Chapter 12
TWELVE
Cole grabbed Kianna’s hand and dashed for the tree line across the street.
People near Kianna yelled and ran every which way. Her head spun from the commotion, and in a split second, a boom resounded, drowning out everything around her. She pitched forward from the force of the explosion.
Cole caught her at the waist, then dropped to the ground with her, rolling to the side. Shrubs scratched against her jacket while snow dusted her clothing, but Cole tucked her close to himself.
His chest heaved against her, and the warmth of his breath flooded her face.
Tremors worked their way down her body. Kianna focused on counting her own breaths. Letting Cole’s heartbeat in her ear steady her own racing pulse.
One, in. Two, out.
The smell of smoke and the distinct pine scent that clung to Cole’s coat flooded her senses.
She turned her head, nuzzling her cheek into the crook of Cole’s arm, and peered past his shoulder, where flames fizzled against the snow.
She squinted against the ball of fire engulfing the hood of the car and sending heat waves rippling through the air.
Unchecked tears streamed down her cheeks.
If she had still been in the car and Cole hadn’t rescued her…If they hadn’t stopped Mackey…If they…
Kianna’s breath hitched.
Cole eased back, bracing one arm next to her head. “Shhh. It’s okay.” His fingers brushed against her forehead and worked their way to the edge of her hair, pulling out a few leaves. “You’re safe.”
His only concern was her. The reality of his words shook her body once more. He’d taken the brunt of the force, for her. “And you?”
His brow knit together; creases etched the bridge of his nose. “Fine.” He leaned back on his heels and offered his hand.
Kianna gripped his sturdy hold and let him pull her up. She dusted snow off her pant leg, the cold, wet substance seeping into her hands, turning her exposed fingertips red.
Officers shouted into their radios. Some of them hefted snow on top of the car’s hood, working to douse the flames.
More sirens screamed as the fire truck pulled up. Within seconds, rushing water pumped from the fire hose.
“I need to find Titan.” Cole did a one-eighty. He hesitated for a second, almost like he was going to ask her permission. “I’ll be back.” Then he took off.
Of course he needed to check on his partner. Still, Kianna was very aware of her current position.
Everyone around her worked together, shouting orders.
Standing there by herself, Kianna felt exposed.
Unnoticed.
Her own thoughts worked to drown out the chaos encircling her.
She shook her head.
Cole said he’d be back. Did he truly mean it? Although, their kiss had to mean something. After all, he’d reciprocated her invitation. She sighed. She’d worry about that later.
For now, Kianna scanned the area, taking note of who she could go help.
Nathan stopped next to an officer who was clutching his arm.
Tires squealed against the slushy mixture on the road, then the police cruiser sped off—no doubt the one with Mackey and Victoria in it.
These people had come to their rescue, risking their own lives. Kianna had always been grateful for her team and the people she worked alongside. But today, the realization held more weight.
She followed Nathan back to the ambo, where a bag of first aid supplies was unzipped.
She grabbed a handful of wipes, then hurried over to Tazwell, who was wiping blood off her cheek. “Here.” Kianna handed her an alcohol prep pad and bandage. “Thank you. For helping with this case.” Kianna smiled.
“Doing my job as much as you are doing yours now.” Tazwell grinned.
“How did you know where to find us?” Kianna turned to Nathan and Trace.
“When you were late for your shift and didn’t pick up your phone, I asked the chief what was up.” Nathan wrapped gauze around his patient’s arm. “He said he got an email from you that you were heading out of town to help Cole with a family emergency.”
“I thought it was odd you were helping with such a personal matter when you’ve just gotten to know each other.
So I asked to see the email.” Trace chimed in.
“You said you were hoping to find your Christmas miracle with Cole.” Trace scrunched his brow.
“I told him you’re a curmudgeon when it comes to the holidays. ”
“Hey now.” Kianna crossed her arms. “I wouldn’t say I’m a curmudgeon.” She laughed. “I simply have a dislike for all the romanticized hype around the season.”
“Exactly.” A contemplative look filled Trace’s face. “I knew something wasn’t right. So Macon touched base with Basuto to see if you were still with Cole. When he said they couldn’t get ahold of Cole and his car’s GPS tracker was down, I knew you were in trouble.”
