Till Justice Is Served
Page 23
She swallowed hard, opened the door, and waved him inside. "Thank you for bringing the box by. Just put it by the coffee table."
He did as instructed then turned to face her. "It's amazing what a couple of days' rest will do. The bruising has already started to fade." He reached over as if to stroke her cheek.
Erin stepped back, stumbling over her own feet. He couldn't touch her. If he did, she'd cave. Confess her feelings. Then where would she be? Alone and right back where she started.
Damn him, he kept coming. She kept backing away. The breakfast bar stopped her.
"Why are you running from me?" His gray eyes bore deep into hers.
"It's better this way."
"What way? Why did my touch just suddenly become repulsive?" His eyes flashed wide. "Oh shit. Of course, you don't want anybody to touch you. I'm an insensitive dick." He moved to the other side of her dining room table.
"It has nothing to do with Mueller or whatever his name was." This wasn't going as well as she wanted. "You know what's going to happen if you touch me." It was her turn to advance on him. "We'll wind up in bed. Afterward, you'll drive away feeling guilty, and I'll regret my moment of weakness."
"I make you weak?" One corner of his mouth lifted into his sexy grin.
"You came to say good-bye." If he'd just be honest, she'd make it through this without making a fool of herself.
He dragged his hand through his hair. Shuffled his feet like a little boy in trouble. He was waging war with himself. Just how much did he care? And could he come to terms with it? "You could ask me to stay."
"No." She begged her heart to stop racing. "I can't."
"Damn it, Erin." He moved two steps toward her. "You moved home to get out of the craziness of the bigger schools, but there are tons of needy kids in Dallas. Lots of smaller districts would jump at the chance to have you on their staff."
"I said that to keep Jeff and Lotty from feeling guilty." Still no declaration. Her heart folded in her chest. "Sorry, but I need more than a job offer."
At his silence, she turned toward the door. She straightened her shoulders and put her hand on the knob.
"I thought I'd lost you," he said. "I've never felt that kind of fear. The paralyzing kind of fear where nothing on the planet makes sense any longer. Is it fair to ask you to live through that?"
"You lived through it. What makes you think I can't?" She swung the door open and waited for him to leave.
His hands landed on her shoulders. He lashed out with his foot and kicked the door shut. "Then marry me, tough guy. Make me the happiest man on earth."
An unexpected laugh burst from her. "That's your idea of a proposal?"
"Tell me what you want. Want me to get down on one knee? Take you on that date we never had?"
"Yes," she whispered as her throat tightened with emotion.
"Yes to which one?"
"The first one." She waited until he'd sorted through all the options. "I love you. And I'll make a great FBI agent's wife."
His lips crashed down on hers. Demanding, needy, pleasing. Finally, Erin was home.
"I love you more," he whispered against her lips.
"So, from now on, if I dial 666—"
"I'll come running."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
& OTHER TITLES...
Author of Hell or High Water, Cold Day in Hell, and No Chance in Hell from the Lost and Found, Inc. series, I live in Texas with my husband and our rescue dog, Buddy. I write alpha males and kick-ass women who weave their way through death and fear to emerge stronger because of, and on occasion in spite of, their love for each other.
The Green-Eyed Doll, The Last Execution, and Someone to Watch Over Me are available single titles. No Greater Hell, book four of the Lost and Found, Inc. series, is scheduled for a 2015 release.
Get up-to-date information on new releases. Sign up for my newsletter at http://www.JerrieAlexander.com and connect with me on Facebook and Twitter.
If you enjoyed this book, please help me spread the word. Facebook and tweet your approval. A review on Amazon and/or GoodReads would be greatly appreciated. Send me an email if you post a review—I'd love to thank you personally.
PRAISE FOR HELL OR HIGH WATER
"I adored this story. Jerrie Alexander has done it yet again. Her weaving of suspense and romance is masterful. Her characters both main and ancillary are well-written. For those who like romance you will be satisfied and for those suspense lovers you won't be able to put this book down either."
~ The Book Maven
PRAISE FOR COLD DAY IN HELL
"The sexual tension and sizzling chemistry between Ty and Ana has the temperature rising even higher than the sweltering heat of the jungle, as they escape from the relentless pursuit of the cartel henchmen, who threaten their existence. Cold Day in Hell is an entertaining story filled with action, suspense, and romance, which will keep the reader enthralled until the very end!"
~ InD'tale Magazine
PRAISE FOR NO CHANCE IN HELL
"The cast in the Lost and Found Inc series warm my heart with the love, trust, and confidence they have for each other. Marcus is a true alpha, protective and overpowering, but at the same time pure sweetness, loving, caring, attentive, and affectionate. The way he cares for Diablo, just made me melt. The romance, attraction, between Marcus and Chris is fresh and potent, palpable. All these factors mixed into this tale, makes it fascinating, one to be remembered."
~ Books and Spoons
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27