“Sounds busy, but that’s fine.” Tag frowned down at their hands. “I thought a lot about my Dragons while we were in Niagara. We saved all but three of those kids. It kind of helped my head about the Dragons.”
Grace squeezed her hand. “Like the world has a balance sometimes?”
“Exactly.” She took her plate to the sink. “Let’s clean up and go into the living room.”
“Good. I want to talk to you.”
* * *
The music, sweet and low, drifted in from the kitchen as Tag settled on the couch with a relaxing breath. Grace tucked her feet under her and snuggled close.
“What’s up?” Tag put her arm around Grace.
“Remember the morning you left for DC? We were getting dressed and your phone started ringing. You said you had to go and I didn’t know anything about anything so I just rushed, trying to help you and get you to the airport on time. They were holding the plane, for God’s sake. I came back here and it was like I was empty.” She looked away. “I wasn’t sure you were coming back. Another first for me.” Grace fiddled with her T-shirt hem, face turned away. “Suddenly, Maddie was here. She explained what she could and I felt like she’d saved my life.”
Grace sat up, looking into Tag’s eyes. “I keep saying I don’t know how to talk to you. I think I finally do. We’ve been busy since you were gone, but all the time I had this running conversation in the back of my mind.”
Tag smiled. She’d done a lot of thinking in Washington too and had missed Grace.
“I decided that when you got home—like right now—I was going to tell you that I want more than just an occasional kiss.” She inched closer.
Tag straightened. Did she hear that right? She could see it hadn’t come out quite like Grace had planned as a blush lit up her face. They stared at each other for a long moment. “Thank God,” she finally said.
Grace looked confused. “I thought…I don’t know what I thought. I’m not sure how this works.”
Tag just smiled and kissed her warm, soft mouth, then stretched them out on the couch. “If you want to stop, just say it. I’ll stop.” She ran her hands up under Grace’s T-shirt across soft skin and breasts, barely able to breathe.
“Oooh,” Grace said over a breath. Tag ran her hands across Grace’s stomach, then kissed the soft skin. Grace gave another tiny moan, then struggled out from under her.
“My bed. More room.” She pulled Tag down the hall. The bedroom smelled wonderful, and they both pulled their clothes off and, skin to skin, tumbled into the big, comfortable bed. “You’ll have to lead,” she said, her eyes that incredible color again, “but I’m a good follower.”
Tag braced herself over her, kissed her skin all the way down to Grace’s belly, then slowly worked her way up to both breasts. She could feel Grace’s heart beating wildly and slipped her hands across ribs, down to the hips, then lower. Grace arched up against her.
“Look at me, Grace. See how much I mean this.”
Grace opened her eyes, and they widened as Tag slipped her fingers between her legs into the hot and wet center. She took her time until Grace’s arms wrapped around her tightly. Grace muttered something, and Tag kissed her, softly and carefully. It didn’t take long before Grace pushed hard against her. “God.” She shuddered, legs and arms tight around Tag as she rocked under her. Finally, Grace lay back, trembling.
“I love you. This couldn’t have happened without love.”
“I love you too, Grace. Always remember that.”
Suddenly, she was on her back with Grace hovering above her. “I learn fast,” she murmured and kissed her, hands busy across Tag’s body. A long time later, after much exploration, they curled up together, quiet, staring at each other. Grace reached out, touched Tag’s face, down her neck, and laid her hand across her Dragon necklace and smiled. Her eyes closed and she took a deep breath, pushing close to Tag.
“Wow,” she said softly and fell asleep.
Tag put her arm around Grace. Such a beautiful body and that fascinating, gorgeous mind. All the places she’d been, and this would be the moment she’d always remember. She closed her eyes.
Chapter Thirty-One
Dr. Light locked the brakes on the wheelchair, handing instructions and medicine to Katie at the back entry of the hospital.
“I don’t want to see you here again. That’s an order,” the doctor said, her eyes holding AJ’s gaze. “While you slept this morning, I took an hour with Katie. She’s seen your videos and I’ve explained everything to her. Consider her my mini-me at your house until I say otherwise.”
