St. Helena Vineyard Series_Harmony's Mistake
Page 7
She shook her head, trying to sit up.
“Stay still,” he whispered. “Where does it hurt?”
“It doesn’t hurt,” she managed to say through a choppy breath. “Wind…knocked…”
“Shhhhh.” He pressed his finger against her lips. “Breath slowly. I’m still going to have the paramedics take you to the hospital, just to be sure.” He glanced over his shoulder. “My sister? Her kids? He said something about a possible explosion or fire at my parents’ house.”
“Fuck,” the other man said as he tapped an earpiece. “Who has eyes on Ricko?”
Mason waved Alice over. “I need to make sure my family is okay. Can you stay with Harmony?”
“Ricko is one of us and he’s with your family,” the agent said. “But there was a small explosion at your parents’ house. My man was injured, but all are being transported to the hospital.”
Mason sucked in a deep breath.
“Go,” Alice said. “I’ve got her.”
“I’ll see you at the hospital,” he said, giving her a quick kiss before bolting to his feet.
“I’ll drive,” the other agent said.
“And you are?”
“Agent Sterling.”
“Fine,” Mason said, glancing one last time over his shoulder. He hated leaving Harmony like that, but he had to know his family was going to be okay. “Alice here will take real good care of you.”
Chapter 11
“THANK YOU, AGENT STERLING.” Harmony hobbled up the porch stairs, her lower back still sore from being slammed to the floor by Mason in an effort to keep her from being hit by the bullet that ended up taking her father’s life.
She should feel something regarding her father’s death, but not even a pang of guilt. He wasn’t a good man, and he would have hurt innocent children to get what he wanted. Thank God the only injury had been Ricko, and that hadn’t been from the small bomb, but from getting everyone safely out of the house.
“I think after all this, you can call me Quinn.”
She let out a stiff breath, holding her ribs, also bruised from Mason. He hadn’t meant to hurt her. No. Quite the opposite and she’d be forever grateful to him for that. “Quinn is a nice name.”
“Speaking of names,” he said, holding back the front door. “There is no reason for us to relocate you, since Ricko had been working a sting operation to nail your father. I’m just sorry that we didn’t connect the dots sooner.”
“His name isn’t on my birth certificate,” Harmony said, tossing her keys on the coffee table. “Can I get you some coffee or something?”
“No, thanks. I won’t be staying long.”
She stared at the box on the mantel, the one she thought Anna had left behind. The one she figured was filled with memorabilia of her life with Lucas. She hadn’t even looked inside when she’d raced out of the house. All she could think about was making sure nothing happened to Mason’s niece and nephews.
“You haven’t told me what you want to do,” Quinn said.
“I don’t know,” she admitted. “I like it here more than I thought I would.” She let out a chuckle. “I did exactly what you told me not to do. I got attached.”
“I had to warn you about that, but again, you don’t have to leave. Lucas has no idea where you are, and your father was bluffing about his dealings with Lucas. They knew each other, but George was barely a blimp on your ex’s radar.”
“How did he find me?”
“Ricko said he had his sights on some woman by the name of Lilly to con and stumbled upon your website.”
“What are the chances?” she mumbled.
“Pretty slim, which is why I feel secure in your safety of you want to stay here.”
“Do I have to decide right this second?” If she had wanted to find out how Mason felt about her sticking around, then she shouldn’t have snuck out of the hospital.
“No, and for the record, I’m your handler. I’m not passing you off again.”
“Thanks, I appreciate it.” With a shaky hand, she lifted the box and tugged off the lid. Tears formed in her eyes as she stared at pictures of her parents when she’d been a baby, and their dog. She had cried more for the loss of that dog than her father leaving.
“One thing I can’t figure out,” Quinn said, leaning against the front door. “Why did your father steal a puppy and leave it here?”
“When I thought it was Anna, I figured she was messing with me over Lucas’s dog. I loved that dog and when I found out he’d been having an affair with our dog walker, I wanted to rip the man’s throat out, but I had to suck it up and pretend I didn’t know, only she knew about the affair as well and often rubbed it in my face.” She shifted through more pictures and came across a flyer for her missing dog. She swallowed a guttural sob when she read the word, DEAD, scribbled across it with red ink. Noticing words on the back, she flipped it over.
You fucked with the wrong man, Mary. You think you could steal from me and get away with it? I’m coming for you. What happened to Heidi-ho’s dog is going to happen to you.
“That cruel bastard,” she whispered, holding up the sign. “He killed my dog.”
“Let me see that.” Quinn took the paper in his hands. “What else is in that box?’
