Love Inspired Suspense January 2014 (17 page)

SEVENTEEN

T
wenty days.

Nearly three weeks.

That was how long Annie had been locked in Hunter's house. Aside from appearing in court, she hadn't been anywhere else, done anything else.

Now it was nearly over.

Not just those twenty days, but the year she'd spent in witness protection.

Annie wasn't quite sure how she felt about that. Relieved? Excited? Scared? A little of the first two and a lot of the last.

Today had been the last day of the trial. The jury was already deliberating. She'd done everything she could to make sure Fiske and Saunders paid for what they'd done to Joe. She hoped it had been enough. Prayed it had been.

One way or another, tomorrow would be the first day of the rest of her life.

It felt strange to think of living without rules and protocol, bizarre to think that she could wake up every morning and go through her day without fear and anxiety.

Even stranger to think she'd be living in a house alone with Sophia. No armed guards checking in on them. No security cameras or computer monitors.

No Hunter.

Her stomach sank, something like sorrow clawing up her throat and lodging there.

“Stop it! You've been waiting for this day for over a year. You're happy. Not sad,” she muttered.

She didn't quite believe herself.

She glanced in the dresser mirror, smoothing the collar of her dress. A soft dove-gray, it had a 1950s vibe, the Peter Pan collar and slim pencil skirt demure enough for court and fashionable enough to appeal to both the men and women on the jury.

At least, that was what Steven had said when he'd handed it to her. She'd worn it on the first day of trial, and he'd told her to keep it. She had to admit, it looked good paired with black pumps and a neat chignon. She applied mascara, blush, lip gloss—the same way she'd done every day before trial for the past week. Tonight, she was doing it for a different reason.

She was going to see her parents for the first time in over a year. Just thinking about it made her pulse race with happiness. They hadn't approved of her testifying. They certainly hadn't wanted her in protective custody. They'd always loved her, though. They'd been her biggest support system in the weeks following Joe's death, and it was going to be really good to spend time with them.

“Pretty, Mommy!” Sophia said, tugging at Annie's hem.

“Thank you, sweetie.” She lifted her, inhaling the sweet powdery scent of baby shampoo. She wanted so much for her daughter, and she was going to work hard to provide those things. Not a big house or fancy cars or anything material. Just love and security, faith and happiness.

Tomorrow.

The first day of forever, and it felt bittersweet because of Hunter.

“Guess what we're doing tonight, Sophia?” she asked, setting her wiggling daughter back on the floor and doing her best to ignore the fact that moving on with her life meant leaving Hunter behind.

“We're going to see Grandma and Grandpa,” she continued as Sophia danced around the room. “Doesn't that sound like fun?”

“Yay!” Sophia clapped her hands, but Annie didn't think she had any idea what that meant. The last time she'd seen her grandparents, she'd been just a year old.

“We're going to meet them, and Hunter is going to take us all to dinner.” They were going to a small restaurant on the outskirts of St. Louis. A long drive, but Hunter didn't want to take any chances.

“Cookies?” Sophia wanted to know.

“No cookies,” Annie said with a laugh.

“Yes cookies!” Sophia responded with an impish grin.

“You know what you are? You're a cookie monster!” Annie said, tickling Sophia's belly and then smoothing down the front of her velvet dress. Royal blue with a wide sash and a crinoline underskirt, it was the perfect complement for Sophia's dark hair and fair skin.

Hunter had chosen well.

But then, Hunter seemed to always do the right thing and make the right choices. The way he'd treated Annie was the perfect example. He'd made no secret of the fact that he found her attractive. Since the night he'd let her look at photos of his uncle's ranch, he'd been even more solicitous, more caring. He'd talked to her late into the night, listened to her worries about the trial and about her life after it. They'd sat in church together, arm pressed against arm, talked about the sermons afterward. They'd shared a thousand moments together, but Hunter had been professional through it all. He'd never crossed the line, never tried to go after more than quiet conversation and easy companionship.

