Falling Into Right

by Sharon Kay

  The wail of sirens outside carried to his ears. “The guys are here,” Shane said. “Is your front door locked?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Good. But I need to let them in.”

  “I’ll go with you. I don’t want to be alone with him, even if… if he can’t move,” she whispered.

  “I second that.” Though Hatcher didn’t look like he was capable of lifting his head at the moment, Shane would never underestimate the guy. He grabbed a sweater from Becca’s pile and used it to pick up Hatcher’s gun. Then he commanded Denver to watch Hatcher.

  Becca held Shane’s hand as they walked downstairs and opened the front door. Four officers and Sheriff Morris exited their vehicles and headed in.

  “Suspect is in the master bedroom,” Shane said, “subdued by duct tape and Denver.” He turned to Becca. “I need to go up and get Denver. Also, they’re going to have questions.”

  She nodded. “I’ll stay down here for now, in case any other cops need to come in.”

  Shane squeezed her hand. “Be back as soon as I can.”

  Upstairs, the officers were swapping the duct tape for handcuffs. Shane called Denver to his side, patting his sleek fur. Morris turned to Shane with raised eyebrows. “You mind telling me why you arrested and restrained the county treasurer?”

  “Sheriff,” Shane said, “I’m looking forward to tellin’ you every last detail.”

  Hours later, all of the police, forensics people, and EMTs had left Becca’s house. She and Shane had been questioned extensively, separately, when all she wished for was to be alone with him. Marcy had come by with carry-out enchiladas, but Becca had no appetite.

  Ted Markham was the last to leave and gave her a wave as Shane walked him to the front door. “Take care now.”

  “Thanks for everything, Ted,” Becca called from her living room couch. He’d been so efficient, at least it seemed to her, gathering specs of this and fibers of that.

  Shane closed the door and crossed the room to sit beside her, tucking her close. “Well, that’s it. Hatcher will be questioned, booked, fingerprinted, though he’ll probably be able to post bail. But this time, we know who to slap the restraining order on.”

  Becca nodded. Evan was already planning to hit Kirk with every violation he could find. Though with the court system jammed with a backlog of cases, it might be several months before his trial unless he could be persuaded to plead guilty.

  “I knew Kirk was ambitious, but I never expected him to sabotage his career. That meant everything to him.”

  “Unstable.” Shane shook his head. “He didn’t know what he had, in his career or in his personal life.”

  “I still feel a little guilty. Wait.” Becca held up a hand as Shane’s mouth opened, no doubt to argue with her. “I did make a big mistake, and it did affect his career and mine. But the way he acted, or over-reacted? I feel like that side of him would have come out eventually. Isn’t there a saying about how, when the chips are down, a person’s true nature comes out?”

  “Don’t know about that, but I do agree he would have gone nuts on you at some point. Who knows what would have triggered it?”

  “Yeah.” She shuddered at the potential. She was so, so lucky to have Shane. And Denver. She smiled as the dog padded over to them and sat in front of her. She leaned forward to pet his head. “You’re such a good boy, Denver.” He had stayed at Shane’s side, monitoring the bustle of police activity—except for a few times. He’d popped into the living room to seek her out, sniff her hand or knee, and, apparently satisfied that she was okay, rejoin Shane. She sighed. “This feels surreal. I mean, this whole year has been hard, but this? It’s, like, stuff that’s supposed to happen to someone else. Stuff you see in movies. But we both know what it’s like to be the one who lives that life.”

  “True, and we also know how to keep moving forward.”

  She leaned back on his broad shoulder. “With your help, yes. But I’m the biggest disaster ever.”

  “Not a disaster. And if you are, you’re the most beautiful one I’d ever want to be with.”

  She gazed up at him. “Shane, when Kirk had me up there, all I could think about was you. How strong you are, and how I wish I could be more like you. How I couldn’t wait to get back to you.”

  “I’ll be strong for you any day, anytime you need. I’m not going anywhere.” He caressed her shoulders. “Rebecca, I love you.”

  Her jaw dropped, and tears filled her eyes. “I love you too. So much. I wasn’t sure if I trusted my feelings, but all I know is that I feel safe with you. You’ve overcome your own things from your past, and you’re amazing.” She twisted on the couch to press her lips to his. “I want to be with you all the time. Always.”

  He kissed her swiftly. “That can be arranged. Starting with getting all your stuff out of here and over to my place.”

  “Yes! Let’s do it this weekend.”

