Falling for Sarah

by Cate Beauman

  Matthew stepped to the left as Hunter had wanted, blocking Ethan’s path to the door.

  Hunter spoke again. “No good. He needs to move further into the room.”

  Ethan wanted to punch and rage with the helplessness he felt, but he took another step forward, mindful not to get too far from his gun. “I’m going. See? I’m going.”

  “You know what? I don’t think that’ll work for me anymore. I had other plans for Sarah tonight, but I just thought of something even better. You’re going to watch her die, Master Cooke. You’re going to watch them both die.”

  A thousand waves of fear washed through him as Matthew moved the knife, pointing the tip straight at Sarah’s belly.

  “I’m going to gut her like a pig and take your fucking kid along with her.” He raised the knife, ready to plunge.

  Sarah’s eyes widened and she sobbed. “I love you, Ethan.”

  “No shot. No shot,” Austin yelled as he stormed from the room directly behind Matthew and Sarah. Hunter ran down the stairs, vaulting over the banister halfway down the staircase.

  Matthew turned, staring, before gripping the knife high again. “You can all watch her die!”

  Ethan grabbed his gun, saw his shot as the knife descended in Matthew’s grip. Without hesitation, he took it. The bullet exploded, along with the left side of Matthew’s face. Spatter covered Sarah as Matthew fell sideways to the floor.

  Ragged breathing filled the sudden silence before Sarah dropped to her knees, weeping. Ethan ran forward on trembling legs, scooped her up and away from the mess pooling on the floor. “It’s okay, Sarah. It’s over. I’ve got you.”

  S.W.A.T rushed in and chaos reigned while Ethan gripped her tight, unwilling to let her go.

  Tucker Campbell came through the door, gun raised, meeting Ethan’s glinty stare. He holstered his weapon. “Get her out of here, Cooke. There’s an ambulance outside.”

  “Thanks for nothing, Campbell.”

  Hunter touched his shoulder and all four left Matthew Denmire’s home.

  “I’ll have questions for you,” Campbell called out the door.

  “It was self-defense. You see the knife on the floor. You can ask your questions later,” Austin said as they continued forward.

  Ethan walked to the ambulance, tried to set Sarah on the waiting stretcher. She wrapped her arms tighter around his neck. “Please, no. I’m not ready to let you go.”

  Drops of blood covered her hair and face. Tears dripped down her swollen cheek as she trembled against his grip. “I’m not going anywhere.”

  “Ma’am, we need to put you on the stretcher,” the paramedic said.

  “You’ll have to put us both on.”

  The man opened his mouth to argue, met Ethan’s stare, stopped, nodded. “Okay.”

  Ethan sat down with Sarah, swinging his legs up to the bed, resting his weary body against the cushion. He clutched Sarah as tightly as she clutched him. He stared at Hunter and Austin as the doors closed and the ambulance drove off.

  CHAPTER 31

  HOURS LATER, AS DAWN BROKE, Sarah lay in Ethan’s bed, clean, bandaged and sleeping. She clung to his body, arms wrapped around his waist, as she had since he’d picked her up off of Denmire’s wooden floor.

  Simmering in the rage he hadn’t been able to leave behind, he stared down at her battered face, at her lip that had required two stitches. The bastard had almost taken her away, had almost killed her and their child.

  Ethan moved his hand to rest against the baby and closed his eyes. The vision of a butcher knife traveling toward Sarah’s belly flashed through his mind. He sat up as nausea clutched in his stomach, unable to handle what might have been.

  Sarah stirred and opened her eyes, still pale but smiling. “Hi there.”

  “Hey.”

  She brushed her fingers through his hair. “You don’t look like you’ve gotten any sleep.”

  He smiled back, kissed the tip of her nose. “I was too busy looking at you.”

  “That’s what you said an hour ago, and two hours before that. I’m not that interesting, especially when my eyes are closed and I’m not moving.”

  He skimmed his knuckles against her temple, unable to stop touching her. “We’ll have to disagree there.”

  “Why don’t I make us some breakfast? I’m starving.” She started to sit up, but he held her down by the shoulder.

  “I’ll get it. You stay here and rest.” He shifted out of her arms and stood.

  “You heard the doctor, Ethan. I should take it easy but I’m fine.” She glanced down at her bulging lower stomach, snagged his hand, rested his palm against it, smiling. “We’re both fine. I don’t want to dwell on what happened. It’s over.”

  Sighing, he sat on the edge of the bed. “It’s not that easy. I keep seeing it, Sarah. I keep seeing the knife coming toward you.”

  She sat up and hugged him. “But you saved me—my own knight in shining armor.”

  He closed his eyes and held on, mindful of the bandages against her neck and bruises on her arms. “How can you take this lightly?”

