Joe said, “How the hell do I blunder into things like this? Seems like every time I turn around, someone wants to shoot me.”
Jamie said, “You won’t get shot.”
“Gee, thanks, Jamie. I’m so reassured.”
“I know.”
They were both nuts. But Clint understood that they weren’t just telling jokes. Jamie, strangely enough, was dead serious. He really thought he knew what would happen in a situation so volatile that Clint couldn’t think beyond keeping Julie safe. Joe was slick enough to talk nonsense, just to keep Drew distracted, and that helped—but not enough.
Seeing Julie’s face, her emotional devastation at such a betrayal, Clint wanted to strangle Drew with his bare hands. But he held himself still, letting Joe do his thing so that the damn lethal pistol stayed off the women.
Drew stood back against a wall, the gun held out stiffly, aimed at no one in particular. It surprised Clint that Drew was such a slight man, elegant even with dark circles lining his eyes and a pasty complexion. It seemed as if the turn of events had thrown him. He wasn’t a man accustomed to improvising. And it was clear that Clint and Joe made him nervous.
Yeah, Clint thought, you weren’t expecting real men on the scene, were you, you ass?
Robert finally raised his head. “I’m so damn sorry, Julie.”
She had just started to sit at the table, but when she saw Robert’s face, Julie cried out. “Dear God. Robert.” She rushed to his side and knelt by his chair.
Drew’s wild gaze followed her. “Oh, yes, now you care about him, when it’s too late.” His sarcasm made him sound maniacal and unbalanced. “Where were you when he needed you most, Julie?”
Showing no caution at all, Julie snapped, “I was kidnapped, thanks to you.”
“No, my dear. I found you earlier today. You weren’t still in their clutches. You were off behaving like a common slut, trolling with that gutter trash.” He tipped his head toward Clint, making it clear who he meant.
Hurrying to the sink, Julie doused a cloth in cold water. “Gutter trash, Uncle? Clint is honorable, which is more than I can say for you.”
“You dare compare him to me?”
Drew went livid, but Joe pulled out a chair, laughing a bit too loud, again taking Drew’s attention. “So how’d you find her, old man?”
Gathering himself in a pompous show, Drew sniffed. “Robert had some idealistic intentions of becoming a real man, or so he said. He confessed everything to me, how he’d intended to steal my money—”
“Julie’s money,” Robert corrected, then groaned.
“—and he told me that he’d hired Mr. Evans, that Julie was safe. I went along, showing sympathy with his plight, relief that you were supposedly safe, though truth be told, you were probably better off with the kidnappers. At least they didn’t feign some romantic attachment in an effort to get at your trust fund.”
“I don’t give a fuck about her trust fund,” Clint growled, earning a disdainful look from Drew.
“Of course you don’t.” His smile was caustic and cold. “It was easy enough to put a watch on Robert’s home, and after Mr. Evans showed up here earlier today, I had him followed.”
Joe said, “You must be slipping, Clint.”
Clint shook his head. “I knew something was wrong, but damn it, I thought it was with Julie, not with me.”
“What a ridiculous assumption. I wanted you out of the picture, Mr. Evans, so that Julie and Robert could be reunited.”
Julie’s mouth fell open. “You’d have killed an innocent man just to see me married?”
Drew frowned. “He’s not innocent. And, of course, now Marie will have to go, too. It’s what your father would have wanted.”
“My father wanted me to be happy!”
“And marrying Robert will make you happy. You’ll see.”
Joe turned to Jamie. “He’s going to shoot us all?”
Jamie said, “He’s considering it.”
“Of course I’m not,” Drew snapped. “Julie is my niece. Her father entrusted me with her care. I would never hurt her.”
Marie covered her mouth and moaned, rocking back and forth.
Being the amazing woman she was, Julie handed Robert the icy rag and then put her arm around Marie. “Shhh,” she whispered. “It’ll be okay, Marie. You’ll see.”
Drew’s face contorted into a mask of disgust. “You want to help that little whore? She’s the one who ruined everything by throwing herself at Robert!”
“She’s not a whore,” Robert raged, and Julie quickly placed herself in front of him.
Hands on her hips, her chin elevated, she faced the devil. “If you truly don’t want me hurt, if you really want my happiness, you’ll let them all go.”
“Julie.” Drew’s face softened and he dared to smile. “They would report me to the authorities. No, my dear, now that you’ve ruined everything, they have to go.”
