The Final Bullet

by Chris Taylor

  What if he had been nothing more than a passing diversion while she’d been playing country doctor? She’d turned his life upside down and all of it had been for the better. He couldn’t bear the thought their time together might have come to an end.

  He’d told her he loved her and she’d given him the same assurance, but that had been in Moree. Would she feel differently now that she’d returned to the city? He didn’t know and the uncertainty was eating a hole in his gut. Now that his interview with the premier was over, he needed to see her and find out once and for all.

  Dialing her cell number, he waited for her to answer and was equal parts relieved and nervous when she did.

  “Hi, Lachlan. It’s lovely to hear from you.” She sounded nervous, too and the knowledge made him feel better.

  “Hi. I’m in Sydney. I thought we might be able to meet somewhere. For a coffee, or even lunch. I haven’t eaten since last night.”

  “Really? What happened to breakfast?”

  “I had a meeting with the premier this morning. I was too nervous to eat. In fact, I’ve just left his office.”

  “That’s great. I’ve been watching you on the TV. You don’t look the least bit nervous.”

  “I’m glad. At least the whole world doesn’t know,” he joked.

  “How did it go?”

  “With the premier?”

  “Yes. Did he give you a fair hearing?”

  “Yes, in the end, I think I even managed to convince him about the seriousness and prevalence of the problem. He’s agreed to look at it, possibly as a formal enquiry.”

  “That’s a fantastic result, Lachlan! You must be so pleased.”

  “I am,” he replied, but couldn’t help but think of Martin and his family and how Lachlan’s actions had come too late. The answer to the premier’s question about why he hadn’t stepped forward earlier, was complex. He vowed silently to take the time to sort it out.

  “I have another patient due in a few minutes and my afternoon is fully booked, so unfortunately, I can’t do coffee and I won’t have time in between appointments to meet you for lunch, but how about dinner? Do you have any plans?”

  Lachlan’s heart skipped a beat and he swallowed a fresh lump of nerves. “D-Dinner sounds fine. Where would you like to meet?”

  “How about you come over to my place? I don’t live far from the city and I have a sensational view of the Harbour.”

  Lachlan’s pulse lifted another notch. Surely a woman who’d lost interest wouldn’t invite him to her house? “Sounds great,” he managed.

  “Good. I should be home by six. I’ll text you the address. Do you like Thai food?”

  “I love Thai.”

  “Great. I’ll pick up some takeout on my way home. Does that sound all right?”

  “That sounds perfect.” He ended the call and couldn’t stop grinning.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  Dear Diary,

  Just when I thought things couldn’t get any worse! Why the hell did he have to shoot himself and take the lives of his wife and kids? We all deal with the black dog. He’s constantly nipping at my heels, too, waiting, wondering when I will succumb to the darkness… It doesn’t mean I will…

  * * *

  Ava walked up the steps that led to her second floor condo and tried hard to quell her nerves. She hadn’t seen Lachlan since she’d returned to Sydney. Should she kiss him hello, or simply offer her hand? Should she pretend their affair in Moree had never happened? She didn’t know if their relationship was supposed to continue, or if it had been left behind in the bush.

  Upon Phoebe’s return to Moree, Ava had gone over Phoebe’s client files with her. Her friend had been relieved and grateful Ava had managed to keep the practice running smoothly. When Ava explained about Martin Griffin, Phoebe was only too happy to contact her father and request that he meet with Lachlan.

  For Ava, the days before she returned to the city had passed in a blur. Lachlan was busy giving interviews to media outlets, despite an order from his boss to have nothing further to do with them. He’d told her he’d been advised, in no uncertain terms, that the police service had its own media unit whose job it was to deal with any interview requests. Ava couldn’t help but admire him when he refused to be silenced.

  She’d quietly and efficiently packed her bags and returned the key to her apartment. She’d stopped by his place to bid him a solemn farewell and had then caught the plane to Sydney. She hadn’t spoken of the future or made any promises and he hadn’t offered any in return. Disappointed and heartsick, she’d returned home.

