Suspicious Circumstances

by Rita Herron

  Liam itched to reach out and touch her. Draw her into his arms. Take them back to the night they shared in bed loving each other.

  But the case was over, and she needed to be with her family.

  “I have to meet my brothers,” he said. “We’re going to explain everything to Griff and Fletch.”

  “I’m sorry,” she said in a pained whisper. “If I’d come forward sooner or if Val had, maybe Joanna and the director wouldn’t have had Herman Brantley set that fire.”

  “It’s over now,” Liam said. “Stop blaming yourself, Peyton. Just try to move on.”

  Like he and his brothers would.

  Dammit, he wanted to say more though. To make plans with her. But what kind of future could they possibly have when she didn’t trust him?

  So, he said good-night, then left her to be with her family while he went to meet his brothers.

  Although a heaviness weighed on him. He’d thought when he closed the case and they found his father’s killer, he’d feel differently.

  But the pain was still there, and so was the hollow emptiness inside him.

  Four weeks later

  LIAM SEATED HIMSELF on the bar stool at the High Top where he and his brothers met weekly for Burgers & Brew Night. They’d started the tradition as teenagers, except the beer had been sodas, and they had resumed the tradition after their father died.

  He needed the solidarity of family, and his brothers did, too.

  For four weeks now, he’d nursed his feelings for Peyton, certain they would dissipate. Instead, his need had intensified.

  Fletch was telling some story about Jade rescuing a puppy they’d found on the trail. “She loves that dog like it’s her kid.”

  So did Fletch. He acted tough, but he’d always had a soft spot for animals.

  Fletch swirled his beer around in his glass. “Speaking of kids, Jade is pregnant.”

  A chorus of cheers erupted, and they toasted Fletch and Jade’s good news.

  “Reese is making noises about a baby, too,” Griff said. A grin tugged at his lips. “So, we may be hopping on this baby train soon.”

  Liam and his brothers laughed. Times had changed. They used to discuss sports and their jobs. Now their wives and families—Jacob’s stepdaughter and the impending birth of his baby—dominated the conversations.

  Liam was happy for them. But their conversation simply reminded him that he was alone. And that he didn’t want to be.

  Jacob nudged Liam’s elbow. “Why don’t you just call Peyton, man?”

  Liam rolled his shoulders back. “What?”

  “He’s right.” Griff poured himself a fresh mug of beer from the pitcher on the table. “You’ve been miserable without her.”

  “I’m not miserable,” Liam protested.

  Jacob chuckled. “You haven’t touched your burger. You don’t talk. You just sit and brood.”

  Liam sipped his beer. “I just don’t understand why she didn’t trust me. She was supposed to wait for me instead of going off on her own to meet her sister. And she lied to me about having a sibling.”

  “Cut her some slack,” Fletch said. “Look at the position she was in.”

  “Addicts cause all kinds of problems in families,” Griff said. “Put yourself in her shoes. She was threatened, left alone to deal with a sick mother and didn’t know who to trust.”

  But he’d wanted her to trust him.

  Jacob checked his watch. “If you care about her, Liam, go tell her.”

  “Yeah, she can’t read your mind,” Fletch added.

  Griff grunted. “Go get her, bro.”

  Liam’s heart stuttered. He’d told Peyton that when he wanted something, he didn’t give up. And he didn’t give up on a case.

  Yet he’d given up on them too easily.

  His brothers were right. He’d just have to work harder to earn Peyton’s trust.

  He tossed some cash on the table. “You’re right. I’m going to see her right now.”

  His brothers clinked glasses and cheered him on as he hurried out the door. Not wanting to show up empty handed, he stopped at his place and retrieved the antique ruby ring his mother had left him. It wasn’t a diamond, but it would do until Peyton could pick out one. That is, if she said yes to his proposal.

  Fall was in full swing as he drove toward the mountains and the Gardens, the bare branches fluttering in the gusty wind. Thanksgiving was just around the corner, a time for family.

  He wanted his own family now, one with Peyton.

  The temperature was dropping to near freezing tonight, but he was sweating in his shoes as he paused at the gate to Golden Gardens. Once he was buzzed through, he parked in front of Peyton’s apartment, then sat for a moment, wondering if he should have called. She might be with her sister or mother. Or working.

  Or, hell, she might be seeing another man by now.

  That thought made his stomach twist into all kinds of knots, and he climbed out and strode up to her door. He rang the bell, jiggling his leg as he waited.

  Doubts crept in. What if Peyton didn’t want him in her life?

  Hell, he dodged bullets and fought the dregs of society. But opening his heart was the scariest thing he’d ever done.

  Too late to turn back now. He’d regret it in the morning.

  Summoning his courage, he rang the bell again, but she didn’t answer, so he walked around the side of the property and spotted her by the pond near the gardens. He hesitated, not wanting to disturb her if she was with someone else. But as he walked toward her, he realized she was alone. Well, except for the furry cat in her arms which she cradled close to her.

  He halted a few feet from her, and she turned, her gaze locking with his. The instant flare of attraction sizzled through him, and he could barely breathe. She looked more rested and at peace than she had before.