She dumped the contents of the box on the floor. Her mother’s missing necklace sparkled against the white carpet. Taking the pendant in her hand, she held it up to the light. “This has been missing since she killed herself.”
“Shit,” Quinn muttered. “Can I take the box and the contents back to the office?”
“My neighbor never believed my mom killed herself.” She dropped to her knees, covering her face, aware of Coop clawing at the front door, but she didn’t have the energy to get up.
“Hey.” Mason’s voice rang out as Coop rested his head on her lap with his paw on her knee, whining.
“What’s going on?” Mason asked.
“Harmony just got some disturbing news,” Quinn said. “I think I’ll leave you two alone.”
“Wait,” Mason said. “Here are the NDAs. Everyone in my family signed them. Harmony is safe here with us.”
“Good to know,” Quinn said.
“Everyone believes that the bomb was meant for me. Someone from my past life in the military, and that he was killed during his capture.”
“Not far from the truth,” Quinn said. “If you need anything, you know how to reach me.”
She wiped the tears from her face, trying to wrap her brain around the words exchanged between Quinn and Mason, but the realization that her mother had been murdered broke her heart in a million pieces, and she wasn’t sure she’d ever be able to pick them up.
Scratching the back of Coop’s head, she glanced up just as Quinn left, leaving Mason standing in the middle of the room, by himself, with his hands on his hips.
“I would have brought you home,” he said, inching closer.
“You needed to be with your family.”
Mason sat on the floor, cross-legged, cupping her chin. “I needed to be with both my family and you.”
“I’ve caused you and your family nothing but grief.”
“You didn’t do that, your father did.”
“Quinn thinks he might have killed mother.” She blinked away the tears that blurred her vision. “I thought she was weak and hated her for what she’d done, only he did it.” She held out the flyer of her dog with trembling fingers.
He took it, setting it on the ground, and pulling her to his lap.
Coop sprawled out in front of them, letting out a big sigh.
“It’s a lot to take in,” he whispered. “But me, and my family, we’re here for you.”
“Why? You should want me to leave.” She tried to resist his gentle touch and sweet kisses on her temple. She should jump up and race out the door, following Quinn to some other new secret life, one where she wouldn’t have to make connections to people.
Or dogs.
“I want you to stay so
we can get to know one another,” he whispered.
“I don’t even know who I am anymore. Am I Heidi? Or an I Harmony? I feel like either choice I make I’m a fraud.” She shifted, facing him, staring into his forgiving eyes. Eyes she wanted to resent and forget they ever existed.
Only they burned her soul.
“You’re not defined by either name, but what you chose to do with your life. It’s like when I left the military and became a cop.”
She shook her head. “That is so not a good example.”
“Actually, it is. Being a Marine defined me. Coming home, back here, I felt like I somehow had failed. Then Renee left me, and I had no idea who I was. Fast forward to Julia, and I figured I was pretty much not worth a woman’s love—”
She cupped his face. “That’s not true. You’re one of the good ones. There is someone special for you.”
“Well, my mother seems to think that you’re the one, and my sister agrees,” he said with a slight smile and a playful arched brow.
“I lied to you.” She tried to push herself out of his lap, but he held her tighter. “Nothing I told you about my life is true.”
He tapped her chest with his index finger. “You’ve show me who you really are and to me, you’re Harmony, owner of Harmony’s Mistake.”
“God, what an awful name for a business.” She gave into her desire and rested her head on his shoulder.
He pressed his lips against her temple. “Please tell me you and your business plan on staying. You owe me a second date.”
“You owe me a puppy.”
He cocked his head back. “How do you figure that?”
She shrugged. “I can’t keep Coop.”
The dog barked as if that would be okay with him.
“My dog is a traitor,” he murmured, kissing her lips. “Tomorrow, go pick out a dog at the animal shelter. Consider it a housewarming gift.”
“Come with me. It will be our second date.”
Epilogue
One year later…
“COOP. GUNNER. COME,” Mason commanded, holding the front door of the cottage open with one hand and juggling two small boxes in the other. “Let’s go, boys. Mama’s gonna be home soon, and I promised her that everything would be out of here by noon.”
Coop ran past him, Gunner following, skidding across the porch, nearly knocking him over. “Damn dogs.” Mason laughed as he pulled the door closed, locking it. The new renter would be here in a week. A young man from Tulsa who refurbished vintage cars. He seemed like a nice guy. What really made Mason so happy on this particular day, was that in one hour’s time, his new wife, Harmony, and he would be heading on their honeymoon. He glanced at his watch. They’d been married almost twenty-four hours. Their ceremony at the town hall had been small, with mostly his family and a few close friends.
