Double Threat, page 9
The doorbell rang.
Startled, she stood in the living room staring at the door. The doorbell rang again.
She glanced through the peephole. “Holy cow. Rick.”
She stepped back from the door, hand on the doorknob. She could pretend she wasn’t here but she never played games like that.
“Hey,” he said as she opened the screen door. “I’m sorry but I…could I come in a moment? That is if you aren’t busy?”
She stepped back and let him inside. Snow flurries drifted in the air and she winced at the biting cold. She closed the door. “I didn’t notice it was snowing. I was just on my way out.”
He stood so close, smelling so damn good. His head was uncovered against the elements. He stripped off his gloves and stuffed them in his pocket. “The weather has gone to shit. Don’t think it’ll last but it isn’t exactly safe out there right now.”
“Okay.” She shrugged. “I was going to take in a movie.” She frowned, a bit worried about why he was there. “What’s up?”
His gaze narrowed and suddenly she felt as if she were being inspected. “You all right?”
“Of course. Why would you ask that?”
“Your eyes are a bit puffy.” He reached up and cupped her face with one hand. “Have you been crying?”
Heat filled her face and she automatically took hold of his forearm. “No.”
“Liar.”
“Rick, what does it matter? You still didn’t answer why you’re here.”
He sighed and released her. “Shit. I’m sorry but I couldn’t leave things like this. I know you heard me say that I wasn’t ever going to get married but I was saying that because I’ve been feeling like crap all day. You know me well enough to understand that I like things out in the open. So I’m going to get this out in the open if it kills me.”
“What out in the open?”
He stepped closer. “How I feel about you. I’m aching right in here.” He touched his chest. “It hurts to think that I’m leaving Sunday and you won’t be with me. That I won’t see you again because you think we can’t be together. Ever since I got back to Constitution I’ve told myself that this crush I’ve had on you for years is just lust. Then we slept together. I’ve gotten to know you better and I don’t want to leave this behind. We’ve got to find some way to make this work.” He took a deep breath. “That is, if you want the same thing I want. Tell me you don’t have any feelings for me and that you don’t want to keep our relationship going. I know you said that before but I don’t believe it. Tell me again and I’ll walk straight out and you won’t hear from me again when I leave Sunday.”
Her mouth popped open as a dozen emotions rushed through her. Surrender was first. Second was amazement. Third was a sharp, hot spike of need mixed with soul-deep affection.
She did the only thing she could do and remain sane. She reached up and drew him down for a kiss. Jake’s arms went around Lena and crushed her to his chest. Ravenous and passionate, his kiss sent sparklers off inside her. His tongue stroked hers and a hot pulse started low in her belly.
He tore away from her kiss eventually, his chest going in and out with deep breaths. “God, Lena. I’m so sorry. I haven’t said one thing or done one thing to ever intentionally hurt you. You know that, right?”
“I know. And I’m so sorry for shoving you away. It wasn’t mature of me. How are we going to work this, Rick? You still have to return to Alaska. I’m still here. But I want to make it work.”
He pressed kisses to her forehead and when he looked down at her his smile was as wide as she’d ever seen it. “I don’t know, babe. But let’s talk about it. I want to be with you as often as I can. Whenever I can.”
They fell into another kiss and then there wasn’t any talking for a very, very long time.
Epilogue
Thanksgiving
One year later
Patrick and Danelle’s home
Lena melted under another of Rick’s kisses as they stood in Patrick and Danelle’s backyard, bundled against cold temperatures.
“God, you’re delicious,” Rick said.
“Thank you. So are you.”
He laughed. “I can’t wait to get you back to the hotel tonight.”
“I can’t wait for you to get me.”
The laughed together.
The back door opened and Melanie popped her head out.
“Come on, you guys,” Kathleen said as she winked at Lena and Rick. “Stop making out and help us with the food. It’s gonna get cold.”
“Be right there,” Lena said as Rick drew her closer.
When the door shut, she sighed.
“Okay?” Rick asked.
“Yes. It’s just that this year is so different than last year. So much has changed.”
“You don’t regret a bit of it, though.”
“Never.” She squeezed him close and put her head on his chest.
His big arms went around her, always a safe place to shelter in any storm. Any time.
She looked forward to going inside the warm house and soaking up the love. Matt and Melanie had married that summer and their love was stronger than ever. Melanie had moved to California after they’d married and the long-distance relationship they’d forged before then proved it could be done. Kathleen and Jake had made it work traveling back and forth to see each other. Kathleen had moved in April to Colorado Springs, near Fort Carson, and established her own successful business as a successful wedding planner. Kathleen and Jake had announced just today that Kathleen was pregnant and everyone’s joy over the announcement had made the holiday even more special.
