by Kari Lemor
She glanced at the mostly faded bruises on his face. “What happened? You were injured and didn’t tell me. Why didn’t you tell me?”
Gazing at the blond woman who was still as beautiful today as she’d been while he was growing up, he took a deep breath. Maybe he should have waited a few more weeks to come see her. By then the bruises would have been completely gone and hopefully his shoulder would have been less painful. He still had a hard time moving his arm and the rehab exercises only made it worse. Technically he should have been wearing the sling but he hadn’t wanted to alarm his mother too much. Too late, she never missed a thing.
“I didn’t tell you because I know you would have worried,” he answered her gently. “I’m fine, there’s no permanent damage. I’ve been doing some rehab back in Baltimore and they gave me the okay to drive. Since Chesapeake Bay isn’t too far, I thought I’d make my first trip to see you. And maybe get an incredible home cooked meal out of the deal.”
Mom eyed him fiercely. It wasn’t the first time he’d been hurt nor would it be the last. His job wasn’t without risks but that was one of the things he liked about it. His mother was aware of that, but she also understood he enjoyed helping people, and putting bad guys in prison was a great way to do that.
Her arms crossed in front of her as she glared and he gave her his most charming grin. “Don’t you try and worm your way out of telling me what happened by throwing compliments at me. Now give, I want details. How bad was it?”
She began to run her hands over his arms then shoulder. Pulling back with a groan, he said, “All right, I give.”
He told his mother the abbreviated, less violent version. Her eyes shimmered with concern. “But it was a few weeks ago, Mom, and I’m fine now, just a little sore still. You’ll be happy to know I’m on desk duty until the trial. Now why don’t you let me help you peel those potatoes?”
She stepped back waving her hand in the direction of the sink. “Be my guest. And you better peel a whole lot more if you plan on staying to eat them. I’m assuming your appetite wasn’t injured as well.”
Chuckling, he picked up the vegetable and a peeler. “Not at all.”
“Okay, then I can get to work on the dessert. I wasn’t planning on much but now that you’re here I suppose I should try and whip something up.”
About to object, the look in his mother’s eyes brooked no argument, and he honestly was longing for something sweet to finish off his meal. Meg had usually been the one to make dessert. He’d been missing that for several weeks.
Thinking about Meg, he looked out the window into the backyard he’d spent lots of time in as a kid. It had been almost three weeks since he’d seen her and he wondered how she was. Oh, he’d been in contact with the agents who were guarding her and they assured him she was fine. She was swimming quite a bit and had complained to them she needed to do something to alleviate the boredom. Was there something else he could do to help her pass the time? It could be several months before the trial started.
A few ideas passed through his mind and he smiled when he thought of Meg and how happy he hoped she’d be if he could set them up. No matter how much he wanted to he had to stay away. Time without him was what she needed. Maybe she would forget him without his presence every day. Sometimes damsels fell for their knights only because of the rescue. He didn’t want that to be the reason she cared for him. And he’d been here in Maryland where it wasn’t convenient to run down to Florida.
He hoped to God she didn’t forget him though. He’d been thinking about her almost every second since he’d last seen her walking away with Doolittle. She must be scared, though certainly relieved that she didn’t have to report for waitressing duty every day. She’d been petrified that her family wouldn’t want her back, that they were so upset with her they couldn’t forgive her for causing them pain.
That was silly. They were her family and they loved her. Yes, she’d made a stupid mistake going off with Eddie but she’d never intended to hurt them. She’d only needed a bit of excitement. Hell, she felt guilty as sin and wanted to make it up to them. They’d forgive her, how could they not?
Chris watched as a gust of wind blew through the yard causing some of the newly turned orange and yellow leaves to shimmy to the ground. Fall was approaching and his father would be furiously raking all those rogue leaves that dared spoil his immaculate lawn.
As if on cue, his father dragged a barrel into the middle of the yard and began to rake. He had to laugh as the tall man, whose hair had begun to morph from blond to gray, attacked the few dozen leaves littering the ground. When they were kids, he’d actually saved the leaves and once or twice each fall allowed him and his sister to put them in a big pile and spend a few hours jumping into them. But then he would insist they rake them all up again and put them back in the bags they’d come from.
Smiling at the memory, he watched the last of the leaves disappear into the barrel. It had been a long time since he’d recalled a happy event. He’d been angry with his dad for so long that he hadn’t allowed any of them to stay around much. Now he wondered if he should have.
This brought back his thoughts about Meg’s family forgiving her because they loved her. She’d be heartbroken if they didn’t. Is that what he’d been doing to his dad; causing extreme pain? Yeah, it was. He hadn’t forgiven his father even though his mom and sister had.
But like Meg, Michael Shaunessy had made a stupid mistake, an error in judgment. He’d immediately fessed up to the sin and begged forgiveness. Mom had certainly been very angry and hurt and it had taken some time before their relationship was free of strain and awkwardness but she’d done it. She loved him and he was sorry and he’d tried to show her every day since how he felt. He’d promised to never make that mistake again. Love had won out.