  “How about tomorrow? Sheriff has me taking a couple days off since this situation involves me and a county official. He’s gonna have to prepare a statement.”

  “You’ll be in the news again. I know you don’t like that.”

  “Becca, when it comes to you, I’ll take the heat and the focus any day. I don’t care if my name is trending on every social media site in existence.”

  “You know you’re my h-e-r-o, right?” She smiled and caressed his jaw.

  “I’ll be anything you need me to be, baby. No expiration date on that.”

  Epilogue

  Six weeks later

  Becca burrowed deeper under the covers in Shane’s bed as the sound of the shower running stirred her toward consciousness. Geez. Not only had Shane gone for his three mile run, now he was showering, and it was just after seven a.m. on Christmas Day. And she hadn’t gotten out of bed yet.

  Not that she minded. He didn’t, either. She scooted over to his side and laid her head on his pillow. His delicious, comforting, and sexy scent filled her nostrils as the perfect, soft bedding cocooned her. Nothing could beat this holiday. Just being with him was a gift to last a lifetime.

  Kirk’s new bed, on the other hand, was probably uncomfortable and had a metal toilet next to it. He had first tried to spin the story the way he had told Shane he would—that Shane had disrupted a peaceful domestic episode. But his lies had crumbled as the authorities uncovered more details.

  His phone contained dozens of pictures of Becca in public places. His credit card statement showed the online order for twenty bags of Monopoly money as well as a car rental that was traced to the Yukon SUV. He claimed he had a key to Becca’s house, but could only produce the old one from before she’d changed the locks. He alleged that Shane had broken the window in the back door, but the forensics team had discovered Kirk’s skin cells on a shard of glass. Facing multiple felony counts, he had pled guilty.

  Thank god the nightmare was over. Becca’s insurance at Silver Springs had kicked in, and she started seeing a therapist. The best part was getting to fall asleep safe and sound in Shane’s arms every night. Nothing could possibly compare to that.

  The water turned off, and Becca flipped to her side to watch the bathroom door. Shane would open it to let the steam out, and she never tired of his hard, chiseled body.

  He hummed to himself, and in a second, the door swung open. His towel-dried hair stuck up at crazy angles. He tilted his head. “You awake, Sleeping Beauty?”

  “Maybe,” she murmured. Her thoughts short-circuited as he walked into the bedroom stark naked. She couldn’t help but stare at his perfect cock, impressive even when not hard.

  He grinned. “Gonna wreck the bed with you if you keep looking at me like that.” Opening a drawer, he grabbed boxer briefs and jeans and pulled them on.

  “I like to look at you,” she said.

  “The feeling’s mutual.” He crossed the room to sit on the edge of
the bed.

  “I can’t believe you guys went for a run on Christmas Day. You’re so dedicated.”

  “Have to. We’re going to Rosie’s later. She’ll have a ton of food, and you know she’ll sneak some to Denver and probably give him ten rawhides and those real cow bones as presents.” He shook his head, but amusement colored his voice.

  “It’s only fair. You’re giving Emma about ten bibs and shirts that say I Love My Uncle and My Uncle Rocks.”

  “That’s ’cause it’s true.” He laid a hand on her hip, over the comforter. “Guess what?”

  “What?”

  “We got snow last night.”

  “Really? That’s so cool.” Southern Illinois didn’t usually get as much snow as the northern part of the state, and when they did, it was a big deal.

  “Denver loves it. Another reason we had to run today.”

  She stuck her arm out of the warmth of her blanket cocoon and grabbed his hand. “Best Christmas ever.”

  He laced his fingers with hers and just looked at her with eyes full of an expression she couldn’t put her finger on. “You haven’t even gotten your present yet.”

  Her eyes widened. “You didn’t have to get me anything. I meant that when I said it.” She sat up, letting the sheet drop. She hadn’t given back the RCPD T-shirt he’d given her the first night she stayed over, and now it was her favorite thing to wear to bed when the weather got chilly. “All I want is you.”

  “And I love you for that.” He leaned forward to kiss her. “But I got you something. Hang on.” He stood, went to the doorway, and called Denver. In three seconds, the dog trotted into the room. “Good boy.” He scratched Denver’s ears. “Come on.” He led the dog to the bed.

  Becca smiled at the shepherd, who had decided she belonged in his pack. He really was the best dog in the world, and today, he was wearing something new. “Aw, you got him a Christmas collar. How sweet!” Along with the choke collar he always wore was a thinner red fabric collar with snowflakes on it. She tilted her head up to Shane. “Look at you, getting into the Christmas spirit.”

