Chardy Walker Lieb

by The Saint

  The sun was just coming up as Courtney and Jake left the hospital and crossed the parking lot. He, still in his bullet-holed shirt, and she still wearing the soiled, linen slacks and sweater from the day before. The already pale blue sky was streaked with violet and crimson. The cool night breeze had warmed a bit in the early morning light.

  "Thank God Michael's injuries weren't quite as bad as they looked." Courtney yawned as she settled into the cab of Ben's old pick up.

  "Head wounds always bleed like that." Jake slammed her door, then rounded the truck and slid behind the wheel. "He's just lucky the bullet that ricocheted off the concrete wall only grazed his temple."

  Courtney nodded. "I'm not as worried about that as I am about the cement fragments they found in his eye."

  "Well, the doctor didn't seem too concerned," Jake reminded her, firing up the engine and driving out of the parking lot. "A scratched cornea, isn't that what he called it?"

  "Yes." She raked her fingers through her hair, wondering absently when the last time she’d used a brush was. "He said the eye patch should give it time to heal."

  "Hey, Michael's tough," Jake pointed out. "I've got the glass jaw to prove it."

  Regardless of their rocky history, Courtney was sure Michael would agree with their mom's reevaluation of Jake last night in the emergency room. Right before Cathleen had taken Janey home with her, she’d admitted being wrong about Jake. Maybe not back then, but certainly now. He had turned out pretty damned good, after all.

  As grateful as Courtney was for the sense of equilibrium this morning brought with it, there was still one loose end that bothered her.

  "You may think this is silly, but you know who else I worry about?" She rolled down the window and turned her face to the breeze.

  "Who?"

  "Templeton's employees – the honest ones – like Sandy."

  Somehow, that didn't surprise Jake one bit. "That's not foolish at all. In fact, one of the toughest parts of working undercover is realizing everyone involved isn't bad."

  That brought a smile back to her face.

  "Not to worry though," he assured her. "Templeton Enterprises may be a front, but it's legitimate. Someone else will snap it up in no time."

  Relieved…about so much, she faced Jake. "How can I thank you for coming with me to the hospital and staying?"

  "Well," he hedged, changing lanes in the early morning traffic, "I guess you could sleep with me."

  "Jake!" Maintaining a look of shock was pretty difficult with her pulse pounding like wild surf against hot sand. He'd never know how many times during the past several days that twinkle in his eyes had saved his butt.

  "Okay," he conceded, shrugging off her pitiful attempt at disdain. "Then at least put in a good word with O’Shea on behalf of my paperwork"—he checked his watch—"that is going to be extremely late."

  "You know Uncle Brian." Courtney patted Jake's shoulder sympathetically. "Do you actually think I have any influence in that department?"

  "Honey, I think you could tie that big Irishman in a knot if you put your mind to it." Jake winked.

  "How about you, pretzel boy?" she teased him back. "Can I have my way with you?"

  "Anytime," he assured her. Testing the water, he added seriously, "You know, I'm just as crazy about you as he is."

  When her heart did a familiar somersault that landed in decidedly unfamiliar territory, she opted to take it slow. "In an entirely different way, I hope."

  "Oh, yeah." Turning onto her street, he cast a sidelong glance and realized even exhausted she was every bit as strong as she was beautiful. "You can count on that, Sweetness."

  Jake parked in front of her building, maneuvering between a Chevy Impala and a Jeep Cherokee. He turned off the ignition and faced Courtney, certain he wasn't making a mistake. Tucking a stray curl behind

  her ear, he began, "You realize we've crossed some kind of line here."

  Courtney linked her fingers with his, content, for now, to follow. "Definitely."

  Christ, she wasn't going to make this easy. "I know under stressful circumstances bonds are created, but what happened between us—”

  "Goes way back," she completed. Searching his dark gaze, she took an unsteady breath and waited.

  He had worked undercover. He had driven over a hundred miles per hour in hot pursuit. Hell, he had been trained to shoot to kill. So why was facing this one woman so damned difficult?

  Because it was Courtney. It had always been her. Would never stop being her. He pulled the keys from the ignition and dangled them a moment, maybe for balance, before continuing. "I won't let you walk away again."

  When her eyebrow raised, he shrugged. "I love you, Courtney."

  After six long years, Courtney thought her heart would burst. As the early morning sun heated the interior of the truck, Jake's words warmed her soul. Old ghosts faded and new fears disappeared. She traced the dark stubble outlining his jaw with her fingertip. "I love you, too."

  "Well," he began, pulling her close, "I've got some time off coming."

  Sighing, she smiled and snuggled closer. Visions of her friend, Hannah Benbrook’s lovely, secluded bed and breakfast – HANNAH'S INN – danced provocatively in her head. A cozy feather bed. Toasty fireplace. Sparkling champagne. "I could definitely arrange a vacation."

  Jake closed his eyes… to time lost.

  Somehow in the midst of madness, closure had opened a new door for them…time found.

  The hand Courtney had placed on his chest covered the bullet holes in his shirt, like her love had filled the holes in his heart… time, ever ticking.

  Jake checked his watch. "The courthouse just opened. Unless you want a big, fancy wedding.”

  Courtney’s heart skipped a beat. “What about the paperwork, our blood tests and—”

  “I’ll call in every favor owed me,” he swore.

  Without a second thought, Courtney grinned. “City hall it is,” she agreed. “I’m sure Mom will watch Janey for a few days.”

  “No way.” Jake shook his head. “Only until tomorrow,” he corrected. “We’ll drive back in the morning and pick her up.”

  “Deal.” His sweet offer was Courtney’s undoing. She’d had five wonderful years with Janey that Jake hadn’t. “A wedding night for us and a family honeymoon with our daughter.”

  Jake liked to cover all his bases. ”Okay, soon-to-be Mrs. Ciora, you've got fifteen minutes to pack."

  Courtney laughed, until she realized he was serious. She sat straight up and challenged that familiar twinkle in his eye. "Throw in a shower, and you've got yourself a deal." Without waiting for his reply she made a mad dash for her apartment building.

  “Oh, no, you don't." Jake jumped from the truck and caught her at the door. He scooped her into his

  arms. “You’ll use up all the hot water.” Breathless, she lifted her face to his and winked. "Together?" "Forever," he promised.