by Paula Graves
Damon grimaced. So were the woman and the kid. “What should I tell him?”
“Nothing,” Quinn said. “He already knows the situation. But you need to get to a safe place. MacLear’s not gone yet. You betrayed them. They’ll want blood.”
Damon stifled a sigh. So much for a good night’s sleep.
“I’ve sent someone to get you. Be ready in ten minutes. You know the safe words.” Quinn rang off.
Damon hung up the phone and looked around his room at the Sycamore Inn. The bed was turned down, his clothes strewed around the room. He had only ten minutes to leave the place as if he’d never been there.
The life you chose, my man. The life you chose.
He tucked his arm against his side and went to work.
FROM THE BEDROOM DOORWAY, Luke watched Abby settle Stevie down for the night. After their long, eventful day, Stevie was clingy and didn’t want to go to bed, but Abby soothed him to sleep with admirable ease.
She rose from the bed and motioned Luke out of the room, following him to the living room. They were staying at his parents’ guest cottage, at least for tonight.
“I don’t think he realizes anything strange happened today. He thought it was a game,” she said quietly.
“Good.” They’d taken pains to shield him from the carnage as they carried him out of the cabin and straight to Hannah’s car. Abby had gone with him while Luke stayed behind for the inevitable questions.
The deputies had found the missing Tiburones, but so far no sign of Cordero. Sam had called his friends in the FBI and tipped them off that the drug lord might be on American soil.
“More questioning tomorrow?” Abby tried to cover her yawn.
He pulled her into his arms. “No doubt.”
“I was hoping they’d get Cordero this time.” She laid her cheek against his chest.
“They may yet.”
She looked up at him. “It doesn’t matter. I mean, it does. But it doesn’t change things for us. Does it?”
It didn’t. Cordero already knew about Abby and Stevie. Nothing would make a difference at this point.
They were all targets now.
But even if Cordero were still in the dark, Luke was finished playing this game by Cordero’s rules.
It was time to do things the Cooper way.
“I love you, Abs,” he said, not because he thought she needed to hear it but because he needed to say it.
She smiled. “I know.”
“And I’m not letting either of you go.”
“I wouldn’t let you.” Her chin rose defiantly.
He chuckled. “About what I figured.”
She rubbed her cheek against his chest. “We tell everyone the truth about Stevie, right?”
“Hell, yeah. He’s my boy.” Luke kissed her nose. “And you’re marrying me, because we’re not big on the whole living-in-sin thing around here.”
She gave him a miffed look. “We’re not big on it in Texas, either, buster.”
“No expensive rings, no fancy gown or tuxedos—”
“No big crowd.”
“My family’s a big crowd.”
“Okay, a big crowd, but only your family. And the Langstons.” She looked wistful. “They missed the first one.”
“My family and the Langstons,” he agreed. “And soon.”
“Very soon.” Her hand dropped to his butt and squeezed. “Hey—can we practice the wedding night now?”
He scooped her up, his ears ringing with her delighted laughter, and carried her to the master bedroom. “I believe in lots of practice,” he murmured as he laid her on the bed.
Giggling, she pulled him onto the bed and rolled on top of him, her arms circling his neck. She gave him a quick kiss, then pulled back, her expression suddenly serious. “I love you, too, Luke. I think I always have.”
He rolled her over until she was pinned beneath him, her body warm and welcoming against his. His whole body quickened in response.
“I know,” he said, and kissed her again.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-6482-7
ONE TOUGH MARINE
Copyright © 2010 by Paula Graves
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*Cooper Justice
*Cooper Justice
*Cooper Justice