Into the Fury (BOSS, Inc. #1)(106)

She tried to smile, couldn’t quite make it happen. “I know, the doctor said.”

“You don’t need to worry. I’m a very fast . . . healer.”

She almost smiled, swallowed back tears and nodded, couldn’t manage another word.

“Promise we’ll talk . . . before you say no.”

A tear rolled down her cheek. “You think I’m going to say no?”

“I’m afraid . . . you will.” He lifted her hand to his lips, pressed a kiss into her palm. “I love you. Stupid time to tell you.”

It wasn’t stupid. She managed to force her lips into a teary smile. “You sure it’s not just the meds talking?”

His mouth edged up. “I’ve loved you . . . for a while. I just hadn’t . . . figured it out.”

Tears rolled down her cheeks. She bent over him, brushed the faintest kiss over his lips. “I love you, too. Didn’t take me long to figure it out.”

His eyes slid closed. “Who needs a whole spleen, anyway?”

She was caught between laughter and tears. “I just need you,” she whispered softly.

But Ethan didn’t hear her. He had drifted back to sleep.

“I’m sorry to interrupt,” the nurse said, “but Ethan has another visitor. His little girl is here. She really needs to see him.”

“Of course.” Val eased back as the nurse led Hannah up to her father’s bedside. She saw the tubes and needles poking out of him, saw the pale color of his skin, and her face scrunched up with tears.

“He’s going to be okay, sweetheart.” Val reached down and took hold of the little girl’s hand. “I promise.”

Ethan slowly opened his eyes. “Hey . . . sweet cheeks . . .”

“Daddy . . .” Hannah leaned against the bed and started crying.

“I’m okay, sweetheart. Daddy just had a little . . . accident. Like when you fell off your trike. But I’m already . . . getting better.”

Val smoothed a hand over Hannah’s hair. “I know how you’re feeling. I was really scared, too. I know you love your daddy. I love him, too.”

Hannah turned to look up at her, eyes wet and glistening. “Is he really gonna be okay?”

“Yes, he is.” Val smiled down at Ethan. “He’s a very fast healer.”

Ethan’s lips twitched. “My two best girls.” His eyes slid slowly closed, then opened. “Listen to Valentine . . . sweetheart. Everything’s going to be okay.”

Hannah’s serious gaze swung from Ethan to Val. “I think Daddy loves you, too.”

For the first time since Luke had phoned Dirk, the smile that curved Val’s lips felt real.





Epilogue



It was Saturday, a sunny September morning with only a slight breeze blowing in off the Puget Sound. Ethan sat on the comfortable overstuffed sofa in Val’s cozy living room. He’d been staying there since he’d been released from the hospital. Val had insisted he needed her help to mend. He wasn’t about to argue.

Even after he’d gone back to work, neither of them had wanted to end the arrangement. Two weeks ago, he’d given up the lease on his apartment, making their living together official.

Ethan still hadn’t asked Val to marry him. Not yet. It had taken all his willpower to keep his mouth shut, but he wanted to be absolutely certain she’d say yes. He understood her misgivings about the kind of work he did, knew she wasn’t crazy about marrying a guy who carried a gun. Being shot hadn’t exactly helped matters.

They had talked about it, though, which was a major step. She knew how important his job was to him, knew she had to accept what he did for a living if they were going to make it work.

He’d promised her from now on he would try to take cases that wouldn’t get him shot or killed, couldn’t believe she actually seemed satisfied with that.

Val was working part-time at the animal clinic and had started back to school. She was busy and so was he, but they still managed to have plenty of time for each other.

Ethan looked over to where she sat on the floor playing dolls with Hannah. Snoozie curled in the sunshine a few feet away. Val didn’t have much family, just Mom and Pops. He’d met them at the hospital, then again at their small family farm. He thought they were great. Fortunately, they seemed to like him, too.

Val laughed at something, and Hannah giggled. Val didn’t have much experience with kids, but during his stay in the hospital, she and Hannah seemed to have bonded.

Val helped the little girl dress her Barbie doll in some kind of long sequined gown that reminded him of the dress she had worn on the local morning news and the hot sex they’d had later.

Ethan felt a jolt of heat and found himself smiling.

It had been seven weeks since the shooting. The case was wrapped up good and tight, everyone rounded up and sitting in jail for a list of crimes a foot long. Everyone but Stern, who had died in his house that day.

Bick Gallagher, aka Ray Bickford, had turned state’s evidence and rolled on his former lover, Myra Latham Stern; her twin brother, Peter Latham; and his wife, Alessandra, also neck deep in the diamond smuggling operation. Julian Latham was a major player, now locked away.

Because the case involved international crime, they were all considered flight risks, so none had been granted bail.