Except where Chris was concerned. He hadn’t yelled at or punched his dad like he’d wanted, but he’d given him the cold shoulder and basically refused to speak to him for the past five years. Maybe it was time to take a page from his own book and give himself the advice he’d been giving Meg for a while now. If you love someone enough, you forgive them. You give them a second chance.
His mother moved behind him and stared out the window as her husband picked up some broken twigs. She laid her hand on his arm and her eyes grew sad.
“You need to forgive him, Chris.”
“I know.”
Her face turned up in excitement and happiness radiated from her eyes. “Oh, honey, you don’t know how much that will mean to him. You have no idea how much it kills him to think you don’t love him anymore and have no respect for him.”
Recalling all the times Meg had talked about her family and the fear she tried to hide thinking they’d hate her for what she’d done, he decided he had to make amends. What he’d done to his dad all this time sucked.
“To what do we owe this change of heart,” his mother asked curiously.
He gave a tiny smirk and his mother’s eyes twinkled.
“Or should I say who? What’s her name?”
Narrowing his eyes, he stared. How did mothers know these things? “Why are you certain it’s a her?”
She crossed her arms over her chest and gave him the look. The one that said mothers know everything.
“Her name is Meg. She’s the woman I told you about that helped us with this last case.”
Mom gazed carefully at him and guessed, “You fell in love with her, didn’t you?”
His chuckle had no humor in it. “Yeah,” he admitted, “I did. But I’m not sure exactly how she feels about me. I won’t see her again until the trial but I’m hoping that once that’s done, and I don’t have to be professional anymore, we can figure things out. I just hope what she feels for me isn’t some silly fairy-tale crush that will wither and die with real life.”
“Oh, honey, I hope so too. But if she can get you to actually get over your anger at your father then she must be something special. Tell her wha
t’s in your heart. No woman would be able to refuse you. You’re irresistible.”
“That’s what I kept telling her,” he answered smugly.
Mom laughed and carefully swatted at him so as not to bother his injury. “Oh, you. Now why don’t you go out and talk to your father. Get everything over and done with before you come in for dinner. It will be nice to have us sitting down at the same table and everyone actually speaking to each other.”
He went out to the back porch and took a deep breath. It was time to man up. He walked over to where his father stood.
“Hey, Dad.”
His father looked up, surprise and something else on his face. Pain? Had he caused that?
“Chris. I didn’t realize you were coming home. Does your mother know you’re here?”
Nodding he said, “Yeah, she’s making a big dessert for tonight. Hope it’s okay if I stay for dinner.”
“Of course it is. You’re always welcome here.”
He hadn’t always made his father feel welcome here though, in his own home. He shifted his feet, shoved his hands into his pockets then looked up clearing his throat.
“I’m sorry.”
Confusion crossed his dad’s features. “For what? What happened?”
“I’ve been such a jerk.”
Dad looked down at the ground and sighed. “You had every right--”
“No, no I didn’t. You made a mistake. A big one. But you owned up to it right away and you made amends. You’re still making amends. To Mom and to me. You shouldn’t have to. To me anyway.”
“Chris, I--”
“Dad, you don’t need to say anything. I do. I want you to know that I love you.”
Tears welled in his dad’s eyes. God, he’d been a selfish bastard hurting this man all this time.
“I love you, too, Chris.”
They moved awkwardly but he found himself encased in a warm hug. He should have done this years ago. His dad squeezed and he grunted.
Dad pulled back and stared, one eyebrow lifted. He’d always done that when he expected a confession.
“I was injured a few weeks ago.”
“How bad?”
“A lot worse than I told Mom. Gunshot, bruised ribs, a week in the hospital, and now rehab.”
“I can see a little bruising too, on your face. Someone play the drums there?’
He smirked. “You could say that. But he won’t be doing it any longer.”
Dad nodded. “Good. We won’t tell your mother how bad it was though. You know how she worries.”
“Thanks.”
His father started to walk away, dragging the barrel after him. Chris bent down to pick up a few fallen twigs and toss them in.
“Is that why you had this change of heart? The injury?”
Heat crept up his face and he grinned. “No, actually there’s this girl….”
Dad picked up more twigs and nodded. “There always is.”
Chapter 21
Meg put the brush down and stared at her reflection in the mirror. Her skin was still deeply tanned and the golden highlights in her hair stood out more than ever. It had been cold back in Pennsylvania for a while now as they approached the end of November.
But she’d spent the last ten weeks hiding in this beachfront house an hour north of Miami. It was right on the water but also had a private pool and small fenced-in yard. She’d thoroughly enjoyed the pool and used it every day.
Straightening the peach blouse and skirt she wore, she hoped it was okay for the trial. If she eventually got a teaching job, she could probably wear it to work depending on what grade she was hired for.
She turned around checking her bag again to make sure she had everything she needed. The new piece of luggage Chris had sent to hold all the clothes he’d bought her for her birthday lying open on the bed. He hadn’t come to visit, but the agents who gave it to her made sure they told her it was from him.
