Crossfire Christmas
Page 20
“To go to the hospital. I know.” Enough. Enough distance, enough interruptions, enough waiting to know for certain that she was finally safe. Nash pulled her to her feet and hauled her right up to his chest, claiming that beautiful mouth in a kiss.
Endless moments later, she pulled away, smiling. “Seriously, Nash? You need to stop getting shot. You should just ask me out on a date.”
Epilogue
December 25
DEA agent Charles Nash stepped off the third-floor elevator at Kansas City’s Truman Medical Center and strode down the hallway. Well, he moved with as much purpose as a man with healing bullet wounds to his shoulder and both legs could.
He’d been back in Houston for a few days, writing up reports, attending his friends’ funerals, making some big decisions. He’d even done a little Christmas shopping.
He was a Texas boy, born and raised, but his heart was here in Missouri. So he’d booked an early-morning flight to KCI. Now he was here with a bag of gifts in his hand and a transfer request to the Kansas City office of the DEA in his pocket.
He didn’t have to be a cop to figure out where the party was. He followed the sounds of Christmas music and laughter to the common room of the children’s ward. He unbuttoned his heavy coat, pulled off his new black Stetson and inhaled a steadying breath before stepping into the brightly lit room.
He saw Teresa first, dressed in light green hospital scrubs with a red-and-green holiday scrub jacket. She sat at a table near the Christmas tree with Laila Alvarez and two other young patients, playing some kind of board game that involved lots of laughter.
When Teresa saw him in the doorway and stood, the din in the room suddenly quieted. That awkward moment of being the uninvited guest showing up at the party sent a shiver of nerves down Nash’s spine.
But the moment passed the instant Teresa smiled at him.
Suddenly, he wasn’t the outsider who’d brought danger and death to their city. He was a friend. He was welcome.
Emilia Rodriguez-Grant toddled over to give him a hug. “Merry Christmas, Nash. There’s plenty of food and punch. Make yourself at home.”
He met her husband, Justin Grant, and their son, Joey. He met other sisters and husbands and nieces and nephews. Josh Taylor and his wife and two daughters welcomed him. And then AJ Rodriguez walked up to him with his wife and sons.
AJ shook his hand. “Merry Christmas, Nash.”
“Merry Christmas, AJ.”
And while he appreciated the offers to take his coat and bring him cookies, Nash was here for just one reason. Well, two.
He’d never played Santa Claus before, but he had a bag of gifts he was eager to deliver. He crossed the room to the game table and knelt down beside Laila Alvarez’s wheelchair. He pulled the big box from the top of his bag and set it on her lap. “I told you I owed you one for hiding me in your room that day. I’m a man who repays his debts and keeps his promises.” Her soft brown eyes were wide with anticipation. “Open it.”
The little girl made quick work of the bow and tissue paper inside. “Mom! Dad! It’s a cowboy hat.” Nash took the smaller version of the hat he’d worn and placed it over the girl’s knit cap. She pushed herself up out of her wheelchair and fell against Nash, wrapping her frail arms around his neck. “Thank you, Mr. Nash.”
“You’re welcome, darlin’.” He carefully set her back in her chair and stood, turning to Teresa. He tried not to let the sheen of tears shining in her eyes get to him. “I brought some other gifts. To replace the ones that got damaged in your apartment. I didn’t know what you had. There’s some stuff for boys and girls both in here.”
When the children in the room hurried to the tree to open the new gifts, Teresa finally moved around the table. She slid her arms beneath his coat and wound them around his waist, leaning against his chest. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“Yeah, I did.” Nash pressed a kiss to the crown of her hair and hugged her right back. “Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas, Charlie.”
He had one more gift from the jewelry store tucked away in his pocket for Teresa. But he’d wait until later, when they were alone, before he’d ask if she’d accept it.
Right now there were too many children and family members and friends around, all enjoying the celebration.
“These are the best presents ever.” Proudly wearing her new hat, Laila spun her chair around. “Did you get what you wanted for Christmas, Teresa?”
Teresa leaned back against Nash’s arms, tilted her face up to his and smiled. “I did.”
* * * * *
Don’t miss USA TODAY bestselling author
Julie Miller’s upcoming miniseries,
THE PRECINCT: COLD CASE,
coming in 2015!
Keep reading for an excerpt from DELIVERANCE AT CARDWELL RANCH by B.J. Daniels.
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SPECIAL EXCERPT FROM
Read on for a sneak peek of
DELIVERANCE AT CARDWELL RANCH
by New York Times bestselling author
B.J. Daniels
Part of the CARDWELL COUSINS series.
Daniels delivers another Cardwell Ranch keeper with a woman on the run...
and the lawman sworn to keep her safe.
“Maybe you don’t understand the fine line between snooping and jail. Breaking and entering is—”
“I’m going with you,” Donning a hat and gloves, Gillian turned to look at him.
Austin was smiling at her as if amused.
“What?” she asked, suddenly feeling uncomfortable under his scrutiny. She knew it was silly. He’d seen her at her absolute worst.
“You just look so…cute,” he said. “Clearly breaking the law excites you.”
She smiled in spite of herself. It had been a while since a man had complimented her. But it wasn’t breaking the law that excited her.
She breathed in the freezing air. It stung her lungs, but made her feel more alive than she had in years. Fear drove her steps, along with hope.
At the dark alley, Austin slowed. It was late enough that there were lights on in the houses.
“Come on,” Austin said, and they started to turn down the alley.
A vehicle came around the corner, moving slowly. Gillian felt the headlights wash over them and let out a worried sound as she froze in midstep.
Her moment of panic didn’t subside when she saw that it was a sheriff’s department vehicle.
“Austin?” she whispered, not sure what to do.
He turned to her and pulled her into his arms. Her mouth opened in surprise and the next thing she knew, he was kissing her. At first she was too stunned to react. But after a moment, she put her arms around his neck and lost herself in the kiss.
As the headlights of the sheriff’s car washed over them, she gave a small helpless moan when Austin deepened the kiss, drawing her even closer.
The sheriff’s car went on past, and she felt a pang of regret. Slowly, Austin drew back a little. His gaze locked with hers, and for a moment they stood like that, quick, warm breaths coming out in white clouds.
“Sorry.”
She shook her head. She wasn’t sorry. She felt…lightheaded, happy, as if helium filled. She thought she might drift off into the night if he let go of her.
“Are you okay?” he asked, looking worried.
She touched the tip of her tongue to her lower lip. “Great. Never better.”
Find out what happens next in
DELIVERANCE AT CARDWELL RANCH
by New York Times bestselling author B.J. Daniels,
available December 2014, only from Harlequin® Intrigue®.
Copyright © 2014 by Barbara Heinlein
ISBN-13: 9781460342206
Crossfire Christmas
Copyright © 2014 by Julie Miller
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