Sheriff St. Clair walked up behind Ms. Deleon. He pulled a set of keys out of his pocket. “It’s your lucky day, York. The charges against you have been dropped.”
“Dropped?” said Ms. Deleon. “How? Who? Why?”
St. Clair shrugged as he turned the key in the lock. “Seems Mr. York has some friends in high places.”
The moment the door clanked open, the chill that had been cloaking West fell away. His path was clear. Nothing was stopping West from walking out.
He hesitated at the threshold of the cell. Should he go to the hospital to see Cat? Or should he go home to his family?
Dinck would be getting out of school soon. She was his responsibility, his main priority. But he needed to know if Cat was okay.
West knew which direction he had to go. He took a step across the threshold. But Sheriff St. Clair’s hand on his chest stopped him.
"The judge wants to see you in his chambers first,” said St Clair.
Well, that decided things for him. West stepped past the sheriff and headed in the direction St. Clair indicated. He could hear Ms. Deleon at his heels.
"Without counsel,” said St. Clair.
"That is highly irregular," said Ms. Deleon, using the same clipped tone she used with her wayward clients.
"You want to discuss that with the judge?"
The probation officer shook her head and stepped back toward the cell. West continued down the hall. It felt like the long mile an inmate walked at the end of a death sentence.
He wasn't sure what he expected when he got to the open door at the end of the hall. A man in a black robe with a gavel, maybe?
Judge Garcia wasn't sitting behind the massive oak desk. Cat’s father wasn't in his robes. He was in the same clothing he’d been in when he’d taken Cat from West’s arms. Only now his suit jacket was off, and his tie was loose. A glass of golden liquid was in his hand. He sipped at it, and an appreciative sigh escaped his lips.
"You wanted to see me, your honor?"
Judge Garcia lifted his gaze to West. Cat’s eyes looked back at West. Ms. Deleon’s words of self-preservation rang in his ears. West ignored them. More than anything, he wanted—no, needed—to ask how she was doing.
As if sensing his concern her father said, "She's fine. They're keeping her for a few hours for observation."
West exhaled. All tension released from his body, and he sagged against the door. He didn’t care what happened to him now.
"Drink?" asked Judge Garcia.
"Thank you, no." West looked down the hall. He couldn’t see the exit. He’d been prepared to call Zik to beg him to leave work early and get Dinck so that he could go to the hospital and see Cat. Now that he knew she was okay, West wasn’t sure what his next move would be.
"They said you didn't drink. You do the harder stuff?"
Here it came. The judgment. Those eyes, so like Cat’s, turned hard as Judge Garcia took the measure of West as a man.
"Yes, sir," confessed West. "Heroin. Been hooked ever since I was a fetus. But I quit on the day I was born.”
The judge swirled the amber liquid around in his glass. His gaze never left West. It also didn’t soften like his daughter’s did when she looked at him.
"I didn't know she was sick,” said West. “She didn't tell me. I don’t know that I would’ve believed her if she had. She’s so full of life.”
West’s mind went back to the first day he’d met Cat. Her brown eyes had sparkled like there were stars in them. How could anything harmful live inside of her?
“If I'd known about her condition, I would’ve…” West chuckled softly. “I probably would've let her talk me into it anyway. I have trouble saying no to your daughter.”
The judge did not look amused. If anything, his hazel gaze got harder.
“I know what you're going to say; that I'm not good enough for her.” West shrugged. Raising his hands, he held them open, showing he had nothing to hide. He wondered if the judge only saw in his empty hands that he had nothing to offer either. “I don't know if you're right. What I do know is that no one will work harder for the chance to be worthy of Catalina.”
It was the first time he’d used her whole name. West liked the way it rolled off his tongue. He wanted to look at her the next time he said it.
"I don't know you, York, and what I read in your file isn’t favorable,” said Judge Garcia after a long silence. “You don’t have anything or anyone to vouch for you. Except for my daughter. She vouched for you and your character. You’re a brave man to want to date the town judge's daughter."
West’s ears perked at the last statement. Judge Garcia had said a brave man, not a dead man. He’d also said date. Not dated. Not try to date. Was this permission?
Judge Garcia set his glass down and rose. “You realize how easy it will be to lock you up if you make one false step with my Catalina.”
West stepped into the room and came toe-to-toe with the man who would decide his future. “And yet, I'm still going to ask her out."
21
Cat
Cat balled up the linen hospital gown and tossed it in the bin. It would be too soon if she wore another one, and for the foreseeable future, there was no need for her to.
She was armed with iron pills for the anemia. Her mother was already at home preparing a buffet of leafy, green vegetables to nurse Cat back to health. She'd have the muscles of Popeye the Sailor Man in no time.
Though she knew that her time at her parents' house would be limited, Cat had decided that she was moving out soon. It was the first thing on her new list. Her mature list. The list without any death-defying stunts.
She was done walking that tightrope. Her feet would stay on the ground from now on. Unless a particular knight in a jean jacket wanted the honor of sweeping her off her feet.