“How did you know where to look for us?” Kianna moved to the side of the ambulance so Nathan could grab tape from the supply drawer.
“Basuto was able to pull up the satellite in the car, which gave an approximate location, and we followed the cruisers over.”
“Thanks for speaking up.” Kianna gave Trace a hug. “And for covering for me.” Kianna winced.
“It’s not every day I get to work with this guy.” Trace slapped Nathan on the shoulder.
“Looking to swap me out?” Kianna’s mouth gaped with a feigned look of hurt.
“No way.” Trace winked.
“I’m glad.” She sighed. So many emotions. So many realizations that things could have ended very differently. “Thank you for everything.”
Trace shrugged. “The Lord was watching over you, that’s for sure.”
Warmth worked its way up her arms, and she breathed in deeply, letting the cold air fill her lungs. The Lord had never left her side. And there were people who cared for her. “Of course. But you still had my back.” There were no words that would rightly express her thankfulness.
“That’s what partners do,” Trace said.
Kianna caught sight of Cole, still talking with Basuto, Titan now next to him.
Should she go over and tell him thanks too? What else would they say to each other? From the looks of it, everything was wrapped up. Packaged with a bow on top. Everyone safe and the convicts apprehended.
The only thing tying them together after this case was their kiss.
She should leave well enough alone and focus on her life.
Go spend time with her family and celebrate what God had given her.
It would do no good to hope for something that was far from being a reality.
No matter what had happened between them earlier.
They’d been in the heat of a moment, thinking they were both going to die.
Except she’d stand by her choice to kiss Cole if he asked.
She’d grown an attraction for the man that went deeper than his good looks—to his heart.
Was she willing to risk her heart getting broken again if he said he wasn’t thinking when he kissed her back? That he didn’t like her in that way?
Cole leaned down and rubbed Titan’s head. He’d made it clear what he believed about partners.
He must have sensed her looking his way, because he lifted his gaze and connected with hers.
Kianna pushed off the edge of the truck and turned to help Trace put away supplies, then close the back doors of the ambulance.
His actions spoke for themselves. She wouldn’t try to read between the lines and expect a different outcome.
“Rainy’s gone.”
Kianna turned around at the voice and found Cole standing there, Titan by his side.
Kianna closed her eyes for a brief second, then opened them. She didn’t want it to be true. “What about her family?” Kianna’s voice cracked. “She was supposed to see her brother.”
“I know.” Cole swallowed, and his Adam’s apple bobbed. “I want to reach out to them. Offer my condolences and find out when the service will be held.”
“I’d like to go too.” Kianna bit her lip. Would he read into her request wrongly? It had nothing to do with going together. She just wanted to grieve with the family too. Kianna didn’t have to explain her reasoning to Cole. “Could you let me know the details when you find out?”
“Of course.” He shifted his stance but didn’t make an effort to leave. “Thank you for everything.”
Kianna dismissed his comment with a hand wave. “It’s no big deal. I’m just glad Mackey and Victoria were stopped.”
“No.” Cole shook his head. “It is a big deal.” He dropped his hands to his side. “I meant what I said earlier. You risked your life as much as me to find Mackey. And if I hadn’t had your help, who knows how things could have turned out? You’ve taught me a lot in the last two days.”
Was this goodbye? Kianna tucked her hands in her jacket pockets.
She couldn’t leave without knowing if the kiss had meant anything to him.
Before she could speak, he said, “I never want you to feel undervalued. Or think you shouldn’t speak up or help out.
You’re good at your job, Kianna. You care about people.
I hurt you when I pushed you away.” He leaned back on his heels and sighed.
“Thank you. That means a lot. I’m glad I could help you.” She smiled even as a slight tremor coursed through her body. His comment hadn’t addressed the fire that roared in her heart. But he’d told her to speak up.
There was no more time to waste. “About earlier.” She shuffled her feet, tempted to avert her gaze. Except she was a big girl, and she needed to take in his expression. Know how he really felt about it. “The kiss. I—”
“Don’t apologize.” He reached out and took hold of her hand. “I don’t play around. In that moment, I was serious. All in. And I still am.” He searched her eyes.
