Chapter Twenty-Seven #2
“Ronan had been tracking Ashton’s credit cards—he had cards under four different aliases, by the way—to try to figure out where he was staying. Turns out he was staying at an Airbnb in Caspar, the town between Mendo and Fort Bragg.”
“Listen to you, calling it Mendo like you’re a local.”
“It’s shorter.” But she was starting to feel like a local. She wanted to be a local.
“So is the laptop trashed?”
“No. It’s wiped clean, because he tried to get into it and Felicia’s security precautions stopped him. But it’s usable. Ronan’s boss says I can have it back when it’s no longer needed for evidence.”
They’d also found evidence of the fluids from decomposing bodies in a crawl space under the Airbnb.
There’d been four heaters in the little room, just like they’d found in Steve Garfield’s basement.
The lab would confirm it, but it seemed like they’d found where Ashton had taken Kasey after killing her.
Sara was quiet for a long moment. “What happens next, Ellie?”
“I’m going to sleep for a week.”
Sara chuckled. “You deserve it. But that’s not what I meant.”
“I know.” Elle wanted to answer Sara’s question, but she wasn’t sure how.
They said nothing as the seconds ticked by.
“You’re staying up there, aren’t you?” Sara finally asked.
“Yes. For now, at least. This is new, me and Ronan. I want to know what we can be together without the stress of a homicidal maniac stalking me.”
“There is that. I’m going to miss you.”
Elle scoffed. “You’re still going to see me, so often you’ll get tired of me. I want to hold that baby of yours.”
“She’s so sweet, Elle.” Sara’s voice was filled with wonder. “She’s perfect.”
“Of course she is.”
“You’ll still be her godmother?”
“Try to stop me.”
“Good.”
“Did you think I wouldn’t?”
“I wasn’t sure. We’re…well, you’re not coming back to L&F, are you?”
“No, but that doesn’t change the fact that you are my best friend and I love you.” She frowned. “Does it?”
“No,” Sara said firmly. “But I will miss seeing you on the job every day. You’re a good bounty hunter, Elle, even though it’s not the right fit for you.”
“It was for a while. I needed something new after the accident. Something different. You gave me that and I will always be grateful.”
“Felicia wants us to sell the business and do something different.”
Alexis had told her that, but Elle made a surprised sound anyway. “For real?”
“Yeah, and don’t try to sound like you’re surprised. Felicia told me that she told Alexis, and I know Alexis told you.”
“How do you feel about selling your business?”
“I didn’t want to. Felicia and I argued about it.
And then I held Josie in my arms and I got why Felicia wanted to make changes.
I want my baby to grow up safe and secure, not worrying about whether I’ll come home from a hunt.
I want to watch her grow up. So Felicia and I will come up with a plan.
Still not sure what we’ll do instead. Maybe Alexis can find me a job in that fancy law firm of hers. ”
“I bet she can. I know she’ll try.”
“She’s already working on it.”
Elle smiled. “We’re okay, Sara. We’re all going to watch your daughter grow up and someday we’ll be in a retirement home racing each other in our wheelchairs.”
Sara laughed softly. “It’s a date. I’ll send Orrin up there to get the Tahoe. You don’t have to worry about a thing. Felicia says that you need to formally resign with a letter. She needs it for your file.”
“You’ll have it tomorrow.”
“Next week is fine. You said you’d be sleeping for a week.”
“Or other things.”
Sara snorted a shocked laugh. “Giselle Esmeralda Randolph. Are you insinuating that you’re gonna get busy with the detective?”
“No, I’m saying it outright. As soon as his ribs are healed I’m going to climb him like a tree.”
A cold nose startled her. Puff was nuzzling against her. Which meant…
Elle looked up to see that Ronan had returned and was now leaning on the closed front door. His brows were raised and a wicked smile was spreading across his face.
“And now I’m going to go. Kiss my goddaughter for me. I’ll be back in town to get some cuddles next week.”
“Should I find you a real estate agent?” Sara asked, amused.
“No, I’ll probably just use the one I worked with when I bought the place. He’ll get me a good price.” Then she blinked. She hadn’t realized she’d thought that far ahead, but it seemed her subconscious had been working overtime. “Bye, Sara.”
“Bye—”
Elle missed the last part because she ended the call. “You heard that?”
“The part about you selling your house in San Francisco?” he teased.
Elle rolled her eyes. “That too.”
He walked toward her slowly. Deliberately.
Gooseflesh rippled over her skin.
They were alone. Finally. And this time they wouldn’t have to stop.
He held out his hand and she took it, allowing him to tug her to her feet.
Into his arms. And then he was kissing her and she realized just how much he’d been holding back before.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him back until they had to break for air. He buried his face against her neck, a full-body shudder shaking him.
His mood had abruptly changed. Where a moment ago there had been passion, now he seemed desperate.
“I almost lost you tonight,” he said, his voice breaking.
“And I almost lost you. I still see you getting shot in the chest when I close my eyes. But you stopped him, Ronan. We’re still here. Still standing.”
He nodded, pressing his lips to where her shoulder met her neck. “This time we both walked away.”
“Yes, we did.” And Ashton Dempsey had not. She’d unpack that later. “We’re alive and we should celebrate that.”
He straightened and met her eyes. “What do you really want, Elle?”
“You,” she said simply. “However I can get you.”
“Sleep with me?”