Her thoughts were all about Chris and how much she was looking forward to seeing him today. Of course that was the only thing she was looking forward to. Getting up on the stand to tell about all the atrocities Moreno had done and having the man be sitting right there; no she wasn’t looking forward to that at all. But seeing Chris again, yes.
She picked up the laptop she’d been given and tucked it on top of her clothes. It had come in handy during her time here and she couldn’t wait to thank Chris in person for all he’d arranged for her. Instead of sitting here bored out of her mind, he’d arranged for her to take her last two electives through an online course. She’d finished up only a few days ago and her degree was almost in hand.
He’d also set up an e-mail account for her and they had communicated back and forth every few weeks during her time here. She’d told him what she was doing but noticed he kept his own responses general and vague. She had no idea what he was up to or how his injury was healing. Whenever she asked, he would simply say it was getting there and she shouldn’t worry.
But she did worry. A lot. And not simply about his shoulder. What would her family say when she was able to get back home? Would she be able to find a job as a teacher or have to do something like waitressing, bringing back way too many bad memories? Could her heart ever recover from falling in love with Chris?
Yes, she’d admitted to herself that she was in love with him. She’d tried to convince herself during their time together that the feelings she had for him were only gratitude because he’d rescued her from a life of pure hell. But there was too much time to think and reflect over the past few months. She truly loved him. Real, strong, and deep.
He was handsome and charming without a doubt, but he was also caring, sweet, and had protected her fiercely when he’d been able. His intelligence and knowledge in many areas had stimulated her and she’d thoroughly enjoyed their verbal banter. When she thought about their kisses by the pool, her blood started to warm. Memories of their romp in the waves caused shivers to run down her spine, yet the night right before they arrested Moreno he’d held her so she felt comforted and safe. Then the memories of what had happened the next morning filled her mind and intense desire pooled in her feminine center. She’d never responded to anyone else that strongly. He was the only one.
You’re delusional, you idiot. He’d never look twice at someone like you. Not seriously anyway. She might be good for some laughs and hot kisses but a man like Chris deserved someone much more sophisticated and worldly. Not some girl from a small Podunk town in Pennsylvania for Pete’s sake. Hardly the metropolis of the country. And she was studying to be a teacher. An important job, yes, but in his eyes probably mundane and boring. The most excitement she’d likely get was calling the custodian to clean up when a kid got sick.
She took a deep breath wondering if it was a good idea for her to see him again. It might not have been wise to keep in touch with him during her time here. She should have started weaning herself away from any thoughts of him. Though it would take a very long time before she would forget him, if that was even possible. A man like Chris was hard to forget.
“You ready, Miss O’Hara?” George, one of the agents who had been a constant here, interrupted her reverie. She turned around nodding, not sure she was but knowing she had to be.
He picked up her bag and she followed him into the living room saying, “How many times do I have to ask you to call me Meg?”
George smiled and said, “I’ll put your bag in the trunk. You and Agent Shaunessy can come out when you’re ready.” He looked past her into the kitchen and left.
Meg’s head whipped around. Chris stood near the counter in the kitchen sneaking one of the cookies she’d baked last night. Her heart pounded louder in her chest and she wondered if he could hear it. The sound was almost deafening in her ears.
Turning around with a sheepish expression, he shoved the rest of the sweet in his mouth then grinned at her.
“Sorry, couldn’t resist,” he mumbled chewing quick
ly. “You must have made these, right? The goons you were with this week couldn’t bake themselves out of a paper bag.”
She held herself in check when all she wanted to do was throw herself in his arms. Then she would press her lips to his and kiss the living daylights out of him. Maybe they could even forget about the trial and go back into her bedroom to finish what they’d started a few months back. She’d be okay with that.
But Chris, ever the professional FBI agent, cleared his throat and tilted his head in the direction of the door. “We should probably go. Don’t want to be late for the hanging.”
Meg made a face at his absurd comment but moved after him to the door. He didn’t open it though, merely turned around gazing down at her as she came up behind him.
“You look nice today,” he said almost shyly then reached down and pulled her in for a quick hug. “It’s great to see you again.”
His familiar embrace was comforting and she wanted it to last forever. But it didn’t. He released her far too soon and opened the door to lead her out to the waiting car. Deep breath. Here we go.
* * * *
Chris watched out the window as they drove south down Route 95 to the courthouse in Miami. He was trying to keep his mind off the gorgeous woman sitting next to him in the back seat of the car. All the old feelings he’d had for her when they were living together started to stir. Not that they’d ever actually gone away. Not by a long shot. But he was still in full professional mode and needed to keep the feelings tucked safely inside; for now. Once this trial was over, or at least their part in it, all bets were off.
He snuck another glance at her, looking quite different from what he was used to. She fidgeted with the hem of her prim skirt. Reaching over he took the hand closest to him.
“Nervous?”
She looked up, startled at his words. They hadn’t said much since they’d gotten in the car almost an hour ago.
Her eyes darkened and moisture welled inside. “Yeah, a little,” she fibbed then her mouth crooked and she rolled her eyes. “A lot.”