mrs. Mitchell asked. “I thought the men said you couldn’t go.”
Connie bit her lip as she decided how to answer. Luke could see her wheels spinning. “Luke didn’t want me to go...and I was a little tied up with some other...uh...stuff. But then Calvin Sr. came in and said Jim was on the move to the office, and he wanted me there to help.”
“You untied her?!” Luke burst out, shooting an incredulous look over at the senior Mr. Mitchell.
The detective wore a sly grin. “She impressed the hell out of me in our practice shoot. Plus, she’s a nurse. I don’t know anyone who is calmer under pressure than a nurse.”
Mrs. Mitchell still seemed to be working out the “untied” part of Luke’s outburst, but Paisley had already devolved into uproarious laughter, which forced her husband to join in. Calvin Sr. went on to give more details about the bust and their heroic actions.
“Calvin here hit the jackpot with the banking info. The feds couldn’t be more thrilled if we’d handed it to them on a silver platter. There were clear withdrawals and transfers, plus Luke uncovered the fraudulent medical billing. And the money laundering came from fake patients who paid cash for everything from sinus surgeries to tonsillectomies to a whole battery of bogus tests and minor procedures. There was probably a million dollars’ worth of money in those accounts, and most if it could be traced to those fake patients.”
Luke couldn’t help but notice the proud grin on both Patty Mitchell and Paisley’s faces as they learned what their husbands had done to bring Dr. James Thompson to justice. Then Patty reached over and put her arm around her daughter-in-law’s shoulders. “I can’t wait for the baby to get here,” she said with happy tears in her eyes. “It’ll be another generation of smart, strong Mitchell men.”
“Or women!” Paisley added, squeezing her mother-in-law around the waist. “We don’t know if it’s a boy or a girl yet, remember?”
Luke began to think about his son and daughter, both in their early twenties. Their family as they’d known it was being ripped in two. He didn’t know how they were all going to heal, and he couldn’t even imagine having the same strong bond with L.T. and Chloe as Calvin Sr. and Patty had with Calvin Jr. and Paisley. Maybe once they meet Co
nnie, they’ll see how happy I am, and we’ll be able to forge a brand-new relationship, he hoped. He wanted to have this with them, what this special family had. He wanted to be a grandfather and bounce the next generation of Cannons on his knee.
The big question was, would Connie be by his side?
The best part of going back to the Mitchells’ house was Alfie picking up on his owner’s return. The bushy-tailed collie came flying from the woods, tongue out, limbs like spinning propellers making quick work of the distance between them. The dog rushed right into his owner’s lap as he swung back and forth on the blue porch swing, feeling the summer sunshine beat down on him.
“How are you, boy? Did you miss me? Did you?”
Alfie answered by thoroughly licking his master’s face. Luke wrapped his arms around the dog’s neck. “I missed you too! Missed you so much!” Even though it’d only been a few days, he was glad to have his canine companion back by his side. “Thank you so much for taking care of him, Patty!”
“Of course,” Patty said with a smile. “I may have even talked this old man into getting me another dog!” She winked as her husband tried to blow her off with a wave of his hand.
“Well, I think Connie and I should probably head home. We haven’t been to our own places in a few days. Mail is probably piling up,” Luke announced as he stood up from the porch swing.
“Are you sure you can’t stay for dinner?” Patty coaxed.
“Wish we could, but I have some phone calls to make to my kids, and I’m sure Connie has stuff to attend to.” Luke draped his arm around Connie, pulling her to his body.
She shot him an annoyed look like she didn’t appreciate him speaking for her, but then she extended her hand to both Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell. “Thank you both so much for everything. I don’t know how we would have made it through this nightmare without you.”
“It was our pleasure,” Patty assured her. “Now, you both better promise me you won’t be strangers!”
The ride back to Luke’s house was mostly silent. He sat in the back seat with his hand intertwined with Connie’s, mulling over whatever was going to happen when they stepped out of that van. It was like getting off a rollercoaster after it jerked to a stop. With all the adrenaline still flowing, he was always left wondering how the ride could possibly be over already.
Luke thanked Calvin Jr. for all his help, then he offered his hand to Connie as she climbed out of the van. She waved him off and stuck a perfect ten landing on the concrete pad of Luke’s driveway. They both watched Calvin drive off.
“So now what?” she asked, looking around.
Luke held on to Alfie’s leash. “I don’t know.”
“I’m sorry about defying your orders,” Connie offered. Her lips were twisted up with the smallest of hopeful smiles, as though she hoped he would forgive her.
“Mmmhmmm. You probably need an extra-hard spanking for that.” Alfie was pulling toward the door, so Luke headed in that direction. Then he noticed Connie wasn’t budging. “Aren’t you coming too?”
She let out a sigh as she glanced down the street. “My apartment isn’t that far from here. I could walk, I guess.”
He was crestfallen. This scene was becoming an even bigger letdown than he feared it would be. It’s just like those huge action-packed summer blockbusters, he thought. They have this intense final explosive scene, and then no matter what happens with the hero and heroine afterwards, it’s anti-climactic.
A voice inside his head admonished him for not telling her what he wanted, what he expected. He was the Dom, after all.
“You’re not leaving without your spanking,” he said firmly.
She whipped around, clearly surprised. “Is that so?”
