SWEET SUSPICION

by Nina Bruhns

  No such luck.

  The only thing that would cool this passion he had for Muse Summerville was about a hundred years of living and sleeping by her side.

  Probably not even that.

  He hadn't ever had a chance to tell her he loved her. Tell her he wanted to share her life. Her smile. Her luscious body. The way she laughed. Her quirky, infuriating habit of going off and doing whatever the hell she felt like doing, regardless of his opinion.

  Bien. Maybe not so much that last one.

  He yanked on some pants and a shirt, reaching for his holster. And his handcuffs.

  There was more than one way to make a woman do what you wanted.

  Oh, hell.

  He plunked down on the bed and raked his hands through his hair, disgusted. As if he would ever actually handcuff the woman he loved. Get real.

  No, the way to win Muse was with flowers and consideration and being nice. Not brute force or ordering her around.

  That ordering-around thing was probably the kicker. She hadn't liked it when he'd done that. And he'd done it plenty over the past week.

  But how else could he get the stubborn woman to fall in with his plan for the future?

  She'd told him repeatedly she wasn't the type to settle down.

  Of course, she'd also said she didn't like sex. And they both knew how wrong she'd been about that.

  Get down on your knees and beg.

  He could do that.

  And he would if he had to.

  Or … he could make her think marrying him was her idea.

  * * *

  Muse drove slowly through the sleepy village where she and Remi had hidden out for two idyllic days and nights. How long ago it seemed now, after all that had happened since.

  Pulling over, she went into the small grocery store where they'd talked to the owner, hoping to find out who might keep an extra key to Dev's cottage. He did.

  "My wife locked up after you and your husband left," he said after a warm greeting. "Mr. Devlin told us you were both all right, but it's nice to see for myself. Your hasty departure caused quite a stir."

  She smiled at his obvious concern and made the appropriate responses, all the while thinking she just wanted to get out to the cottage and retrieve her things, and then get out of there. She knew Davies and his gang, including the FBI informant, were all behind bars, but frankly the whole place gave her the willies.

  After promising to return the key she borrowed, and asking him to thank his wife—who had apparently gathered all Muse's belongings and stowed them carefully away for her—Muse drove to the cottage.

  She parked the car in the driveway and sat for several minutes, gathering courage. It was ridiculous to think anyone lurked inside ready to attack her. Still, her heart pounded when she inserted the key in the front door and opened it wide.

  She gasped.

  A man sat on the sofa, watching her with hooded gaze.

  "Damn it, Remi! You scared the spit out of me!"

  Muse dropped her purse on the floor and shut the door behind her.

  Remi! He was here!

  Had he come for her?

  "Sorry."

  "I thought you were a hit man."

  The corner of his mouth twitched. "No such luck." His eyes traveled over her, taking in her jeans and T-shirt, ending with her face, nearly devoid of makeup. "You look beautiful."

  She smiled nervously, hoping he didn't hate her new image. "You do, too, sugarcane."

  And he did. Oh, how he did! His gorgeous body, his disreputably long black hair, his bone-melting smile—conspicuously absent at the moment—oh, just the sight of him twisted her insides into a tangled knot of yearning and sweet desire.

  "You forgot this," he said, pulling a small scarlet bag from his breast pocket.

  It had nearly torn her heart in two to leave Didi's love spell tucked under the pillow at Beau's. Seemed best at the time. She bit her lip. "So I did." Did she dare take it back?

  "Anyway, I figured you'd come back here. For these." He indicated the photos and papers that made up her book, neatly stacked on the coffee table.

  "Yes, I was worried they'd be ruined or lost."

  "I told Dev to make sure they were safe when I called him from Beau's."

  "Thank you." She couldn't believe he'd remembered, when she herself hadn't, not until much later.

  He shrugged. Their eyes met. There were a million things she wanted to say, but not one of them would squeeze past the melon in her throat.

  The silence lengthened until she thought there was no way he had come for her. She had to stop hoping.

  "So," he said. "What are your plans now that you're a free woman again?"

  Her turn to shrug. She folded her arms across her abdomen. Looked at the hardwood floor. Anywhere but that tiny satin bag in his hand. "I was thinking about moving back to South Carolina. To be close to my family. Make a new start."

  "Sounds good." He slowly nodded. "What's it like in Charleston? Nice? I've heard the sea islands up there are really something."

