Sweet Reward (38 page)

She smiled her appreciation and then turned when a feminine voice trilled, “Darling!” An elegantly clad woman ran toward the gate. Phoebe Maxwell looked like an older version of Mia. Taller and with a slightly heavier frame and blue instead of dark brown eyes, but there was no doubt that she was Mia’s mother.

Finally getting the nod of approval from the guard, Mia and Jared passed through the gate. Mia was immediately enveloped in her mother’s arms. Jared stood a step away, waiting for the reception to end.

Seconds later, Mia held out her hand for him and said, “Mom, I’d like you to meet Jared Livingston.”

Phoebe Maxwell was gracious and warm as she took his hand. “Welcome, Jared. It’s so good to finally meet you.”

Standing between them, Phoebe Maxwell linked arms with first Mia, then Jared and led them into the stately three-story, light brown brick house. “Your father had to go in to work this morning, but he should be here any minute.” She frowned slightly. “I had hoped Nadia would fly in from Milan today, but she says she’s too busy.”

As they entered the large foyer, Mrs. Maxwell let go of their arms and turned to face them. “I know you must be weary from your flight. Why don’t you go to your room and freshen up. I’ll have a light lunch ready in the morning room, and your father—”

“Mia?”

The deep voice came from behind them. They whirled and faced Quinton Maxwell. Jared glanced down at Mia’s face and saw the longing. She had told him about the chasm that had been created after her injury and how it had grown larger once she’d gone against her parents’ wishes and made different choices for her life.

“Hi, Daddy,” Mia said softly.

Quinton Maxwell opened his arms, and with a small sob, Mia flew into them. The man held his daughter close, pressed a kiss to her head, and then raised tear-glazed eyes to Jared. There was knowledge in them. Mia’s father knew … but did he know everything? Did he know about Nadia’s involvement? Or that he’d almost lost his daughter once again? Though LCR had kept a low profile on the Ricard case, leaks happened. Did he have any idea how strong and courageous his younger daughter was?

Maxwell loosened his arms and then held Mia to his side. A hand shot out toward Jared, who shook it. “Jared Livingston … it’s nice to finally meet you, sir.”

“The pleasure is entirely mine.” He glanced down at his daughter and said, “We have a lot of catching up to do, don’t we, honey?”

As if she recognized that something had changed in her father’s attitude, a glowing smile brightened her face. “Yes sir, we most certainly do.”

   Mia lay on the bed and watched Jared unpack his bag. She’d do hers later, but for right now, she just wanted to savor the moment of having Jared here, in her parents’ home. Only a few days ago, she had thought that once the case was over, she’d return to Chicago and never see Jared again. And though they hadn’t discussed the future, without a doubt, whatever that future held, they’d be together.

“I think my dad knows something about what happened.”

Jared closed the dresser drawer and turned to face her. “Yeah, I got the same impression.”

“I don’t plan to tell them anything more, unless they ask.”

“Your decision, sweetheart.”

“Have I told you lately how very much I love you?”

A small smile played around his mouth, just enough to reveal that beautiful dimple in his cheek. “Not in the last half hour or so.”

She patted the empty space beside her. “Then come over here and let me take care of that right now.”

The heated look in his eyes sent shivers throughout her body. Drawing him down to lie beside her, she tenderly caressed his face. The stubble from his beard felt deliciously rough against her fingers. “I love you, Jared Livingston. With everything that’s within me, I love you.”

Rolling her onto her back, Jared came over her and growled against her mouth, “That nap your mother mentioned we should take after lunch is sounding pretty damn good right now.”

Groaning, Mia opened her mouth and invited him inside. Winding her arms around his broad shoulders, she gave herself up to the glorious feelings only this man could create. Seconds became minutes; tenderness, ignited by desire, became heat, and her arousal mounted. Hard, callused hands traveled up her legs, shoved aside her skirt, and slid between her thighs. Mia arched up, longing to feel those strong fingers thrust deep inside her.