Cat looked to the window of her hospital room. There was no West leaning on the windowsill grinning at her. Sure, she was on the fourth floor of the hospital, but she had hoped he'd at least come to the door to check on her. Or call on the phone.
Her father had said he was going to talk to Sheriff St. Clair to make things right. That was three hours ago. Even though Cat was the daughter of a lawyer who was now a judge, she didn’t know how long these things took. Her father had always worked late hours, but he’d always been present when she needed him.
She needed him now. She needed her dad to get her boyfriend out of jail. West had come after her when she’d run. He knew she was sick, and that hadn’t chased him away.
What if her dad had sprung West from jail? What if West had decided that dating the judge’s daughter was too much trouble to bear?
Cat wasn't ready to give up. Already she felt stronger. She’d taken enough iron supplements in the last hour to give her the strength she needed to tell West so. She just needed to find him.
And say what?
That she was in love with him after only a couple of days. That she wanted to have a relationship with him even though her future was not guaranteed. Oh yeah, she was a real catch.
"Cat, honey?" Nurse Al poked her head through the door. "Your ride is here."
Cat had told her dad not to pick her up. If West wasn’t coming by to see her, then she would be headed over to his place. But perhaps…
Cat headed down the hall. She didn’t see her father in the waiting room. There was only one man there, leaning against the wall in a faded jean jacket.
“Catalina?”
Cat’s knees went weak at the sound of her full name on West’s lips. He even elongated the sound of the L like he’d come from the country of her ancestors. Why had she only given him her nickname?
“You okay, Cat?”
She shook her head.
“You’re not? But they said—”
“No, I mean don’t call me Cat. Say my full name again.”
West’s grin was slow. He walked toward her, prowling like he was a big cat and she was his prey. He had no idea. She would roll over for this man at th
e snap of his fingers. But she would never have to.
When he got to her, West enveloped her into his arms. He squeezed so tight she couldn't breathe. Cat was fine with that too. It would be the perfect way to go.
“You scared me,” he said. "I thought I lost you.”
"You can have me," she said.
West released her. When he leaned back, Cat regretted her word choice.
"I mean," she rushed to correct course. "I'm fine. And you’re out of jail. I’m so sorry about that.”
“Your father let me go, dropped all charges including probation, because of you. He said he trusted your judgment above all others.”
"My dad said that?"
West nodded.
Huh. Maybe her father was finally seeing her as an adult? But she was still moving out.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” asked West.
“Tell you what? That I’m a cancer survivor? I thought everyone in this town knew.”
“I thought everyone in this town knew about my bad boy reputation,” he said. “Maybe that’s what makes us perfect for each other.”
Cat’s breath caught. She swayed a bit. West’s arms closed her inside his embrace.
“Do you need to sit?” he asked.
“Only when you say words like that. It can sweep a girl off her feet.”
West led her to a chair. Then with a tug, he pulled Cat to him. She came willingly, and her body sank down until she was sitting in his lap.
West’s arms were around her waist, her legs dangling over the side of his. She was almost eye level with him. At the perfect angle for a kiss. Unfortunately, West wasn’t done talking.
“No more bucket list,” he scolded.
“I have a new list.”
“Catalina,” West sighed.
Cat shuddered at the sound of his voice saying her name and the feel of his breath across her lips. Her first kiss had been everything she imagined. But now, all she could think about was her second kiss. Too bad West wasn’t done lecturing.
"Your dad told me you have anemia,” he said. “I was talking to the nurse. She said no more adventure stunts.”
“None of those are on my new list. It’s short. You want to hear it?”
West brushed a tendril of hair behind her ear. “Fine.”
“I’m going to finish college. Get a job. Move out. Date the man of my dreams. And live happily ever after. Not necessarily in that order.”
“Which one of those is at the top of your list?”
“That depends.”
“On what?”
“On if you’ll help me check off each item.”
“I will.”
“Then you get to choose which one we do first.”
West leaned in and brushed his lips against hers. Unlike their first kiss, this one wasn't gentle at all. West’s lips claimed Cat’s as though he was an addict and she was his drug. Before he was finished, Cat felt that she had been devoured, imbibed.
“So, where should we go on our first date?” West asked when he let her up for air.
“Anywhere. Here’s good. I hear the cafeteria makes a mean BLT.”
“Then it’s a date.”
West nudged Cat off his lap, but he still held onto her waist as she stood. It was a good thing too. After that kiss, Cat wasn’t exactly steady on her feet.
“West?”
“Yes, Catalina?”
"You know the cancer could come back. I need to come in for a check-up each year."
West draped an arm around her shoulder as they headed for the elevator. He pulled her in close and whispered into her ear. “‘Death could never stop true love. All it can do is delay it for a while.’”
“That sounds morbid.”
“That’s one of the most romantic lines in the history of romance.”
Cat looked up at him, doubtful as they stepped into the elevator.
“It means I’m always going to be by your side no matter what may come,” he said.
“Why couldn’t you just have said that?” said Cat.