  Shane stared at her with that peculiar expression again.

  “What is it?” she asked him, tossing aside the duvet and swinging her legs over the side of the bed. She scratched under Denver’s chin. “Well, I like the collar. Think he’d ever let us put those cute reindeer antlers on—”

  All the air whooshed out of her lungs. Hanging from the red collar was a sparkling diamond ring.

  “Shane…”

  He dropped to one knee before her. Denver sat next to him as if he was ready to watch something special unfold, or maybe to offer support to his master.

  Shane took her hand. “Rebecca, I love you. From the minute I met you and didn’t even know your name, until I found your driver’s license in the hallway…”

  Becca giggled in spite of herself.

  “I knew there was something different about you. Something special. And now, I know what it is.”

  Becca’s heart was ready to explode with joy, beating wildly in her chest.

  “I can be myself with you,” Shane said. “I don’t have to put on a fake smile and listen to praise I don’t want. You get me like no one ever has. You’ve walked through that fire.”

  “You get me too.” She scooted to the very edge of the bed. “I was completely lost until I fell down in front of you.”

  He smiled. “Marry me, Becca. I want to spend every day and every night with you as my wife.”

  “Yes!” She slid off the bed and into his arms. “I love you so much. I mean it. All I want is you. Always.” Happy tears brimmed in her eyes.

  Shane kissed her tenderly, pulling her tight to his bare chest. Strong arms surrounded her with love and safety and a soul-deep bond she didn’t know she would ever have.

  “All I want is you too, baby, and for the whole world to know you’re my girl.” He reached for Denver’s red collar and unclasped it. “Good boy, Denver. Nice job being a ring bearer. Didn’t even practice.” With a grin, he removed the ring and slipped it onto Becca’s finger.

  “It’s beautiful.” A square-cut diamond gleamed from a platinum band made up of several smaller diamonds. She glanced up at Shane, unable to let his last comment slide. “Ring bearer, huh?”

  Shane chuckled. “He’ll take that over reindeer antlers any day.”

  “I’ll take it too.” She looked into those sky-blue eyes that had thoroughly captured her months ago. “I love my present. It’s perfect.”

  “You’re perfect.” His smile radiated so much love she could barely hold it all in her heart. “Merry Christmas, baby.”

  She linked her arms behind his neck. “This is, officially, the best Christmas ever.”

  THE END

  I sincerely hope you enjoyed Falling into Right! Please take a moment to leave a review at the digital retailer of your choice. Reviews can be brief, and they mean the world to indie authors.

  Thank you!

  Falling into Right Playlist

  Ain’t Worth The Whiskey – Cole Swindell

  Dirty Laundry – Carrie Underwood

  Take Your Time – Sam Hunt

  Confession – Florida Georgia Line

  Black – Dierks Bentley

  Losing Sleep – Chris Young

  Mind Reader – Dustin Lynch

  I Got A Feeling – Billy Currington

  The Fighter – Keith Urban

  I Don’t Want This Night to End – Luke Bryan

  I Love this Life – Locash

  A Note from Sharon

  Depression can be sneaky and insidious. It has many facets and can be misunderstood by those whom it weighs on and by their loved ones. Kirk doesn’t understand why Becca’s unresolved grief and depression make her do what she did, because on the surface the action doesn’t logically follow the emotion.

  Grief has no time line. Shane is dealing with the events of seven years ago and Becca is working through her own recent losses. Depression can bring you to a mental place where you are far from your “regular” self. Sometimes it’s difficult to detect, even in yourself—which makes it harder when people get asked about their words or behavior.

  When you can’t explain your actions to the satisfaction of someone close to you, it can make a person feel even worse and deepen the vicious cycle. Depression may be a passing state for some, but for others it can be much more than a phase. It affects millions of people worldwide.

  You don’t have to go through it alone. Please talk to someone if you’re not feeling like your “normal” self. It can be a doctor, therapist, clergy person, friend, or anyone who you trust enough to listen. You can also reach out to online sites. Here is one of many: www.mentalhelp.net/articles/depression-hotline/

  About Sharon

  Sharon Kay writes award-winning fiction and can never get enough reading time. She loves winter and black coffee, and is endlessly inspired to write kick-ass heroines and the men strong enough to capture their hearts. Sharon lives in the Chicago area with her husband and son, and one weekend the idea for her first book series formed in her head, refusing to stay quiet. Her characters tend to keep her up at night, as they banter, fall in love, and fight to make the world a safer place.

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