Epilogue
Two months later
“Mr. Root, how does it feel to finally be free?”
Joe watched the news broadcast from his living room couch, glad he’d declined the request to attend Thomas Root’s release. He pitied the man who’d taken no more than ten steps of freedom before being flanked by a flock of reporters yelling over each other to get their questions heard as they shoved microphones in the poor guy’s face.
Finally, Root’s lawyer stepped in, ushering the news crews back, but a wily reporter slipped past him. Root held out his hand for her to give him the mic, and seeing he was about to speak, the crowd grew quiet.
“I’ve prayed this day would come for the last five years. I’m glad the person behind these killings was finally caught, and I want to thank Detective Joe Troyer for believing in me when no one else would. It’s because of him that I’m free.” The man looked directly into the camera and said, “Thank you. That’s all I have to say.” He handed the reporter her microphone and then continued to make his way down the steps.
“He’s right,” Hannah said, coming up behind Joe and wrapping her arms around his neck. “Ya gave that man his life back.” She kissed his cheek. “I’m so proud of you…”
Joe just wished it hadn’t taken so long. It’d been an arduous two months with forensics dissecting that rug, meticulously making sure no victim was lost. Among the list were Michelle York and Chelsea Peters, finally proving beyond a doubt that Thomas Root was innocent, something Joe had been telling the courts for months. Joe pressed the button on the remote, shutting off the TV as he took Hannah’s hand and led her around the couch.
“Ye keep starin’ at me,” she teased, coming around to stand in front of him.
How could he not? She took his breath away.
“Ya don’t like it…” Self-consciously, she tucked a chunk of pale blonde hair behind her ear as he pulled her into his lap.
Not like it? Couldn’t she feel how hard he was for her? “You’re beautiful,” he whispered, nuzzling her neck with kisses and chuckling as she melted in his arms with a contented sigh. “I already told you, I love the new haircut.” He reached up, twisting one of the longer strands around his finger. He liked the shorter look on her, it highlighted the delicate angles of her face and accented the fullness of those lips that he couldn’t get enough of.
“I still don’t recognize myself in the mirror,” she laughed.
It was true. She looked like another woman with her sleek haircut, form-fitting sweaters, and dark-wash jeans—but she’d kept the boots, refusing to part with her beloved footwear. On the outside, that was the only part of her old life that remained. But on the inside, his Hannah was same woman he’d fallen in love with, the one he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. Her surroundings did not change her character or her values. She still scolded him for cursing, still said her prayers every night, and was currently checking out Baptist churches in the area to start attending.
She and Eli had acclimated into his world better than he’d expected, but he’d been thoughtful to keep much of their environment the same. He’d rented them a farm in the country north of Minneapolis where Hannah could have her chickens, milk cow, and horses. There was no reason she or Eli should give that up, though she admittedly loved indoor plumbing, hot running water, and electricity.
Joe shifted her in his lap and kissed her soundly, inhaling her soft moan when he slipped his hand beneath her sweater to cup her breast. He kneaded the softness, teasing his thumb over her pebbled nipple. “Where’s Eli?” he whispered against her lips, then delved his tongue into her mouth for another taste.
“Outside buildin’ a snowman with Dexter. He loves the snow…” she responded between kisses, her nimble fingers already unfastening the buttons of his flannel shirt.
“Who? Dex or Eli?”
“Both…” she laughed. “I suspect they’ll be busy out there for hours.”
“Good,” he growled. “But I only need ten minutes.”
She let out a surprised yelp that turned into laughter when he stood with her in his arms, and he tossed her over his shoulder, carrying her toward the bedroom. “Ye’re gonna hurt yer shoulder…”
It did ache, but not nearly as much as the pain in his groin. His need for her was insatiable, and it pleased him that her desire seemed to burn equally hot. She was growing bolder with him, and he loved that secret, sexy side of her. The first time she’d pulled him into the pantry closet and dropped to her knees, taking him into her mouth, his heart had nearly stopped. It had become a game with them, to see who could surprise who in the unlikeliest of places, or most creative of positions. She seemed to enjoy their playful daytime trysts as much as the long nights he spent making love to her.
Joe tossed her on the bed, and she landed with a bounce. He grabbed the heel of her boot, his fingers going to work on the knot in her laces. “We need to get you some slip-ons,” he complained.
She laughed, helping him by unfastening her jeans and shimmying them down her thighs. “Never. I love these boots.”
He slipped her foot free and tossed the shoe on the floor. After making quick work of the other, he pulled her legs out of her pants. He wouldn’t have bothered with his shirt, but she preferred it off. As it hit the floor, she rewarded him with an admiring stare that made him so hot, his cock bucked impatiently in his jeans.
He quickly freed himself, crawled between her parted thighs, and kissed her deeply as he buried himself inside her. With hard thrusts, he drove her pleasure as he chased his own. Her tight glove squeezed him harder as she neared her release. Her nails bit into his back. The sharp sting pushed him over the edge, the building pressure erupted, and he started to come. The first jet of his release sent her core into a shuddering spasm that milked him dry. Burying his face in the side of her neck, he exhaled a muffled groan. As long as he lived, he’d never get enough of this, of her…
Hannah was his past, his present, and his future—a future that held many possibilities and opportunities he’d put off discussing while he gave her and Eli time to get adjusted to their new life with the Englishers. But SA Riker had been by to see him while he worked with Sam to tie up the loose ends of this case—and he was growing impatient for an answer. Soon, he and Hannah would have to make some decisions, but whatever the outcome, Joe was okay with it. He already had everything he’d always wanted.
“I love you,” he murmured against her ear, kissing his favorite spot on her neck.
“I love you, too, Josiah. Always and forever…”
Joe stilled as she uttered the promise, the playful mood between them shifted as he slowly lifted his head to study her. Her smile was replaced with vulnerability that made his chest tighten with regret. Moisture gathered in her eyes as she watched him, waiting for him to respond.
His heart hammered inside his chest as the words of their past collided with their future. That had been his vow to her as far back as he could remember. Always and forever… A promise she’d angrily hurled at him with heartbroken sobs when he’d walked away from her all those years ago—a vow he’d repeated in silence every night as he held her in his arms but hadn’t spoken out loud for fear of dredging up painful memories.
In giving him her promise, she was telling him she was letting go of the past, that she forgave him for hurting her. It was more than he’d hoped for—more than he deserved. His hand shook as he lifted it to her cheek and gently wiped away her tear and vowed, “Always and forever…”
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Acknowledgments
First and foremost, I want to thank God for blessing me with the opportunity to pursue my passion. Many thanks to my wonderful editor Candace Havens, and the amazing staff at Entangled for your dedication and commitment to Josiah and Hannah’s story. To my fabulous agent, Nalini Akolekar, you’ve
literally made my dreams come true overnight. I can never thank my incredible critique group enough for all your hard work. Sally, Mikayla, Linda, and John, you make my stories shine and I love you dearly! Last but certainly not least, thank you to my wonderful family for your continual support, for believing in me when I don’t always believe in myself, and for all the times you’ve heard “In a minute” or “Just a second” and patiently waited for me, knowing it was going to be at least another hour. I love you with all my heart!
About the Author
Melynda Price is a bestselling and award-winning author of contemporary romance. What Price enjoys most about writing is the chance to make her readers fall in love, over and over again. Her greatest enjoyment is making the unbelievable believable, while taking her characters to the limit with stories full of passion and unique twists and turns.
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