Christ, Clint thought with frustration, Julie pushed too hard, trying to protect everyone. Drew said that he didn’t intend to hurt her, but it was never wise to antagonize the insane—and he believed Drew to be nuttier than a fruitcake.
Clint considered the situation. He had to do something, but what? With Julie bounding around the room, trying to shield everyone at once, his options were limited. He needed her to move behind him or behind Joe. Or hell, behind Jamie. Just behind someone, so she’d be safe from stray bullets.
Then he could attack.
If he got shot, well, he’d survived worse. He doubted Drew was such a good marksman that he’d manage a fatal blow while fending off an assault. At the moment, Drew’s hands were shaky, his eyes bloodshot, and he was far too emotional to show any precision.
“Don’t do it,” Jamie said, staring at Clint.
“You don’t need to.”
Well damn, there went his element of surprise.
Livid, Drew swung the gun around at Clint. “Do what? Damn you, what are you planning?” Drew looked far from genteel with a sneer on his face.
“Actually, I was planning to kill you.”
Julie leapt across the room, meaning to put herself in front of Clint, but Clint took swift advantage of her nearness. He caught her and pushed her toward Joe.
Joe, knowing exactly what Clint wanted, came out of his chair in an instant, grabbing her and shoving her behind him. When she fought him, he said, “Let’s see some of that common sense you’re known for, Julie.”
Drew faced off with Clint. “You shouldn’t have gotten involved.”
“I’d be dead if he hadn’t.” Very slowly, every movement filled with pain, Robert pushed to his feet. He clutched his ribs with one arm and leaned on the chair back with the other. To Drew, he said, “Because Clint kept her, I was able to give half the ransom money to Asa. That’s probably the only reason I got a beating instead of a bullet.”
Marie gasped. “My brother?”
Nodding, Robert said, “I thought he had Julie. I thought she was taken because of me, because Asa feels I owe him money.” Robert turned his battered face toward Marie. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I couldn’t bear for you to know. I didn’t want you to see me as a failure.”
Marie shook her head. “I don’t understand.”
“I ruined one of Asa’s business deals and he wants me to pay him for the loss.” He shifted uncomfortably. “But I didn’t have the money to do that.”
Big tears streamed down Marie’s face. “I would have talked to him, Robert. Asa would do anything for me.”
“Maybe. But then both he and you might have thought I used you just to get out of a debt.” He drew a shuddering breath. “Nothing could be farther from the truth.”
Marie closed her eyes. “I wish you had trusted me.” More tears spilled down her cheeks. “Because I trust you. Completely. Don’t you see, Robert? I didn’t think I’d ever be able to love anyone until I met you.”
For a single heartbeat, it was silent in the room; then Drew went ballistic. “Stop it! My God, your displays of melodrama are enough to make meill.”
Jamie pointed a finger at Drew. “You’re going to die, you know that, don’t you?”
Confusion written on his florid face, Drew blinked hard as if he’d forgotten Jamie was there. “Who are you?”
Eyes deep and fathomless, Jamie said, “I’m no one.”
Julie said at the same time, “He’s my friend.”
Jamie’s eyes narrowed at that, but he held silent.
“And that one?” Drew indicated Joe with a wave of the gun, nearly stopping Clint’s heart because Julie was right beside him.
“Also my friend.” Julie struggled against Joe’s grip, but he kept her held securely behind him. Her voice rose to an angry shout. “I have friends, Uncle Drew. Male friends, female friends. I care about them, and I’m not going to let you hurt them.”
“I gave you everything,” he rasped.
“No. Not everything. The one thing I wanted most, I got on my own with no help from you, and no help from my trust fund.”
More confused by the second, Drew lowered the gun. “What?”
Jamie half smiled. “I’ll give you a hint. He’s in this room.”
Drew looked at Robert.
Julie knotted her hands in her hair and gave a low shriek of frustration. “No, you ass!” And she pointed an imperious finger at Clint. “Him.”
Odd, how even with danger thick in the air, Clint felt his heart swelling. Jamie was right, he did love her, and no way in hell was he going to let some loony relative hurt her or the people she cared about.
Despite Jamie’s predictions, Clint would take charge of the room. Starting now.
He moved one step toward Drew. “Why have her kidnapped, you son-of-a-bitch? What did you hope to prove by endangering her that way?”
