Ranger Guardian

by Angi Morgan

  “I keep going over what Marrone said.” Kendall backed up to his chest and lifted her mouth so he could hear her lowered voice. “I thought at the time, this was all a plan to get me out of the picture.”

  “That was my first thought when he gave me the location to pick our girl up.”

  “Whatever Public Exposure has been working on, it’s happening soon. Marrone said there would be mass casualties. I need to talk with him.”

  “Call Jerry. Let him handle it. She needs us both right now.”

  She looped her arms carefully around his neck. “I need you both, too. Maybe you should shower while I get her dried off and dressed for bed.”

  A breath separated their faces. He wanted to kiss her. He shouldn’t kiss her. He was dying to kiss her.

  He kissed her.

  And she definitely kissed him back.

  The perfect fit. The perfect taste. He slipped into the memory of her in his arms, in a sexy sparkly dress with a strap that didn’t want to stay on her shoulder. He’d wanted to kiss her from the moment their eyes had met. Even on an investigation, he hadn’t waited long. Before the week’s end, they were in each other’s arms, close enough to melt into the other’s soul.

  Tonight was no different. It was as if the years had all slipped away last night. His body felt alive again, on fire. He wanted her badly enough that it ached.

  A caress across his face slipped down to his shoulders and pressed him away. But his last intention was to stop. They had been close to losing everything. He needed more of her, craved more from her lips. Desire was like an infection in his blood, surging with every pulsing beat of his heart.

  But a small giggle from Skylar Dawn reined in his longing. She was laughing at them. They drifted slightly apart, then he lifted her between them.

  “I’ll only be a minute.”

  He laid loud, sloppy kisses on both their foreheads and transferred their daughter to his wife. No matter what...they were a family.

  * * *

  KENDALL USED A giant fluffy towel to cover Skylar Dawn. She put her in pink pj’s and braided her hair after brushing it. By the time she was finished, Heath was done and had collected The Wizard of Oz from the living room where they’d left it.

  She heard Heath begin reading and jumped in the shower. He’d taken a cloth and a bottle of water, then washed her feet clean while they’d waited on transport home.

  Scrubbing hard, she scoured every place the filthy Bryan Marrone had touched her, then tossed the exfoliating sponge in the trash. Maybe it was a good thing they wouldn’t see him tonight. She might tear his head off for what he’d done.

  Tomorrow was soon enough.

  She dressed and braided her own hair before slipping into bed with the loves of her life. Then the what-ifs began. Heath’s arm was around Skylar Dawn, and he slipped his fingers through hers.

  “You can’t do that to yourself,” Heath whispered. “No one’s to blame. We’re good. All safe and sound.”

  How did he even know she blamed herself? Maybe because he’d already had time to do the same?

  “It’s no one’s fault. I...”

  “Kendall,” he squeezed her hand, “we deal with this tomorrow. Not tonight. Maybe for a while we can just forget.”

  “You’re right,” she said, staring at the ceiling.

  “Again?” He laughed softly. “This being right thing goes straight to my head. I think I like it.”

  “Shh, you’ll wake the baby.” She used her free hand to tuck the light blanket around her little girl’s shoulders.

  “She’s not such a baby anymore,” Heath whispered again. “Her birthday’s just around the corner. Get some sleep.”

  He turned off the headboard lamp. She closed her eyes and tried—really tried—to sleep. It didn’t work. She switched on the HISTORY channel, clicked the mute button and tried again. She was still wide awake.

  The TV glowed, casting eerie shadows over the garment bag. It hung over the chair Heath had sat in only last night. She rolled to her back, stretching muscles she’d forgotten she had.

  The room suddenly went dark. She swallowed the moment of blind panic, preparing for an attack.

  It took a minute for her to realize she’d moved against the remote, clicking the off button. She wished she could laugh. There was no immediate threat, but for a split second, terror—a too-familiar and unwelcome emotion—had suppressed her intelligence. She cautiously moved from under the covers.

  Public Exposure would make a move soon. She hated not doing anything, but their daughter needed them. Needed to know that she was safe.

  But was she? Public Exposure was still out there. Planning.

  Was anyone safe? Was Marrone telling the truth about a catastrophe? If he was, there weren’t many hours left to get the details from him. Who was working on it? Would he talk to them? She should be there, watching the interrogation. It might trigger something she’d forgotten.

  Kendall couldn’t sleep. She tried to place bits of information into logical categories in her mind. But her mind had other plans. It kept burning the image of Heath’s face on the backs of her eyelids.

  The image of him smiling as he got on one knee and proposed. He really was gorgeous. Possibly the most handsome man she’d ever met. Her cowboy. It didn’t seem possible he could have grown more handsome, but he had.

  Some of the cockiness she’d noticed during their first assignment together was gone. Strange how she missed it. Maybe not strange, since she hadn’t thought about working with him in years. But he was much more than that. Even though she’d withheld answers, he’d accepted and offered his help.

