“Ew.” Junior wiggled out from between them. “Why do you keep doing that?”
Brycen put his hand on her waist and kissed Drury with more purpose. She didn’t stop him. Junior would just have to be uncomfortable. But when the kiss heated up and broached on inappropriate groping, she withdrew and put her forehead against his.
“Can I call you?” he asked.
“No.” Looking up, she made sure he could see she wouldn’t bend.
“Can’t blame a guy for trying.”
She stepped back. “Come back to us, Brycen.” Touching her lips, wishing she could save the feeling, she watched him contemplate her.
“I’ll send you the information on the show.”
Drury couldn’t allow herself to be angry with him. She did think he was making a mistake. But he had to make his own decisions and she wouldn’t help him stay away by agreeing to a long-distance relationship. She wanted him here.
*
With each step closer he came to Chicago, Brycen felt emptier. Moreover, he felt Drury tugging him back to her. Now at the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport waiting for his flight, he couldn’t stop thinking of her. When his phone rang a jolt of excitement zinged him with the hope that Drury called.
It was Kadin.
“Cage.”
“You sound disappointed to hear from me.”
“I thought you were someone else.”
A few seconds of silence passed before Kadin said, “Ah, Drury Decoteau, huh?”
Brycen sat up from his reclined position on the airport gate chair. “What?”
“I’ve seen her picture. I’ve met her in person, too. She’s hot... Not as hot as you, honey.”
Brycen pictured his wife with her hands on her hips, admonishing her husband for noticing another woman was hot.
“Yes, she is pretty hot.” That was all he’d volunteer.
“Did you sleep with her?”
“You called for something?” Brycen said, steering his too-perceptive temporary boss back to business.
“Yup, you did.” Kadin chuckled. “You’re right, it’s none of my business, especially if I’m going to be your new boss.”
“I’m my own boss.”
“Working for me is like working for yourself. Have I interfered in your investigation?”
“No.” The man wouldn’t stop until he had his way. “Why don’t you get to the point, Kadin?”
He chuckled. “All right. Deal. You’re on your way back to Chicago and I was hoping to plant a bug in your ear to consider doing your show from Anchorage.”
“I’ve already told you—”
“I know what you told me. You told me no the first time I came to you with an offer.”
“Are you saying I’m—”
“I’m saying I could help you relocate. DAI would benefit from having a detective in Alaska. You can keep your show if you want, but I’m betting you’re ready to put that in the archives.”
The boldness of the man!
“Just think about it.”
He’d asked him the same thing last time. “Why do I have the feeling I’m wasting my time flying home?”
“You aren’t. Well...you are, but you’d have to go back and get your things anyway.” He chuckled. “Little does Drury know, she’s helping me out.”
“How so?” Brycen had to ask, hearing the call to board his flight.
“You may as well give in now. You’re in love and that isn’t going away.”
How could he make such an observation? He hadn’t even been here. “I’m not in love.”
“No? I denied it, too. I didn’t realize love doesn’t happen according to your plans or expectations. What you think is love doesn’t even come close to the real thing. You have to experience that kind of love before you make any assumptions.”
“I’ll think about your offer.” Brycen disconnected before Kadin could go on about him and Drury.
He reluctantly headed for the plane. Reaching the passenger boarding bridge, he stopped and looked back. Once he got on this plane, he’d be gone. He’d be far away from Drury and Junior, away from a life with them.
Something strong compelled him to walk out of the terminal and go back to them.
But he did have unfinished business in Chicago. He’d have to go back anyway, whether he decided to stay or not.
Was he actually contemplating a life with Drury and Junior?
She wouldn’t take him unless he offered a lifelong commitment. Could he do that in all honesty?
You have to experience that kind of love before you make any assumptions.
Strangely he felt as though he had...with Drury.
Chapter 17
Drury followed the security guard backstage. The show was about to begin.
“Excuse me, ma’am,” the guard said, stopping at the threshold of a hallway. “Mr. Cage requested to speak with Junior before he brings him onstage. He plans to introduce him at the beginning, then return him to you so that you can leave with him. He wasn’t sure you’d want him to watch a murder story.”
“Yes, he told me that. Not that he wanted to talk to Junior, though. Alone? Why alone?”
The guard shrugged as he shook his head. “He only told me to bring the boy. I can’t bring you both.”
He had his instructions.
“Mommy?” Junior said, like a question. He’d been so excited all the way here. He couldn’t wait to see Brycen again.
“All right. I’ll wait here.”
“Come with me.” The guard led Junior down the hall.
*
Brycen paced inside his dressing room, in a suit, ready for the show, nervous as hell. The guard opened the room door and Junior came running in.
“Brycen!”
