Novels: The Law is a Lady
Page 20
She spent a moment simply looking into his eyes. Loved her? Yes, she realized with something like a jolt.
She could see it. It was real. And more, he was hurting because he wasn't sure. Doubts melted away. "I've been in an impossible situation, I think, from the first moment Merle hauled you in here."
She felt his fingers tense, then relax again. "Are you sure?' he asked, fighting the need to drag her against him.
"That I'm in love with you?" For the first time a ghost of a smile hovered around her mouth. "Sure enough that I nearly died when I thought you were leaving me. Sure enough that I was going to let you go because I'm just as stupid as you are."
His hands dove into her hair. "Stupid?" he repeated, drawing her closer.
"'He needs his own life. We agreed not to complicate things. He'd hate it if I begged him to stay.'" She smiled more fully. "Sound familiar?"
"With a slight change in the personal pronoun." Phil pulled her close just to hold her. Mine, they thought simultaneously, then clung. "Ah, Tory, last night was so wonderful—and so terrible."
"I know, thinking it was the last time." She drew back only enough so their mouths could meet. "I've been giving some thought to it for a while," she murmured, then lost the trend of thought as they kissed again.
"To what?"
"To...oh, to moving to the coast."
Framing her face with his hands, Phil tilted it to his. "You don't have to do that. I told you, I can—"
"Buy a plane," she finished on a laugh. "And I'm sure you can. But I have given some thought lately to moving on. Why not California?"
"We'll work that out."
"Eventually," she agreed, drawing his mouth back to hers.
"Tory." He held her off a moment, his eyes serious again. "Are you going to marry me?"
She considered a moment, letting her fingers twine in his hair. "It might be wise," she decided, "since we're going to have those kids."
"When?"
"It takes nine months," she reminded him. "Marriage," he corrected, nipping her bottom lip. "Well, after you've served your sentence... about three months." "Sentence?"
"Illegal use of a handgun, accosting a peace officer, improper use of a correctional facility..." She shrugged, giving him her dashing grin. ' 'Time off for good behavior, you should be out in no time. Remember, I'm still sheriff here, Kincaid."
"The hell you are." Pulling the badge from her blouse, he tossed it through the bars of the window.
"Besides, you'll never make it stick."
Table of Contents
The Law Is a Lady
NORA ROBERTS
The Law Is a Lady
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12