Baffled by Julie’s reply and Clint’s question, Drew stared blankly around the room, encompassing everyone. “Don’t you see? With Julie in peril, Robert would be concerned. He was given the ransom note and the money to rescue her. He should have realized how much he loved her. The men I hired told him that she’d be killed if he didn’t pay.”
Julie breathed hard, clasping her hands together. “They also threatened to rape me.”
“I know.” Unapologetic, Drew continued to try to explain, as if what he’d done made perfect sense. “I wanted you to be afraid, so that when Robert rescued you, you’d be grateful to him. I wanted you two to realize that you need each other so that you’d get over your little disagreement and reunite.”
Very slowly, Marie pushed to her feet.
Clint wanted Drew’s attention on him, not on anyone else. He moved one step nearer. “They hurt her, Drew, did you know that? Was that part of your warped plan, too?”
“No, that’s not possible. I promised them good money to follow my—”
“They did,” Clint insisted, inching forward another step. “When I reached her, they had her half stripped and were mauling her. She was tied with ropes, covered in bruises. They hadn’t fed her or given her water.” Another step nearer.
“She fainted in my arms, damn you.”
Drew’s face lost all color. “I told them to keep her safe. They promised she wouldn’t be harmed.”
Drew was still out of reach, but soon, soon Clint would be close enough to grab the bastard. “They ogled her. They touched her. They hurt her.”
Sweat dampened Drew’s forehead. Spittle gathered at the corners of his mouth. He gave a half-hysterical laugh. “Well, I’m certainly glad I shot Petie. I knew he hadn’t followed orders, but I didn’t realize—” Beseeching, he turned to Julie. “Darling, I’m so sorry. After I shot him, I searched his apartment to try to find out what he’d done with you. But he was dead, and the others were in jail, and I couldn’t find even a single clue.”
Julie shook her head. “I can’t believe you did this to me.”
“It was a good plan,” he insisted. “I even had a flunky inform Asa Ragon as to where you were. I thought Asa would go after you himself, given how he feels about women, and then Robert could have confronted him, too…” He beseeched Robert with a look. “Yes, I knew you had a little contretemps with Marie’s brother. If you’d come to me, we could have taken care of him.”
Marie knocked over her chair. “You…you monster.” Her loud, shrill voice froze everyone to the spot. She moved toward Drew with jerky steps, uncaring of the danger, totally out of control.
Taking a step back, Drew yelled, “I didn’t hurt your damn brother!” He lifted the gun to defend himself. “Stop. Get back!”
“You put your own niece through hell.” Marie wasn’t crying now. Her pale eyes were icy cold, filled with hatred. “You let her think she’d be violated by those animals. You allowed them to manhandle her, to scare her. You’re her uncle. You should have been protecting her. What you did was evil, vile—”
“Get back, I said!”
Robert gasped for breath. “Drew, for God’s sake, lower the damn gun!”
Clint cursed.
In a panic, Drew started to squeeze the trigger.
Things happened so fast, it all seemed a blur. Clint leapt for Drew, knowing he’d never reach him in time.
The gun went off with a quiet pop, thanks to the silencer. And Robert, who lunged in front of Marie, grunted in pain as the force of the bullet sent him into the table, upsetting all the chairs.
Clint’s shoulder impacted with Drew’s middle, knocking the wind out of him in a loud whoosh. The gun dropped from his limp hand, skittering across the floor to the other side of the room. Together, the two men fetched up hard against the wall, then dropped to the marble floor. Clint didn’t notice the pain in his knees as he drew back his fist and slugged Drew in the jaw.
Drew’s head snapped to the side, and he slumped, no longer trying to fend Clint off.
Clint drew back again, and Joe grabbed his arm. “He’s out, man. Stop.”
Clint easily pulled free, fueled by adrenaline and fury. Drew had put Julie at awful risk with his sick plans. She could have been killed, first by the kidnappers, and then by Drew himself. Clint growled, his arm cocked back—and Julie Rose threw herself against his chest.
He felt the hot sting of her tears on his throat, the desperation of her hands on his shoulders. He heard her small sob.
By small degrees, Clint’s head began to clear. His thudding heart slowed. He gasped a few times, then wrapped Julie close, squeezing her until she protested with a squeak.
“Clint?”
Her voice shook, and he tucked his face into her neck, unable to let go. “It’s all right now, Julie Rose.”