  "Gorgeous. Charleston's the prettiest city in the whole country."

  He got to his feet, just as slowly. "Yeah? I was thinking of buyin' a place up that way."

  What?

  Her heartbeat kicked up. "What about your job?"

  "Oh, didn' I tell you? I gave Morris my resignation yesterday."

  "You … you did?"

  "Mmm-hmm." He tossed the bag in his palm. "Time for a change."

  She couldn't believe what she was hearing. "What will you do instead?"

  "Not sure." He tipped his head. "Something that doesn' involve planning. Someone recently pointed out I'm a bit rigid about my plans. I'd like to give spontaneity a try."

  Her pulse went into overdrive. "Really?"

  "You're about the most spontaneous person I know, chère. Think there's any hope for me?"

  She took a few steps toward him. "Oh, I don't know about that." And another few. "You're a tough case. I think you'll need careful guidance." They were almost touching now. "By an expert."

  "Got anyone in mind?"

  The musky heat of his closeness nearly undid her.

  "Maybe. Depends."

  "On…?"

  "On whether your heart is really in it."

  He lifted her hand and put the scarlet bag in it, closing her fingers around it. Then he leaned across the chasm of the universe and put his lips to hers. "Heart and soul," he whispered, and kissed her. Wrapped his arms around her, pulled her close and kissed her like she'd never been kissed before.

  "Oh, Remi, I'm so sorry I left Beau's without telling you."

  "I should have listened to you a lot sooner. I swear I'll listen to you from now on. If only you'll give me a second chance."

  "I'm the one who needs a second chance."

  He kissed her again and his lips told her everything she wanted to hear without uttering a word.

  "What will you do without your undercover work?" she murmured.

  "Whatever you want me to do."

  "Where will you live?"

  "You decide. Here." He fished his handcuffs from his pocket and placed them in her hand. "I'm yours. Do with me what you will."

  She looked down at them, more than tempted to slip them on his wrist and hers, so he could never, ever leave her. "Be serious."

  "I am serious. I trust you, Muse. With my life. With my love."

  She looked up, her heart bursting with joy. "Your love?"

  "Ah, chère. You must know I love you madly."

  She threw her arms around him. "Oh, Remi, I love you, too." She didn't think it was possible to feel so happy. "Will you come with me to South Carolina?"

  "You want me to?"

  "More than anything."

  "Then I'll come." He kissed her deeply, holding her tight to his chest. "Anything else you'd like me to do?"

  She smiled. "Meet my mother."

  He chuckled. "Can't wait. What else?"

  "Live with me."

&nbs
p; "She won't mind?"

  "Not when she meets you and sees how wonderful you are."

  "You think?"

  "I know."

  "Anything else?"

  "Make hot, passionate love to me."

  "Count on it." He glanced toward the bedroom. "How 'bout now?"

  "Now and every night for the rest of our lives."

  He stopped, about to lift her from her feet into his arms. He gazed down into her eyes and asked, "The rest of our lives?"

  "Yes! Marry me," she blurted out, then slapped her hand over her mouth. "I mean—"

  He grinned. "Did you just ask me to marry you?"

  "Who me?"

  "Yeah, you."

  "Um. Maybe."

  "You better make up your mind, because I won't decide for you."

  "No?"

  He shook his head, still grinning. "Non."

  "Ah." She swallowed. "I'd like to ask you. I really would. But … I don't have a ring or anything, and—"

  "You mean—" he produced a small velvet box from his pocket and held it out to her "—like this one?"

  Her heart went still. He pried open the box. It was—

  "Oh, Remi! It's beautiful!" Reverently she reached for the box, touched the gorgeous diamond ring inside. "But I don't think it'll fit you."

  "Guess you'll just have to wear it, then. That is, if you decide to propose to me."

  She glanced from the ring to Remi's endearing, sexy, mischievous smile. "You planned this, didn't you?"

  "I'll try to be better. I really will."

  "Not possible," she whispered as he slipped the ring on her finger. "You're already perfect."

  Absolutely perfect.

  * * *

  Epilogue

  « ^

  Three Years Later

  Muse grinned at her sister as they lay on a blanket in the backyard, watching their husbands with amused interest. Remi and Creole were standing hands on hips, staring at a pile of lumber, metal poles and bolts that had just been dumped in the grass at the edge of the driveway.

