Chris dialed his phone.
Then he called off.
When he hung up, he was smiling.
Elizabeth handed him his watch. “You should put it back on. You know how easily you lose shit.”
He laughed. “Yeah, I’m a menace.”
She watched him run his fingers over it. She could see she’d done the right thing.
He loved it.
Elizabeth couldn’t blame him. If anything ever happened to Charlie, she’d feel the same.
“What do you want to do?” he asked. “I happen to be free the next two days.”
“Later, I have to go see Livy and the new baby. Do you want to come with me? She’s my godchild, so I should stop by with some presents.”
It touched him that she’d invite him.
“I’d love to, Lyzee. We still have a lot of time to fill,” he said, leaning forward to give her a kiss. Slowly, his mouth moved across hers, until she moved into his body.
So…
This was what happiness felt like.
He had his father’s watch back, he had a job he loved, and his best friend was pretty damn awesome.
“Feel like burning off some stress? Want to celebrate your commendation?”
She laughed. “Hell yeah, but then I get food. I’m starving. If I put out, Newton, are you buying?”
That was music to his ears.
Finally!
He could buy her a meal without a fight.
He touched his watch. “For you, Elizabeth, anything.”
She went to say something but was cut off—not by words—but by him smacking her on the ass as he took off. Chris raced down the hall and up his own stairs.
Elizabeth snorted. “You’re such a dork, Christopher Orion Leonard.”
“You love that about me,” he shouted down from upstairs, and then he dropped the towel to signal that he was now buck-naked.
It landed at the bottom of the steps.
“Are you coming?” he shouted.
“Yes, and it better be multiple times!”
There was his masculine laughter, and it made Elizabeth smile.
“I aim to please, LaRue!”
“Oh, Christopher.”
Yeah, she really did love that about him, and the list was getting longer every day.
Elizabeth knew one thing.
Having a best friend, one with sexy benefits, rocked.
* * * E l i z a b e t h L a R u e * * *
Gabe Rothschild’s
Home
When they pulled up, she was nervous. All morning, she and Chris laughed and had fun. They didn’t work, they didn’t think about death, instead, they ate ice cream, watched a couple movies, and had sex.
It was just as much fun as the first time, and what made it better was that there were no strings attached.
They were friends.
They had each other’s backs.
So, now when she knew she was going to struggle, he was supporting her. When they got out of his Mercedes, he immediately took her hand in his.
“You got this.”
She knew she did. It was just…she didn’t want to hurt anymore.
Chris grabbed the giant gift bag from the back seat and led her to the house. When Gabe answered the door, he was smiling.
It was infectious.
“You have to see her! She’s gorgeous!” he blurted.
She followed him inside and to the living room. There, in his wife’s arms was their daughter.
Elizabeth stared at her. “She’s so pretty. Wow! She looks like a little mini Livy.”
Then she focused on the woman who once was her friend.
“Hey, you. Congrats on making an angel.”
The woman burst into tears.
“Uh…”
She looked at Gabe for some help on this one.
‘Hormones,’ he mouthed.
“I am so sorry, Elizabeth. I hurt you and I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness, but I was an emotional wreck the last nine months. Please forgive me. Please be my friend again. I love you and I miss you.”
She softened.
“I love you too,” she offered. “I’m not mad at you, Livy. I will always have your back. I love you more than you’ll ever know.”
Gabe crossed to his friend and kissed Elizabeth on the forehead. “Want to hold her?” he asked.
Elizabeth wasn’t sure he wasn’t possessed. He was even smiling at Chris. In fact, he was handing him a cigar.
“If he tries to shove you in the oven, run. I saw a horror movie once,” Chris whispered.
She laughed.
She’d been thinking the same thing.
“Seriously. Do you want to hold her?” Gabe asked.
“Livy? No, she’s too big. I don’t know if I can promise not to drop her.”
He stared at her.
“Of course I want to hold your daughter! What kind of dumbass question is that?”
Chris shushed her by throwing his hand over her mouth. “NO cursing in front of the baby. I’m pretty sure that’s not allowed.”
She laughed. “My bad.”
Gabe laughed as he scooped Amelia up from Livy and placed her in Elizabeth’s arms.
“Don’t drop her.”
She rolled her eyes as she held her. “She’s so light,” Elizabeth stated, right before sniffing her. “She smells good enough to eat.”
“DON’T!”
She looked at Gabe. “You’re insane. I’m not a serial killer. I just chase them.”
He laughed. “I’ve just baby proofed all the outlets, put foam on sharp corners, and started her college fund.”
Yep.
The man was insanely in love with his daughter.
Chris handed Livy the bag.
“We picked these out for you,” he offered.
“Doctor Leonard, thank you,” Livy said, smiling at him. “I appreciate it.”
Chris went back to Elizabeth’s side and dropped his arm around her waist as she held the baby.
Gabe watched them.
Yeah, something was going on, but he wasn’t going there. Today was about his baby girl.
“Open it,” Elizabeth said, rocking Amelia.
She began pulling things out. Most of them were pink, frilly, and totally up Livy’s alley.
Then she got to the onesie at the bottom.
She started crying again.
‘My aunt carries a gun, and she will shoot a bitch.’
“I had to have that one specially made,” she said proudly. “Believe it or not, it’s hard to find profanity on baby clothes. Shocking, I know.”
Gabe stared at her. “You’re insane if you think I’m letting her wear that.”