There had been a few times when
she'd
wanted to, though.

“I'm not cookie monster,” Sophia squealed happily.

“You are.” Annie chuckled, but her stomach felt hollow, her heart empty.

Someone knocked on the door, and she opened it, knowing Hunter would be on the other side.

He'd changed into dark slacks and a blue dress shirt, his hair brushing his collar. He looked good. Better than good. He looked like a man she'd like to have dinner with, a guy she'd love to spend an afternoon walking through the park with. He looked like what forever might have been if she hadn't met and married Joe.

“Looks like you're ready to go,” he said, stepping into the room.

“We've been ready for a half hour. I guess I'm a little anxious.” She brushed a hand down her skirt, smoothing out invisible wrinkles.

“I'm sure your parents are, too. We'll leave in ten minutes. Just like we planned.”

“The trial is over. I thought we could loosen up a little. Maybe leave in nine minutes instead of ten.”

He laughed, scooping Sophia into his arms when she tugged on his pant leg. “Sounds like you're really wanting to live on the wild side, Annie.”

“Not wild, just...freer.”

“Tomorrow will be here before you know it, and I have some news that will probably make your new life a lot easier.”

“What?”

“Antonio just called me.”

Her heart jumped at the words. The attorneys had given their closing arguments that morning, and the jury had been deliberating since then. She'd been praying for a quick decision. She'd be leaving town the next day, one way or another, but she wanted to leave knowing that both men were going to be behind bars. “What did he say?”

“The jury has finished deliberation. The verdict was unanimous. Saunders was convicted on the second-degree-murder charge. Fiske was convicted of being an accessory. Both of them are going to jail. Saunders will probably spend the rest of his life there.”

“How about Fiske?”

“Hopefully, he'll be there for a good long time. He wasn't the trigger man, though, and it's hard to prove that he knew Saunders was going to pull the trigger.” He touched her shoulder, his hand sliding to her nape. His palm was warm and rough, his fingers slipping beneath her collar.

“It's over, Annie. Your life is yours again. All you have to do is decide what to do with it,” he murmured.

“That seemed so much easier a couple of weeks ago. Now that it's here, and I'm ready to start over, I'm not sure I know what I want.”

“A pretty little house on a couple of acres of land. A nice job at a nursery school where you can bring Sophia. A chance to go back to college and become an elementary schoolteacher so that you and Sophia will be on the same schedule when she's older.”

“You've been listening,” she said, her pulse thrumming.

“Always.” He tugged her closer, their bodies just centimeters apart. “Have you thought any more about going to Montana? Because I've done the research and found a nice little town a few hundred miles from my uncle's place. There's a rental there. It's on acreage with farms all around.”

“That's funny because, last night, I dreamed that I was living in a farmhouse and that there were cattle grazing in a field behind it.” In the dream, she'd been sitting on a porch swing with Sophia, and Hunter had been walking toward them. It had been the best dream she'd had in months, and she hadn't wanted to wake up because she hadn't wanted it to end.

“What if I said that the owner of the property is willing to rent it out beginning tomorrow?”

“I'd say I was tempted.” Really tempted.

“What if I told you that there was an opening for a teacher at the local nursery school in that town, and what if I told you that they'd be thrilled to have you teach there?”

“I'd say that you work fast.”

“I've been looking since the night we talked about my uncle's ranch. I found the nursery school first, then hunted for the property. One of the teachers at the school is going on maternity leave. You could step in for her as a long-term sub. She'll be out for a year.”

“By the time she returns, I'd be settled into the community and would have some connections with the people who live there. I could probably find another job pretty easily,” she said as much to herself as to him.

“Does that mean you like the idea?” he asked, smiling into her eyes.

“I love the idea.”

“I'm glad. I always said that if I left St. Louis, Montana is where I'd want to be.” He set Sophia down.

“What does that have to do with anything?” she asked, but she knew. She could see it in his eyes.

