Not the Marrying Kind (Destiny Bay Romances - Forever Yours) (27 page)

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Authors: Helen Conrad

BOOK: Not the Marrying Kind (Destiny Bay Romances - Forever Yours)

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She barely gave him a glance, pushing through the doors regardless.

He began to follow her, shouting an order to stop, but she paid no attention and he got distracted by another patient.

She pushed on, hurrying toward the entrance where the paramedics disgorged their patients.

Ahead, she could see two men on gurneys.

Her heart leaped and she could hardly breathe.

As she got closer, she knew one of the men was Michael.

Michael, who was supposed to be on a plane to Florida.

Michael, who wouldn’t admit that he loved her.

Michael, the man she loved more than life itself.

“Michael!” she cried, and then she’d threw herself down to hold the railing on the gurney and search his face.

“Oh Michael.”

His eyes were closed and he looked drawn.

A large, bulky bandage was wrapped around his shoulder.

She didn’t dare touch him and she didn’t know what had happened but she couldn’t pull her gaze away.

He was here.

Thank god.

But was he unconscious?

“Hey Shelley,” said a voice from behind.

She looked up.

Tag and Mickey stood there, looking sunburned and rumpled, and at the same time, shell-shocked and miserable.

“What happened?” she cried, jumping up and going to them.

“Were you there?”

Tag nodded.

“It was Robert.”

He jerked his head toward the door the other gurney had disappeared through, then looked back into her eyes.

“It was definitely Robert.

He shot your friend here.”

“Michael,” Shelley said, automatically, feeling numb. “His name is Michael Hudson.”

Tag nodded again.

“I think Robert was coming down to meet us and do something…”

He shrugged.

“Stop us, maybe.

Whatever.

Anyway, Michael was trying to stop him and he ended up shooting Michael instead.”

He scrunched up his face, looking sort of helpless.

“So I think we owe the man a lot.”

Michael, trying to be the hero again.

She closed her eyes for a moment, then looked back at him.

His eyes were still closed.

A cold hand gripped her heart.

“Is he…?”

The paramedic leaned over.

“He’s going to be okay.

Don’t worry.

The bullet tore up his shoulder a bit, but it didn’t touch anything vital.

He’s groggy because we gave him plenty of pain medication, that’s all.

He’ll be fine.”

That was such a relief.

Shelley closed her eyes and whispered a little prayer of thanks.

Then she looked at Mickey and Tag, still huddled together like refugees.

“What about you two?

What on earth…?

Did you really run away together?”

They were holding hands.

“I couldn’t let her marry the guy,” Tag said, knowing she would know exactly what he was talking about.

“There was no way.”

“So you kidnapped her?” Shelley gazed at him in awe.

He winced and looked at Mickey.

“No,” she said firmly.

“He just came to me and pointed out we needed to talk.

We went out to his boat to do our talking in privacy.

And we just kept talking.”

She shrugged, eyes shining.

“We’ve been talking for days.”

Shelley shook her head, feeling like laughing aloud.

“And did you come to any conclusions?” she asked.

“We’re going to get married,” Tag said, looking at Mickey and pulling her closer.

“Right away.”

“Good,” Shelley shot back.

“It’s about time.”

They talked quietly for a few minutes while Shelley watched over Michael and waited for a sign that he might be waking up.

Tag left to see what the police were going to expect from them and while he was gone, Mickey took the opportunity to lean close and whisper into Shelley’s ear.

“You do realize Tag is Meggie’s father?” she told her.

Shelley gaped at her.

Of course.

How could she not have noticed that?

“So this has been going on forever?” she said without thinking.

Mickey nodded with a shrug.

“Forever,” she said.

And then she smiled joyfully as Tag came back into the room.

“Forever and always.”

Shelley’s eyes stung with unshed tears.

How lovely.

Mickey and Tag had finally realized that they had to throw out all the baggage that held them back and take the leap.

So brave.

So crazy.

Could she be that brave?

Could she toss aside things that really didn’t matter and reach for happiness like they had?

Michael made a sound and she looked down quickly.

“Hey,” he said, looking up at her blearily.

“Did I die and go to heaven?”

She laughed and leaned down to kiss his lips.

“No,” she told him.

“But you did opt for another few days in Destiny Bay.

And that should be almost as good.”

“Great,” he said, and he closed his eyes again.

She could tell he was asleep, but she smiled happily.

She would stay with him until he really woke up.

And then she would make him say he loved her.

It was now her only goal in life.

It was nine in the morning before that happened.

In the meantime, Jennifer produced her second twin and he turned out to be just as healthy as the first one.

All was well in the Reid and Jennifer Carrington family.

Now the count down started for Carrie and Janet.

Doctors and nurses and physicians assistants and nurse practitioners came and went, testing Michael’s vitals, asking Shelley if she wanted coffee, bringing in a cot for her to try to catch some sleep on, filling out paper work.

