Night Watch

by Susan Sleeman

  “Sure you will.” Kelsey squeezed Sierra’s arm. “I didn’t do anything special, and it came off.”

  “But you don’t love chocolate like I do.” Sierra shook her head and put her hands on Kennedy’s shoulders. “Enough about me. We’re here to dress this beautiful woman. I suspect if the dress is right tonight, we’ll soon be attending her wedding.”

  Sierra winked at Kennedy and laughed. Together, they went to Kelsey’s room. Kennedy had never had many friends, and she could see these women becoming friends in the future. If Erik wanted her, that was.

  “My closet awaits,” Kelsey said. “But before I show it to you, I need you to promise not to judge me.”

  “And trust us,” Maya said. “When you see the size of it and the contents, you’ll want to.”

  Kelsey rolled her eyes.

  “Scouts honor.” Kennedy held up three fingers. “No judging, but maybe a little jealousy.”

  The four of them easily fit in the walk-in closet, which was the size of a small bedroom.

  Kelsey held her hands out to encompass the space. “Since I had Sophia, I’ve cut back, but clothes have always been my therapy for the tough job I do.”

  “Kelsey’s our forensic anthropologist,” Maya said.

  “Ah,” Kennedy said. The woman dealt with bodies that were often nothing more than bones when recovered.

  “Snuggling Sophia is better therapy.” A dreamy smile crossed her face.

  “I know what you mean,” Sierra said. “But I didn’t have a clothes addiction. Only a work one.”

  “It wasn’t a—never mind.” Kelsey shook her head. “You’re right, and the evidence is right in front of us. My evening wear is on the back wall.” Kelsey stepped out of the way.

  Kennedy stared at the full rack of brightly colored dresses. “I’m helpless with formal attire. Can you just choose something for me?”

  A fire lit in Kelsey’s eyes. “You know it. I have a few green dresses that would look amazing with your coloring.”

  She pulled down three dresses covered in protective plastic and returned to the bedroom. By the time Kennedy joined her, Kelsey had one of them uncovered and held it out. “Use my bathroom to try it on.”

  “I don’t know. It’s beautiful, but it looks too glamorous for me.”

  “No such thing.” Kelsey put the dress in Kennedy’s hands and gave her a push toward an open door.

  “We didn’t mention she’s kind of pushy when it comes to fashion.” Sierra laughed, and the others joined her.

  Kennedy went to the bathroom with their joy ringing through the room and slipped into the halter dress with chiffon ruffles that draped perfectly along her shape. The dress left her shoulders and most of her back bare. She wasn’t used to showing so much skin, but she had to admit it accented all her features, and the green was fabulous with her hair color.

  But could she wear it? She didn’t know. She wasn’t even sure she could step out and show the other women.

  A knock sounded on the door.

  “How’s it coming in there?” Kelsey asked.

  “I have it on, but…”

  “I’m coming in.” Kelsey pushed the door open. “Let me zip it up for you.”

  Kennedy turned her back to Kelsey, and once the zipper was at the top, Kennedy looked in the mirror.

  “Girl, it’s perfect. Once we put your hair up, Erik won’t be able to keep his eyes off you.” Kelsey took Kennedy’s hand and led her out to the bedroom.

  “Oh, wow,” Sierra said. “That’s the dress. My brother isn’t going to know what hit him.”

  Erik tied the confounding bowtie in his bathroom mirror, swiped a path free from his shower steam, and stood back to look at himself. He forced a smile, which he would need to keep plastered there for Clay’s wedding and the reception. He was happy for his brother. He really was. But with Kennedy walking out on him again, he knew his heart would ache all day. Maybe for the rest of his life.

  “Focus on being a groomsman and supporting Clay,” he told his reflection. “That’s all you have to do.”

  He adjusted the tie. He and his brothers all owned basic black tuxes for client protection details in formal settings. Toni had insisted on Clay having a special tux, but thankfully she agreed the brothers could wear the tuxes they owned. Meant no fittings or hassle of picking up and returning them.