“But Robert’s hurt. You have to do something.”
Joe said calmly, “I’ve got it, Julie. You can stay with him.”
Clint heard Joe on the phone, calling 911 and efficiently detailing the scenario. Cops and paramedics alike would soon storm the quiet, classy neighborhood.
Julie’s hands sifted through Clint’s hair. “Are you all right?”
He nodded, took several deep breaths, then glanced at Drew. Blood ran from the older man’s nose, trailed around his gaping mouth and covered his chin.
Clint knew he was going to be ill. He pushed away from Julie and stormed down the hall in search of a bathroom. She followed him.
“Here,” Julie said, and threw open the door to the first-floor powder room. Clint landed hard on his knees in front of the commode, and Julie, bless her heart, closed the door behind him, giving him privacy.
Minutes later when he came out, she was there waiting for him, mouthwash and a cool, damp washcloth in her hands. She smiled tremulously. “Better?”
“Jesus.” No man should have to suffer such a debilitating, embarrassing weakness. He tipped the mouthwash up and gargled, then stepped back into the bathroom to spit. His stomach still roiled, worse than ever before because, now that it was over, Clint realized the fear had been worse than ever before.
Never in his life had he been in the position of protecting someone he loved. Innocent bystanders, sure. People he’d been hired to save, no problem. But someone so near and dear to his heart? It sucked.
His stomach hated it and his mind recoiled at the thought of what the others might think.
As if she’d read his mind, Julie hugged his back and said, “Joe’s paying you no attention at all. Both Robert and Drew are barely conscious, and Marie is concerned only with Robert.”
Sticking his head in the sink, Clint gulped icy water and splashed his face. Finally feeling human again, he faced her. His eyes were gritty and his muscles were mush. With a trembling hand—trembling—he touched her cheek. “You’re okay, baby?”
“I’m fine. It’s Robert who’s hurt. Well, and Uncle Drew, but—”
Clint snarled, “I could have killed him for what he did to you, Julie Rose.”
“I know.” Julie smiled and patted his chest in an absurd effort to soothe him. “But you didn’t. You’re methodical when you fight, Clint, not out of control, and you’re far too honorable to kill a man unless it’s the only way to save another life. You abide by the law, protecting women and children and other men. You have a conscience and a big heart, and you’re so gentle.”
Clint stared in blank disbelief. He could be ruthless, and not always by choice. More often than not his instincts just took over. No, he hadn’t killed anyone except in wartime, and other than the man who made a habit of abusing his wife, he hadn’t ever lost control. But he did despise the damage he did, even when necessary. “I’m not an easy man to be with.”
She laughed. “That I definitely know.”
The laugh did it. Clint hauled her back into his arms, squeezing her some more. Unwilling to turn her loose, he lifted her up and carried her back to the kitchen. Julie nuzzled his throat and held on and returned his hug.
Drew’s eyes were open, filled with pain and wariness and confusion, but he hadn’t yet moved. Clint dismissed him and went to check on Robert. The bullet had caught him in his upper arm, not his chest. Already, Joe had the bleeding nearly stopped. “He’ll be okay?”
Joe glanced up, then away. “Yeah. If that beating didn’t kill him, a knick with a .38 won’t.”
“Where’s the gun?”
Joe reached back and pulled it out of the waistband of his jeans to hand to Clint. Then he eyed him cautiously. “I trust you won’t use that?”
Clint half smiled, knowing Joe wouldn’t have given him the gun if he’d had any real concerns.
“Normally I’d be all for it, you understand, and God knows the bastard deserves it, but with the cops already on the way…”
“I’m not going to shoot him.”
Nodding toward Marie, who had Robert’s head in her lap, Joe said, “I don’t think she can make the same promise.”
Her hands still stroking Robert’s forehead, Marie whispered, “It’s true. He’s an evil man who deserves death.” Her voice was hoarse, broken by emotion. “No woman should ever suffer rape, or even the fear of rape.”
Joe gave her a long look. “I agree. Now, hold his hand, Marie. I hear the ambulance sirens. He’s going to be fine.” Joe went to the front door to let everyone in.
After a shuddering breath, Marie looked up at Julie. “I am so very sorry. A lot of this is my fault—”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” Sliding out of Clint’s arms, Julie straightened her clothes and went to Marie. “You can’t blame yourself for my uncle’s actions.”