Lights from his dressing table reflected off Junior’s thick black hair. He wore a suit and tie, looking adorable, brown eyes happy and excited. Brycen crouched and took the boy into his arms for a hug. “Hey there, little man.”
“I’m not a little man!” Junior laughed as he drew back.
“Have you been good?”
Junior nodded. “When are you coming home?”
That he asked was a good sign.
“Well, that’s why I asked to talk to you alone, Junior.” He had his hands on the boy’s arms. “I need to talk to you about something very important.”
“Are you going to catch another bad guy?”
“No, not today. Today is extra special. I want to ask your mother something, but I need to get your okay first.”
Junior waited wide-eyed.
“You know how your mom and dad were married, right?”
“Yes.”
“Well, how would you feel if your mom and I were married like that?”
“You mean, you’d be my daddy?”
“That’s up to you. We can be friends or I can be your next daddy. Your real daddy will always be that, but I’d always be there for you in kind of the same way.” He felt he was babbling. His nerves had him twisted up inside, second-guessing. Was he making a mistake abandoning his conviction on marriage?
“I want you to be my daddy.”
Junior spoke with such sincerity that Brycen’s heart mushroomed with love.
“Are you sure?”
“My daddy would approve. He’d like you. And he wouldn’t want me to not have a daddy. Plus, Mommy’s been mad a lot. I think she misses you.”
He held back a radiant smile. “Good. Because I miss her, too. I also missed you.” He tapped Junior’s nose. “Okay. I have something fun planned and I need your help. It’s a surprise for your mother. A big surprise.”
*
Drury spotted Brycen and Junior leaving the dressing room. Junior was chatting excitedly about a new video game and Brycen was looking straight ahead at her. Seeing Junior so happy thrilled her, but hot sparks inundated her with the sight of Brycen, so incredibly handsome in a suit. But the man inside was what had her heart in such a pitter-patter.
She clutc
hed her purse, white to match her dress. She hadn’t been sure what to wear, so she’d dressed both herself and Junior up. She was rewarded with Brycen’s roaming gaze and resulting fire in his eyes.
“Drury,” he said in a deep, raspy voice.
“Hello, Brycen.” Was her face flushing?
“Right this way.” He guided her to the stage.
“You want me out here, too?”
“Yes.”
“You’re part of the show, Mommy!” Junior almost yelled in excitement.
She stepped out onto the stage to the applause of a crowd. A big screen showed the title of the show, and a commentator narrated a trailer of today’s program.
“Cindy Wilson didn’t know she’d met a killer until it was too late. Did her boyfriend commit the crime or did someone else have motive.” The deep, rich sound filled the studio through top-of-the-line speakers. “Find out today on Speak of the Dead with Brycen Cage.”
“Have a seat,” Brycen said to her. “Junior, you stay with me.”
He faced the crowd, who still applauded. “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.” He waited for the applause to fade.
Junior stared in amazement at the crowd of faces.
“Today’s show is a little more special than others,” Brycen said. “We told you we’d start with an introduction. Here he is, my partner, Junior Decoteau.” The crowd cheered and applauded. “Junior helped me solve a case recently. The case isn’t one I’ll be sharing with you, out of respect for the family. But Junior here is going to help me with something else.” He looked down at Junior as though sharing a secret.
What were these two up to? Drury gripped the arms of the chair.
Junior smiled back up at him. “I’m ready.”
The crowd “awed,” and murmurs of “how cute” and “how adorable” spread.
Brycen turned to Drury.
What was he doing? She watched him approach her.
“Drury, Junior and I had a talk in the dressing room. I’ve got his approval to do this.”
Drury held her breath, fleetingly seeing a sea of faces in the audience.
“Now,” Brycen went on. “I know I’ve expressed some pessimistic ideas on marriage, but meeting you has changed my opinion.” He knelt before her and took her left hand.
“Oh my...” Drury had to breathe faster. “You aren’t...”
“Drury Decoteau, will you marry me?”
The crowd erupted in awe and surprised delight.
Junior dug into his jacket pocket and produced a ring box.
“Junior.” Tears stung her eyes. He’d approved this.
He handed the ring to Brycen.
“As you can see, I’ve had time to plan this.” Brycen held the ring before her hand.
It was a beautiful white gold ring with duets of round stones between a delicate rope pattern.
Her jaw had fallen open. She had not anticipated this at all. She lifted her eyes.
“You’ve changed your mind?” she asked.
“Yes. I love you. I’m sure of it.”
She covered her mouth along with a chorus of “aaawwws.”
She started to cry, not sobs, just tears of pure happiness.
“Mommy, don’t cry. You’re supposed to say yes.”
She laughed and said, “Yes!” Then flung her arms around Brycen.
“Hang on there, tigress. I haven’t put on the ring yet.”
Laughing some more, wiping tears as the crowd now cheered and applauded, she held out her hand.
