by Regan Black
“Thank you,” she said, raising his hand to her lips. “You know I love them. I just don’t need anyone hovering right now.”
“You want me to go?” The last thing he wanted was to cling so tightly that he smothered her and drove her away. “Tell me what you need.”
“I expected you to go to the station,” she began, her voice as shy as he’d ever heard it.
“That’s all under control.”
“I wanted to call Elizabeth and then...”
He felt as if his whole life hung in the balance of that one pause.
“Then if it’s not too much trouble, I... I want you to hold me. All night.” She looked down at their joined hands. “I sleep better when you hold me.”
“Done,” he said, touching his lips to her forehead. He knew what that soft-spoken request cost her. Pippa wasn’t a woman given to asking for help. She coveted her independence, and he was honored and floored that she had turned to him.
Holding her all night might be enough to convince him she was fine after all.
Chapter 14
Pippa was so thankful. Emmanuel had held her all night long that first night and in all the nights that followed. As much as the condo had been hers, it felt more like home when he was there. Her safe haven, a little personal space carved out of a large boisterous family and a demanding career, was better with him in it.
Having shared space with someone from the womb, those were thoughts she’d never anticipated. Naturally the Capital X investigation was ongoing, though her role was momentarily diminished. Her brothers and sisters had checked in after her encounter with McRath. They knew better than to scold her, though it was clear to her that they wanted to.
Although Emmanuel and the lieutenant offered, Pippa never listened to the tape of McRath’s confession. It wasn’t a moment she wanted to relive.
She’d spoken with Elizabeth every day until at last the system scheduled Anna’s release.
Pippa and Elizabeth waited outside the gate. Restless, Elizabeth couldn’t stop wringing her hands. “She vowed to be a kinder person,” she said.
Pippa tried not to roll her eyes, but she had to avoid making eye contact with Emmanuel. “I’m sure she means it.” She touched her friend’s shoulder. “I hope she can break those old patterns. You deserve the best mom she can be.”
Elizabeth gave her a big hug. “Thank you for believing me. Thank you for helping her.”
An alarm sounded, and a light flashed over the door where Anna was expected to exit. Flanked by two prison guards, she walked out into the sunlight, wearing the same suit she’d worn in court when the guilty verdict had been read. She looked like a slightly softer, faded version of the woman she’d been before this ordeal.
Pippa stood back as Anna and Elizabeth were reunited, her hand seeking Emmanuel’s comforting touch. She’d been wary that he wanted to be here, but he had just as much right, and frankly she still needed the support.
Once Anna released her daughter, her eyes locked onto Emmanuel. This would be the test. Would she revert to that arrogant, pushy, entitled woman?
“Detective Iglesias? I didn’t expect to see you. Is there a problem?” she asked with a delicate tremor in her voice.
Emmanuel didn’t move, but Pippa felt the tension humming through his body. “I wanted to be here to apologize personally. You can expect an official apology from the Grand Rapids Police Department, and I’m sure your attorney is working on reparations.”
Pippa almost chuckled.
“Elizabeth tells me you were instrumental in uncovering the truth,” Anna said. “Thank you.”
Pippa exchanged a dumbfounded look with Elizabeth. Maybe Anna really could make this improvement permanent. As mother and daughter drove off, she turned to Emmanuel and caught him grinning.
“You thought I was going to read her the riot act,” he said.
“Maybe a little,” she admitted. “You didn’t even ask for an apology for your mom.”
“I thought about it, but what’s the point? She’s been through an ordeal very few people can imagine. And honestly she owes my mom the apology, not me.”
“Maybe that will happen. Someday.”
“Whatever she does, I’m the real winner,” he said, opening the car door for her.
“How so?”
He shut the door and rounded the car to the driver’s side. When he got in, he leaned over and caught her chin in his hand, giving her a heated kiss. “Without Wentworth or McRath, I wouldn’t be here with you right now.”
“Making out in front of a prison,” she said, smiling against his lips. “So romantic.”
On a soft laugh he started the car and pulled away. “I’ll show you some romance,” he promised.
“I’ll hold you to it.”
She was particularly fond of cozy dinners and waking up in his arms. This man had changed her. Although they were both still working demanding hours, she had a reason to take time for herself. For him.
A woman couldn’t work 24-7 and call it a balanced life. Wherever they went from here, she would be better for her time with him. The trouble was she didn’t want to let go and fall into old habits. If Anna could change, maybe she could too.
