All I Need
Page 22
Rhone popped his head in, Jessica balanced like a precious bundle in his arms. “Found these by the front door.” He held up shoes and socks.
Nicholas scowled.
The clock chimed, a reminder of how late they were. Carrying Nicky in one arm and scooping up the shoes in the other, Shannen headed for the front door of the house they’d had built on Long Island.
After belting both kids into their car seats, Rhone gave Jessy a pacifier, which she noisily fastened on to. Rhone slid a hand up Shannen’s nylon-clad leg, making her gasp in surprise before he closed the door. Then he slid behind the wheel and headed into town and toward the small, whitewashed church that had become sanctuary to both of them.
The morning sun shone brightly and the scent of blooming flowers filtered through the windows.
“Happy?” he asked.
“Never more so,” she agreed.
The absence of traffic made the drive easy, and they arrived at the church with a couple of minutes to spare. Doug and Brian stood near the door, both conspicuously handsome in suits and ties.
“I’m glad you could get away,” Rhone said, juggling his daughter with ease as he offered a hand to Doug and Brian.
“Wouldn’t miss being a godfather for the second time for anything,” Doug said.
Shannen smiled. Doug looked almost as proud as Rhone.
“Thanks for sending that new kid to me,” Doug said. “He’s gonna be great. Has a knack for defense.”
Rhone nodded. “Glad he’s working out.”
“No one’s like you, though.”
“When you fall in love and have a baby, I’ll hire you at my firm,” Rhone said.
“I’d have to have one foot in the grave to accept the kind of mundane job you’re offering.”
“It’s not so bad,” Brian supplied. “There’s still plenty of excitement. In fact—”
“Yarrow,” Rhone warned.
“Gentlemen, please,” Shannen interrupted. “There’s a christening going on here.”
The three exchanged sheepish looks.
Rhone handed Jessica to Shannen, then went back to the car to lock and close the door. Some things would never change, she realized, as she saw Rhone and Doug give cursory glances around the church’s exterior.
Danger hadn’t been completely eliminated. As long as Rhone had contacts in the business, the risk would never be totally gone. But she felt safe and secure. Their new home was reminiscent of the one they’d left behind in Colorado. But Rhone had taken precautions by installing a sophisticated alarm system.
Though she hadn’t expected to like New York life a second time, she did. Rhone was close to his new job, training agents in special tactics, but they were far enough away from the city that home truly felt like home.
The minister met them, smiling at his new parishioners.
“Hola! Hola!” Maria called, hurrying over. She left her sister behind as she rushed to Shannen and Jessica. “Oh, that baby, she’s a beautiful one!” Maria cooed.
Shannen managed to give the woman a big hug. Then Maria dropped to her knees and Nicholas ran over, nearly tripping over untied laces. “Gramma!” he called, having bestowed the honorary title Maria was more than proud to wear.
Though Maria hadn’t moved from Colorado, she’d retired and now traveled with Shannen and Rhone when necessary. Reluctant to fly alone, she and her sister had visited several times, just to see Nicky.
The minister discreetly cleared his throat.
They took their places as rehearsed, Jessy tucked in the crook of Doug’s arm. Nicky rode on Brian’s shoulders. Rhone’s arm slid around her waist. A feeling of peace and contentment stole over her, enhanced by the pristine surroundings.
She allowed the minister’s words to warm her heart. He was right—they’d been blessed in ways far too numerous to count.
When the ceremony was over, Jessica started to fuss. “I’ll take her in the back and feed her,” she told Rhone, cherishing the stolen moments with her daughter.
“We’ll have cake downstairs when you’re ready.”
She found a private room and fed her daughter, knowing that downstairs, Nicky would indulge in nuts and candies some of the church ladies had thoughtfully provided.
When Jessica was fed and once again asleep in her mother’s arms, Shannen joined the others. Rhone had gotten the carrier and Jessy fussed only minimally when Shannen put her in it.
While she and Rhone cut the cake, Brian snapped pictures. Maria insisted on doing the serving and then Nicky demanded Rhone’s attention for a matter daddies handled much better than mommies did.
A few minutes later, Shannen saw Doug standing off to the side, an expression in his eyes that might have been regret. She knew he cared too much for both her and Rhone for it to be envy, but certainly a longing, and a flash of pain, resided there.
Shannen crossed to Doug, a cup of coffee in hand. The second he became aware of her concern, he painted a false smile on his face. Knowing him as she did, she had no doubt the smile was an imposter. Otherwise, regrets wouldn’t linger around his eyes.
Happy as she was for herself and Rhone, she couldn’t help but regret their friend had no one to hold during the cold long nights when demons of the dark returned to play their torturous games.
“Beautiful baby you’ve got there,” he commented.
“Thanks. Coffee?”
He took it with the same detachment she used to see in Rhone’s eyes. “Rhone meant it when he offered you a job.”
Doug’s smile was more requisite than sincere. “I’m not ready to give it up, Shannen.”
She nodded, understanding now in a way that wouldn’t have been possible a year ago. She curled her fingers around his wrist and gave an affectionate squeeze. “We think of you a lot.”
“Likewise.”
“Anytime you need a friend...”
“I appreciate the offer. More than you’ll know.”
Sensing he didn’t want to talk any further, she left him—a solitary warrior to his solitary battle.
An hour or so later, the festivities wrapped up. Brian drove Maria and her sister to their hotel while Doug headed for the airport. The exhausted children slept soundly in the back seat.
After dinner that night, Rhone was on bath duty down the hall while she slipped into their bedroom. Comforting sounds of childish laughter and squeals of delight met her ears, filling her with warmth.
Knowing Rhone would be joining her soon, she knelt to pull out the bottom drawer of the dresser.
As she touched the tissue-wrapped lingerie, she experienced a flash of painful remembrance. She recalled a conversation that had cut a channel in her soul. “I dreamed of you,” Rhone had said, “walking to me, a sexy smile on your lips, a feminine sway to your hip, and invitation in your expression. Yeah, I made it because of you.”
Tonight she intended to banish their last ghost.
Hearing his footfalls in the hallway, she disappeared into their bathroom, locking the door. Hands and fingers trembling, she fumbled with the unfamiliar garter fasteners.
“Shannen?”
“I’ll be right there.”
Several minutes later, insides twisting into a tight knot, she opened the door.
Rhone instantly glanced over from the bed.
Then whistled.
Long.
And soft.
She smiled hesitantly, hoping she looked sexy. Hoping she resembled the heroine of his dreams after all.
When he grinned back, like a man who’d died and gone to heaven, she knew her smile became genuine. Emboldened by the appreciation in his eyes, she walked to him, stopping within reaching distance.
Rhone sat up and she saw his Adam’s apple move as he gulped. “Oh, yeah,” he said huskily, so sexily—like velvet dragged across sandpaper—all doubts were vanquished.
He stood, capturing her shoulders in the unyielding bite of his fingers. Her eyes drooped closed with the promise she saw in his eyes, the love in his e
xpression.
When he started to speak, she opened her eyes again, not wanting to miss a single second of this reunion.
“Oh, yeah, babe.” He stroked her hair possessively. His voice was grating and raw. “I made it because of you.”
* * * * *
ISBN: 978-1-4592-8746-4
All I Need
Copyright © 1995 by Vickie Conan and Christine Pacheco
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