AJ nodded and stood, looking up at the sky. God, it felt good to be free of the hospital, and the air was fresh after yesterday’s rain. She placed her good arm over Katie’s shoulder as they walked through the leaves to the car. “Look. Here we are again,” she said. “How come it’s always me? Why doesn’t someone else take one for the team?”
Katie snorted a little laugh. “That’s not true. You’d do anything to keep your team safe.”
AJ pulled her closer. “There’s a meeting at Peter Adams’s office in a few hours that I need to go to. I have to change clothes,” AJ said as Katie helped her into the SUV.
“No.” Katie snapped AJ’s seat belt under the sling on her arm.
“What do you mean?” AJ frowned at her.
“Have you looked at a mirror lately?”
“Yes. Well, maybe. What’s wrong?” AJ snapped the visor down, took a look at the mirror, and let out a muffled scream. “Holy shit.” Her hair was in complete disarray and uncombed, the brown lying over the top of her natural blond. She examined the shave track. “You didn’t tell me.” She jerked in her seat and groaned as her arm sent a sharp pain through her. She pushed into the seat, riding the pain out. “I look like some kind of wild animal.” AJ stared ahead. “Take me to your sister.”
“Oh, as if.”
“Damn it,” AJ said and gestured at her hair.
Katie sighed and tossed her phone at AJ. “You call her. I’m not touching this. Besides, I’ve got strict orders to keep you in bed.”
AJ didn’t answer, just dialed the phone. After a terse, somewhat desperate conversation, AJ hung up. Katie turned onto the street, headed for home.
“She’ll come over today during her lunch hour,” AJ finally said. “Guess who she’s working on right now?”
“Not a clue.” Katie made a quick, angry turn.
AJ made a face at her. “No. Tag and Grace are there. It appears Grace’s roots are showing. Like a lot.” She grinned despite herself.
“And she doesn’t have a big shave track down the side.”
“I can’t help that.” AJ grumbled and tried a different tack. “Please help,” she whined.
Katie blew out a breath. “She’ll actually come to the house?”
“Yes.”
“And you promise to go to bed? Like the doctor ordered?”
AJ stared straight ahead trying to maneuver her way through the minefield. “Katie, I know you’ve gone to the wall for me and…”
Katie didn’t answer.
“I mean it. Look what I just put you through. Again.”
“You don’t plan on following doctor’s orders at all, do you?” Katie pulled her sunglasses off and parked in their garage.
“We weren’t talking about that.”
Katie looked at her. “I can’t wrestle you to the ground because of the sling on your arm, not to mention the head injury, but if you insist on taking a risk like this, go right ahead.” She opened the car door, took the odds and ends from the hospital out of the back, and strode to their kitchen door.
AJ watched her, unhappy with what she’d just seen. Katie looked so tired, angry, and worse, sad. She pushed her door open, undid the seat belt, and swung her feet around. One foot on the ground, the other following, and suddenly, her world went gray. Her good arm held on to the door and she slowly sank to the cold garage floor. She thought she heard Tag.
* * *
“Damn.” Tag ran into the garage. “Get Katie. Call the doctor.” She went to her knees and slid her hand under AJ’s head and checked her pulse. It was strong and steady. Katie and Grace went to the cement beside her. Grace dialed the doctor.
“Her pulse is good. I think she just fainted.”
Katie had tears in her eyes. “Damn. We were arguing and I shouldn’t have left her alone. She’s determined to go to some meeting this afternoon. This is my fault.”
“No, it’s not,” Grace said and began talking to Dr. Light on the phone. “Here, Tag, put this towel under her head. Is she bleeding anywhere? The doctor’s asking,” she said just as AJ opened her eyes.
“What?” she said.
Katie brushed AJ’s hair back. “I think you fainted. Tell the doctor no blood, Grace.”
“Tag, you made it back,” AJ slurred with a sloppy smile. “Your hair looks great, Grace.”
“Katie says you’re going to a meeting?” Tag studied her.