“But—”
Julie wouldn’t have it. “No, Marie. All you did was fall in love with an engaged man, but what Robert and I had wouldn’t have lasted anyway.”
“You’re sure of that?”
Julie glanced at Clint. “Very sure.” She offered Marie a smile. “I hope you two can work things out.”
With an obvious effort, Robert got his eyes to open. “I’m not letting her go, Julie.”
“Of course not.”
“I’ve been a selfish pig, a coward, but I swear to you, I never wanted you hurt.”
Julie nodded. “I know that, Robert. Love does strange things to people.”
“I’ll need to call my brother,” Marie said. An uncharacteristic determination added maturity to her face. “He’ll accept Robert, or lose me. Period.”
Footsteps thundered down the polished wooden hallway, and seconds later the kitchen was overrun with officials. Paramedics worked over Robert and Drew, and cops pulled out notepads to start the long series of questions.
Knowing they’d be occupied for hours, Clint righted two chairs, urged Julie into one, and pulled the other close so that he could hold her hand. While waiting for their turn to be interrogated, Clint tried to figure out what to do with the future.
One thing was certain, he wouldn’t let Julie go. If she insisted on living in Visitation, then he’d damn well live there, too. Whatever it took to make Julie Rose happy.
The cops were securing the scene when Joe leaned down near Clint’s ear. “Jamie’s gone missing. It’d probably be best not to mention him at all.”
Bemused that he hadn’t realized that on his own, Clint searched the room, and sure enough, Jamie Creed was nowhere in sight. “What the hell?”
Julie blew out a long sigh. “He does that. He’s always so very…alone. Even when he’s with people.”
Clint nodded acknowledgment of that. “He said he was nobody.”
Joe shrugged. “He’d like to believe it, I think. But mixing Jamie with the cops would never work. They’d probably lock him up as a nut, and Jamie would be telling them their future the whole time.”
The three of them smiled—and silently made a pact not to mention Jamie Creed and his odd contribution to the safe outcome of the day.
Halfway down the block, ready to turn the corner and disappear from sight, Jamie Creed glanced back to see the emergency vehicles in their grand display of lights and sirens. He turned away. With the sun in his eyes and a good three miles to the highway, he kept walking—and he didn’t look back.
No one needed him now.
He tucked his hands into his jeans pockets and ducked his head, grateful that Julie hadn’t been hurt, that Joe and Clint were unharmed, and that Robert and Marie would both be fine.
He squinted down at his feet, seeing the frayed edges of his jeans, the worn leather on his boots. He counted his steps so that his mind didn’t linger on the people who wanted to befriend him. They didn’t understand that any type of real relationship was impossible. If he got close to anyone, it would destroy him, obliterating who and what he was.
Better that he should help people who needed him than indulge friendships that would never work out in the end.
He kept walking, and soon a trucker gave him a lift. It might take a while to get back to North Carolina, but that didn’t matter either.
There was no one waiting for him. And that’s how he wanted it.
That’s how it had to be.
“Come and eat,” Mojo said.
“I’m not hungry right now.”
Red propped his hands on his hips. “That’s bunk. You’re just moping.”
Daisy punched his shoulder. “Can’t a woman enjoy a moment of private thought without you two harassing her?”
Julie smiled. She liked Red’s wife a lot. She hadn’t met Mojo’s girlfriend yet, but maybe that would happen soon.
“Go on,” she told them. “Enjoy your weekend off. You’ve both earned it.”
Mojo snorted at that. “All we did was help you move.”
Julie shook her head. They’d saved her and befriended her. And yes, they’d helped her move all her belongings to Visitation. “You’ve been wonderful. But look, Bryan and Bruce are starting a game of horseshoes. Surely you don’t want to miss that.”
Red rolled his eyes, then took his wife’s hand. “Let’s go, honey. We’ll stomp them.”
Julie shielded her eyes from the early July sunshine as she watched them walk away. They fit right in with the laid-back, easy nature of Visitation, and they’d been welcomed as if they were native born. She wished they didn’t live so far away, but they promised to visit. Mojo even talked about buying a boat.
Julie turned away from the crowd. Nearly everyone in Visitation had turned out for the Fourth of July celebration. Some were swimming, some boating, some hugged the opposite shore and fished.
