The 9-Month Bodyguard
Page 21
“Thanks. What would I do without you, Mr. Dearing?” she said. His retirement from the army had come through a few days ago.
He grinned down at her. “I don’t know, and fortunately, you’re never going to have to find out. You’re stuck with me for good, Mrs. Dearing.”
She loved the sound of that. Their wedding had been a quick, quiet affair with just family attending. The hospital that had treated her and Austin after the accident had its own schlocky wedding chapel—gotta love Las Vegas. They’d scheduled it on ten minutes’ notice and been married before they walked out of the hospital at midnight the night of her premiere.
The press had loved it. On top of her triumphant comeback to rave reviews, she and Austin had announced to the world that they were married and expecting a baby all in one fell swoop.
Conner was working on the legalities of making Austin the official father of her baby, but it didn’t take a piece of paper to make it so in her heart. In the past two weeks Austin had stepped in the to the role of doting daddy-to-be as if he’d been made for it.
“What are you thinking about?” Austin murmured as he sank into the cushioned pool chaise beside her.
“What a great father you’re going to make.”
The look in his eyes as he gazed over at her was pure love. “Can’t wait.”
He reached out and she took his hand, their fingers intertwining between their lounges. In quiet companionship they watched the sun set in a kaleidoscope of crimson and purple.
A jovial voice rang out behind them. “There you are, you two lovebirds!”
Silver glanced up as Conner joined them, drink in hand. “How’s tricks, cousin?”
He shrugged. “Could be worse. I got a lead on your buddy Darla. Her landlord says she skips town for a couple weeks at a time now and then, but she always turns up again. He told me about a club where I might find her when she shows up. I’m gonna go check it out later tonight.”
Silver scowled. “She was Candace’s pal, not mine.”
Conner raised his glass and grinned. “So noted.”
A new voice came from near the back doors. “Rebecca said I could find all of you out here.”
Silver looked up to see Natalie stepping outside. She was in her police uniform—she must have just gotten off duty. It was still strange to see her stepsister wearing a gun. “Defending truth, justice and the American Way, are you, sis?”
Natalie smiled, but her gaze remained serious.
Austin went watchful and quiet beside her. He asked quietly, “Any news?”
Natalie nodded. “Today the FBI ran the polygraph tests on Mark Sampson and his buddy Dingo that they agreed to as part of their plea bargains.”
Silver went on high alert, but it was nothing compared to the predatory intensity that suddenly enveloped Austin beside her.
Natalie continued, “The polygraph examiner confirms with high certainty what they’ve been saying all along. Sampson and Dingo had nothing to do with the shooting in front of the casino. According to the test, they’re not lying, either, when they claim not to have left that message on Silver’s dressing-room mirror, and neither of them had anything to do with the sabotage of the light scaffolding.”
Silver frowned. The police had concluded that someone set small explosive charges at key support points all over the big lighting rig over the stage and brought it down on her intentionally. “If not Mark, then who?” she asked in alarm.
Austin and Conner traded grim looks. It was Austin who answered her. “Whoever’s targeting the whole Rothchild clan.”
She met his gaze worriedly. “What am I supposed to do about it?”
Austin shrugged. “Exactly what you’ve been doing. Keep working on your next album. We continue to lie low here at the mansion, and I continue to watch over you.”
“For how long?” she asked.
“Until the killer is caught.”
Conner piped up, “So you’re convinced that whoever murdered Candace and stole the ring is behind the attacks on Silver?”
Austin replied, “Makes sense.”
Natalie added, “The threatening letter to Harold suggests it’s the same guy.”
Conner nodded. “Well, then. I guess I’d better head over to that club and see if I can track down Darla. If she can lead me to the ring, maybe she can lead me to the killer.”
Natalie murmured, “You want some backup?”
“Nah. I got this one. I’ll give you a call if I need you to charge in, guns blazing, and save the day.”
Natalie and Conner wandered into the house, arguing good-naturedly about the kind of trouble he was likely to get into without her there to bail him out.
Silver looked at Austin in concern. He held out his arms, and she didn’t hesitate. She crawled into his lap and cuddled close as he wrapped his strong, safe arms around her. She laid her head on his shoulder, and they watched the last vestiges of sunset fade from the sky. Venus came into view overhead and the first few stars blinked into sight.
He murmured, “It’ll be okay, Silver. I’ve got your back now.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
And that was enough for her. Enough to build a family on. Enough to build a life on together. Forever.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-3468-4
THE 9-MONTH BODYGUARD
Copyright © 2009 by Harlequin Books S.A.
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