  Skylar Dawn was so much like him. She had his eyes, his thick hair and that cute little attitude when she slipped on a pair of Western boots. Even the way she stubbornly held her mouth. On Heath it was sexy. But on her darling little girl, it had always been a constant reminder of who her father was.

  God, she missed being a real family.

  Before she’d met Heath, the closest she’d gotten to settling down was having the same apartment for more than six months. Her mother had encouraged her every step of the way, and she’d accepted the help. But the looks her mom had been sending Heath’s way this week were wrong. It was time for Naomi Barlow to accept her son-in-law.

  If she wanted her life back—and she did—Heath and her daughter had to come first. She just couldn’t imagine life without Skylar Dawn. And the past six months proved life without Heath wasn’t a life either. She’d been simply existing. Not living.

  In order to protect them both, so they could get on with living properly, she couldn’t dwell on what their future might be. She needed to determine who had attempted to kill her...and why. Then catch the bastard before he succeeded.

  They had a life to live.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Giggles and the smell of strong coffee awoke Kendall—followed by her daughter’s attempt to sneak back into bed. Then came lots more giggles and a few shushes from Heath.

  “Ready?” her husband whispered. “One. Two. Three.”

  “Surprise!” Skylar Dawn shouted in her sweet voice. “Wake up, Mommy. We made toast and omelets.”

  “Oh my goodness.” Kendall pushed pillows behind to prop herself up.

  Heath set the tray across her lap, immediately moving the hot coffee to her bedside table. Skylar Dawn twisted around on her knees, grabbed Heath’s pillow and carefully plumped it behind her to match her mommy’s.

  They all sat in bed eating off the same plate until Kendall took a sip from her mug.

  “We forgot my coffee, Daddy. My, my, my, what are we going to do with you?”

  The “my, my, my” belonged to Skylar Dawn’s grandmother and was flawlessly reenacted. Her husband carefully moved from the bed so he wouldn’t disturb the tray of food. He bent at the waist and began bac
king out of the bedroom.

  “Your wish is my command.”

  Coffee for their daughter came as warm cocoa. It had to be in a mug that matched her parents’. Skylar Dawn reached across her and fiddled with the paper towel Kendall used as a napkin. She took her own and tucked it into exactly the same place on her pajamas.

  “Do you want cotton jelly for the toast, sweetie?”

  “Yes, please.”

  Kendall handed her the jelly-covered bread. The exchange went a little wonky, the toast flipping jelly-side down from Skylar Dawn’s hands. It made a mess on the comforter they had draped over their laps.

  “Oh furgle, furgle, furgle.”

  Kendall’s heart stopped. Jerry? Her daughter was imitating a man she’d never met?

  “Where did you hear that?” She turned to her daughter so fast it scared her.

  “I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” She began crying and grabbed Kendall’s arm. “I know I wasn’t supposed to tell anything.”

  “What’s happened? She okay?” Heath asked, returning to the room and setting down the cocoa.

  “I didn’t mean to scare you, sweetie. I’m not mad.” Kendall pushed the tray past her feet to the end of the bed.

  “They said I couldn’t ever tell or we’d get hurt. Bad hurt.”

  She held on to her daughter, wanting to forget everything. But she couldn’t. Those bastards. “They can’t hurt us, honey. I—I—I promise. Just tell me where you heard that word, okay?”

  “I don’t know. I think it was the house.” Skylar Dawn sniffed.

  “What house?” Heath asked.

  “The one I didn’t like. Please don’t make me go back.” She turned and buried her face in her daddy’s chest, then pulled the covers over her head. “I’m sorry. I won’t say it again. Promise.”

  “It’s okay, baby. No one’s making you go anywhere. You’ll stay right here with us.”

  Heath looked over their hidden daughter’s shape. Kendall moved her breakfast to the bedside table, then scooted close to her family. She and Heath soothed Skylar Dawn until she fell back to sleep. Heath tucked her in tight and nodded his head toward the doorway. Kendall joined him at the open door.

  “I promised Skylar Dawn she wouldn’t be alone.” He lowered his deep voice. “Will you wake your mom up to sit with her while we talk about this?”

  “I should check in and see if they’ve discovered anything.” Her mind was spinning. Jerry? How could that be?

  “Check in with who, Kendall? The only man we know who says furgle?”

  “There has to be a different explanation. What if she heard it after he arrived? He’s an FBI agent and used to be my partner. He can’t be dirty.”

  “Agents can be bought just as easily as a store clerk. Who better to point your investigation in the wrong direction?”

  She turned her face into his chest. “He knew every move we were making. Oh my God, Heath. Jerry kidnapped our baby. What are we going to do?”

  “We’re going to send that bastard to jail.”

  “How? Who’s going to believe us?”

  “We’ll need a plan.”

  “Still, Heath. We have no real evidence. How can we convince someone he’s responsible because our daughter learned a new word?”

  He pulled her into his arms, surrounding her in love and confidence.

  “I know three men who won’t hesitate to have faith.”