Fresh humid air wafted around her and birds chirped from all the nearby trees. It was a beautiful summer day, and she was both more content and more desolate than she’d ever been in her life.
Finally, at the ripe age of twenty-nine, she was free. Totally independent. Completely on her own.
It wasn’t nearly as satisfying as she’d always imagined.
With her thoughts on her Uncle Drew, she strolled over to a large, leafy tree to find some shade. Drew would remain locked up until his competency hearing, at which time it’d be determined if he was rational enough to face criminal charges or life in a mental hospital. He would never again interfere in her life.
A small part of her couldn’t help but be sad that she’d lost her closest relative. But a larger part was still angry and hurt at so much deception and manipulation. Regardless of what the courts decided, she knew she’d never want to see him again. He’d threatened not only her life, but the man she loved. That was unforgivable.
To keep herself from dwelling on the negative, Julie had thrown herself into getting her life organized. Using the ransom money that Robert still held, she’d made certain that Mojo and Red got paid. Clint had flatly refused any compensation and had, in fact, been incensed that she’d suggest it.
With that taken care of, she’d secured a permanent teaching position in Visitation, then located a small, affordable house that was both close to the school and within driving distance of the lake. She had her privacy, a job she loved, and a new house to occupy her time. Her life was exactly as she had envisioned it—before meeting Clint.
Since meeting him, her priorities had changed in a drastic way.
Julie sighed and tucked her hair behind her ear. Three long, endless weeks had passed since that debacle at Robert’s home. Though he’d carry that bullet wound forever as a reminder of his misdeeds, Robert had almost fully recovered. He had changed quite a bit, become more of a man thanks to Clint’s influence and the events that had affected his life. Julie held no grudge against him.
Neither did Marie. Believing love could conquer the obstacles they’d be sure to encounter, they planned to marry in just a few weeks.
It seemed everyone was happy. Everyone but Julie. And it was her own selfishness that kept her from total bliss.
She wanted everything.
She wanted Clint.
After she moved to Visitation, he continued his work as a repo agent, often taking jobs in or around North Carolina to be close to her. They dated, talked for long hours, and made love at every opportunity.
But did Clint love her?
Julie heard some raucous laughing and looked up in time to see Scott Royal, the deputy, toss Alyx Winston into the lake. Alyx was fully dressed, not in a swimsuit.
Laughing like a loon, Alyx climbed out, chased Scott, and finally caught him near the picnic tables. She threw herself into his arms, soaking the front of his uniform.
The two of them often provided the entertainment at various parties. And there had been plenty of parties lately. Shay Kelly was on a roll, sponsoring one event after another with proceeds going to the underprivileged—in Clint’s neighborhood. Thinking of the young men she’d met there, Julie intended to take part, too.
“Penny for your thoughts.”
Startled, Julie shook off her melancholy and fashioned a smile of welcome. “Hello, Carmen.” Even with Julie now living in Visitation, their friendship had grown. They’d taken turns visiting and spoke often on the phone.
Carmen shook her finger at Julie. “Why are you over here hiding all by yourself?”
Is that what everyone thought? That she was hiding? “I’m not.”
“Baloney.” Carmen took note of Julie’s clothes, nodding approval at the feminine white sundress and casual sandals. “You learned, didn’t you? You look gorgeous.”
Julie blushed. “Forget my clothes. Do you have news for me?”
Carmen preened before saying, “Actually, I do. There’s some mandatory substance abuse counseling, then reeducation.”
Crossing her fingers, Julie asked, “And then?”
“In six months, as long as I stay clean—and I will—I can reapply for a contingency license.” Carmen grinned. “If that goes through, my full privileges will be reinstated.”
“Carmen, that’s wonderful!”
Julie hadn’t heard Clint’s approach, but she felt his muscled arms slip around her from behind. “It’s not going to be easy.”
“I know.” Carmen smiled at them both. “The thing is, I’m tired of being tired all the time. I’m tired of screwing up my life.”
Clint reached past Julie and cupped Carmen’s cheek. “You’re a strong woman. You can do it.” He wrapped his arms around Julie again, pressed a kiss to her temple. “And we’re here if you need us.”
“Shay said the same thing.” Carmen’s smile trembled, looking poignant and a little too emotional as her warm gaze searched Julie’s face.
“She also told me you’re the one who got the ball rolling.”
“I only made a phone call.”
“No.” Carmen reached out for Julie’s hand.