  Not like Erik didn’t have the time. Since Kennedy had left with Finley, he’d been throwing himself into work and flying his helicopters to fill the days, but time still inched by as if in slow motion. He missed Kennedy more than he thought possible. Even more than when they’d broken up the first time. This time, he knew she loved him and they could be together if not for WITSEC.

  A knock sounded on his door. He glanced at his watch. He was driving to the church with Drake, who was stopping by to get him, but not for thirty minutes. And the dude was never early. Maybe he had a problem with his tux.

  Erik went to the door. “Need help with your bow—” But the words died at the sight in front of him. Kennedy. He stared at the green dress that clung in all the right spots. Her hair was swept up, little curled strands dangling by her face. Her freckly shoulders were bare. She was stunning, and standing in his doorway. He swallowed, tried to get some moisture into his mouth. “Kennedy?”

  “Hi,” she said softly.

  “You look…wow…just wow. I don’t have words.” He blinked a few times to be sure he wasn’t hallucinating. “You’re here. WITSEC. What’s going on?”

  She smiled. “Can I come in and explain?”

  “Um, yeah, sure.” He stepped back and closed the door.

  She brushed past him, leaving a pleasant flowery scent that he recognized from one of the Veritas partners, but he couldn’t remember which person.

  She went into the living room but didn’t sit, and he took a minute to admire her legs accented by strappy sandals.

  “You look amazing,” she said. “I always figured you’d dress up nicely, but wow. That tux.” She stepped closer and lifted a hand as if she was going to adjust his tie but then let it fall.

  “About WITSEC?” he prompted.

  “I asked Tyrone to find us a temporary safe house while he did a threat assessment. I thought, if the danger was minimal, Finley would willingly leave the program.”

  “What did he find?”

  “Minimal risk, and he didn’t extend our agreement. Finley and I’ll live together to reduce costs and take care of her debt. We never did figure out where that cash in the safe came from, but it doesn’t appear to be illegal so we’ll use that.”

  “Will she be moving to Virginia with you?”

  Kennedy shook her head, one of the strands of hair crossing her cheek. He wanted to move it, but she swept it out of the way before he could. “I got a job here, and I’m moving after I give notice.”

  She couldn’t have gotten a full-time position as a forensic diver. Not with the local agencies. “Where will you be working?”

  “Right here. At Veritas. They offered me a full-time job as a forensic diver with a very generous salary.”

  He resisted gaping at her. “Let me guess. Sierra’s doing.”

  “Actually no. Maya’s idea. She thinks in addition to the work I can do for the lab, they can hire me out on other dives in the region, and my salary will basically pay for itself.”

  He shook his head. “Is this for real? You’re staying?”

  She stepped up to him and rested her hands on his shoulders. “I hoped you would want to start dating again. Was I right?”

  “Are you kidding me?” He circled his arms around her slender waist and pulled her close, to inhale that perfume that was driving him crazy. “I want you right by my side now and forever.”

  She smiled, a sultry kind of smile that got his blood boiling. “Then let’s seal this with a kiss.”

  He lowered his head, and their mouths connected in a bonfire of emotions. He could hardly think about anything other than how she felt in his arms, and
that he would be able to hold her every day.

  Every day.

  His brain cleared, and he lifted his head. “Wait here.”

  He ran to his bedroom and opened the bottom dresser drawer, where he’d hidden the ring he’d bought for her back in college. He could only hope she would say yes to such a sudden proposal.

  He raced back to the family room and got down on his knee.

  She gasped. “Are you—?”

  “Proposing?” He held out the ring box. “I know this is sudden, but I have never stopped loving you. I know we’ve just gotten back together, but you are the love of my life. Will you marry me, Kennedy?”

  “Marry you?” She fanned her face and gaped at him.

  He could hardly stand to wait for her answer, but he wouldn’t pressure her. He did wiggle the ring just a bit for encouragement, and then he spotted the tears glistening in her eyes, and his heart dropped. Was she going to say no?

  “Yes!” The word burst from her mouth. “Yes. Of course.”

