Along Came a Husband (21 page)

He brushed each one of the Sanskrit letters tattooed on the underside of her arm with his fingertips. “You don’t need chakras symbols to ground you, you know. You’re doing just fine all on your own.”

“That’s what I thought until you showed up on my doorstep.”

“I’m sorry, Missy.”

“Don’t be. The more the dust settles, the more I realize you coming back into my life was the best thing that could’ve ever happened to me.”

“Or you’ve gotten good at lying to yourself.”

“Jonas. You’re a good man. You were a good husband. Things fell apart between us simply because we met before we were both ready. Fate wasn’t wrong. Our timing was off.”

“That’s what you think?”

“That’s what I know.”

“And now?”

“Now is our time. The right time.” She curled into him and kissed his chest. “I don’t want you to leave.”

He’d be no better a husband today than he’d been all those years ago, but suddenly, on the verge of losing her again, he wondered what it would be like to build a family, a life with Missy here on Mirabelle. In the end, though, he knew he couldn’t be what she needed.

“I’ve pressed my luck long enough,” he said, accepting the inevitable. “I need to leave here before I put anyone in danger. Stein’s got to be brought down. The only way that’s going to happen is for me to face the music. I have to go to D.C., Miss.”

“Not tomorrow. Stay one more day?”

For what? One more day would only make what he had to do all the more difficult. “It won’t change anything. I still have to go.”

“Stay for me. Please. It’s July Fourth.”

She was stalling with any excuse she could find, but he didn’t have the heart to force it. “One more day.” He wrapped his arms around her and in no time her shoulders rose and fell in the slow rhythm of a peaceful sleep.

He, on the other hand, wouldn’t be getting much sleep tonight, not with what he’d just done weighing on his mind. Even after he’d sworn to make his leaving easier on her, all he’d done was make this harder by making love to her, by making her think this is the life they could have. What man could’ve resisted that look in her eyes, the way her skin looked in the moonlight? The feel of her. The smell of her.

He buried his face in her hair and breathed her in.

Home. Peace. Contentment. And if he just let go…love.

She still loved him. After everything he’d done to her, after how he’d treated her, how could that be?

And him? He was incapable of giving her what she so freely gave to him. He was only going to hurt her again. All the anger he’d felt over her wanting a divorce was long gone. She deserved a husband one hundred percent of the time. She deserved someone who could always put her first. She deserved a man who could love her. That man wasn’t him.

“Yep.”

“And?”

“You were right. He’s with her. I’m watching the house as we speak.”

This is it.
Stein took one last look around his Arlington home. A week from now, he’d be in Samoa or Tonga. Maybe Thailand. He grabbed his Glock and his jacket and took off out the door. “I’m on my way.”

“They’re both asleep. I can get this over and done with, Mason. Right now.”

“She’s a United States senator’s daughter, for God’s sake. You can’t just make her disappear.”

“I don’t care if she’s a princess. I don’t want any loose ends.”

Mason ran a hand over his tired, dry eyes. “All I’m saying is that you can be sure there will be a thorough inquiry.”

“By which time, we’ll be long gone.”

“Don’t make a move until I get there.”

There was a short pause. “Then you’d better get here fast.”

After spending most of the afternoon wandering down Main, from the pier all the way around through town and out to the Mirabelle Island Inn via Island Drive, they’d ended on the beach walking through the sand.

Jonas studied the groups of people scattered here and there. Though he was wearing sunglasses, Missy knew from the tense set of his jaw that he was working.

“Hey.” She touched his arm, and he immediately covered her hand with his own. The gesture was so comfortable, so intimate, she almost blurted out, “I’m pregnant,” but it wasn’t the right moment. She wasn’t sure there ever would be a right time. “What’s the matter?” she asked.

“This day is making me nervous.” He continued to eye the crowd and studied the boats gathering offshore in preparation for viewing the fireworks over the water. “They could be here. On the island. The crowds are so thick….”

“Did you see someone you’re worried about?”

“No.”

She may have talked Jonas into staying one more day, but she could tell by his preoccupation she’d only delayed the inevitable. One way or another, he’d be leaving tomorrow. Somehow, someway, she would find a way to live in Jonas’s life alongside his job. “You should know something,” she said, taking his hand.

He glanced at her.

“I ripped up the divorce agreement. You want a divorce, you’ll have to get one yourself.”

“Nothing.” He looked away to watch the yachts out on the water. What would it feel like to own one of those boats? To not have a care in the world? To not have to worry anymore about putting the bad guys behind bars? To enjoy life?

“The fireworks should be starting any minute.” She grabbed his hand and pulled him to an open grassy area. “Do you want to sit over here?”

No, he did not want to be a sitting duck. He wanted to be up against the retaining wall, their backs covered, but there wasn’t an inch of space available.

“Jonas?”

“All right.” He let himself get tugged down next to her.

Something about the sight of those yachts anchored just offshore bothered him. He’d never thought of the possibility of anyone coming at him from the water. As soon as dusk settled and the sky turned black, she shivered.

“Cold?”

“A little.”

“No sweatshirt, jacket or blanket.” He moved behind her, tucking her against his chest. “All I got is me,” he whispered in her ear.

“You’ll do,” she said, a smile in her voice as she dropped her head back to rest against him.

It was his first moment of complete contentment all day. Maybe he could get used to this. Maybe she was right by dropping the whole divorce thing. Maybe he should try and make it work. And maybe all he’d succeed in doing was breaking her heart all over again.

What he refused to think about was the impact on his own heart. With every passing minute, getting on that ferry in the morning was sounding more and more problematic.

Why do you have to go?
Suddenly the reasons seemed unclear. She wanted him. He wanted to stay. What more was there? For starters, he had to finish this assignment before resolving anything with Missy.