  But now he was in Sydney, and he’d called her, and she was about to see him again. Butterflies swarmed in her stomach.

  “Hi, there.”

  The familiar, deep voice made her pulse jump. She looked up in time to see Lachlan standing there, holding the door open for her. He must have been waiting in the foyer near the bank of elevators, watching for her. The thought warmed her through and filled her with another rush of nerves.

  “H-how are you?” she stammered and immediately blushed.

  He smiled. “I’m great. It’s good to see you.”

  He stepped forward and reached for the bags of takeout she carried in her hands and then pecked her on the cheek. Flustered, she managed to respond.

  “Yes, thank you. It’s… It’s good to see you, too.” Moving away, she went to the elevator and pressed the button.

  “We could probably walk,” she said to fill the silence. “I’m only on the second floor.”

  “It’s a nice building,” he said looking around at the carpeted foyer and freshly painted walls. “How long have you lived here?”

  “Only a few years. I was broke when I finished college. It took me that long to save for the deposit.”

  She smiled and he laughed. His gaze lingered on her lips. All of a sudden, she couldn’t breathe. Her heart pounded. Her mouth went dry. She stared at him hungrily, wanting to feel him close.

  As if reading her mind, his eyes darkened with emotion and he moved closer until his suit pants brushed against her skirt. She swallowed a gasp.

  Ding.

  The sound of the elevator arriving startled her and she jumped away. More nervous than ever, she didn’t know where to look. With her gaze trained forward, she walked straight into the elevator and turned and stared at the numbers above the door. Lachlan strode in behind her, carrying their dinner.

  The aroma of the Thai food wafted toward her and her stomach rumbled. She blushed and giggled nervously and risked a glance in Lachlan’s direction.

  He grinned at her. “It sounds like you’re as hungry as I am.”

  She stared at his mouth and then dropped her gaze lower to skim over his broad chest and narrow hips. He was dressed in a charcoal-gray suit and a pale blue business shirt. A navy-and-silver striped tie hung around his neck. He wore the clothes well and she was reminded of the firm muscles that lay hidden beneath. Once again, her breathing quickened.

  “I-I missed lunch,” she stammered, remembering she hadn’t responded.

  “I gathered,” he murmured and then shot her a look so hot her pulse pounded.

  Without a word, he dropped the takeout bags to the floor and pressed her up against the back wall of the elevator, holding her in place with his body. His lips came down on hers, fierce and urgent. Her glasses dug into his face, but she clung to his shoulders and kissed him back, loving the feel of him in her arms. She didn’t even hear the elevator announce their arrival.

  The doors slid open and she was left staring at her elderly neighbor who had been waiting outside the elevator. Mrs Christie’s eyes were wide behind her thick-rimmed glasses and her mouth gaped open in surprise.

  With frantic haste, Ava shoved Lachlan away and bent and hurriedly gathered up the takeout. Pushing him out of the elevator, she kept her gaze trained on the carpet and mumbled a hasty greeting.

  “Hi, Mrs Christie.”

  “Ava, it’s nice to see you,” her neighbor said,
recovering from her shock. “You’re home a little earlier than usual. And who is this?”

  Ava came to a sudden halt. Keeping her back to her neighbor, she squeezed her eyes shut and begged silently for the woman to leave. “It’s… It’s no one, Mrs Christie. Have a good night.” She took another step forward and then groaned under her breath when she heard Lachlan say, “I’m Lachlan Coleridge. I’m Ava’s boyfriend.”

  Ava tensed and then relaxed. Had he just said he was her boyfriend? She grinned and almost did a little dance until she remembered where she was. Turning back to face the two people behind her, she walked back to where they stood.

  “Mrs Christie, this is Lachlan. Lachlan, this is Mrs Christie.”

  Lachlan grinned at the old woman and took her hand, his eyes twinkling. “It’s lovely to meet you, Mrs Christie.”

  A blush stole across the woman’s wrinkled cheeks, but she offered him a pleased smile. “Oh, my! Aren’t you a charmer! And sinfully good looking!” She winked at Ava. “I’d say this one’s a keeper.”