Moving to Alaska to be with Rick around the start of the New Year had been the best thing Lena had ever done. After taking some time off she’d found a wonderful job working as a therapist in a new practice in Kodiak and she loved her work. She worked with patients from all walks of life, including veterans. Sure, living in Kodiak had taken a big adjustment but once she’d settled into a life with Rick she quickly discovered she liked the tight-knit community even more than Constitution. She found new friends and connections and new reasons to feel happier every day.
Rick had presented her with a sparkling engagement ring less than a week after she’d moved to Alaska and they planned a big wedding next spring. It had been a long engagement but never once had they faltered in their plans to marry. They looked forward to Rick’s family and Danelle and Patrick making it to the event. Being here at Thanksgiving and having it be a non-eventful occasion wiped away bad memories of the shooting at the mall last year. Lena still hadn’t reconciled with her sister. She’d reached out to Cammie about attending the wedding but Cammie had declined. Lena held hope the future might bring them together but only time would tell the truth.
Rick’s stomach growled. Loudly.
Lena laughed. “Hungry?”
He kissed her neck. “Hungry for you.”
“Later, cowboy. Let’s go inside and eat.”
“God I love you, Lena.”
“I love you too.” She meant it with every fiber of her being as she kissed him again.
As they walked hand in hand into the house, she realized they’d all found their way. They’d never be lost again.
The End.
About Denise A. Agnew
Suspenseful, erotic, edgy, thrilling, romantic, adventurous. All these words are used to describe award-winning, bestselling novelist Denise A. Agnew’s novels. Romantic Times Magazine called her romantic suspense novels Dangerous Intentions and Treacherous Wishes “top-notch romantic suspense”. With paranormal, time travel, romantic comedy, contemporary, historical, erotica and romantic suspense novels under her belt, she proves her gift for writing about a diverse range of subjects. (Writing tales that scare the reader is her ultimate thrill.)
Denise’s inspiration for her novels comes from innumerable sources, but the fact that she has lived in Colorado, Hawaii and the United Kingdom has given her a lifetime of ideas. Her experiences with archaeology have crept into her work, as well as numerous travels throughout England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Denise currently lives in Arizona with her real life hero, her husband.
Denise welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email addresses on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.
Tell Us What You Think
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Also by Denise A. Agnew
Bridge Through the Mist
Dangerous Intentions
Daryk World 1: Daryk Hunter
Daryk World 2: Daryk Rogue
Daryk World 3: Daryk Craving
Daryk World 4: Daryk Warrior
Deep is the Night 1: Dark Fire
Deep is the Night 2: Night Watch
Deep is the Night 3: Haunted Souls
Ellora’s Cavemen: Dreams of the Oasis II anthology
Ellora’s Cavemen: Tales from the Temple IV anthology
Love Under Fire l: Sudden Heat
Love Under Fire 2: Under Fire
Major Pleasure
Meant to Be
Redemption Ridge
Special Investigations Agency: Clandestine
Special Investigations Agency: Hideaway
Special Investigations Agency: Impetuous
Special Investigations Agency: Instinct
Special Investigations Agency: Jungle Fever
Special Investigations Agency: Maneater
Special Investigations Agency: Over the Line
Special Investigations Agency: Primordial
Special Investigations Agency: Shadows and Ruins
Special Investigations Agency: Sins and Secrets
Special Investigations Agency: Special Agent Santa
The Dare
Treacherous Wishes
Print books by Denise A. Agnew
Bridge Through the Mist
By Honor Bound anthology
Dangerous Intentions
Daryk World 1: Daryk Hunter
Daryk World 2: Daryk Rogue
Daryk World 3: Daryk Craving
Deep is the Night 1: Dark Fire
Deep is the Night 2: Night Watch
Deep is the Night 3: Haunted Souls
Ellora’s Cavemen: Dreams of the Oasis II anthology
Ellora’s Cavemen: Tales from the Temple IV anthology
Meant to Be
Special Investigations Agency: Clandestine
Special Investigations Agency: Hideaway
Special Investigations Agency: Impetuous
Special Investigations Agency: Primordial
Special Investigations Agency: Shadows and Ruins
Special Investigations Agency: Sins and Secrets
The Dare
Treacherous Wishes
Ellora’s Cave Publishing
www.ellorascave.com
Double Threat
ISBN 9781419948060
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Double Threat Copyright © 2014 Denise A. Agnew
Edited by Ann Leveille
Cover design by Syneca & MichelleB
Cover photography by uriy Shevtsov ,ekhphoto/fotolia.com, Dmitrijs Bindemanis/shutterstock.com
Electronic book publication April 2014
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Denise A. Agnew, Double Threat