They’d no sooner settled together on the ground than a succession of loud, ear-popping, chest-beating booms went off, followed by a bright and massive explosion in the sky, illuminating the boats on the water.

The boats. Yachts, too.

Yachts. That was it! Delgado’s yacht. With a helicopter pad, it was the safest place for the deal. He had to call Reynolds, ASAP. Just then, he noticed something—someone—in his peripheral vision. Someone moving differently. Eyes in the crowd watching. Someone alone. A predatory presence. Another boom sounded and he stiffened. It was too noisy, too dark and too crowded. This was a very, very bad idea.

“We need to leave.” Abruptly, he stood, grabbed Missy’s hand and pulled her back through the crowd.

“Wait a minute!” She pulled her arm away from him. “The fireworks just started.”

“Too bad.”

She tugged against him, holding her ground. “You’ve been on edge all day. Tell me what’s going on, or I’m not moving.”

He glanced over her head, studied the crowd surrounding them. “Missy, I’m not messing around here.”

“Then quit trying to protect me and tell me what’s happening.”

He looked into her eyes. She was right. He’d been treating her like someone who couldn’t handle the truth, and if there’s one thing he’d learned about Missy these past few weeks it was that she could handle about anything. “I didn’t want to mention it, but…”

“What?”

“Someone’s here,” he whispered in her ear. “Watching us. Following us. I can feel it. One minute I glimpse a face, eyes following us, and the next it’s lost in the crowd. It’s more of a feeling than anything. I don’t trust this night. This crowd. Something doesn’t feel right.”

“That’s all I needed to know. Let’s go.”

Once they crossed Main and headed up the hill, the crowd all but disappeared. A few locals were in their front yards, sitting in lawn chairs watching the fireworks display, but the streets were empty. By the time they reached her house, his instincts were on high alert. He climbed the porch steps. Missy reached for the door first. He stilled her hand. “Let me go in first.”

“Do you really think someone’s here?”

“Better safe than sorry.” His gun drawn, he took the keys out of her hand, opened her front door and slowly stepped inside. The feather he’d placed on the top of the frame floated silently to the floor. “Stay here.” He went to the back door and found that door, as well, undisturbed. “We’re good,” he called and went into the living area.

That’s when he noticed his laptop. He caught Missy’s gaze and signaled for her to keep silent. “Stay there,” he mouthed. One room after another, he cleared the house, including every closet and the basement. Then he flipped on the TV and drew her into the bathroom. “Someone was here,” he whispered. “Using my computer.”

“How do you know?”

“The pencil. I always place it lead facing upward. It’s possible they’ve bugged your house. I’m gonna guess they’re waiting to make a move until they find out how much I know and who I’ve told.”

“So what do we do?”

“
We
don’t do anything.” He looked into her eyes, and knew he’d never forgive himself if something happened to her. He should’ve never stayed on the island this long. “
I
have to leave Mirabelle. Right now.”

“Stay. Talk to Garrett. He’ll help.”

“This is my problem. I can’t risk anyone on the island getting hurt. Me leaving is the only option.” He left the bathroom, climbed the steps and packed his bag.

When he turned, she was standing at the door.

He put a finger to his mouth. They couldn’t talk out here. He took her hand and led her back into the bathroom.

The moment the door closed, she pleaded quietly, “Take me with you.”

The look on her face nearly tore his heart apart. He cupped her cheeks in his hands. “No.”

“I lost you once.” She placed her hands softly on his chest. “I don’t want to lose you again.”

He kissed her, hard, rested his head against her forehead.

“Promise, you’ll be back,” she whispered.

“I promise.” Whatever she needed to hear, he’d say it. “I have to go.” The sooner he got off Mirabelle, the sooner the threat to Missy would be gone. He turned to leave.

“Jonas?” She held the door closed. “There’s something you need to know.”

He waited.

“I meant what I said last night. I love you.”

He dropped his bag and pulled her into his arms. “It’s going to be okay, Miss.” He rested his chin on her head. “I’ve been in worse spots before.” He wasn’t sure that was true, but there was no point in worrying her.

“I’m pregnant.”

He went still.
Pregnant.
He could feel her heart racing against his chest and in no time his own body picked up the beat. “How…? Oh, God. That first night.” He looked away. The night he’d gone to her room, found her naked in the moonlight and unfairly seduced her. “Obviously.”

“I wasn’t going to tell you.” She pulled away. “I don’t want to hold you here if it’s not where you want to be.”

He didn’t know what to say. He wasn’t sure he could be the husband she deserved; how could he be the father this child would need? “Missy—”

“You don’t need to say anything. Or do anything. I know you have to go.”

He held her gaze, trying desperately to accept that she was carrying his child. His baby. He reached out and pressed his hand to her stomach. Their child.

“I want you to come back, Jonas.” A tear slipped down her cheek as she covered his hand. “Just come back alive, okay?”

“I’m not—”

“Come back, or I’ll be coming after you.”

He nodded and knowing he couldn’t waste another moment, took off out the door. On his way down the hill any number of things he could’ve—should’ve—said ran through his mind.

I want this baby. I want you.

That’s when it hit him.
Missy, I love you. Never stopped loving you.

What if he never got another chance to tell her? What if—

His cell phone rang and he flipped it open.

“You can run, but you can’t hide.”

Stein.
Jonas shot off the street and ducked behind a massive oak tree. “Let’s take this off the island, Stein. I don’t want any civilians getting hurt.”

“Too late for that. You have something I want. I gave you the chance to turn it over, but you had other ideas. You left me no choice.”

“Where are you?”

“Now I’ve got something you want.”

Jonas held his breath, hoping against hope that he was wrong.

“Your wife.”

No! No, no, no.

“Jonas!” Missy screamed in the background. “Leave! Get off—” The line went dead.