Guardian

by Terri Reed

  And now that Alicia was safe, he had to let her go back to the life she had been leading before this nightmare came storming in to disturb her world. “You deserve to be swept off your feet.”

  He set her down. Her hands lingered on his arms as he drew away.

  “Can we talk?” she asked in a low voice so that only he could hear.

  Heart slamming against his ribs, he straightened. “Sure. But there’s someone else here who needs your attention.” He stepped aside so Charlie could climb onto the couch and snuggle against his mother’s side. A place Leo wished to be but knew he didn’t deserve.

  Julianne and Max came downstairs with their to-go bags in hand.

  “You leaving?” Leo asked.

  “Yes,” Max answered. “Need to get back to headquarters. Chief Jarrett has everything in hand here.” He gestured to River. “We’ll take the pup with us and hand him over to Thomas and Faith.”

  “Thank you.” The two master trainers at headquarters would whip the pup into shape in no time. “His name is River, but I’d like to add Jake to his name.”

  Julianne bent to pet the puppy. “River Jake. I think Jake would like that. In fact, we should all find puppies to bring into the fold in honor of Jake until he returns.”

  “Good idea,” Max said. “When we get back to headquarters we’ll tell the others.” He turned to Leo. “You should be cleared and ready to return to work by morning.”

  Leo knew that his boss was purposely giving him some time to say goodbye. Grateful, he inclined his head. “Thanks. True and I will head out at first light.”

  “After breakfast is soon enough. By the way, Ian called to say Violetta Dupree slammed the door in his face when he went to interview her,” Max said. “I’m not sure we’ll get any cooperation from that quarter.”

  “Too bad.” Having both sisters testifying against their brother and uncle would have helped the FBI’s case.

  Max turned to Harmon and stuck out his hand. “Sir, it’s been a pleasure. Let me know if there is anything else you need. The FBI Tactical K-9 Unit is at your disposal.”

  They shook hands. “Will do, Max. I appreciate your help.”

  Leo wondered what that was about. He remembered the way Max and Harmon had shut themselves up in the den. What had they been discussing?

  Julianne gave Harmon a hug. “I hope to see you again soon.”

  “Me, too,” the older man said, returning her hug.

  Max stepped to the couch. “Alicia, it’s been a pleasure even if the circumstances haven’t been. Thank you for your hospitality.”

  “You’re welcome, Agent West,” Alicia replied. “And thank you for all you’ve done.”

  Julianne leaned in to hug Alicia and then Charlie. “I’ll miss you two. Stay in touch, okay?”

  “I’d like that,” Alicia told her and hugged her back.

  “Will you come back and play with me?” Charlie asked as he flung his arms around her neck.

  “You bet, buddy.” Julianne kissed the top of his head and then straightened. She looked at Leo. “This is a lovely family.”

  Confused by her words and the subtle message he was sure she was trying to convey, he nodded. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  Max collected Opal and the puppy, while Julianne leashed up Thunder. The dogs seemed reluctant to leave as their handlers ushered them out the front door.

  Alicia leaned her head against the backrest. “I think I’ll close my eyes for just a moment. What about you, Charlie?”

  The boy sighed and cuddled closer. “I can do that.”

  Harmon clapped a hand on Leo’s back. “Why don’t you come help me with the horses and we’ll let these two rest.”

  Leo hated to let Alicia out of his sight, but now that the threat to her life was gone, he had no rational reason to refuse. “Sure. I can do that.”

  He followed Howard out of the house and to the pasture. As soon as they reached the gate, instead of opening it and calling the three horses, Howard turned to face him. “You’re so eager to leave my daughter and grandson behind?”

  Leo squared his jaw. His mind scrambled to make sense of what he was asking. “No. I mean, I have to leave.”

  “But you love my daughter,” the older man stated with conviction.

  The roar of blood pounding in his ears caused Leo to shake his head. “What? How did you—”

  “It’s obvious. I see the way you look at her. The care you take with her and Charlie. They love you, you know.”

  Leo blinked, digesting Harmon’s words. “It is? They do?”

  “Yes. What are you going to do about it?”

  Leo ran a hand through his hair and leaned against the gate. Despair weighted down his shoulders. “Nothing. They deserve so much better than the likes of me.”

  Harmon scoffed. “Nonsense. You’re a better man than I’ve come across in a long time. Your boss speaks highly of you and I’ve seen the kind of man you are with my own eyes. The only way you’ll not deserve my daughter and grandson is if you walk away. They need you. And I suspect you need them.” He opened the gate and whistled. “Now, let’s get these horses fed and their hooves cleaned.” He shuffled forward, grumbling, “I’m getting too old for this work.”

  Leo stared at the mountains rising in the distance. He did need Alicia and Charlie. With them by his side, could he finally be made whole?

  * * *

  After dinner, Alicia asked Dad to give Charlie a bath so she and Leo could talk. Nervous flutters danced a minuet in her tummy. She was about to lay her heart bare and open herself up to rejection by telling Leo how she felt. But the alternative, to let him leave in the morning without expressing her love for him, wasn’t acceptable.

  She wouldn’t be able to live with herself if she didn’t find the courage to confess her love.

