by A. C. Grey
* * * * *
Lucy knocked back another tequila and stared blankly at the empty shot glass. She was not a drinker. At least not a heavy drinker. And certainly not a tequila drinker, but she'd acquired a taste for the stuff since the "incident.” The "incident" – that was all she could bring herself to call it. She'd escaped with Pete. She'd gotten the terrorist information to HQ in time to stop the attacks. She'd even figured out who the snitch was, and it was not her brother. Rather, it was his so-called best friend. Jared Cardinal. "J.C.” "Birdie.” Bastard more like it. Her stomach roiled at the thought. He'd even been the one to comfort her when she heard her brother was missing.
She ordered another drink. As much as she didn't want to think about Jared and his deception, there was plenty more she didn't want to think about. Namely the loss of both her brother and her . . . whatever Meg was. Her heart. Her everything. Her soul mate. She knew it was silly to think that. They'd only known each other a short time and she'd only scratched the surface of the woman that was Meg Murphy. But she knew. Meg was it. There was no one else for her. And now she was alone. So she drank. She desperately needed to be numb. She didn't want to feel. Anything.
As Lucy reached for the newly full glass before her, she heard a voice from behind her. It made the hair on the back of her neck stand on end. It was a deep, soothing voice. A very familiar voice. One she'd never expected to hear again. "Tequila? Really sis? And at noon? You're lucky Dad's not around.”
Lucy continued to stare down, focusing on the worn, scratched surface of the bar top. She'd stopped breathing, but she hadn't noticed. She was frozen. She couldn't move. Too scared to hope. Not trusting her ears. It wasn't until Jim slid onto the stool beside her and ordered her a glass of water that she really believed it. She looked up, unshed tears shimmering in her eyes. "Jim? Is it? Really you?" She reached out gingerly and cupped his cheek, feeling the very real warmth of his skin, the prickly stubble of his unshaven chin.
"It's me, Lucy. I'm here. I made it out. Thanks to you.” Jim reached up and took her hand from his face, lacing his fingers through hers.
"How?" she asked incredulously. "I saw the building blow up. And what ab . . .” She cut herself off. She was petrified to ask about Meg, fearing it would not be the answer she wanted.
"Meg got to me in time. We got out just before the explosion.”
"It's been two weeks. What took so long? I've been grieving you for two weeks!" Lucy said, suddenly a bit angered.
"We were stuck out in that desert for some time. And Meg wasn't in good shape. She was floating in and out of consciousness and I wasn’t much better. We were finally rescued, but she'd slipped into a coma. I had no idea you were even involved in the mission. Or that you'd even been told I was in danger. I was stuck in debriefing for days. Then I came here. I'm sorry, sis.” He squeezed her hand.
She noted that he hadn't said anything about Meg. She swallowed hard and gathered her courage. She needed to know. "And Meg? Is she . . . is she . . .” She couldn't finish her question.
"She was out cold for days after our rescue,” Jim said. "She saved my life, Luce. I'll forever be in her debt. I waited by her bedside for her to wake up. It wasn't until she did that I found out that you two were . . . involved.”
Lucy let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. Meg had woken up. That must mean she was okay. Right? Then doubt crept in. "And she's okay? Please tell me she's okay. Jim, if anything happened to her . . . she risked her life to make me happy. She was in that situation because she trusted me, despite the fact that I gave her little reason to. Please Jim. Is she okay?"
Jim smiled and reached up, wiping away the tears that had begun to spill down her cheeks. "Why don't you ask her yourself?”
"Hey you.” Lucy heard from behind her. That voice. The sultry, sexy, comforting voice that was unmistakably Meg Murphy.
She turned to smile at Meg. "Hey,” she whispered back. They said nothing, simply gazing into each other's eyes. Time stood still. She was here. She was alive. And she was standing right in front of her. Meg's beautiful smile, her gorgeous brown eyes, her smell, her presence. Lucy felt the deep wound that had ripped open her soul begin to heal.
After a few awkward moments, Jim cleared his throat. "Well, I'm going to get going. I'll leave you two to catch up.”
Lucy snapped out of her daze and turned to Jim, wrapping him in a big hug. "I'm so glad you're okay, Jimmy,” she said, calling him by his childhood nickname. "So, so glad.”
He chuckled. "I'm glad as well. And I'm glad that something else good came out of that situation. I've gotten a chance to get to know your Meg over the past few days. She's a keeper.” He kissed her on the cheek, gave Meg a quick hug, and left.
Unable to stay apart for one second longer, they came together in a deep bear hug. Lucy couldn't help it as her body was wracked with sobs. In the course of 10 minutes, she'd gone from complete desolation, having lost both her brother and the woman she loved, to sheer joy, having gained both back.
"Meg. I don't know how I would have lived without you. Or Jim. I am forever in your debt. Thank you. For so much. I can't even begin to express.” Her eyes filled again as she gazed into those chocolate orbs. "You are the most amazing person I've ever met. I am so lucky that you've taken a chance . . . or rather multiple chances on me. And I'll understand if you want to move on. I get it if it's too much, if . . .” Lucy's ramblings were cut off as Meg placed a gentle finger on her lips.
Meg pulled back slightly, cupping Lucy's face gently between her hands. "I love you, Lucy Crane, of course I want to take a chance on you. I trust you. With my heart. With my life. And I'd run into that building all over again for you.”
"I love you too, Meg. But don't you ever, ever do that to me again.”
Meg laughed. I think I can promise that. I've tendered my resignation. No more spying for me.”
"But you love your job,” Lucy said, protesting half-heartedly. She hated the thought of Meg giving up her dream job just for her. But at the same time, she couldn't help but feel a sense of relief.
"There are some things, or rather someone, that is more important to me. I wouldn't be any good at my job anymore anyway.”
"Why?" Lucy asked, confused.
"Because before you. Before I met you. Before I fell deeply, hopelessly in love with you, I wasn't afraid to take risks. I wasn’t afraid to die. I lived for adventure. Now, I just live for you,” Meg said before capturing Lucy's lips in a deep, passionate kiss.
Lucy sighed into the embrace, allowing herself to savor, to enjoy, to just live in the moment. They definitely had a lot to learn, a lot to work out. But they had the rest of their lives . . . their hopefully very normal, ordinary, and unexciting lives, to figure it out. And she couldn't wait.
The End
Treasures of the Heart
Archaeologist Quinn Riley hopes to make the discovery of a lifetime on her latest dig. Knowing she’s close to finding the lost city of gold, the last thing she needs is a distraction in the form of a perky blonde journalist nosing around her dig site. But when sparks fly between the two, Quinn may not only find the treasure, but also the woman who holds the key to her heart.
Forthcoming: Spring 2012
About the Author
A lawyer by trade, Annie (A.C.) Grey has loved reading and writing since childhood. After years of writing persuasively for a living, Annie finally decided to try her hand at fiction. She lives in Northeast Ohio with her girlfriend, dog, and two cats.
Visit A.C. online at www.acgreywriter.com to find out more about her upcoming books.
You’ll find Annie’s Goodreads page here: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6562508.A_C_Grey
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