Jake stood up as his best man, and Carole stood in as the maid of honor.
His little niece was a flower girl, and both his nephews gave Harmony away.
Both Shepherds bolted through the kitchen door in the main house. They stopped at the treat door, their tails thumping wildly.
“Sit,” he said. As soon as both dogs did as commanded, he tossed them each a rawhide. “You two better behave for Grandma and Grandpa.”
Coop yelped.
Gunner gurgled, running in a circle, chasing his tail.
“Go to your beds.” Mason set the boxes on the counter. Two large suitcases stood next to the door. Two weeks in Hawaii. Life didn’t get any better than that.
“Hey, husband,” Harmony said as she waltzed through the doors.
“Husband? I’m a husband? When did that happen?” He took her in his arms, crashing his mouth against hers, tangling his tongue like a cowboy trying to rope a horse. He’d never be able to get enough of her. “How’d things go at the doctor?”
“Great,” she said, taking a step back, holding up a small bag. “He gave me something to help with the motion sickness when we go on the three-day cruise.”
“I’m glad.” The last time they’d gone out on a boat, just a week ago, she spent half of it hanging off the side. Wasn’t fun for either of them. She’d said she’d never been seasick before, but that day had been particularly rough. “What did he give you?”
“Pre-natal vitamins.”
“Vitamins?” he asked, cocking his head. “How the hell will they help?”
“They won’t because I’m not getting seasick. I’m having morning sickness.”
“Morning what?” He blinked a few times.
Her smile just got wider and wider.
“Wait a minute. You’re pregnant?” He gripped the counter for support. They’d talked about having kids in like a year or two, but that conversation happened a few weeks before the wedding. “Is this some kind of April Fool’s joke?”
“It’s July, so no.”
“A baby?” he whispered.
“Yep. In about seven and a half months.”
“I think I need to sit down.” Instead, he took her in his arms and twirled her around.
Life just got a whole lot better.
THE END
Sign up for Jen’s Newsletter (http://eepurl.com/crLz6r) where she often gives away free books before publication.
Join Jen’s private Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/191706547909047/) where she posts exclusive excerpts and discuss all things murder and love!
Follow Jen on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJenTalty/
Follow Jen on Twitter: http://twitter.com/jentalty
Follow Jen on Amazon and never miss a new release! https://www.amazon.com/Jen-Talty/e/B007H91LVY/
Books by Jen Talty
NY State Trooper Series
IN TWO WEEKS
DARK WATER
DEADLY SECRETS
MURDER IN PARADISE BAY
TO PROTECT HIS OWN
DEADLY SEDUCTION
WHEN A STRANGER CALLS
Other novels
REKINDLED
JANE DOE’S RETURN
Dare to Love Kindle World
DON’T DARE ME
The Omega Team Kindle World
THE LIGHTHOUSE
HER LAST HOPE
THE LAST FLIGHT
THE RETURN HOME
The Phoenix Agency Kindle World
THE LOST SISTER
THE LOST SOLDIER
Dallas Fire and Rescue Kindle World
STEALING HIS FIRE
IGNITING HIS FLAME
Special Forces Operation Alpha
BURNING DESIRE
BURNING KISS
BURNING SKIES
The Brotherhood Protectors
ROUGH JUSTICE
Barefoot Bay Kindle World
LOVE LIES BENEATH
Irish Wild Kindle Worlds
WISKEY WILD
Paranormal Dating Agency Kindle World
THE BLIND DATE
SPRING FLING
Sassy Ever After
LADY SASS
ALL THAT SASS
The Fidelity Kindle World
SHAKEDOWN
About the Author
Jen Talty is an award-winning author of Romantic Suspense. Dark Water hit #10 in Barnes and Noble and her books have been in the top 50 on Amazon. Jen grew up in Rochester, New York. She recently retired from being a full-time hockey mom as her children hung up their skates. She and her husband still live in Rochester while her children travel globe. Jen is the co-founder of Cool Gus Publishing with NY Times Bestselling Author Bob Mayer. To learn more about Jen Talty please visit her website: jentalty.com
Sign up for Jen’s Newsletter (http://eepurl.com/crLz6r) where she often gives away free books before publication.
Join Jen’s private Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/191706547909047/) where she posts exclusive excerpts and discuss all things murder and love!
Follow Jen on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJenTalty/
Follow Jen on Twitter: http://twitter.
com/jentalty
Follow Jen on Amazon and never miss a new release! https://www.amazon.com/Jen-Talty/e/B007H91LVY/