It was time to tell him she loved him.
* * *
Emmanuel drove back to Grand Rapids, enjoying the randomness of their conversation now that the Wentworth case was over and done.
The trees were vibrant with changing color, and he didn’t miss the correlation between the changing seasons outside and the changes Pippa had made inside him.
He had a ring in his pocket and a plan in mind as he turned back to Heritage Park.
“What are we doing here?” she asked.
For a split second he doubted his decision. Maybe this wasn’t the best place, but she’d mentioned it was one of her favorite places in the city. She’d reclaimed the condo after McRath’s destruction. Now they could reclaim this place too.
“I thought we could take a walk. Stretch our legs after the drive.” He took her hand. “You said this was your favorite place in Grand Rapids.”
Her gaze narrowed as she studied the landscape through the windshield.
“It’s a beautiful day,” he prompted. Reaching over, he gave her hand a squeeze. “If I made a mistake, we can go.”
“No.” She took a deep breath. “It’s like riding a bike, right? When you fall, you need to get right back on.”
“Something like that,” he allowed. The ring in his pocket felt like a lead weight and a helium balloon all at once. It was as if the diamond wanted to be out, and all things weighing on his heart were tiptoeing around the facts.
With her hand in his they walked on a path well away from where she had confronted McRath. “You’re a true hero,” he began. “I want you to be able to enjoy this park again.”
“I will. One difficult night can’t erase all of the good memories.” She gave him a smile, then turned her attention to the trees. “I’ve always loved the changing leaves.”
“Me too,” he said. “It’s nicer sharing these changes with you.” He had to stop dawdling and just say what was on his heart. “Pippa, I love you.”
She stopped in the middle of the path. “What?”
He felt a thousand times better sharing the words. “I’m in love with you.” He found a bench and sat down, drawing her next to him. Holding her hand, he continued, “My parents set a high bar in the way they cared for each other and for us. As far back as I can remember, I’ve thought I want a piece of that. That stability and trust. That beautiful partnership that exists between lovers.
“I’ve always wanted that and never found it. I gave up on it,” he confessed. “I threw myself into my work, thinking that would be enough. It was. Until you.”
“Emmanuel,” she whispered as a tear rolled down her cheek.
&nb
sp; His heart took flight, that she would trust him with her tears. “I love the way you focus, that glint in your eye when you’re mad, how you drop everything and run when your family needs you. I want to be your family. I want to be the person who drops everything for you.”
“But I don’t want that for you,” she said.
His heart stuttered, and he was glad he was sitting down.
“I love you too much for that.” She kissed him. “Yes, you heard me. I love you too. But I don’t need rescuing.” Her gaze drifted across the park. “At least not very often.”
“On those rare occasions when you do, I want to be the person you call.”
“Oh, Emmanuel.” She kissed him again. “I don’t know when I fell. I think I fall a little more every day. Thank you.”
Thank you? This wasn’t going at all as he had hoped. They’d veered way off the script he had in his head. He fished into his pocket and pulled out the ring. Her eyes went wide and her lips parted.
“Pippa, I’m butchering this, obviously. Please make me the happiest man and say you will be my partner, my lover, my wife. I don’t want you to change who you are, and I’m hoping you will apply all of that amazing courage to our future. I can’t guarantee the road will be smooth—”
“Yes!” she exclaimed.
“Yes? Really?” He felt like a kid rather than the man she needed.
She held out her hand, her fingers shaking with excitement.
The ring looked perfect on her slender finger, and the autumn light made the diamond glow. But it was her kiss that told him everything he needed to know about happiness and hope in their future.
Together.
* * *
Don’t miss the previous installments in
the Colton 911: Grand Rapids series:
Colton 911: Family Defender by Tara Taylor Quinn
Colton 911: Suspect Under Siege by Jane Godman
Available now from Harlequin Romantic Suspense
And look out for Book 4
Colton 911: Agent by Her Side
by Deborah Fletcher Mello
Available in October 2020!
Keep reading for an excerpt from Colton’s Secret History by Jennifer D. Bokal.
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Colton’s Secret History
by Jennifer D. Bokal
Prologue
The sun had not crested over the horizon, yet the sky was lightening by degrees, from ebony to charcoal to a smoky gray. The streetlights that lined Main Street had gone dark. The stores had yet to open. The town of Braxville had yet to wake.