  And so beautiful he called himself ten kinds of a fool for waiting so long to confess how he felt.

  He cleared his throat. “Peyton?”

  She kissed the cat and set him on the ground, and he ran back toward her apartment. “I didn’t think I was going to see you again,” she said softly.

  He moved toward her, heart pounding. “I thought you needed time.” And he’d been a coward.

  “I did, but Mama and Val are both doing great.” The tender smile she gave him warmed him from the inside out. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about Val. I...it just hurt so much when I thought of her.”

  He crossed the distance to her. “I understand. But I want you to trust me.” He stood in front of her, need and desire thrumming through him.

  “I do trust you, Liam. It was never about trust with you.” She licked her lips. “It was just complicated. And painful.”

  “I know, and I’m sorry.” He reached up and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you.”

  A slow smile creased her sensual lips. “I wanted to see you, too.”

  “I don’t want any regrets,” he said. “And if I don’t tell you how I feel, I will regret it.”

  Emotions thundered inside him, and he reached for her. “I’m in love with you, Peyton.”

  She looped her arms around his neck and smiled up at him, her blue eyes sparkling. “I love you, too, Liam.”

  Joy burst inside him, and he closed his mouth over hers and kissed her tenderly.

  When he pulled away, he dropped to his knee and lifted the velvet ring box. “It’s not a diamond. I thought you’d want to pick that out. But this ring belonged to my mother. She told me to give it to the woman I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.” Peyton gasped as he opened the box, tears filling her eyes.

  “Will you marry me, Peyton?”

  “Yes,” she whispered as she stared at the sparkling red stone. “And the ring is beautiful.” With a
shaky hand, he removed the ring from the box and slipped it on her finger.

  Passion ignited between them, and he swung her into his arms to carry her inside. He wanted to make love to her all through the night. They kissed frantically and by the time they reached her door she was tearing at his shirt.

  But his phone buzzed on his hip. He froze, then cursed. Dammit, not work. Not now.

  “You have to get it?” Peyton asked.

  He didn’t want to. But he’d better see who it was, so he set her on her feet, then pulled his phone from his pocket and glanced at the number.

  A text. Jacob. Cora’s in labor.

  “What’s wrong? Work?” Peyton asked on a ragged breath.

  He shook his head. “Jacob’s wife is in labor.”

  Her eyes twinkled, and she rebuttoned his shirt for him. “I guess you need to go then.”

  He kissed her again, a kiss filled with passion. “We’ll finish this later.” Then he offered his hand to her. “Come with me. Meet the rest of my family?” he asked gruffly.

  She joined her hand with his, a deep sense of rightness spreading through him at her murmured yes. Then they hurried to his car and climbed inside.

  As he sped toward the hospital, he clung to her hand, anxious to make love to her again.

  But he wrangled his libido under control as he parked at the hospital. Together, they hurried inside and found Fletch, Jade, Griff and Reese in the waiting room. Cora’s daughter Nina was with them, rocking her doll in her arms as the adults paced.

  An hour later, Jacob burst through the door in hospital garb, a grin splitting his face. “It’s a boy. We’re going to name him after Dad!”

  “I have a brother!” Nina ran and jumped into Jacob’s arms and he spun her around, then congratulations began. Finally, when everyone had hugged and the women cried, Jacob looked at Liam and gestured toward Peyton. “Aren’t you going to introduce her to the family, Liam?”

  Griff and Jacob had met Peyton, but no one else had. Liam pulled her up against him and kissed her, then lifted their joined hands in a celebratory gesture. “This is Peyton Weiss, the woman I intend to marry.”

  She threw her arms around him, then the congratulations began again.

  The hollow emptiness in Liam faded. He felt whole again. And there would definitely be more babies in the future as their family grew.

  It was the start of a new era for the Mavericks.

  * * *

  Look for more books from USA TODAY bestselling author Rita Herron in 2021!

  And don’t miss the previous books in

  A Badge of Honor Mystery miniseries:

  Mysterious Abduction

  Left to Die

  Protective Order

  Available now wherever

  Harlequin Intrigue books are sold!

  Keep reading for an excerpt from Texas Kidnapping by Barb Han.

  WE HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS BOOK FROM

  Seek thrills. Solve crimes. Justice served.

  Dive into action-packed stories that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Solve the crime and deliver justice at all costs.

  6 NEW BOOKS AVAILABLE EVERY MONTH!

  Texas Kidnapping

  by Barb Han

  Chapter One

  The sound of floorboards creaking in the next room shocked Renee Smith out of a deep sleep. She forced her eyes to open, sat upright in bed and searched the unfamiliar dark room. It took a few seconds to get her bearings and for her to realize she was in her new house. She must’ve dozed off while working on her laptop, which was now tipped on its side. She straightened it, wishing righting her life could be so easy.

  The first night in a new home and her new life hadn’t exactly gone as planned. Unpacking while taking care of her six-month-old adopted daughter had proved almost comic. The day had been consumed by stumbling through feedings, diaper changings and figuring out parenting in general given this was her first go as a mother. Renee already realized the job was going to be far more difficult than she’d imagined. This had also been the most rewarding day in all of her thirty-two years of life.