“Come on. One picture for me, and then you can toss it. I have to have something to show the kid when she wants to join the FBI.”
He shook his head.
“She’s not going to be a Fed,” Gabe said.
Elizabeth laughed. “Yeah, two Fed parents. She’s so going to be a cop.”
Gabe looked over at Livy, and she didn’t even flinch. Maybe his wife finally got it. This baby was his.
“She can be a Fed, but no onesie,” he stated.
“I caught the killer, no one got shot, and I played nice with the local cops.”
She knew how to bargain.
“One picture.”
“Gabriel!” Livy said.
“She didn’t shoot anyone. That alone is huge, Livy. You know how she is.”
“Good point.”
It was Elizabeth’s turn to laugh. This was the perfect ending to a really great day. She’d caught a killer, she’d bitch slapped a thief, she had fun with her bestie, and she held Amelia Elizabeth Rothschild.
“You’re smiling,” Chris said, giving her a kiss on the cheek.
“Yeah, I finally am. You’re a big reason for it.”
And he was grateful for that.
He joined her.
Happiness loved company.
The
y were proof of that.
Dear Reader,
By now, you’re finishing this book and thinking…holy hell! What just went on? Yeah, I know what you’re thinking. I was thinking it, too, as I wrote it. When I sat down to finish this book, I wasn’t sure I’d pull it off.
Chris and Elizabeth’s past has been pretty much hush hush through all the books. I’ve kept it that way for a reason.
Why you ask?
Well, in an upcoming book, there’s a storyline that’s super important. This book is the introduction to it. While you read this and think…Chris and Elizabeth had sex? Oh, my God! I’m thinking five books ahead to where I’m taking it.
I need you to trust me.
Have I let you down yet?
Yes, you’ll think back to a past book where Chris tells Ethan they never had sex.
That’s there for a purpose.
That moment had to happen, along with this story, in order for something big to go down.
It’s no surprise that I like to leave breadcrumbs as I tell the story. They may seem insignificant at the time, but they end up being HUGE.
So, this may have shocked you.
Some of you may have suspected because of their relationship being so close.
All I’m asking is that you trust me. This had a point. I’m revealing their past at this point for a reason. It’ll make complete sense in a book or two.
Bonnie is coming back, and in that book, this will all come into play.
So, sit back, forgive me for dropping the bomb, and let me tell you a story.
It’s a story of betrayal.
Lies.
And anger.
It’s one where life is altered, love is damaged, and pain will threaten to take a family to its knees.
Once the truth comes out, nothing will be the same again. This is only the beginning.
Hold on, trust the driver of the bus, but buckle up.
It’s going to be a bumpy ride.
Much love, mayhem, and murder,
Morgan.
Coming Next:
Dying to Love
Book 18 in the FBI series
February 2017
Other books by Morgan Kelley:
Standalone books
The Junction
Serial Sins
The Blood Betrayal
Romance/FBI Thriller Series
Elizabeth, Ethan, and Callen
The Killing Times (book 1)
Sacred Burial Grounds (book 2)
True Love Lost (book 3)
Deep Dark Mire (book 4)
Fire Burns Hot (book 5)
Darkness of Truth (book 6)
Devil Hath Come (book 7)
Consumed by Wrath (book 8)
Redemption is Here (book 9)
Dead Shall Speak (book 10)
Pledging to Die (book 11)
Slay Bells Ring (book 12)
Past will Haunt (13)
Choices will Destroy (14)
Blood shall Run (15)
Act of Blood (16)
Stalked by the Past (17)
Dying to Love (18) Feb 2017
Croft & Croft Romance Adventure Series
Greyson and Emma Croft
Celestia is Falling (book 1)
Vegas is Dying (book 2)
Christmas is Killing (book 3)
Love is Bleeding (book 4)
Heaven is Weeping (book 5)
Hell is Burning (book 6)
Justice is Dying (book 7)
The Justice Series
Greyson and Emma Croft spinoff series
Dark Justice (1)
Lost Justice (2) March 2017
The Littlemoon Investigations Series
Julian and Tori Littlemoon
Blood Red Rage (book 1)
Lost & Broken (book 2)
Unthinkable Games (book 3)
Truth is Found (book 4)
Haven of Nightmares (book 5)
Forbidden Secrets (book 6)
Kiss of Souls (book 7) April 2017
The Carter Chronicles Trilogy
Callista, Nathaniel, and Lucas
Sinner Repent (book 1)
Sinner Realized (book 2)
Sinner Reborn (book 3)
The Oracle Chronicles Series
Nathaniel Carter and Avalon Miller
Oracle Rising (book 1)
Oracle Seeing (book 2)
Oracle Saving (book 3)
Oracle Haunting (book 4) June 2017
Harcourte Vampyre Society
Jolie, Jacques and Flynn
Dangerous Revelations (book 1)
Dangerous Choices (book 2)
Dangerous Misery (book 3)
Dangerous Retaliation (book 4)
Dangerous Influence (book 5)
Dangerous Sacrifice (book 6)
Dangerous Blood (book 7) Dec 2017
Anthologies
All the couples in one book
Illegal Fantasies-
Behind Closed Doors(1)
Romance Under Arrest- winter 2014
Behind Closed Doors(2)
Holiday Reinforcements-
Behind Closed Doors (3)- winter 2015
Please feel free to visit her at her blog at
www.morgankelley.blogspot.com
Stalked by the Past: An FBI Flashback Novel. (An FBI Romance Thriller Book 17) Page 38