Just then, Katie’s sister walked into the garage. “Are you kidding me? The garage?” She looked down at AJ. “Oh, for God’s sake. Your hair. How am I going to fix that?”
“Let’s get her inside,” Tag said and she and Grace stood AJ up and walked her to the living room couch.
“I saw what you did for Grace,” Tag said to Katie’s sister. “I’m pretty sure you can work more of your magic here.”
“Dr. Light thinks she just fainted,” Grace said, ending the phone call. “Not uncommon apparently, but if it happens again we’ve got to take her back to the hospital. She says to get her in bed.” She looked at Katie’s sister. “Don’t you dare leave or she’ll probably faint again.”
“I’ll feed all of you lunch,” Katie said to them. “Actually, I’ll pay all of you good money to stay and I’ll go away. She’ll behave for you.”
“Hey. I’m right here. I can hear you,” AJ said.
Grace’s phone rang. “It’s Maddie,” she said to everyone, walking back to the kitchen, and then returned. “Saved by the call, AJ. The meeting with the lawyers has been moved to tomorrow. She’ll let us know the time. We’ll come and get you. Save Katie the agony.” She moved to the refrigerator. “Who wants coffee or whatever?”
“I’ll cook,” Katie said, and moved to the stove. “Stay until she’s done and then you’re all off the hook. And thanks.”
“We’ve got two hours and then a meeting with Maddie,” Tag said. “What can I do?”
“Grace, help me with the laundry,” Katie said, starting the coffee. “You know where everything is. Tag, take a look at our bedroom and set the stuff up I brought from the hospital. AJ’s bags from the resort are in the smaller bedroom.”
“My hair,” AJ said from the couch.
“Aw, such a baby, AJ,” Katie’s sister said and placed a small table beside the couch, then unpacked her bag. Katie laughed at her sister and handed AJ the pill Dr. Light had ordered. “The doctor said she has to take this, now.”
“No.” AJ started to argue, but Katie’s sister held up a pair of scissors. “See these? Take the pill or else I just pack up and leave. Your choice.”
“Crap,” AJ grumbled but took the pill and drank the water.
Tag watched the three of them in the living room and then carried things into the master bedroom. Grace peeked in and they shared a grin. “Also, Maddie gave me some other breaking news from Niagara,” she said. “Guess who shot at me?”
“I thought it was Tattoo Man,” Tag said. “Both of those men admitted to shooting AJ and burning the house and the cars.”
“Nope. Good old boy Deputy Miller. Maddie said the sheriff relieved him of duty—translated, the kid got fired—and Lithscom won’t have him either. Ha.”
Tag grinned. “Good news. Now if they can just do same with Lithscom.”
“And there’s more missing kids, not connected to the Owens boys or Clint Weeks. We have another assignment.” She wiggled her finger. “But we get a week off before we start work on that.”
“Want to go up and stay with my parents? Have some time with Emma and look at that horse ranch for the kids? We could take Crow.”
“You bet.” Grace put her arm around Tag.
Tag dug into her pocket. “I have something for you. Maybe you’d wear it? You don’t have to, but I’d be honored.” She held a Dragon’s necklace in her hand. “This is an extra I had made when we first got them.”
Grace examined it. “Oh.” She stared at Tag. “Oh. My God.”
Tag fastened it and stepped back to see how it looked. “It belongs there. We’re the new Dragon Unit. Just you and me.”
Grace grabbed her and kissed her. “My life is wonderful, as long as you’re around.”
Katie peeked into the room. “Ready for food…whoops. I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
“It’s fine.” Grace stepped away. “Everything’s fine.”
About the Author
Born and raised in the Midwest, C.P. Rowlands attended college in Iowa and lived in the Southwest and on the West Coast before returning to Wisconsin. She is an artist in addition to having worked in radio, sales, and various other jobs. She has two children, four grandchildren, a partner of decades, and two cats. She has published since 2008 with Bold Strokes Books. Jacob’s Grace is the sequel to her Lambda Literary Award finalist, Jacob’s War.