  Now it was Ava’s turn to blush. Heat crept up her neck. Unable to look at Lachlan, she kept her face turned toward her neighbor. “I think so, too,” she whispered, loudly enough for Lachlan to hear.

  She turned in time to see the light in his eyes flare brighter. He stared at her and she couldn’t look away. It was only the sound of Mrs Christie clearing her throat that brought Ava back to her senses.

  “It’s nice to see you, Mrs Christie. Take care now.” Not waiting for the woman’s response, Ava turned tail and almost ran in the direction of her apartment.

  Setting the food on the kitchen counter, Ava gave Lachlan a quick tour of her place. She was relieved she’d cleaned up before she left for work that morning. It wasn’t that she was messy—just a little untidy. It didn’t offend her to leave dirty dishes in the sink overnight or leave a bath towel on the floor. Okay, so she eventually got around to cleaning up, but what did it matter if things weren’t done right away? She lived alone. There had been no one to complain. Until now.

  Her body heated anew at the thought that she and Lachlan might resume their relationship. She wasn’t quite sure how it would work, but the time away from him had proven to her that he was more important to her than her job, her condo and even her city life.

  She grinned wryly. She must have the love bug pretty darn bad. A month ago, the thought of giving up her fast-paced lifestyle for the country would have given her a case of hives.

  “What’s so funny?” Lachlan murmured, coming up behind her and drawing her into his arms.

  She stared up at him and memorized his features: the tiny dark flecks in his green eyes; the fine wrinkles that lined his forehead; the thick auburn hair that had grown a little longer than he usually wore it; and the tiny scar on his chin that she still hadn’t asked him about. There wasn’t anything she didn’t love about him and she hoped he felt the same.

  “I missed you,” she said softly and laid her palm against his cheek.

  He turned his head and kissed her hand and her stomach did a flip. The simplest of actions and yet it had the power to turn her insides into a quivering mass of need. Her heart thumped, her breath came faster. She pressed herself against him. Reaching up, she brought his head down to hers and kissed him.

  This time, their kiss was less frantic, as if they were satisfied they had all the time in the world. The night that had fallen outside the plate glass window was theirs to savor and enjoy.

  “I thought you were hungry,” Lachlan murmured against her lips, removing her glasses and tossing them in the direction of the couch.

  “I am.” She nipped at his chin. “Starving.”

  With her arms threading around behind his neck, she opened her mouth and kissed him like she could never get enough. His arms came around her and held her close. He matched her kiss for kiss.

  His spicy cologne filled her senses and tickled her nose. She buried her face against the soft skin of his neck and inhaled. He smelled so warm and familiar. He felt like she was home.

  Despite the fact her father had died when she was very young, she’d grown up feeling loved and secure. Lachlan made her feel the same way. She could hardly put it into words. She wanted to be with him forever, safe, protected and loved in his arms. She hardly dared to believe he felt like she did.

  As if sensing her fragile mood, he lifted his head and stared down at her, his gaze probing. “Are you all right?”

  She nodded, even as tears pricked her eyes. “Yes, I…I’m fine. I’m just really happy to see you. I didn’t realize how hard it was going to be not seeing you every day, or nearly every day. I… I don’t want to spend that much time away from you ever again.”

  “I don’t want to be apart from you, either, but we live in different towns. On the way down here, I was thinking about ways we could make it work, but I’m a seven-hour drive from the city. It’s even a two-hour flight.”

  She smiled, but it was shaky. “Not quite. The flight’s an hour and forty-five minutes, to be exact. I know because I just did it.”

  Lachlan’s expression remained serious. He moved away from her and went to sit on the couch. With apprehension sliding ominously through her veins, Ava forced herself forward. Reaching for her glasses, she put them back on and took a seat beside him.

  “Talk to me, Lachlan.”

  He cursed quietly under his breath. “I want to be with you, Ava. I want it more than I want anything else, but I’m not cut out for a long distance relationship. It’s going to be hard enough traveling to see my kids.”