“Extra-hard spanking,” he corrected, crossing his arms over his chest after letting Alfie into the house.
“Well, I guess you do owe me an orgasm...” Her voice trailed off as her eyes raked up and down his body.
He scoffed. “No, you were only going to get an orgasm if you waited for me to return! You did not wait, so you’re not getting an orgasm.”
She began to step toward him and into the house. “I saved your life. That’s gotta be worth at least a few dozen orgasms.” She reached out and grabbed his hand, jerking him back around to face her.
She stood before him with her blonde hair flipping up on her shoulders, her sun-kissed skin glowing, and her blue eyes as radiant as ever. He wanted to drop to his knees and worship her like the goddess she was, but that wasn’t what she wanted. She wanted him to take charge. Take control. And he planned to do just that.
“To the bedroom,” he commanded, and after a little excited hop, she practically skipped down the hallway. “Clothes off.”
When she stripped her clothes, he saw the marks where the ropes he’d bound her in earlier had dug into her skin, leaving her striped. He wasn’t sure why, but it gave him a little thrill to see his marks on her, to know he’d put them there, that she’d let him.
“What now, Master?” she asked, looking up at him.
Those were beginning to be the most beautiful words he’d ever heard. But they weren’t as beautiful as the sounds that would tear from her throat when he finally let her come.
“On the bed,” he instructed, and she didn’t hesitate to back up three paces until she felt the bed behind her. She sank into the mattress, her lovely naked body spread for him.
“You have many lessons ahead of you if you want to learn how to serve your master well,” he said as he climbed on top of her, straddling her with his knees on either side of her hips. He remained clothed, and she already looked perturbed by that fact. “Are you sure you’re up for that challenge?”
“For the challenge of being your sub?” she clarified.
He nodded. “That, and other things.”
“Depends on what you’re asking me for.” She looked up at him with clear, blue eyes, and he wasn’t sure, but that look of hope he’d detected earlier in her face still seemed to be there. He wondered if there was any way she was hoping for the same things he was hoping for.
Her hair spread out around her face as she scooted up onto the pillow so she could see him better. He took her hands into his as he stayed balanced over her, fixing his dark eyes on hers as he continued to read the story they told. It was the story of a woman who had been burned by love once and was reluctant to trust again. One who found it easier to surrender her body than her heart.
“Connie, I know it’s only been a short time that we’ve known each other. It’s not only been a short time, it’s been an absolutely insane time as well.” She nodded, urging him on with her eyes. “But I’m old enough to know—and I know myself well enough to know—that I’ve fallen for you head over heels. That’s why I didn’t want you to go today. I was so afraid something would happen to you, and I couldn’t let it, not if I had any say in preventing it.”
There was a tiny glistening teardrop perched on the inside corner of her left eye. “If you want me to trust you, you have to trust me too,” she explained. “When I told you I wanted to go, and I could take care of myself, I meant it. I knew I could.”
He nodded and reached up to swipe away that lonely tear. “You definitely took care of yourself—and me too.”
“When I burst through that door and saw that gun pointed at you—” She paused as the tear that was just wiped away was replaced with another, this one twice as fat. “I knew in that moment I couldn’t lose you. I knew what I feel for you goes way beyond the physical. I’ve just been in complete denial—like if I didn’t believe it, then it wouldn’t be happening.”
He chuckled softly under his breath. “Oh, boy, do I know that feeling well.” He grasped her hands in his again. “I love you. Crazy or not, it’s the truth. And you’re gonna have to trust me on that.”
She smiled up at him as that fat tear rolled down her cheeks. “I love you too, Dr. Luke Cannon. You’re gonna have to trust me on that too.”
EPILOGUE
&nbs
p; Two months later...
Luke had heard somewhere the concept of a new normal. He hadn’t had a new normal for years, but now he found himself firmly ensconced in one, and he wouldn’t want it any other way. It all began that night three months before when his friend Cap had lured him to his swinger club with the promise of having fun, even if it was just to observe. He simply asked Luke to “give it a chance.”
Luke was only hoping someone would give him a chance.
He hadn’t expected to meet someone there who was just as clueless about the swinger lifestyle as he was, who was also dragged there under the guise of “giving it a chance.”
It all seemed a little too perfect to be true.
But all that perfect was quickly eroded when the other aspects of his world began to crash down around him. His wife made patently false accusations and spread nasty rumors about him. His partner was out to steal the practice from him and destroy his career. And two of his coworkers had betrayed him. Who would have thought he’d have to endure so much to get to a place where a new normal was even possible?
Beverly was arrested for conspiring with Jim on the fraudulent medical billing for close to a million dollars. It had been taking place over a period of two years, much longer than Luke had suspected. After she was released on bond, she did call him to apologize. The money Jim had promised her was too tempting to resist. She had kids and grandkids she wanted to help. It sucked, but Luke understood why she’d done it.
It was only after Jim suspected Luke was close to figuring out what was going on that he started to look for other ways to throw him off the trail. That was when Jim and Barbara conspired to hire Jasmine to pose as his paramour. Jasmine was spared from any criminal consequences, but Barbara had been indicted. Her powerful lawyer family struck some deal with the prosecution in exchange for her turning over all sorts of damaging information on Jim. In the end, she wasn’t even going to serve any time.
Turning the Tide (Eastern Shore Swingers, #5) Page 24