With his breath rasping from his lungs, Jared leaned his forehead against hers. “If I don’t get up now, I’m going to be inside you in seconds.”

“And that’s a problem … why?”

“Because when I get inside you, I’m going to want to stay there for a very long time. We told your parents we’d be down for lunch in fifteen minutes. We’ve got two minutes left. That’s not nearly enough time for what I want from you.”

She sighed her disappointment, but he was right. And
the last thing she wanted was for her mom or dad to knock on the door during a crucial moment. “All right. But eat fast. Okay?”

Laughter burst from his lungs, and Mia relished the sound. Though Jared’s smiles were more frequent, he still had that dark, dangerous edge and probably always would. But every time he laughed, she felt as though she’d won a prize. It was Mia’s hope that at some point, the laughter could happen more often.

He rolled away from her and stood, then held out his hand to pull her up. “Let’s have lunch and come back here for dessert.”

“You’re on.” She smoothed down her clothes and said, “Let me check my makeup.” She went to the mirror, and though she could do nothing about her swollen lips and the flush of her cheeks, she did brush the obvious bed tangles from her hair.

As she turned, she was suddenly struck by the stillness of the man who stood at the door. Alarmed by the serious, almost vulnerable expression on his face, Mia strode quickly to him. “Jared, what is it?”

“I need to tell you some things. And I’m not quite sure how to say them.”

Her heart thudded. For the last two weeks, she had existed in a state of euphoric bliss. Was it all about to end? Not sure that she wanted to know, she nevertheless whispered, “What?”

“I talked to McCall about opening an LCR branch in Chicago.”

Her heart blipped with a hopeful beat. Not daring to breathe, Mia waited.

Jared took an audible swallow and said, “How would you feel about working for LCR in Chicago with me, adopting Sandi’s baby, and …” He swallowed hard again and added, “Marrying me?”

Almost unable to comprehend the glorious words he’d just said, Mia spoke in a voice so strained and low, even she barely heard herself. “Are you serious?”

He nodded.

Sandi’s little girl was a dark-haired angel with big blue eyes and a dimple on her left cheek. The moment Mia had seen her, she had fallen in love. The thought of the child being put in foster care had been tearing her to pieces. And Jared had known that.

Tears pooling in her eyes, she flung herself into his arms and pressed kisses all over his face. “Yes to Sandi’s baby. Yes to living in Chicago and working with you. And yes, yes, oh hell yes to marrying you.”

His arms tight around her, he said with soft fierceness, “I love you, Mia. More than life … more than anything in this world, I love you.”

She stepped away slightly to gaze up at the man she adored, the future father of her children. It was all she could do not to fling herself into his arms again. Every one of her dreams had come true with that one magical sentence. “And I love you, Jared Livingston. You’re the finest man I’ve ever known.”

He shook his head slowly. “How’d I get so damn lucky?”

“And here I was about to ask you the same question.”

He planted a quick, hard kiss on her mouth and then snagged the doorknob behind him with his hand. “Let’s go tell your parents that they’re going to become both in-laws and grandparents.”

Her laughter full of joyous delight, she grabbed Jared’s hand and pulled him through the open doorway. A bright, beautiful future lay before them, and Mia couldn’t wait to get started.

My sincere appreciation goes to the following for making this book possible:

My husband, for his support and encouragement, and for asking that all important question when I’m on deadline: “Do you have enough chocolate?” Words cannot express how very much I love you.

The precious fur creatures who stay with me day and night while I work. We’ve written nine books together so far, and I couldn’t have two better office managers.

The entire Ballantine team, including Kate Collins, Beth Pearson, and Junessa Viloria, with special thanks to my awesome copy editor, Bonnie Thompson.

My agent, Kim Whalen—thank you for your support. Special thanks to Ronlyn Howe for her recipe suggestions for Mia. And thank you, Gill Cutchen, for the information on Jared’s motorcycle and bike lingo.