Books Available From Bold Strokes Books
A Fighting Chance by T. L. Hayes. Will Lou be able to come to terms with her past to give love a fighting chance? (978-1-163555-257-7)
Chosen by Brey Willows. When the choice is adapt or die, can love save us all? (978-1-163555-110-5)
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Jacob’s Grace by C.P. Rowlands. Captain Tag Becket wants to keep her head down and her past behind her, but her feelings for AJ’s second-in-command, Grace Fields, makes keeping secrets next to impossible. (978-1-163555-187-7)
On the Fly by PJ Trebelhorn. Hockey player Courtney Abbott is content with her solitary life until visiting concert violinist Lana Caruso makes her second-guess everything she always thought she wanted. (978-1-163555-255-3)
Passionate Rivals by Radclyffe. Professional rivalry and long-simmering passions create a combustible combination when Emmet McCabe and Sydney Stevens are forced to work together, especially when past attractions won’t stay buried. (978-1-63555-231-7)
Proxima Five by Missouri Vaun. When geologist Leah Warren crash-lands on a preindustrial planet and is claimed by its tyrant, Tiago, will clan warrior Keegan’s love for Leah give her the strength to defeat him? (978-1-163555-122-8)
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Shadowboxer by Jessica L. Webb. Jordan McAddie is prepared to keep her street kids safe from a dangerous underground protest group, but she isn’t prepared for her first love to walk back into her life. (978-1-163555-267-6)
The Tattered Lands by Barbara Ann Wright. As Vandra and Lilani strive to make peace, they slowly fall in love. With mistrust and murder surrounding them, only their faith in each other can keep their plan to save the world from falling apart. (978-1-163555-108-2)
Captive by Donna K. Ford. To escape a human trafficking ring, Greyson Cooper and Olivia Danner become players in a game of deceit and violence. Will their love stand a chance? (978-1-63555-215-7)
Crossing the Line by CF Frizzell. The Mob discovers a nemesis within its ranks, and in the ultimate retaliation, draws Stick McLaughlin from anonymity by threatening everything she holds dear. (978-1-63555-161-7)
Love’s Verdict by Carsen Taite. Attorneys Landon Holt and Carly Pachett want the exact same thing: the only open partnership spot at their prestigious crimi
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Precipice of Doubt by Mardi Alexander & Laurie Eichler. Can Cole Jameson resist her attraction to her boss, veterinarian Jodi Bowman, or will she risk a workplace romance and her heart? (978-1-63555-128-0)
Savage Horizons by CJ Birch. Captain Jordan Kellow’s feelings for Lt. Ali Ash have her past and future colliding, setting in motion a series of events that strands her crew in an unknown galaxy thousands of light years from home. (978-1-63555-250-8)
Secrets of the Last Castle by A. Rose Mathieu. When Elizabeth Campbell represents a young man accused of murdering an elderly woman, her investigation leads to an abandoned plantation that reveals many dark Southern secrets. (978-1-63555-240-9)
Take Your Time by VK Powell. A neurotic parrot brings police officer Grace Booker and temporary veterinarian Dr. Dani Wingate together in the tiny town of Pine Cone, but their unexpected attraction keeps the sparks flying. (978-1-63555-130-3)
The Last Seduction by Ronica Black. When you allow true love to elude you once and you desperately regret it, are you brave enough to grab it when it comes around again? (978-1-63555-211-9)
The Shape of You by Georgia Beers. Rebecca McCall doesn’t play it safe, but when sexy Spencer Thompson joins her workout class, their nonstop sparring forces her to face her ultimate challenge—a chance at love. (978-1-63555-217-1)
Exposed by MJ Williamz. The closet is no place to live if you want to find true love. (978-1-62639-989-1)
Force of Fire: Toujours a Vous by Ali Vali. Immortals Kendal and Piper welcome their new child and celebrate the defeat of an old enemy, but another ancient evil is about to awaken deep in the jungles of Costa Rica. (978-1-63555-047-4)
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