Chapter Forty-Three
Tara was packed and ready to go. She’d convinced her doctors she’d be okay, then convinced Ky and Eden Winchester to leave. “Really, just leave, I’ll be fine.” She’d dressed in the new clothes Kelsey had dropped off, a simple white blouse with acid-washed jeans. New underwear and socks. A pair of white Converse running shoes. By the time Renner pushed her door oprn, she was dying of anticipation. She had a man to love, and love him, she did. With all her heart.
And there he was. Breathtakingly handsome in his tailored suit, complete with suit jacket, pressed slacks, white shirt and tie. Until now, she’d only seen him in casual black jeans, shirt, and his leather cut. Now he looked like a professional businessman. A gentleman. His hair was parted and combed, and he’d shaved.
Her heart did a triple backflip in her chest. She’d always loved a man in uniform, but this guy was something else. He made that suit look good.
But a sad smile was back on his face. Once again, the warrior in him had come home depleted and weary. She ran to him, needing her hands on his neck and her mouth on his lips. Needing to help him forget.
“I watched you,” she cried, kissing his cheeks and chin, his mouth and lips. Trying to distract him. “I heard what you said, and you were magnificent. Everyone loved you.”
He growled out of his jacket, one hand at the small of her back as he tossed it aside. “Don’t care what everyone thinks.”
“Then let’s go home.”
“To where? Your place is a crime scene, and I’ve been outed. I can’t go back there.”
“Where’d you stay last night?”
“Hotel,” he mumbled into her open mouth, still kissing and licking his way into her heart.
“Then we’re going to your hotel room.”
“Hold that thought,” he murmured as he walked her backward to the bed and hoisted her up onto it. Resting one knee between her legs, he climbed on top of her, one hand in her hair, the other cupping her hip. “You,” he breathed in her face, “should stay here until they actually medically discharge you for a change.”
“They did release me.”
“You bullied them into releasing you.”
She shrugged both shoulders. “So? You bullied them last time; I bullied them this time. I don’t want to be here without you.” Tara’s heart ached for this man. His eyes were so sad, the whites tinged with red, his eyelids swollen. This day had been hard on him. “I saw your mom on TV, Alex, Kelsey, and some of your other friends, too.”
His chest expanded with a drawn-out sigh, his eyes focused on his fingers in her hair. “Yeah, everyone showed up. That was nice. Did you see Aaron?”
She shook her head, loving the feel of Renner’s body pressing her into the mattress. Neither were fully on the bed. Their legs extended off the side; her knees were bent, but his were stiff and stovepiped. He had to be uncomfortable. “What about Aaron?”
Renner looked into her eyes then. “He’s alone, Tara. All those guys are alone, and that bothers me a lot. I’m thinking of taking them out on my boat.”
“You own a boat?” There was so much she didn’t know about this guy.
“Yeah, it’s no big deal, just a fishing boat. Nothing fancy. A pontoon. I figured me, you, and our dog—”
“Wait. What dog?”
He smiled down on her then, a real smile, the kind that spilled sunshine over her and warmed her from the inside out. “The dog we’re going to get as soon as we’re married. He can be our first baby, while we, you know…” Renner thrust his hips forward, “practice.”
Tara’s eyes filled at the sight of him finally thawing. “Yes, practice. Let’s go to that hotel room and practice. Take me home, Renner. Make love to me. I need you inside me. Because you’re already in my heart.”
She didn’t mean for that to hurt him, but his eyes brimmed. He nodded, suddenly overcome and unable to speak. “Yeah,” was all he ground out.
Tara lifted her chin and tucked his head to her breasts. She couldn’t fix the world, but she could soften its rough edges like only a woman could do for her man. She could be here for him whenever he needed her. Hell, she might even learn how to cook and bake for this guy.
“I’ve always wanted a dog,” she murmured into his combed hair, kissing his head. “But we didn’t wait to have sex. Why wait to get a dog? A puppy would be fun.” And he seemed to need the companionship only dogs offered. Hope he also needed all those other little things that came with owning a dog.
His fingers adeptly unbuttoned her blouse, and Renner nestled his nose between her breasts, breathing hotly into her bra. His chest expanded. She could feel his cheeks wrinkle with a smile against her skin.
“Where do you want to live? Colorado?” he asked, licking the side of her breast. “Your parents are there.”
“But my life is here.” She let her fingers dip low on his back, loving the feel of his full weight on her. “I have a good job and Kelsey needs me. Raymond’s Kids need me. Where do you want to live?”
“With you,” he said simply, his tongue a sizzling hot brand on her sensitive skin.
Tara pressed her cheek to the top of his head. “I’ll go anywhere you want to go,” she told him sincerely. “But right now, let’s get out of here. I have a man to love, and I don’t want to be disturbed while I do it.”
Like a true gentleman, Renner pushed to his feet, then held out a hand for her. Tara settled her much smaller hand into his, then lifted to her feet, aware for the first time of all she felt for Renner Graves. Here she stood with her shirt unbuttoned and her man coming undone. But Renner was so much more than just a man. He was her heart and her soul, her reason for living and dying. He was everything.