  Her eyes glinted with joy and a wide smile crossed her face. A smile he couldn’t wait to kiss away. He slid the ring on her finger. She held it up to the light, and the solitaire diamond sparkled, casting tiny prisms of light around the room.

  She looked at him. “It’s the one I picked out in college.”

  He nodded. “I never got that car I was saving for.”

  “I know how much you wanted the vintage Mustang. Makes this even more special.” She drew him to his feet and threw her arms around his neck. “I love you too. So much. I’m so happy.”

  He twirled her around, and she giggled like a little girl, the sound cutting to his heart and lifting his joy to new heights.

  A knock pounded on the door.

  Erik groaned and drew back. “Drake is picking me up, but he’s early.”

  He took Kennedy’s hand and looked at the ring. “We might want to make this announcement after the wedding celebration so Clay and Toni can have their own special day.”

  “Then let’s put the ring in the box, and you can give it back to me again after the wedding.”

  A flash of uncertainty lit in his gut. “You’ll still say yes, right?”

  “Of course.”

  “Come on, bro.” Drake pounded on the door.

  She slipped the ring off and gave it one last longing look before settling it in the blue velvet.

  “Be right back.” Erik pocketed the box and jogged to the door, his step so light he thought he must be floating. He opened the door. “Sorry. Was talking to Kennedy.”

  “Kennedy?” Drake’s eyebrows went up. “What’s she doing here?”

  “She’s not going into WITSEC, but will be working for Veritas.”

  “No wonder you’re beaming.” Drake pushed past him and strode up to Kennedy. “Congrats on the job. You’ll love working and living in Portland again.”

  Kennedy nodded, her gaze locked on Erik, and he could hardly breathe for the love beaming his way.

  Drake turned and locked Erik in a headlock. “And this guy’s going to be sickeningly happy.”

  Erik laughed. “You mean like you?”

  “Yeah. Just like that.” Drake let go and chuckled as he looked at Kennedy. “Since you’re all dressed up, I’m guessing you’re coming to the wedding?”

  “Sierra invited me and arranged for the dress, but I don’t want to crash.”

  Erik took her hand. “I know when I tell Toni about you, she’ll want you there.”

  “And if she doesn’t, our mom will make sure you’re wanted.” Drake laughed again. “So let’s get a move on. Don’t want to stress Clay out any more than he is now.”

  The trio headed for the door, Erik holding firmly to Kennedy’s hand. He leaned close. “I hope you like weddings. I, for one, don’t believe in long engagements.”

  28

  The wedding was simple yet elegant, and Kennedy felt perfectly dressed. She’d had to be alone for some time while Erik performed his groomsman duties, but that was okay with her. She hid out in the kindergarten classroom until she heard the wedding march and knew that Peggy would be inside. Kennedy didn’t want Peggy to see her and change her focus.

  Once Toni was at the altar, Kennedy slipped into the back of the church and sat on the groom’s side in a pew with big white bows and delicate white flowers decorating the end. She immediately connected gazes with Erik, and the smile he fired her way sent her heart fluttering.

  Peggy must have noticed, as she turned and scanned the church, but thankfully missed seeing Kennedy.

  Clay took Toni’s hands, and she beamed at her husband-to-be. She had large icy blue eyes that were warm with love. Her ebony hair was swept up in a simple knot with pearl pins holding it in place. Her dress was an unassuming white A-line dress with lace shoulders and a banding of matching lace around her waist. Although floor-length, it had a very short train. Very much like the dress Kennedy might choose.

  As beautiful as Toni was, it was the five Byrd brothers in their crisp white shirts and black tuxes who stole the show. Or maybe just the blond one on the end. They were lined up by age—minus Clay, of course—and their corresponding spouses and girlfriends stood in the same order on the bride’s side along, with Sierra, whom Erik had walked down the aisle.

  The couple exchanged vows and rings, and Kennedy thought about the ring in Erik’s pocket and smiled at him. He returned that same combination of dazzling and secret burning inside smile, and she couldn’t look away. Not even when Toni and Clay walked down the aisle arm-in-arm, a healthy dose of joy in their expressions.