  He drew in a deep breath and Ava stilled. “W-what are you saying?” she stammered, bracing herself against his answer.

  He turned his gaze toward her. Her breath caught at the agony in his eyes.

  “I don’t want to lose you, Ava. Along with my children, you’re the best thing that ever happened to me.” He exhaled on a heavy sigh. “That’s why I’m prepared to put in for a transfer and move back to the city. I want to do everything I can to make this work.”

  Ava reared back in surprise. It was the last thing she’d expected to hear. “But, you love living in the country!”

  He took her hand and held her gaze. “I love being with you more.”

  Ava’s heart filled so she thought it might burst right out of her chest. Tears filled her eyes, fogging her glasses. Letting go of her hand, he reached over and removed the offending eyewear again and tenderly wiped the moisture away.

  “Why the tears?” he asked softly. “I thought you’d be happy.”

  “I am happy,” she replied, offering him a wobbly smile. “They’re happy tears.”

  He smiled back at her, his eyes full of love. “Oh, I see.” He leaned over and gently brushed her lips with his.

  Again and again, he tasted her mouth, as if memorizing its shape and form and feel and when his tongue sought entry, she eagerly let him in. Her arms came up around his neck and she kissed him with all the love and passion she held inside. Need built quickly. She was tense and tingly, aching for more.

  “I want you, Lachlan,” she murmured against his lips.

  “I want you, too. Hell, it’s been so long.”

  “Three whole days,” she mumbled. “Way too long.”

  He growled low in his throat. “How about we take this into the bedroom? The view from the couch is great, but it’s not exactly comfortable here.”

  Ava laughed. Her two-seater sofa was made of Italian leather and had cost her a bomb, but it was decidedly cramped with the two of them spread across it. She pulled gently out of Lachlan’s embrace and levered herself up. Offering him her hand, she tugged him upright and then led him down the hall.

  The queen-sized, four-poster bed was another extravagance she probably didn’t need because most of the time she was alone in it, but she’d always loved the romantic nature of the gauzy fabric that hung off the frame. She also liked to be able to stretch and roll when she was in bed and the extra space allowed her to do that. And, t
he room was large enough that the bed certainly didn’t seem out of place.

  “Nice bed,” Lachlan commented and then followed it with a wink and a cheeky grin. “Plenty of room.”

  Ava’s cheeks heated, but she held his gaze. “Yes, well, I like to be comfortable.”

  “Oh, yes. It’s very important to be comfortable. Now, come over here and let me see if I can make you…comfortable.”

  His voice was low and husky and emotion glinted in his eyes. Her pulse went into overdrive. She sauntered over, swaying her hips and was gratified to see desire flare brighter in his eyes.

  With a feeling of womanly power surging through her veins, she eased off her suit jacket and tossed it over the back of the chaise. Her hands went to the buttons of her pale lavender, tailored blouse. Slowly, teasingly, she released each button until her shirt gaped open. With her gaze on his, she shrugged out of the garment and threw it in the direction of her jacket. Her breasts stood high and proud, filling the cups of her white lace bra.

  Lachlan stood transfixed, his eyes dark with need. His fists were clenched like he was holding himself back. His chest rose and fell rapidly. Ava smiled, feeling all powerful and a little in awe at his reaction. It wasn’t like he hadn’t seen her naked, but somehow, the time apart made it feel like this was their first time.

  She relished the feeling and held his gaze as her hands went around to the back of her skirt. Releasing the catch, she slid down the zipper and shimmied it slowly down over her hips. Stepping out of it, she twirled the skirt around her finger and gave him a flirty look before tossing it toward the growing pile of clothes.

  Clad only in high heels, black stockings and her underwear, she sauntered toward him once again. This time, she came close enough that her breasts brushed against his shirt. She shivered at the impact and hoped she could see the striptease through to the end. Her own needs were becoming more and more urgent but she silently ordered herself to be patient. They had all night to love each other, to rediscover every erotic zone. There was no need to rush, no matter what her body screamed to her.