And to the readers of the Last Chance Rescue series—the ones who have been with me from the beginning and the ones just now discovering LCR—I thank you for making the hard work so worthwhile and so much fun.

“Seth Cavanaugh, you’re under arrest for the murder of Montgomery Jenkins. You have the right to remain silent. You have the right to an attorney …”

Blank-faced stoicism firmly intact, Seth didn’t resist as his arms were wrenched behind him and he heard the clink of handcuffs. Staring straight ahead, he ignored the officer reciting his Miranda rights. Didn’t need to listen to something he’d memorized long before he’d entered the police academy. For barely an instant, he wondered what Greg Wallace thought as he read his former friend his rights. Greg had already been on the force for several years when Seth started with the Houston Police Department. He’d taken Seth under his wing; now he was arresting him for the murder of a scumbag.

They’d descended on his restaurant right in the middle of the lunchtime crowd. The timing had been no accident. Now an already newsworthy arrest was even more sensational. The television news crews would be outside waiting for him, along with the
Houston Chronicle
and every other news source within the greater Houston area.

He could hear the newscasts in his head:
Well
-
known businessman and restaurateur Seth Cavanaugh was arrested today for the alleged murder of Montgomery Jenkins,
better known as Monty Jenkins. Mr. Jenkins was found dead in his apartment yesterday from a single gunshot wound to his head. According to sources close to the investigation, Mr. Cavanaugh had an argument with Mr. Jenkins earlier in the day. He was seen leaving Jenkins’s apartment moments after a neighbor heard a gunshot
.

The Houston news outlets were going to have a blast with this one.

“Let’s go, Cavanaugh.”

Hands cuffed, with a cop on each side of him and one in front, they went through his office doors, down the hallway, and paraded him through the crowded restaurant.

Seth couldn’t resist an inner smile at their strategy. Could’ve taken him through the back door, where only a few employees would have witnessed this, or even through the kitchen, where maybe twenty or so would have been around to watch. No, they’d opted for the most visual and humiliating route.

Even when Ruth’s Place was empty, he didn’t think it’d ever been this quiet. Tables full of diners, every patron stopped in the middle of their meal to gawk.
Oh yeah, Houston PD is eating this up
.

“You’re a fool, you know that, Cavanaugh?” Greg Wallace snarled behind him.

So the man wasn’t unaffected by arresting a former friend. Well, he guessed that was something. Responding wouldn’t make a difference, so Seth remained silent.

Bright autumn sunlight hit him square in the eyes. Dammit, sunglasses would’ve been a nice touch, but he hadn’t bothered to ask for them. Besides, parading him in front of the half dozen cameras waiting for them to come out wouldn’t have near the impact if he’d been able to cover his eyes.

Five microphones were shoved toward his face. “Mr. Cavanaugh, what do you have to say about your arrest?”

“Mr. Cavanaugh, are you guilty?”

“Hey Seth, why’d you do it?”

Wonderful that so many people had faith in him.

Finished with their parade, an officer shoved Seth into the backseat and then slid in behind the wheel. Greg Wallace got into the front passenger seat, gave Seth a hard glare, and then turned his back on him.

As Seth settled back against the seat, the bite of the cuffs on his wrists and the uncomfortable wrench of his shoulders were mere annoyances. Weightier things occupied his mind.

His mother was just now getting the call … Sandra would be the one to call her. His sister was his senior by twelve years. The oldest of the Cavanaugh clan, she always took it upon herself to give the bad news to the family. For the first time ever, he wondered about that. Did she resent having to always be the bearer of bad news, or was this something she enjoyed? Guess it didn’t really matter, but wondering about it helped take his thoughts off the sheer agony he knew would be going through his mother’s mind right now. Her first question would be “What can we do to help?” Mama Cavanaugh always wanted to rescue her babies, whether they deserved it or not.