  As soon as Charlie and Dad disappeared into the downstairs bathroom, she patted the seat next to her on the couch. “Come sit by me.”

  Leo had insisted on cooking a delicious dinner of roasted chicken, savory rice and green beans. Apparently he’d stopped at the grocery store on his way to pick up her dad and Charlie. He’d cleaned up after dinner as well. Now he hung the drying cloth on the hook by the sink and strode over to the couch. He took a seat on the opposite end.

  She frowned. Well, if the mountain wouldn’t come to her... She slid across the leather surface until she was next to him. His eyebrows rose. She smiled and captured his hand. “I have something to say and I need you not to interrupt me.”

  His mouth twitched. “Okay.”

  “I know it’s crazy, we’ve only known each other for a short time, but—” She faltered, her courage flagging.

  “It’s been an intense time,” he interjected during her hesitation.

  “Yes. But during this time I’ve realized several things. I’ve been too scared of being hurt to let anyone get close to me.”

  “That’s understandable,” he said softly.

  She squeezed his hand. “I let you get close. And I know that doing so was the best thing I could have ever done. What—”

  “I like being close to you.”

  She blinked at the interruption. “What I’m trying to say to you is—”

  He slipped his hand from hers and cupped her face. “I’ve fallen in love with you.”

  Her mouth gaped open. “Hey, that was supposed to be my line.” Then his words registered. “Wait. What? You’ve fallen in love with me?”

  “Yes. Though I still have a hard time believing I could ever be the man you deserve, I want to try to be the man you need.”

  Her heart soared. She encircled her arms around his neck and drew him closer. “You’re all I need. You and Charlie.” She pressed her mouth to his, exploring in a caress of give-and-take. She loved this man with all h
er being.

  Coming up for air, Leo said huskily, “I have to find Jake before I can make any permanent changes in my life.”

  She laid a hand over his heart. “I know.” She wished she could take away the burden of guilt he felt for his friend’s abduction. “We can work out the details of our lives later.”

  “Why wait?” Dad stood there grinning with a clean and giggling Charlie on his hip. “We should all move to Billings.”

  Alicia stared. “Dad, what about the ranch?”

  “I’ve already listed the ranch with a Realtor,” he said as he set Charlie on the floor. “And thanks to Max and his contacts, I’ve found a real nice place to live in Billings.”

  “So that’s what you and Max were doing squirreled away in your office,” Leo said. “I was wondering.”

  “Yep,” her dad replied, looking pleased with himself. He looked at his daughter. “I didn’t want to say anything to upset you, dear, but I just don’t have the energy anymore to run the ranch. And you need to reclaim your life, not live mine.”

  Alicia winced. She hated to see her dad slowing down but she was glad that he had a plan, even if it meant giving up the ranch. “I guess we’ll have to sell the horses.” The thought made her sad.

  “No,” her dad said firmly. “Max had a friend who knew a lady... Anyway, we found a place we can board the horses just outside of town. It has great reviews online. I’ve talked to the owner and she seems like a lovely woman. A widow, about my age.”

  The twinkle in Dad’s eyes filled the remaining empty spaces in Alicia’s heart. Seemed they were all ready for a new start.

  Charlie raced to the couch and squirmed his way on the couch between her and Leo. She glanced at Leo and was gratified to see the love shining in his eyes as he gazed at her son. He loved her and he loved Charlie.

  Turning back to her father, she said, “Dad, I understand.”

  “It’s time I made a change in my life.” His gaze encompassed them all. “It’s time we all made some changes.”

  Stunned, she faced Leo. Had he told her father how he felt? His smile made her heart melt. He lifted her hand and kissed her palm. “I agree.”

  Her pulse thumped. “Meaning?”

  “I was hoping to do this in some romantic way but...” He slipped from the couch and went on one knee.

  Her pulse skipped several beats. Her breath caught and held. Hope rose like a kite in a gust of wind, but she held on to the tail, afraid to let it soar.

  “I know the timing of this is a bit out of the ordinary,” he said. “A whirlwind-romance kind of thing.”

  She bit her lip to keep the joy bubbling up inside from bursting out. “A definite whirlwind. More like a tornado.”

  He grinned. “We didn’t have a chance for the whole dinner-and-movies kind of thing...”

  “Yeah, with the car chases, barn catching fire and all that...” She repressed a shudder at the memories, refusing to let them intrude on the moment.

  “But when I looked into your eyes, I knew.”

  She remembered the moment she’d first met his gaze. She’d never seen eyes so green.

  “Like with your parents, when you know it’s right, it’s right.” An anxious light entered his eyes, lighting the emerald depths. “And we’re right together, don’t you think?”

  “I do think so,” she whispered past the lump in her throat.

  Relief flooded his face and love shone bright in his gaze. “Alicia, will you marry me?”

  Overflowing with happiness, she slipped to her knees and wrapped her arms around him. “Yes!”

  “Yes!” Charlie repeated and jumped from the couch to hug them both.

  EPILOGUE

  Four weeks later and they were no closer to finding Jake. Leo had to fight to keep the hope that they would rescue him from fizzling out.