  “I can’t if I think about it too much, but that’s the thing: I don’t want to. I don’t want to give him another minute of power over us, because that’s what he wanted.”

  She eased back, kissed him, winced as she pressed her fingers to her lip. “Ow.”

  “We should probably get you some ice.” He moved to stand, but she pulled him back down.

  “In a second. I’m not finished.” Her brows furrowed as a snap of temper filled her voice.

  Ethan grinned for the first time in twenty-four hours. “All right, bossy, finish what you have to say.”

  “Thank you. I will.” Her voice softened as she brushed her fingers over his cheek. “You saved me, Ethan—you, Hunter, and Austin. If you hadn’t come when you did…” She shook her head. “No, I’m not going there.” She glanced down, taking a deep breath before she met his gaze again. “Several women’s families will now be able to find closure. An innocent man has been set free. Lisa will make a full recovery. Let’s concentrate on that. We have too many good things coming our way.”

  He kissed her forehead, amazed by her strength. “I’ll certainly give it a try. Now, make me happy and let me pamper you a bit. Let me make you some breakfast—bring up a tray. Kylee should be awake soon. We can eat out on the deck.”

  “That sounds nice.”

  By the time he’d pulled on his jeans and headed back up with a bag of ice for her lip, she was asleep again. Kylee stirred on the air mattress. He scooped her up before she could wake Sarah. He held a finger to his lips, and she gave him a sleepy smile.

  Ethan walked downstairs, grabbed two bananas from the counter for their impromptu breakfast and headed outside with Bear and Reece in tow. “I have a surprise for you, ma’am.”

  Kylee clapped. “Ooh, a surprise.”

  “Yup, I think you’re gonna like it.”

  Ethan watched her eyes go huge when they turned the corner toward the side of the house. A massive cedar structure with a bridge attached two princess-style turrets. Swings hung from the bridge while the turrets offered two slides—one twisty, the other tall and bumpy. A jungle gym Kylee wouldn’t yet be able to climb leaned off the back. He and Wren had gotten a little carried away, but as Kylee squirmed down and ran forward, squealing her delight, he didn’t care.

  He laughed when she made a bee-line for the two-person swing shaped like a horse. Someday soon her brother or sister would join her. He couldn’t wait. “Do you love it, Kylee girl?”

  She held on to the pale pink handles and beamed. “Yes!”

  “Should I give you a push?”

  “Yes!”

  “Hold on tight.”

  Her small fingers gripped the handles tighter and Ethan sent her soaring. Her laughter rang out, mixing with his.

  Sarah woke, blinking. She’d dozed off again. The sun had risen higher in the sky and she was still in bed. Determined to go on as if nothing had happ
ened, she stood. The cuts on her neck stung, her bruises throbbed, every muscle in her body ached. Giving in, she walked to the bathroom and pulled one low-dose Tylenol from the bottle Ethan had picked up on their way home from the hospital.

  She stared in the mirror, wincing. “Good heavens, look at me.” She brushed her fingers against the bandages on her neck, the purple welts on her face before she took a step closer, zeroing in on her lip. The doctor told her the stitching wouldn’t leave a scar, but the sutured gash sure as hell looked ugly now. It could’ve been worse though, much worse.

  Her mind flashed back to Matthew’s living room, to the knife coming toward her. Her heartbeat accelerated, her breath backed up in her throat. She walked to the bathtub on unsteady legs and sat down on the wide edge. “It’s over. It’s really over,” she repeated, gripping her hands together. She would never have to see Matthew again, ever.

  She closed her eyes, trying to relax, and thought of Ethan, of him holding her tight while the ER doctor had given them another ultrasound to check on the baby. The tiny heart had beat loud and strong as Ethan’s breath shuddered in and out against her hair. “Oh, thank God, Sarah. Thank God.”

  When Hailey dropped Kylee off, Sarah had carried her sleeping child, at her own insistence, to the air mattress Ethan had set up, breathing in deep, comforted by the smell of baby shampoo and her daughter’s soft hair pressed against her cheek.

  There was so much to look forward to, a whole new life to make. Matthew Denmire would never have another moment of her time, not one, because he couldn’t touch what she had. He could never touch what she and Ethan would make together.

  Standing, steady and strong, Sarah walked to the balcony. Kylee’s peals of laughter and Ethan’s deep voice echoed on the ocean breeze. Puzzled, she made her way through the house and outside, following the sounds that brought joy to her heart. She turned the corner and stopped, gaping.

  “Wow, Ethan, look at this swing set.”

  His gaze met hers across the lawn and he grinned. “It’s pretty crazy, huh?”

  “Yes, but it’s beautiful.” She walked closer, watching Kylee run about, giggling on her way down the twisty slide.

  Sarah slid up next to Ethan, snaked her arm around his waist, enjoying the simple pleasure of holding him close.