  That being said, Renee must’ve been crazy to think that after getting a few months of parenting under her belt it was a good time to change cities. She’d kept her job in order to prove stability to the adoption agency and had started working from home instead. A new life in the old apartment she’d shared with Jamison in Dallas had been out of the question. It was time to move on, figuratively, literally and in every other sense of the word.

  The movers had packed up her belongings in a matter of hours. It was the unpacking while caring for a baby that was going to take forever. At this rate, the house might be unpacked by the time Abby went to college. And yet, the small Texas town was exactly the place Renee wanted to bring up her daughter.

  She set aside her laptop and pushed to her feet, still half-groggy, and felt around for her glasses. Sleep and being a new mother weren’t on speaking terms, let alone friends. The noise was probably just the old house settling but she wanted to check on the baby, whose room was across the hall. Since Renee wasn’t completely blind and the glasses must’ve tumbled off her lap, she could find them in a minute.

  A few steps into her walk across the room, another creak-like noise sounded. This time it registered that it might be more than just the wood flooring of her rented two-story farmhouse settling. In her half-asleep state, she realized that the floors shouldn’t make a sound unless someone walked on them. A wave of panic shot through her, quickening her pace. The baby’s room had paper-thin walls with only a linen closet in the hallway between them.

  A couple of scenarios ran through Renee’s mind, her imagination no doubt spiraling out of control. And then she remembered that the temperature had been so beautiful that she’d left the second-story window to her daughter’s room open while Abby slept.

  But, wait, hadn’t she closed that window? Yes, she distinctly remembered closing it, afraid she might nod off. A thump sound from the next room caused another wave of panic.

  Was someone inside the house?

  First nights in new places were always unsettling, but there was no way this was Renee’s imagination running wild. Heart in her throat, she glanced around the small hallway, looking for something she could use to scare an intruder if there was one. An old shotgun that had been left inside the linen closet popped into her thoughts. She’d spotted it during the walk-through yesterday.

  She opened the door and grabbed the weapon, checking for ammunition. The gun was ancient, and she seriously doubted it would work even with a shell. The only other weapons she could think of were her kitchen knives and those hadn’t been unpacked yet. The shotgun was going to have to do.

  Abby cried and that got Renee’s feet moving. She ran into the room and then froze. A male figure stood between the crib and the window. He was bent over the crib. She lifted the barrel, aiming the business end at him.

  “Stop or I’ll shoot,” she shouted at the blurry male figure who was picking up her daughter. In the dark it was impossible to see him clearly, even if she’d had her glasses on. Turning on the light could reveal the fact she didn’t exactly have a real weapon.

  Abby’s cries fell silent and for a split second fear shot through Renee that the intruder had done something to her little girl. But Abby was winding up to release an ear-splitting wail.

  Renee’s heart clenched in her chest. “Put her down. Now. Or my contractor will be picking parts of you off my wall when he brings his painter in tomorrow.” Talk about making threats with no way to back them up. She could only pray that he wouldn’t call her bluff. There was no painter and no contractor, but she sure as hell didn’t want him to know it.

  Abby was inconsolable. The man seemed to hesitate. Renee cocked the gun.

  The next thing she knew, Abby was being set down inside her crib and th
e intruder was turning tail. She wished she could flip the light switch now so she could get a better look at the kidnapper—kidnapper!—but one look at that shotgun and she could lose all her bargaining power.

  The thought of someone sneaking into her house to steal Abby caused Renee’s stomach to clench and her hands to shake. Her heart pounded against her ribs so hard she feared he would hear it.

  In a fluid motion, he took a couple of steps back and then was out the window a beat later. The second he disappeared, Renee moved toward the window. She withdrew her right foot the minute she planted it because of something sharp. Glass? Had the window been broken? It would explain how the man got in. She checked to make certain he was gone. A blurry figure darted across the lawn and into some kind of vehicle that was too far away for her to make out.

  Now that she was safe, she set the shotgun down and moved to her daughter.

  “Oh, baby. I’m so sorry. That scary man can’t hurt you now.” As Renee spoke the words, the weight of them struck. She cradled Abby to her chest and raced to her bedroom in order to check the lock there, needing to be certain that he couldn’t surprise her from another room. He’d slipped in and out so easily. Was he familiar with the layout? Someone who’d lived here prior? One of her movers?

  There weren’t many people who knew she’d moved and there wasn’t much to the upstairs. The layout was simple. Two bedrooms, a linen closet and a bathroom with an authentic claw-foot tub was the extent of the space. Renee second-guessed herself for putting the crib in the other bedroom instead of in hers where she could watch over the little girl constantly. A child taken from his or her own bedroom had to be every parent’s worst nightmare.

  While balancing the crying baby, Renee darted into her bedroom and felt around for her glasses. This time, she kept at it until she felt them. With one hand, she managed to put them on halfway straight. Next, she retrieved her cell phone from the nightstand and checked the lock on the window.

  The need to check doors and windows on the first level overrode any other rational thought. She made her way downstairs and checked the front window. There were no other vehicles parked on her street.