He pulled her against his chest, still looking down at her, his eyes a deeper blue. “What would you say to a New Year’s Eve wedding? I know a place—”
“Yes,” Tara told him, her arms around his neck and their bodies warm against each other’s. “Let’s do it.”
“But I want your parents to be here. Your dad said—”
“Wait. You talked to my dad?” That was just plain sweet.
“Of course. I had to ask him for your hand in marriage, didn’t I?”
Oh, damn. This man was breaking her heart. “You did? When?”
Renner’s face split into a handsome grin. He was simply, beautifully, breathtakingly handsome when he smiled. “Last night while you were sleeping. I talked to him right here in this room. Talked with your mom, too. He’s already bought tickets. They’ll be here the day after Christmas. Noon flight out of Denver.”
Tara didn’t know what to say.
Renner shrugged like it was no big deal. “If I’m rushing things, tell me. I can slow down. We can wait.”
She shook her head. “I’m done with waiting and I’m done with running.”
“Does that mean you’re also done playing Robin Hood?”
She had to smile at that. He’d remembered. “Yes, I’m done stealing from the rich, especially since Jed and Lois are stepping up to completely finance Raymond’s Kids.”
Renner stopped and scooped her into his arms. “Then let’s get out of here. Let’s go home.”
Tara nestled under his chin. She was already home. Wherever Renner went, there she would be. At his side. Forever. It didn’t—couldn’t—get any better than this.
Chapter Forty-Four
Christmas had come. Christmas had gone. It was early April, cherry blossom time in the District. Renner sat in the captain’s chair of his well-used, but seaworthy, double-decker pontoon boat. He’d dressed accordingly today, in swim trunks and a button-up shirt with tails that flapped in the breeze. Ray-Ban polarized aviators protected his eyes. They were heading east on the Potomac, dodging river taxis and smaller watercraft, bound for a day of fishing. The wind was east by northeast, coming in off the Atlantic. Brisk enough to water your eyes, but nothing to worry about. No storm warnings. Only smooth waters ahead.<
br />
Tara lounged beside him on the cushioned seating that rimmed the inside of the hull, while Aaron and several of his men helped themselves to the ice chests full of soda and beer, cold cuts and sandwich fixings. A couple guys, Renner wasn’t sure who, had staked out the top deck that served as both roof over half the lower deck, and a damned good place to lounge while they fished.
This was the second time Aaron and several of his men had accepted the invite, but this was the first time Aaron brought a lady. Her name was Tiffany. Sly Harvey brought a girlfriend, too. Another Tiffany. Thanks to the underhanded matchmaking efforts of the clever women of The TEAM. The wives. God bless them.
Their diligence in introducing Aaron and his guys to any available women they knew, stemmed from that single little comment Renner had made to Tara. He’d simply said that it bothered him to see Aaron alone. Leave it to the women to take that to heart and start dropping innocent little hints that so-and-so needed someone to fix a leaky faucet under her kitchen sink—or walk her dog, or fix her car, or any number of little invitations to get to know a few more women other than just Kelsey and Tara. To take a small risk. To step outside their comfort zones.
Of all things, Maverick Carson had then stepped up and hired the hardest cases, the five of Aaron’s guys who’d withdrawn into themselves to go work for him. Jim Sellers, Cory Ralston, Bruce McCoy, Tiny Alvarado, and Merle Perkins were now ranch hands, living like cowboys in a bunkhouse and working with some of the biggest horses Renner had ever seen. Percherons. Maverick and China owned a couple dozen head of what China called her kids. Big damned kids.
Among other things, the Carsons ran Everyone’s a Cowboy, a local therapeutic riding program designed to give special needs children hands-on experience riding horses. Affiliated with the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship, internationally known as PATH, Everyone’s a Cowboy’s reputation for reaching out to all children, no matter their disability, exceeded all others in the region. And now the men Montego had all but destroyed, were healing as they too worked with those children, some who had worse disabilities than they did. It was a win/win that still made Renner’s eyes water. God, he loved America.
“Hey there, tough guy,” Tara murmured as she slid onto his lap and ran her fingers over his head.
He swiped a quick hand across his eyes, but yeah, she’d seen. She knew he was having one of those days when everything made him miss his dad. Being out here on the river used to be his go-to place to meditate, curse, cry, or just plain brood and get sloppy drunk. But he was sober now, one hundred three days and counting. With Aaron as happy as a clam and his guys along for the ride, Renner couldn’t help remembering the man he missed most. Ghosts and all that...
“I know a secret,” Tara whispered in his ear, licking him, tickling, breathing life back into him.
“Oh, yeah,” he asked, drawing her under his arm and into his side, pretending he wasn’t dwelling on the past, that it hadn’t sneaked up and ambushed him again. “Who are you matchmaking now? Roger or Gilbert?”
“Not Gilbert. He’s marrying that cute nurse he met in the hospital next Friday. You know, the one that turned him onto that doctor who builds prosthetic ears.”
No, he hadn’t known, but how cool? Roger and Gilbert were two of the men that Montego had lured into her web. “Really? Damn, that’s great. Make sure he invites us to the wedding, okay?”
“We already are, but that isn’t what I needed to tell you.”