  The team was working around the clock hunting down leads on their missing coworker and friend. So far nothing had panned out. The more time that went by, the more Leo despaired for his friend’s life.

  And their case against Reginald Dupree was teetering because their lead witness, Esme Durpee, who had been living under an assumed name in Witness Protection, had gone missing. She’d written a note saying she’d left of her own accord and didn’t want to be responsible for anyone else getting hurt because of her.

  Two women had died because they resembled her. The other two missing women had been found, alive but traumatized, in a hunter’s cabin in the woods north of Settler’s Valley.

  Losing Esme was a huge blow.

  Now the team needed to find her, to not only have her testify against her brother but to keep her safe from Angus Dupree.

  But tonight was a rare respite from the turmoil. “Burgers are ready,” called Thomas Battali, the K-9 unit’s head trainer. He and his wife, Sandy, had graciously opened their home for a backyard picnic for the team.

  Sandy handed plates to Leo, Ian and Max. Ian and Max headed for the food.

  Leo searched the brightly lit patio for his soon-to-be bride and found her near the fire pit. Alicia sparkled. Her dark hair was loose about her shoulders and her face beamed as she laughed with agents Harper Prentiss and Nina Atkins, dog trainer extraordinaire Faith Rand and the team’s general assistant, Christy Burton.

  Leo was glad to see she was making friends with the ladies of the unit. He had hoped she’d find moving to Billings agreeable.

  The Howard ranch had sold quickly and the horses were now settled in their new home, allowing Harmon to move into his new digs at a swanky retirement center, where he was learning to golf. Alicia had rented a small apartment for the next few months for her and Charlie. Leo had given notice on his studio apartment and they were searching for a house that would provide a stable and loving place for their new family.

  Alicia glanced in Leo’s direction as the ladies moved toward the barbecue. The love shining in her eyes touched his heart. She pointed to where Tim Ramsey entertained Charlie with a horseback ride on his shoulders. His little-boy giggles filled the backyard. Leo grinned, appreciating that the team had so easily and readily accepted Alicia and Charlie into the inner circle.

  If only Jake was here.

  Dylan and Julianne came out of the house and joined Leo.

  “You getting in line?” Dylan asked, gesturing toward the food table where Ian and Max were already filling their plates.

  “After you,” Leo said and fell into step with the team’s computer whiz. “Though I never expected I’d be getting married before you. How’s Zara faring at the academy?”

  “Things are still iffy,” Dylan said. “She’s not sure they will graduate on time.”

  “Any idea what’s going on?”

  “None. It’s all hush-hush. And frustrating.”

  Leo didn’t envy Dylan and Zara’s situation. After all they’d gone through, they deserved to have their happy ending.

  Julianne linked her arm through Leo’s. “I’m so excited for you and Alicia.”

  “Thank you,” he replied. “I hear you’re going to be one of Zara’s bridesmaids.”

  “That I am,” she said, her voice taking on a wistful tone. “It’s the closest I’ll ever get to the altar and a groom.” She slipped away to join the other ladies in line.

  Leo had to wonder what was in her past to prompt her comment. Something she never talked about. He knew there was a story there.

  As he surveyed those gathered around, he mused that everyone had a story. Some more dramatic and traumatic than others. But the respect among the agents, trainers and staff rose above any one person’s past.

  His gaze strayed to Alicia. He was filled with wonder at the new story he now had with a beautiful woman and an adorable son. His heart had been made whole by love. Where once there had been loneliness and guilt, no
w there was a certainty of hope and happiness. He could handle whatever life threw at him with Alicia and Charlie by his side, and faith that God would see them through.

  * * * * *

  If you enjoyed GUARDIAN by Terri Reed, look for the other books in the CLASSIFIED K-9 UNIT miniseries:

  SHERIFF by Laura Scott

  SPECIAL AGENT by Valerie Hansen

  BOUNTY HUNTER by Lynette Eason

  BODYGUARD by Shirlee McCoy

  TRACKER by Lenora Worth

  CLASSIFIED K-9 UNIT CHRISTMAS by Terri Reed and Lenora Worth

  Keep reading for an excerpt from SHERIFF by Laura Scott.

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  Dear Reader,

  Writing about K-9 officers and their handlers is always a pleasure. True was a heroic dog and learning about water search-and-rescue was fascinating. I’m always amazed and impressed by the abilities of canines.

  FBI agent Leo Gallagher, True’s human partner, overcame a traumatic past to become a hero. So often we humans let our past define us just as Leo had done, but with the help and love of the right woman for him, he was able to look to the future with hope.

  For widow Alicia Duncan, trust didn’t come easy after the hurt and betrayal of her late husband. For her son’s sake, she chose not to let bitterness take root, which allowed her to be open to finding love again with a man of integrity and honor.

  I hope you’ve enjoyed the first book in the new Love Inspired Suspense continuity series. If you’d like to see Zara and Dylan’s story, look online for Agent-in-Training. And keep an eye out for the next five installments in the series to see how the men and woman of the FBI Tactical K-9 Unit rescue Jake and take down the Duprees.

  Until we meet again, may God bless you and keep you in His care,

  We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense story.