“Today, I'm still the marshal assigned to protect you. Tomorrow, I'll just be a man who wants to spend a little more time with you. If that's not okay with you, tell me now.”

There were plenty of reasons why she should.

She'd been through too much because of Joe. She didn't want to risk her heart again. She was perfectly capable of living her life without a man in it.

She could sit down and write reason after reason, but none of them meant anything when she was looking into Hunter's eyes. “I think it is.”

“Think?” he murmured. “I'd rather you know, because I do.”

“I—”

“Hunt? You up there?” Burke called from the bottom of the stairs.

“Yeah.” Hunter walked to the doorway, his gaze still on Annie. He wanted an answer, and he deserved one.

Finally, he broke eye contact and looked out into the hall. “What's up, Burke?”

“Just got a call from the St. Louis P.D. Fiske wants to talk to you.”

“About?”

“He says he knows who's responsible for the bombs and the threats against Annie.”

“And he's just coming forward now? That information would have been more useful to him before the trial.” And the fact that he was willing to reveal it now put Hunter's guard up.

He stepped into the hall, met Burke at the top of the stairs.

“He said he didn't have the information until a few days ago, and he was trying to decide how he wanted to use it.”

“That sounds like Fiske. Always looking for the next deal.” The guy had a rap sheet filled with petty crime and illegal deals. He knew how to manipulate the system, and Hunter had a feeling that was exactly what he was trying to do.

“He's hoping the judge will give him a lighter sentence if he cooperates with us on this,” Burke said. “At least, that's what he told the lieutenant who just called the office. Serena passed the information on to me.”

“I'm surprised she didn't pass it to me.”

“Your shift ended three minutes ago.” Burke crossed his arms over his chest, looked past Hunter. “You look gorgeous tonight, Annie,” he said without missing a beat, his flirtatious smile working its way under Hunter's skin.

“Thank you.” Annie stepped up beside Hunter, a subtle flowery perfume drifting in the air as she moved. His muscles tightened with longing, every cell in his body responding to her. He didn't reach for her, but he wanted to.

Annie wasn't the only one who'd been itching for more freedom. He wanted it, too, with a desperation that surprised him.

“What's going on?” she asked, her gaze jumping from Burke to Hunter.

“Fiske says he has information about the person who's been threatening you,” he responded. “He wants to give it to me.”

“Tonight?” She frowned, her dark eyebrows pulling together.

“Sentencing is tomorrow, and he's hoping that the judge will give him a break if he helps us out,” Burke offered.

“I don't think he deserves a break,” Annie said, her eyes flashing with indignation.

“You're right, but if it means getting another criminal off the street, I'm willing to listen to what he has to say.”

“Glad to hear it,” Burke said. “Want me to call St. Louis P.D. and let them know you're on the way?”

“Sure.”

“But...” Annie's voice trailed off, and she shook her head. “I guess this is more important than dinner with my family.”

“There's no reason for you to miss out on that,” Burke cut in before Hunter could respond. “I'm on duty anyway. I can bring you.”

Not a good idea.

That was what Hunter wanted to say, but there was no reason for Annie to skip dinner. He'd arranged everything, made sure only a few people knew the plan. She'd be safe as long as Burke was with her. “What do you think, Hunter?” Burke prodded. “You want me to go ahead with the dinner plan?”

Hunter met Annie's eyes. She wouldn't complain if he said no, but he'd made a promise. The only way he'd break it was if he thought that keeping it would put her in danger.

So far, his team had been able to keep her whereabouts secret. Though the computer forensic team had come up empty in its search for the marshals' information leak, there hadn't been any further breach of confidence. There was no reason to believe that things had changed.

He still wanted to be with her when she visited her family.

He met Burke's eyes. He probably knew exactly what Hunter was thinking.

“That should work,” he said, but he wasn't all that thrilled about it. “Just make sure you stick around while she and her parents are eating dinner. They'll be out in public and—”