“So, spill, Mrs. Graves. You know your secrets are safe with me.”
Tara eased far enough back in his arm that he looked down at her. Into her. She smelled of sunblock and wind and that flowery perfume she liked. Dressed in navy blue shorts, his white USMC t-shirt, and boat shoes without socks, she did look different today. Happier. Or something. Her bruises were long gone and her red tresses fluttered behind her. She looked carefree, so he pushed the stick forward and their boat went faster. Her hair streamed behind her like she was flying. God, she was beautiful, and he loved her so damned hard.
They’d bought a home out west past the Bull Run Regional Park, near the city of Haymarket, way west of the District. It seemed the right thing to do. It put them between the too-busy city where he could still be close to his mom, but far enough from the Shenandoahs that he wasn’t too close to his boss. They were just off Interstate 66 in another bungalow, this one with room to expand.
“Did you buy a dog?” he asked. She’d wanted one since he’d brought it up, but she wanted a Yorkie. He leaned more toward something bigger. Maybe a Rottweiler or a Great Dane. A lab. They liked the water as much as he did.
“Nope,” she said, bringing one hand around, those fingers tiptoeing up his chest to his chin.
“You know you own me, Mrs. Graves. Whatever you did, whatever you bought, I’ll love it. Just say it.”
She bit her lip, which meant whatever she had to tell him, it was going to be good.
He grinned down at her, falling in love all over again. They’d already proven they could overcome any obstacle, climb any mountain. All they needed was to be together, and they were unstoppable. He knocked his forehead to hers. “Just say it, baby. Go on. Surprise me. Make my day.”
“Well, umm… You know how we’re fostering Jessica?”
His brows arched at what he hoped Tara would say next. “Yes?”
“Well, umm—”
“Family Services won’t approve us? They won’t let us have her? Why not?” Her parents had already signed over their rights. What was the hold-up?
Tara shook her head, her lips pinched. “It’s not that. It’s, umm…”
“You’re killing me,” he growled, pissed that DFS could ever deny sweet little Jessica being with the woman who’d loved her on sight. “Just say it, baby. Tell me.”
She drew in a deep breath and blurted, “Jessica’s going to be a big sister.”
“We’re… Wait. What?” He couldn’t believe it. Renner wanted to dance. Shout! So, he did. “We’re pregnant?” he asked for all the world to hear.
Tara nodded.
Tears flooded his eyes. He bellowed again, “We’re pregnant!”
“You’re what?” Aaron asked from somewhere behind him.
But Tara was crying, and he didn’t know why. “Don’t you want to be?” Oh, please be happy for us. This is such great news. Jessica needs a family. God, so do you and me and… Please be happy.
She nodded, her eyes squeezed tight and tears trickling down her cheeks. “Yes,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “Yes. I just wasn’t sure you wanted to be. It’s so soon and—”
He crushed his mouth to hers, swallowing those doubts. Inhaling her fear. Laughing at his silly woman while he cried with her. God, they were a couple of pansies.
“It’s never too soon,” he told her once he stopped mugging her. “Remember what you told me?” he asked, blinking hard and trying his damnedest not to look as sappy as he felt. But this was a dream come true, a dream he hadn’t realized he’d wanted until he’d literally fallen into Tara’s life. “‘We fly together. All the way. Are you with me?’”
Tara smiled as her precise words came back to her. “I love you so much, it hurts sometimes, Renner,” she breathed into his face, her arms around his neck and those lovely breasts mashed against his chest. Her lovely red hair whipped around them like an Irish blessing, chasing every last one of his blues away.
This amazing woman loved him, and she was pregnant with his child. His baby. His little boy or his little girl! Was there anything better?
Hell, no.
The End
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Preview of ADAM
In the Company of Snipers, #11
There comes a time when a man has to do what a man has to do. For Junior Agent Adam Torrey, that moment had come.
“Sir, we are currently at thirty-five thousand feet and holding.”
Adam nodded one curt acknowledgment to the Air Force crew out of Ellsworth Air Force Base, stepped to the vibrating loading ramp of the powerful C-130, and, with a backward step and a cocky wave, he pitched his body forward into the midnight sky. The flight chief’s acknowledgement, “Jumper away,” faded in his earpiece.
Frigid air whipped Adam, making him instantly thankful for the polypropylene thermal undergarments beneath his TEAM flight suit. He leveled his six-foot, three-inch frame into a belly dive, his arms and legs extended like a giant bug descending to the planet below.
Man, I love my job.
HALOs, high-altitude low opening parachute jumps, were not uncommon in his line of work, at least for him. Known by everyone on The TEAM as the flying squirrel, the ex-Navy SEAL thrived in the weightless realm between earth and sky. All agents working for Alex Stewart had to be capable, physically fit, and qualified to jump. The day a man couldn’t perform he was put to pasture, or worse, turned into something dead called a senior agent. Adam was an ex-Navy SEAL, a man of action and a lethal sniper. He never intended to graze clover. He loved the sensation of flight too much, the freedom of falling, the heady rush of air over, around, and seemingly through his body.
Renner (In the Company of Snipers Book 19) Page 36