He slipped on the ring and she admired it for a while. Then she looked at Junior and then Brycen. Her new family. Nothing could make her happier.
*
If you loved this novel, don’t miss other
suspenseful titles by Jennifer Morey: JUSTICE HUNTER
A WANTED MAN
THE MARINE’S TEMPTATION
THE ELIGIBLE SUSPECT
ONE SECRET NIGHT
EXECUTIVE PROTECTION
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SAFE IN HIS SIGHT
by Regan Black
Chapter 1
The crisp autumn breeze of a clear, late September day kissed Julia Cooper’s cheeks as she exited the Marburg Law Firm. It still gave her a happy thrill to know she belonged here in this historic limestone building with the impeccable Philadelphia-proper address.
Once again, as she walked up the street toward the Liberty Bell Center to have her lunch, she startled passersby with her persistent smile. Despite her valiant efforts, the expression couldn’t be muted when she was out of the office. It was a side effect of being unexpectedly added to the major criminal case old man Marburg himself had just picked up.
State and federal authorities had been working for over a year to crack open a highly organized car-theft ring operating out of the docks on the Delaware River. The FBI had Danny Falk, a man purported to be one of the higher-ranking locals in the operation, in an undisclosed safe house. Julia hadn’t recognized the name, only that Falk apparently had enough clout or money—or the right connections—to have Marburg canceling two of his three weekly golf games.
She found an empty bench in a swath of sunshine and opened her lunch bag, pulling out her usual blend of fresh salad greens topped with shredded chicken and a light drizzle of dressing. Eating lean and healthy in law school might have made her a little boring, but it had given her an advantage over her boozing and pizza-loving peers. The advantage carried over to her demanding job. She dug into her meal while she skimmed local and regional headlines on her phone. At a prestigious firm like Marburg, it paid to stay on top of current events.
The chime sounded for a text message and she swiped her screen to check it. The number wasn’t familiar, though the area code was local. Her assumption about a wrong number evaporated instantly.
Hello, Julia. Are you having vinaigrette or ranch on today’s salad?
More than a little uncomfortable, Julia returned her fork to the bowl, glancing around for the person messing with her. None of her fellow associates at the firm cared how she dressed a salad enough to find out even for the sake of a prank. They all thought she was odd for leaving the building most days to eat outside. The true benefit of taking her lunch break in the park was the daily boost of sunshine, another rare commodity for a new hire at Marburg.
Ignoring the juvenile stunt, she resumed her lunch and he
adline search.
You look better in blue. And I prefer the skirt.
This text message arrived with a picture of her in yesterday’s charcoal skirt and white sweater.
A rush of nerves skated over her skin. Who had been watching her and how had she missed it? She forced herself to chew and swallow the peppery greens that had turned to tasteless mush in her mouth. Quickly she packed the remainder of her salad and prepared to head back to the office.
Don’t go. I’d like us to be friends.
Fat chance, starting off like this, she thought. Knowing better, she sent a reply. Who are you? What do you want?
Who I am is irrelevant. I want what most men want when they look at you: insider access.
What did that mean? Was that some sort of sick innuendo? Her hands trembled. She lowered them to her lap to hide her reflexive fear. Glancing around, she searched again for the jerk behind this ill-mannered trick.
Let’s take a walk, Julia.
She refused to play his game. Pulling her tote close to her side, she leaned back on the bench and stretched out her legs, pretending to watch a group of schoolkids having fun on their field trip to the Liberty Bell Center.
I said walk. You should cooperate with me. Your choices today will have long-term consequences.
She ignored those texts. Another arrived, this time a photo of her moments ago, sitting on the bench, eyes on her phone eating the salad that was now souring her stomach. She followed the angle of the picture, frustrated when no one seemed to have any undue interest in her.
I’m walking, Julia. Get up and join me.
Stubborn and feeling a modicum of safety among the numerous people in the park, she remained on her bench. The phone was blissfully quiet for several minutes. Maybe he’d moved on to someone willing to satisfy his bid for attention.
You don’t want to be late.
He might know about her lunch hour habits, but he couldn’t know anything about her wants. She spotted a policeman on patrol and gathered up her tote. Hoping she wasn’t being too obvious, she aimed that direction.
The cop is a mistake. Talk to him and he’ll die as quickly as the other witnesses.
She stutter-stepped at that message as her gaze raked wildly over the people in the park. There was only one local case with witnesses who had dropped dead within days of cooperating with the authorities: the Falk car-theft ring. She changed direction, pausing at the next trash can, making sure the cop moved by without any exchange with her. This time as she looked around, she saw a man in an orange ball cap with the city’s hockey team logo standing a few yards behind her. Her heart pounding, she raised her phone at him and pressed the camera icon.
Cold Case Recruit Page 23