And she told them in no uncertain terms that she was taking him home with her as soon as he was ready to be released.

They agreed, taking him into surgery for some stitches, then wheeling him into recovery.

And she stayed with him the whole time.

Finally, he began to wake up.

He didn’t try to talk and neither did she.

She just sat and looked at him and smiled and he shook his head and smiled back.

They both knew he was coming home with her.

Where else would he go?

They slept all day, and when they woke up, they lay tangled in each other’s arms for hours, talking softly.

“You finally ready to admit you can’t live without me?” he asked her.

“Yes,” she said simply, her fingers raking through his hair.

“I’ll go where you go.

I’ll live the way you want to live.

Without you, life is like a sort of half death.

I need you to breathe.”

He started to laugh, then stopped himself, wincing, when it hurt his shoulder.

“I mean it,” she said.

“Don’t laugh.”

“Well, you don’t have to worry.

I got out of the Florida gig.

I’m here for the short haul at least.”

Conflicting reactions rushed through her mind. “What do you mean? Are you quitting?”

“No.” He reached up and began to trace the features of her face with his index finger. “But I'm getting out of undercover work for a while.” He grinned. “I've got something more exciting in mind.”

Still totally at sea, anxiety was growing inside her. “What?”

“Getting married.” He tapped the end of her nose. “Starting a family. Making a real life for us.” His hand cupped her chin. “What do you say, lady shrink? Will you marry me?”

Would she? Would she put on rags and go begging in the street for him? Would she climb Mt. Everest if he asked her to? Anything. Everything. He had only to say the word. But she still was shaky about this. She hadn't expected him to be so serious. “What will you do?”

He smiled. “There are lots of other slots I can fill at the district attorney's office. My first choice would be director of undercover work, supervising the sort of operations I know so well. But there are plenty of other interesting jobs for a trained lawyer. I'll be busy for some time prosecuting the cases I've been working on here. I'd like to stick with them right through conviction and sentencing. Then I'll be looking into other options.” He touched her softly. “Don't worry about me. I'll keep busy.”

Was he doing all this for her? She couldn't believe it. “But will you be able to keep from getting bored?” she asked earnestly.

“That will be your job,” he told her, then his face changed and his voice was serious. “Don't worry about that. I told you the thrills haven't been what they once were. That was why I'd started doing stupid things to liven them up. I think I've reached the saturation point. I'm burned out and ready for a change.”

He took her hair in his hand. “You know, I think I knew the minute I saw you standing there in the department store that you were going to be special in my life.” His eyes crinkled at the corners. “I think I loved you from the very first time you had me arrested. That'll be something to tell our kids, won't it?”

She laughed. It was really happening. They were going to get married. All her doubts, all her fears, were evaporating around her, and something very rich and warm was growing in her chest,

“I knew I'd better stay away from you,” he went on. “It was a real temptation to drop in on you that day I had the first appointment with Jeff Kramer.”

“You left your matches in the ashtray,” she reminded him. “Did you do that on purpose?”

His chuckle rocked the bed. “I don't know. You're the psychologist. Probably so. I know I stood around lighting that cigarette for an awfully long time, hoping you would come out of your office.”

Her eyes opened wide. “I haven't ever seen you have a cigarette since,” she said.

He shrugged. “I don't smoke.” His dancing eyes met hers. “I borrowed it from your secretary.”

Then, like little kids, they were giggling and she was rolling across the bed, making careful allowances for his shoulder.

“Anyway,” he went on once he'd glared her back under control, “when you fell into my lap in Newport, I knew I was in real trouble. There was no way I could resist your aggressive advances.”

“What?”

''Sure.” He looked so innocent. “You practically attacked me in front of the whole world. I had to draft you into playing my wife to save you from embarrassment.”

That earned him a pillow to the head, but it didn't stop the flow of his reminiscences. “But I still fought it. I thought maybe we could have a fling and then I'd move on, like I've always done in the past. I soon learned my mistake. When you tried to tell me to get lost, I knew there was no way I could ever leave you behind.” He bent down and kissed her, and she smiled and snuggled as close against him as she dared.

Her dark eyes misted over. She raised her hand and touched his cheek. “I love you, undercover man,” she said with husky sincerity. “I've loved you forever, and I'll go on loving you forevermore.”

He kissed the end of her nose, then couldn't resist her lips. “You wouldn't con me, would you, woman?” he whispered, kissing her again.

She didn't have to answer. Not with words. Brimming eyes, and the immediate response of her body, were all the reply he needed.

Also in the Destiny Bay series

Destiny Bay-Forever Yours

Book 1-My Little Runaway

Book 2-Wife For a Night

Book 3-Too Scared to Breathe

Book 4-Make Believe Wife

Book 5-Promoted to Wife

Book 6-Not the Marrying Kind

Destiny Bay Box Set: Books 1 − 3

My Little Runaway, Wife for a Night, Too Scared to Breathe