“You showed faith in me. It was so…unexpected. I dunno. You got me thinking, and caring again. Thank you.”
Clint gave Julie a squeeze. “She’s a teacher,” he said with pride. “What else would you expect from her?”
Shaking off the excess sentiment, Carmen said, “I’d expect her to go after what she wants.”
“Yeah?” Clint asked. “And what’s that?”
Carmen rolled her eyes. “If you don’t know, then you’re a lost cause.” She gave them both a wave and sauntered off to join the others near the bounty of picnic food.
His big hands on her shoulders, Clint turned Julie to face him. “What was that all about?”
Knowing Carmen was right, Julie made a decision. “It was about taking control of my life.”
“I thought you already did that. You relocated, changed jobs…”
“Now I want more.”
Clint gave her a funny look, but Julie just shook her head, took his hand, and started dragging him toward the woods on the far side of the property. There were trails there for bird watchers, but few people ever used them. It’d be a perfect spot for their private conversation.
“Where are we going, Julie Rose?”
He continued to call her by both names, and Julie had long since given up on her complaints. Until now. She’d had enough. She wanted him for good. Forever. In sickness and in health.
“Drew will have his competency hearing soon.”
Clint’s mood always soured when her uncle got mentioned. “Whatever. I don’t give a damn what they do with him as long as he’s kept far away from you.”
“The thing is,” Julie said, hedging around the real topic, “my trust is frozen. It was to be released to me when I married, and not before.”
Clint said nothing to that.
“I have a lot of money, Clint.”
They had just reached the tree line and Clint turned abruptly, grabbing her shoulders and lifting her to her tiptoes. Nose to nose with her, he growled, “I thought I was clear on this. I don’t give a damn about your money.”
“I know.”
That stymied him. “Then why are you bringing it up?”
She bit her lip, afraid of driving him away, but more afraid of living in limbo. “Because I don’t quite know how to verbalize what it is that I really want to say. I thought the money would be a way to ease into it.”
A look of worry etched his features. He set her back on her feet to run a hand through his hair. “Damn it, I hate fretting. I never fretted before you. You’re making me old before my time.”
“What are you fretting about?”
“You.” Mindful of the other people milling around the lake, he caught her hand and dragged her into the tall evergreens. He glared down at her, then barked, “Deputy Royal thinks I should take the position of sheriff.”
Julie’s mouth fell open. Not once had she considered him saying precisely that. “Sheriff?”
His chin jutted out. “You’ve been pretty plain on how you feel about law officials.”
She had no idea what he was talking about. “I have?”
“More than once, you’ve bitched about Scott being controlling.”
Lifting her shoulders, Julie said, “You’re controlling.”
“I know, and you probably figure I’d be more so as a sheriff, but damn it, baby, it’d be a good job. I wouldn’t have to travel back and forth all the time. I wouldn’t have to be away from you.” His eyes narrowed. “I could stay here. In Visitation.” And then to make certain she understood, he added, “With you.”
A near hysterical laugh bubbled up. Julie suppressed it by pinching her lips together. “I see. And why does that make you fret, exactly?”
Still appearing antagonistic, Clint took a step closer to her. “You had all these grand plans for your future.” His hand slashed the air. “All that bunk about cutting loose and living it up, doing things you’d never done before.”
Julie softened. “I’ve done a lot of them. With you.”
“Sexually.” He cupped her face. “But I want you to be happy. I don’t want to cheat you out of anything.”
“I am happy.” She smiled from ear to ear. “And I think you’d make an excellent sheriff. You’re more than qualified, and more than capable. Scott’s desperate to find someone for the position.” Her heart felt full to bursting. “And then, as you said, you could stay here with me.”
Clint kissed her hard and fast. “Is that what you want, Julie Rose?”
“What I really want…” A lump formed in her throat.
“What?” He kissed her again. “Tell me.”
“I want you to call me Julie Evans, instead of Julie Rose.”
Clint rocked back on his heels. He looked stunned. Speechless. Then slowly, a grin began to spread. “Is that a marriage proposal?”
Feeling like a fool, Julie lifted her chin and said, “Yes, it is. And I expect an answer.”
Clint chuckled. “I’d be honored.” He tunneled his fingers into her hair, holding her face turned up to his. “Now tell me you love me.”
“I love you.”
He nodded. “Finally, I can stop fretting.”