Chapter 18 #3
She was filled with sadness, knowing Opal would think that way. “It’s not. It never will be.”
Guilt darkened Opal’s eyes. “I thought, maybe, if you believed I’d drowned myself it would give you some closure. Unlike our parents’ death.”
Maren sucked in a breath. “No.” But she understood how her drive to solve her parents’ case had driven so much of their lives.
That had to stop. “I’m working to let go of my need for closure.
I must accept I won’t get it in this life.
But God knows and He will serve the justice that’s deserved.
I have to believe that. Because otherwise, I’ll destroy any chance I have at happiness. ”
Opal held out her hand. Maren grasped it.
“I’m proud of you,” Opal said. “Sisters are forever friends,”
Letting the tears fall, Maren nodded and repeated the phrase, “Sisters are forever friends. And soon an addition to our family. I can’t wait to meet your child.”
The beaming smile on Opal’s face warmed Maren’s heart. “I’m going to love this little one for all I’m worth. She, or he, will be blessed to have you as an aunt.”
Pleased to be called aunt, Maren asked, “Have you thought of names?”
“Georgy if a boy or Georgina if a girl.” The light in her eyes dimmed slightly and tears slipped down her cheeks. “My Georgy wanted so badly to be a father.”
Maren squeezed her hand, her heart aching for her sister’s loss.
“You’ll make sure your child knows they were loved by their daddy.
” Another thought occurred to her. “Hey, were you ever approached by a doctor wanting to send you to a free clinic? The guy has thinning red hair, a beard and wears silver eyeglasses.”
Opal’s head tilted. “No. What’d he do?”
Not wanting to upset her sister, Maren kept her expression neutral. “Nothing for you to worry about.”
The curtain slid open, and the nurse stepped in, holding out a folded note. “Officer Anderson, this is for you.”
Maren unfolded the note to find Colt’s strong handwriting. The note read: I’m in the lobby. C
“Nurse, could you please send Agent Dawson back here?” Maren turned to Opal. “If you’re okay with that.”
Opal smiled despite the sadness lingering in her gaze. “Sure, since I have a feeling he’s going to become family, too.”
Hope spread through Maren’s chest. “From your lips to God’s ears.”
* * *
Colt and Rusk stood in the lobby of the emergency room with his SAC Leo Herman and the Colorado K-9 Unit task force leader, Emmett Dane.
They’d just hammered out the fact that the Rocky Mountain DEA offices would need a new Deputy SAC, and Leo wanted Colt.
Emmett had protested, wanting to keep him as part of the task force, but in the end, Colt made the tough decision.
As much as he wanted to stay partners with Maren on the task force, he wanted more to be her partner in life.
He wasn’t sure doing both was in either of their best interests.
Seeing her in danger had filled him with a kind of panicked fear he’d never experienced before.
He’d been willing to do anything to protect her, even let Daniel go.
Without a moment’s hesitation, he’d taken a bullet for her, which didn’t bode well if he wanted to stay alive while working with her.
He’d get in her way with his need to protect and neither of them would be very effective at their jobs.
Better to keep their professional careers separate from what he hoped would be a very close personal relationship.
Plus, the Rocky Mountain DEA office needed cleaning up. And he wanted to do it.
“As the DSAC,” Colt told Emmett, “I can still support the task force’s investigation.”
Emmett held out his hand. “I will take you up on that.”
“Agent Dawson?” The nurse to whom Colt had given a note for Maren returned. “Officer Anderson would like you to go to the exam room, if you can.”
“Of course.” Colt’s gaze went to his SAC.
“Go on,” Leo said. “Your duties will start when you’re healed. Take what time you need. I’m glad you didn’t suffer more than a bruised rib from taking a bullet practically point-blank.”
So was Colt. The body armor had stopped the bullet from penetrating, but had left a nasty bruise on his rib.
He grinned at the older men. “Gentlemen, I’ve been summoned.” A molten mix of anticipation and nervousness had him hurrying with Rusk at his side as he made his way back to where Maren and Haven waited outside an exam room.
“Is Opal okay?” he asked. “The baby?”
Looking to the door and then back at him, Maren answered, “Opal and baby are doing well. Or will be with some rest and nutrition. The doctor’s examining them both now.”
She took his hand and drew him down the hall to a secluded alcove. The dogs walked side by side and then sat with expectant gazes.
“What you did today…taking that bullet…” Her voice hitched and she took a shuddering breath. “I’ve never been so scared in my life.”
“Hey, that’s supposed to be my line,” he said, squeezing her hands. “When I saw Daniel with his gun aimed at your head…” His throat tightened. “I almost lost it.”
“As my sister says, scary stuff.”
“Very scary, but part of the deal, right?” A flood of emotion crested in his chest. He’d come close to losing her today. They both had dangerous jobs; nothing in life was guaranteed. They had to grab what happiness they could in this life.
“Would you have really let Daniel go?” she asked.
“To save you? Yes. In a heartbeat. Though, to be honest, I knew Emmett and the others were close. But I would have let Shadow run. I would, and will, do anything for you.”
For a long moment, their gazes held. He remembered the way she’d kissed him. Was it just the heat of the moment? An action born out of adrenaline? He leaned toward her, wanting another kiss.
“Our cases aren’t connected,” she said, stopping his momentum.
He straightened. “No?”
“Opal never talked to Dr. Rolls,” Maren said. “We’ll keep searching for him.”
“I’ve been asked to take on the position of deputy special agent in charge,” he blurted, needing her to know.
Her eyes flared with surprise. “You’re off the task force?”
“I can still assist as needed,” he assured her just as he had Emmett. “But I think we’re all better served if I accept this position.”
“We won’t be partners anymore.”
Her sad tone had him flinching. “Not on the job.” His heart rate doubled as he gathered her hands. “But maybe in life? What do you say? Could you take a chance on a guy like me?”
A different sort of surprise spread across her face. He wasn’t sure if it was pleasure or not.
“I have a confession to make,” she said softly.
Curious and a little wary because she hadn’t answered his questions, he said, “I’m all ears.”
She straightened and squared her shoulders. “What I said to you before about not wanting to be in a romantic relationship and not wanting to mess up our partnership—”
He held his breath. Where was this going? Was she going to reject him? They wouldn’t be partners on the job now. Didn’t that count for something?
“That was the old me,” she said. “You and I make a great team.” Her teeth tugged on her lip. “Professionally and personally.”
The moment of vulnerability raised goose bumps along his limbs. “What are you saying?”
“I’ve fallen in love with you, Colt Dawson.”
Her words burst through him like a firework display on the Fourth of July.
He brought her knuckles to his lips. The movement tugged at the bruise on his ribs, but he didn’t care.
“I’m so glad to hear you say that. Because I feel the same.
I’m in love with you, Maren Anderson. And I will do everything I can to make sure that you know it every day of our lives. ”
A beaming smile spread across her face, and she threw her arms around him. Squeezing him tight. He groaned. And she jumped back. “Oh no. I hurt you.”
He gathered her back in his arms a little more gently. “A hug from you could never hurt.”
The door to the exam room opened and the doctor stepped out. “Opal would like to see you. We’re about to do the ultrasound.”
Colt stepped back. “I’ll be here when you’re done.”
From inside the room Opal’s voice could be heard, “You, too, Agent Dawson. And the dogs. I want the whole family here.”
Colt’s heart swelled with elation and love as he and Maren joined hands. With Rusk and Haven by each other’s side, they stepped into the exam room for their first glimpse of the newest addition to their lives.
Lives that would be spent together.
* * * * *