  As they passed, Kennedy made a mental note to later ask Toni where she got her dress.

  Kennedy shook her head. Listen to her. She’d gone from potentially not seeing Erik again to engaged to him in a matter of days. She’d called Finley before the ceremony. Her sister was over the moon happy for Kennedy and happy that she was marrying a man who would never leave his family and Portland, so Kennedy was here to stay as well.

  The bridal party made their way down the aisle, couple after couple. As Erik passed by, he gripped her hand for the briefest of moments. His parents followed, and Peggy’s mouth dropped open when she saw Kennedy. She stopped to squeeze Kennedy’s shoulder.

  She mouthed, “We’ll talk later.”

  Kennedy knew what was coming, but she didn’t care if Peggy tried to matchmake. The match was already made. Though Kennedy had to play along because, if Peggy knew she and Erik had gotten engaged, so would everyone else.

  The three children Peggy and Russ were fostering followed behind.

  Kennedy waited for her turn to exit and found Erik waiting for her. He grabbed her hand. “I have to go with the wedding party to the reception hall, but I asked Reed to give you a lift.”

  “Okay.” She worked hard to hide her disappointment.

  “I thought you’d never get out here.” Erik drew her close. “We’ll be next if I have anything to say about it.”

  He kissed her cheek and raced out the door to jog across the lot before she could respond.

  She felt her skin where he’d touched her and couldn’t help but smile like crazy. She hadn’t been this happy in a long time. Maybe not since she’d split up with Erik. If only her mom and dad could see this day. See that she had been able to reconcile with him and get married. If only they’d be there to hold their grandchildren.

  A dark-haired man with facial hair and onyx-colored eyes approached. He wore a black suit with a white shirt, and he carried Asher on his shoulder. Her heart melted over the sweetness the pair made. What was it about a strapping guy like Reed tenderly holding a baby that got to her? Such a juxtaposition, she supposed.

  “You look exactly like Erik described you.” He introduced himself. “I hear you and Asher have already met.”

  She nodded. “It’s nice of you to give me a ride. I’m kind of a last minute addition.”

  “One that has my wife smiling non-stop. She won’t admit it, but Erik has a special place in her
heart. She loves all her brothers, but she said there’s something special about him being the baby. And of course, the only one who looks like her.”

  “I think the feeling goes both ways.”

  Asher started to fuss, and Reed jiggled him. “What say we take off so Little Man can fall asleep in his car seat.”

  They stepped into the beautiful August sunshine with a soft breeze helping to cool the temperatures in the eighties. Reed clicked open an SUV with a remote and settled Asher in his seat.

  She went around and climbed in, and by the time she did, he had the vehicle running and the air blowing, though it was hot. He got them on the road, and Asher’s head tipped in sleep.

  “Is parenthood everything you thought it would be?” she asked.

  “No!” He shot her an embarrassed look. “Sorry, that was a little over the top. They tell you how much it’s going to change your life. How everything becomes about this little person, but you still aren’t prepared. And I’ve got it easy. I’m not responsible for all the feedings like Sierra is.”

  “I can only imagine.”

  “I’m guessing because you’re here today that things are good with you and Erik again.”

  She couldn’t contain her smile.

  “All right, then.” He grinned. “It should be a fun evening for the both of you.”

  “It will be.” She looked out the window before she gave away her announcement.

  “You going to miss working for the Bureau?” he asked.

  “Being part of a great organization, yes.” She looked back at him. “All the red tape and paperwork, no.”

  A dark eyebrow rose, and he looked intimidating, as many FBI agents did. “How do you know Veritas doesn’t have even more?”

  “I suspect Maya runs a tight ship without a lot of redundancies.”

  “Yeah,” he said. “I was just messing with you. I always hate it when we lose someone good. The slackers seem to stay for life, but good people get scooped up by the private sector.”

  “I wouldn’t have left except for wanting to be here in Portland and the local office isn’t large enough here to support my job.”