For Julia Jones, it was the best time of the day.
She waited in her car, the engine idling and the heat turned to full blast. A sacked lunch, packed by her mother, sat on the passenger seat. And Julia herself held a pen and notebook. The solitude was a blessing and she began—as she always did—writing a letter.
Luke,
It’s been months since we last talked, but I want you to know that I love you still. I know that neither one of us can help our separation. I miss you just the same. Yesterday, I saw a commercial—the one with the cat playing the piano. Have you seen it? Do you think it’s all done with computers or was the cat trained? Either way, it made me laugh. And whenever I’m happy, I think of you.
When do you think we’ll be able to see each other again? I know you’re busy, but I just miss you so much and would do anything to be with you right this minute.
I’ll write you again tomorrow.
As always, you have all of my love,
Julia
She ripped the page from her journal. After folding it into thirds, she shoved the paper into an envelope and opened the door. Julia ran across the street, the sound of her footfalls on the pavement mingled with the ding, ding, ding of her car’s sensor.
A blue mailbox sat on the curb. Julia set her purse atop the box as she found a pen for addressing her letter.
“Luke Walker,” she wrote, before adding several hearts around his name.
From her bag, she also removed a roll of tape. A piece of tape was placed at the top of the envelope, and she stuck it to the front door of Walker Hardware. Her hand lingered on the plain white envelope as her heart raced.
“I will always love you, Luke,” she said, her whispered words forming into a cloud of steam.
Her work done, Julia returned to her warm car and waited.
Like always, Luke Walker exited through the door next to the hardware store that led to several apartments. Though she’d never been invited to his house, Julia knew that Luke lived above the store—along with three other apartments he let out to rent.
Luke wore a red sweatshirt and a pair of black running shorts—an inadvisable decision given the morning’s chill. Julia reached for her journal and made a note that she needed to remind Luke to dress for the weather.
Reaching his arms overhead, he twisted his torso. Left, right. Right, left. He bent at the waist and touched his toes. Slipping earbuds into his ears, Luke took the first few steps of his jog.
Julia pressed her hands to her mouth, breathless with excitement. This was the moment.
Luke stumbled to a stop. His blue eyes narrowed, his gaze directed at the letter.
He removed the envelope from the door and the paper from the envelope. Rubbing a hand on his days-old beard, he scanned the page before crumpling both in his fist. He took off at a jog once again and threw Julia’s letter into a garbage can as he passed.
Her eyes filled with tears.
He’d seen her letter. He’d read it.
They were connected and he loved her still.
It wasn’t the way it had been the last time, when Julia felt such a strong connection to the handsome actor in all the spy movies. She’d met Luke Walker, an important man in Braxville. Luke had taken her to the movies and to play mini-golf and out for ice cream.
Nor would this relationship end the same way it had with the actor.
Where Julia had gone to the Southern California studio, then to an agent’s office, then to the actor’s home. Her visit had ended when the police came and found her sitting on the kitchen floor. She was covered in blood, like hot silk, and pressed the knife to her own chest.
After that, she went to the hospital in California where days turned to weeks and weeks became months. Eventually, the scars on her wrists were nothing more than silver threads.
Her mother never said anything to anyone. Nobody in Braxville knew where she’d gone—or why.
She was home now and better than ever.
Using the side-view mirror, she watched Luke sprint down the street. Even from the back, she could tell that his blond hair was damp with sweat. His strides were long. He was taller than the actor. And sure, there were other differences—Luke’s teeth weren’t as straight or as white. His arms were toned, but not as well muscled as the actor’s. Yet, they shared the same dark blond hair color. The same shade of eyes. The straight nose and well-defined jaw. In fact, there were so many similarities that they could be brothers.
The doctors had been right about relationships. Julia had to personally know someone in order to love them—and to be loved in return.
And, oh my, she did know Luke Walker. She knew his schedule. She knew how he liked to play the same game with her every morning. He’d always read her note quickly, careful to throw it away and keep their affair a secret. That was how Julia knew the two of them were fated to be together.
Moreover, Julia also knew that nothing and no one would ever keep them apart.
Copyright © 2020 by Harlequin
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ISBN-13: 9781488064197
Colton 911: Detective on Call
Copyright © 2020 by Harlequin Books S.A.
Special thanks and acknowledgment are given to Regan Black for her contribution to the Colton 911: Grand Rapids miniseries.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
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