Kianna gulped, working to hold back her shock. “I feel the same way, Cole.” She placed her other hand on top of his. “I don’t want this to be the last we see of each other now that the case is closed.” Although, maybe next time there could be a little less running to stay alive.
“I’m going to visit my dad this week.” He grinned. “The life we once had might be gone, but a wise person once told me it doesn’t mean new memories can’t be created.” He winked. “And I’d like you to come.”
Kianna’s eyes widened. Somehow, in that moment, everything changed.
If there was hope for Cole forging new memories when it came to his family, who was she to think it couldn’t be the same for her?
“I would be honored.” Kianna squeezed Cole’s hand.
Deep in her heart, the fire continued to blaze, melting away the fear of being hurt again.
And she knew, this was just the beginning of the most wonderful time of the year.
* * *
“Rainy Athers was a woman who loved well and made sure you knew it.”
Kianna took the crumpled tissue in her hand and dabbed once more at the tears brimming on her lash line. She spared a glance at Cole, who sat next to her in the church pew while they listened to the pastor give the eulogy.
His pinched face held back his own emotions.
It had been four days since Mackey and Victoria had been taken down.
Four days since the toxicology report came back and the security cameras showed Victoria poisoning Titan’s water.
Thanks to the police working overtime, they’d confirmed the hardware wallet, which resembled a flash drive, in Victoria’s possession had nine hundred thousand dollars of cryptocurrency on it that she’d embezzled from the city with a plan to help Mackey escape from prison and hightail it off to a secluded island.
The two lovebirds had been dating before Mackey had been incarcerated the first time.
They’d met when Victoria was a social worker who’d worked with the kids Mackey was grooming, before she switched jobs.
The whole situation was inconceivable. Still, Kianna could relax knowing the two felons would be locked away for good and no one else’s life would be in jeopardy.
Although, her nerves still worked overtime in another area. After the memorial service ended, Kianna would meet Cole’s family. What would be her first impression of Cole’s parents? Would they like her?
“I’d like to close out the service with this reminder,” the pastor continued, breaking Kianna’s train of thought.
“While we grieve today at the loss of a precious and beloved friend, daughter, and sister, we do not grieve without hope. This is the season of hope. Where we can rejoice, because a baby was born, who brought hope for the whole world. That little baby grew up and secured an eternal hope for all who believe in Him. And because of that, this is a ‘See you later, Rainy.’”
They ended the service singing “O Holy Night,” and there was not a dry eye in the room. After Cole and Kianna offered their condolences one last time, they headed outside.
“You sure you want me meeting your parents today?” Kianna’s fingers tingled, and she let out a short laugh. “I really should have brought along that poinsettia.” She slid into the passenger seat of Cole’s car.
Cole closed her door after she was settled and walked around to the driver’s side.
“I told you a present isn’t necessary.” He started the engine, then grasped her fingers in his and gave them a gentle squeeze.
“They’re a fan of anyone I care about. Gifts or no gifts.
” He leaned in and, with a feather-light touch, brushed his mouth against hers.
She returned the gesture, bracing her hand on his forearm.
He trailed his finger across her jaw, and she let the warmth of his touch flood her body, erasing the chill from the car.
Kianna eased back and whispered in his ear, “You make it easy for me to open up my heart again.”
Cole hooked his thumb under her chin and sobered. “I intend to keep it that way.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “One day at a time. So you never have to second-guess.”
“Mmm.” She cocked her head. “I don’t deserve you.”
“That makes two of us.” He winked.
Just when she thought he was going to wrap her in his embrace once more, he pulled in a breath and put the car in reverse. “If we stay here any longer, we’ll be late.”
“That would be a terrible first impression.” Kianna laughed.
Cole turned up the radio, and “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” played through the speakers.
Kianna glanced at Cole, and they exchanged a smile, his right hand still intertwined in hers.
It was a fitting song for this drive. And this time, she had no desire to shut off the Christmas tune. Now was the time to hold on to the hope of the season and make a few new memories in the process.