  The project for the day was to build a swing set.

  Remi and Creole were experts at many things, but Muse wasn't altogether sure swing-set construction was one of them.

  Grace chuckled. "Think we should give them a hand?"

  "What, and spoil their fun?" Muse replied with a wink. "Besides, you can't. You just had a baby."

  "True," Grace said, and tenderly kissed the four-week-old in her arms. "Guess we'll just have to relax and watch."

  Muse let out a mock sigh. "Mmm. What a shame." After a pause she added, "Think they'll take off their shirts?"

  "I'd say that's a given, show-offs that they are."

  "How lucky can a woman get."

  Muse reached over to stroke the cheek of her own precious baby, sleeping contentedly next to her in a shady spot on the blanket. She truly was the luckiest woman in the universe.

  Thanks to the amazing man who had shown her that love was possible, even for her, all the dreams she'd been so afraid to hope for had come true. Every one. A husband, children of her own, her family close enough to hug whenever she felt the urge … all hers.

  Luke, Grace and Creole's toddler, ran up and announced, "Unca Remi say bad word!"

  Smothering a smile, Muse did her best to look serious. "He is very naughty, isn't he?"

  Luke giggled. "Unca Remi naughty! Unca Remi naughty!" he called, and ran back to the men, who turned in unison, looking guilty.

  "Hey, you tattled!" Remi said, grabbing the toddler as he zoomed by and giving him a good tickle. "When did you learn to speak French?"

  Luke squealed with delight, playing keep-away around Creole's legs. "Dada save me!" Then he took off across the grass.

  The pile of lumber forgotten, the two men chased after Luke, playing an impromptu game of tag.

  Muse followed their antics, joy and contentment filling her to the brim. "Good thing baby Julia is only ten months old. This could take a while."

  Grace laughed. "As long as they're having fun."

  She gazed fondly at her sister. "Oh, Grace, how did we manage to snag the two most incredible men on the planet?"

  Grace's eyes softened. "They are pretty wonderful, aren't they?"

  "Doesn't come close."

  The men in question came trotting up, Creole toting a panting, grinning Luke on his shoulders, and Remi carrying several sheets of paper. He flopped down next to Muse and gave her a big kiss. Swiping her iced tea, he took a big gulp.

  "Listen, you! Yours is on the tray!"

  In two swallows her tea was history. "Excellent," he said, switching glasses, "this construction thing is thirsty work."

  He polished that one off, too, and gave her an unrepentant grin.

  She grinned back. "I can see that."

  He put his arms around her and nuzzled up her throat, ending with another loving kiss. "We've run into a little hitch."

  "Oh, yeah? What's that?"

  "We have no idea what we're doing."

  All four laughed, making baby Julia gurgle in her sleep. "That could be a problem," Grace agreed.

  Remi thrust the papers into Muse's hands. "Here. You ladies read the directions. Tell us what to do."

  She met Grace's mirthful eyes over Creole's shoulder. "What do you think? Shall we bail them out?"

  "I suppose we'd better, if we want this swing set finished before Beau and Kit come to visit next week. T-Bone would be so disappointed."

  "True." Muse sat up, shoulder to shoulder with her sister, holding the papers so both could see. "All right, let's see…" They read the first paragraph, something about checking shipment contents and sorting carriage bolts.

  "Doesn't look too difficult," Grace murmured.

  "Nope."

  Muse looked up at Remi, who had gotten to his feet and was watching her expectantly. Eyes full of love. And trust.

  How incredible was that? Day to day, in every way, she trusted and relied on Remi, and every day that trust and reliance was returned. She didn't think it was possible for two people's lives and wills to be so intricately intertwined. Like the rose and the briar—putting down roots together, supporting each other as they climbed and grew closer every year, changing and blooming as one single, strong vine.

  "Ready?" Grace asked the men, a definite twinkle in her eyes.

  "Ready as ever," Remi said.

  So handsome. So good. So sexy.

  So easy.

  "All right," Muse said, keeping a grin at bay, "here goes."

  No, she wouldn't change him for the world. Not for the sun, the moon and the stars. He was everything she wanted forever and ever. Just as he was.

  Well. Except for one teensy weensy detail…

  "Step one," she and Grace said together. "Take off your shirts."

  * * * * *

  Muse.