  “I figured both of our children would enjoy playing on this.”

  Both of their children. Yes, their children. Warmth radiated in Sarah’s smile. “I think you’re absolutely right.”

  Kylee stepped from the slide and ran toward them, eyes sparkling. “Look, Mama.”

  “I know. Go ahead, have fun and play.”

  Ethan snagged Kylee up, throwing her high and catching her. “We have one more surprise.”

  “You’re going to spoil her, Ethan. This is certainly plenty.”

  “It’s for both of you.”

  They wandered back to the house and up to the second story. Ethan set Kylee on her feet. “Kylee, go open that closed door for me.”

  “O-tay.” Kylee moved like a bullet before she stopped and twisted the doorknob. “Ooh, pretty.”

  “What have you done?” Sarah took the hand Ethan offered, walked to the door, stopped. “Oh, Ethan, look at this room.”

  Her eyes watered as she took it all in. Pastel purple dots—large and small—decorated pale pink walls. Smiling butterflies and caterpillars adorned a light quilt, covering a beautiful pine bed. Lamps in the same theme sat on matching dressers. Big, bold letters, all pastel, spelled out KYLEE. Stuffed animals piled high filled a corner of the room. It was perfect. Then she saw the picture—Jake’s smiling face adorned a frame on her dresser. Sarah walked forward, picked up the frame, staring at the man who had given her Kylee.

  Ethan took her hand and she turned, brushing her fingers against his cheek. He loved Kylee enough to share. Kylee would never have to choose, would never have to feel guilt for loving both of her fathers. “You are the most amazing man, Ethan Cooke.”

  “He would’ve been so proud of her, Sarah, so proud of both of you.” Ethan kissed the tip of her nose before he wrapped his arms around her waist as Kylee rolled on the plush, pink ladybug rug.

  Sarah set Jake’s picture down, saying her final goodbye. So many emotions raced to the surface but there was no room for sadness when she’d been blessed with so many gifts. Today was a day for the present, for the future. “You and Wren have been very busy.”

  “We didn’t stop here.”

  She met his gray eyes. “What do you mean?”

  He caught the tear running down her cheek, took her hand, stopped at the closed door next to Kylee’s room and across from the master suite. “Open the door, Sarah.”

  “I don’t know if I can take any more surprises.”

  Ethan kissed her forehead and placed her hand on the knob. “Give it your best shot.”

  She took a deep, unsteady breath and walked into the most beautiful nursery she’d ever seen. Light yellows and greens filled the space. Sweet-faced chicks accented the bedding and mobile hanging from the crib.

  Sarah brushed her fingers along the soft fabric of towels, blankets and burp cloths in the same baby duck theme, all tucked neatly away in pine furniture that matched Kylee’s. She sat in the rocking chair and closed her eyes, imagining what it would be like to nurse their baby while she rocked him or her to sleep.

  “Wren isn’t finished in here,” Ethan said, still holding her hand. “When we know what we’re having, she wants to add some pink or blue touches.”

  “I can’t imagine it being any better than this.” Tears tracked down her cheeks as she stared at his handsome face. “Oh, Ethan.”

  “Did you see the view from the window seat? I like to imagine our child sitting there one day, thinking their thoughts, daydreaming.”

  Sarah couldn’t remember ever being so happy. She walked to the window, stared out at lush green trees and the Pacific tossing waves far in the distance. “It’s so wonderful—all of it. I don’t know what to say.”

  “Say yes.”

  When she turned, Ethan stood in the center of the room, holding a square-cut two-carat diamond ring. “Say you’re ready to be my wife, that you’re ready for us to be a family. I fell for you one night when you grinned at me with pizza cheese stuck to your chin, but you’re all I’ve ever wanted. I love you, Sarah. Marry me.”

  Kylee came running into the room, wrapping her arms around Ethan’s leg. As Sarah walked forward, staring into gray pools, she saw her future, their future. She smiled, caressing her fingers against his cheek. “I love you too, Ethan. I’ll marry you. I’m ready. I’m ready for everything.”

  He slipped the ring on her finger as he brushed her lips with a gentle kiss, took her hand, and swooped down for Kylee.

  Sarah rested her head against Ethan’s shoulder as the two of them walked from the nursery, both carrying one of their children.

  On that bright sunny morning, with the ocean breeze blowing, life was truly perfect, and it had only just begun.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Cate Beauman is the author of The Bodyguards of L.A. County Series. She currently lives in Tennessee with her husband, two boys, and their St. Bernard, Bear.

  OTHER TITLES BY AUTHOR

  Morgan’s Hunter

  To read an excerpt from Morgan’s Hunter, visit www.catebeauman.com

  Hailey’s Truth

  To read an excerpt from Hailey’s Truth, visit www.catebeauman.com

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