West let out an aggrieved sigh as the elevator doors closed.
“Change of plans for this first date,” he said. “We’re going to my place. You need a serious education in the romantic movie department.”
Whatever this man had planned for her, Cat was game. Westley York would always be at the top of her list. And now, being inside his warm embrace as the elevators took them down to the ground floor, Cat knew that she was at the top of his.
Epilogue
Loving the Navy Seal
A Sneak Peek of book 5 in the Hidden Hollows series
By Lynn Shannon
Sara Wilson clicked her mouse and winced as the Hidden Hollows Library bank balance loaded on the computer screen. She blinked. The numbers didn’t morph into something reasonable. Instead, they stayed shockingly low.
Jennie, the assistant librarian and bookkeeper extraordinaire, rubbed her pregnant belly and sighed. “As you can see, we’re in something of a pickle.”
A pickle? More like a full-on crisis. Sara pressed the tips of her fingers against her temples. She’d dreamed of becoming the head librarian at Hidden Hollows Library since high school. It should have brought joy and a steady paycheck. Instead, it was giving her migraines and more money woes.
Sara dropped her hands and took a deep breath. “I have a meeting with the mayor tomorrow. I’m going over the plans for our Celebration of Reading events. Once she sees the progress we’re making, I’m sure the city council will be happy to continue funding us.”
Jennie’s expression was doubtful, and a slice of dismay wedged itself in Sara’s ribcage. Lately, things had been…overwhelming. It didn’t feel like she was doing anything right. Not her job. Or being a mom. Sara was floundering and had been since her husband’s death three years ago.
“Mom!” Ben called out. Her five-year-old son came racing around the corner with a book in his hand. “Guess what I found to read—?”
Sara held up a finger. “Excuse me, sir. First of all, this is a library. You need to whisper. Second, no running.”
He slowed to a creeping walk. Jennie smothered a smile behind her hand. Sara shot the other woman a warning glance, but had to press her own lips together to keep from laughing.
“Mom, look at what I found,” Ben whispered, holding up the book in his hand. “It’s a book about spiders.”
Sara winced and exaggerated a shudder. “Yuck. Keep it away from me.”
He grinned, the smile so much like his dad, it made Sara’s stomach clench. Her thumb played with her left ring finger. She’d taken the wedding ring off, but the indention still lingered on her skin. Not a day passed when Sara didn’t think of Jared, although the loss had scarred and morphed into a dull ache.
Ben raised the book higher. “Can I take it home to read?”
“Of course, you can.” She ruffled his hair and went through the process of checking out the book. “Come on, let’s go find Aunt Rachel.”
She took Ben’s hand, leaving her money troubles at the counter, and strolled through the library. She found her sister organizing a book cart. “Rach, you don’t work here anymore, remember?”
Rachel tucked a strand of blond hair behind her ear and grinned. “Old habits die hard.”
Their grandmother had started the library fifty years ago and gifted it to the community. The Wilson girls had worked after high school and during the summer in this very building for years after coming to live with her. Rachel had gone on to become a nurse, but Sara had stayed, following in her grandmother’s footsteps.
Ben held up his book. “Do I have time to read this now?”
Rachel pointed to a small armchair in the children’s section. “Michael is sitting over there with his book. Go join your cousin while I help your mom reshelve these books.”
“Free labor.” Sara plucked a mystery novel from the cart. “That’s not an offer I’m going to refuse.”
“It’s selfish on my part. I’m lo
oking for a new read…” Rachel’s brows arched. “Is that Westley York? Who is he with?”
Sara craned her head around the shelf. She smiled, spotting the couple sitting at a nearby table. “It is. That’s his girlfriend, Catalina Garcia. Have you ever met her?”
“No.”
“She’s a real sweetheart. They started coming to the library to study together. She’s close to finishing her last semester at college.”
“They look cute together. I’m glad he found someone. Westley always had a rough reputation, but I never quite bought into it.”
“Me either.”
Westley rose from the chair and dropped a kiss on Catalina’s cheek before returning the magazine he’d been reading to the shelf. The simple gesture was sweet and loving. The kind of gesture a couple comfortable with each other made.
Sara’s chest squeezed tight. It’d been a long time since she’d felt like that with anyone. And lately, seeing couples coming into the library had made her wonder if a second chance at love was possible for her.
Rachel sighed. “I wish you’d let me set you up with someone. There are a lot of single doctors at the hospital.”
“No, thank you.” Sara’s cheeks heated. She’d been staring at Westley and Catalina like a love-starved puppy dog. “I might think about dating at some point. A very far distant point. But right now, I’ve got more than enough problems on my plate. The last thing I need to add is a romance into the mix.”
Nope, she was far better steering clear of dating all together. She had a library to save and a little boy to raise.
There wasn’t room for anything else.
Grab the next book in the Hidden Hollows Series, Loving the Navy Seal HERE!
Join us through our Reader Newsletter
Plus learn about brand new and great book deals.
Loving the Bad Boy Page 10