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  With another long day ahead of them, Wade wished he had someone to call and talk to, like his fellow Rangers. Maybe it was because his three best friends each had a special someone now. He had watched Skylar Dawn go into her mother’s arms and wanted...something. Anything.

  “He’s quitting,” Slate announced as he walked through the office door.

  “Who are you talking about?” Jack asked, right behind him.

  “You mean Heath,” Wade tried to confirm.

  “Yes, I mean Heath. The guy I’ve been calling partner since I came to Company B.”

  “This is about you?” Jack said. “Not the fact that he almost lost his daughter and wife?”

  “It’s not for personal reasons.” Slate sat on the corner of Jack’s desk, looking at everyone around them. “Kendall has an offer in Portland, and he told her he’d quit the Rangers.”

  “How do you know this?” Major Clements asked, coming from his office.

  “He said it to her after he knocked Marrone what’s his-face on his back.”

  “Through his comm? That was private.” Jack frowned.

  “I can’t help it if you guys didn’t listen after they left the club and I did.” Slate shrugged.

  “You’re not supposed to know this. He hasn’t resigned yet, Slate.” Major Clements waved everyone back to work. “It ain’t over until he actually does it.”

  “Yeah, he’s going to. I know how much he wants to be with Kendall and Skylar Dawn. He’s been moping around here for six months,” Slate said.

  “Hell, you’re the one who’s been complaining about how horrible he’s been acting.” Jack replied by pushing Slate off his desk.

  “We have work to do, boys. We still need to find out what Public Exposure is up to. Why did they need Kendall out of the way? What had she discovered, and why did Bryan Marrone say a lot of people would be finding out what they were all about? Do we have a ticking clock?”

  “As in a bomb or something?” Slate asked.

  “We have no idea when, or if, this threat is actually going to occur.” Jack began looking at his computer. “How are we going to narrow down what this event could be?”

  “Right,” Wade said.

  “So we have access to Kendall’s notes?” Major Clements paced between the desks.

  “I don’t, but I think we have something better now.” He pointed at the door, and the couple who should have been at home.

  “What the hell are they doing here?” their commander semi-yelled, but hugged Heath and Kendall as they entered. “We’re glad you two have Skylar Dawn back safely. You guys should be home with her. We’ve got this covered.”

  “She’s actually bouncing back pretty well. And she’s in excellent hands. Josh and Tracey Parker brought their twins up to play.” Heath wrapped his arm around Kendall’s shoulders. She didn’t pull away.

  “Actually, Tracey brought the twins. Josh brought three Company F Rangers. They’re at the house and not leaving until this is all behind us.” Kendall laced her fingers with Heath’s free hand.

  Wade leaned back in his chair. The question on his mind was which Ranger called which Ranger. Josh offering to keep an eye on them was probably a safe bet. He probably didn’t count on both Heath and Kendall coming back to the case.

  “Why do you think we can’t handle this without you? And why didn’t you take this to the FBI since it’s your case, Kendall?” Wade crossed his arms, waiting for the bomb.

  “Because the FBI is in on it.” Kendall dropped the words like an explosion.

  “My office. Now,” Major Clements commanded. “Slate, bring chairs for these two.”

  Wade grabbed the back of Heath’s rolling chair, and Slate grabbed his own. They exchanged glances, and true to form, Slate smiled—most likely at the possibility of saving someone. He loved to be a hero.

  In the major’s office, Heath didn’t hesitate to sit. The beating he’d taken trying to protect his daughter had left him with two broken ribs and a hell of a lot of bruises.

  Kendall waved off the chair and rubbed her bruising cheekbone. “I prefer to stand, thanks.”

  The last one inside the office, Jack closed the door. “Maybe you guys should start at the beginning.”

  “Agreed,” Major Clements said.

  “For months I’ve wondered how Public Exposure always seemed to be one step ahead of me. I could never get a bre
ak.” Kendall paced, but kept her eyes on the major. “I was handed this case by my former partner. He’d been monitoring it, but kept saying nothing was there as the complaints grew. There was an immediate reluctance to give me resources or support.”

  The major sat on the corner of his desk. He’d known Kendall almost as long as they all had. He’d been at the wedding and at the hospital when Skylar Dawn was born. He’d cursed right along with all of them when she’d been kidnapped.

  Wade didn’t have to wonder if everyone believed Kendall. All they were waiting for was enough proof to act on it.

  “I know now that Jerry Fisher, the supervisory special agent, asked to waive the conflict of interest regarding Heath helping the task force,” the major said.

  “He bet on us being at each other’s throats and not making any progress,” Heath said.

  “Right. The thing is—” Kendall looked at him with admiration and love “—Heath’s a damn good detective. We made headway that Jerry wasn’t counting on. That’s why he arranged to distract us by abducting Skylar Dawn.”

  “Distract?” Jack asked.

  “Heath said from the beginning he thought the whole thing was a ruse to really get Kendall,” Slate said.

  “It was. Bryan Marrone stated he was instructed to keep me under wraps—”

  “Or dead,” Heath interrupted.

  “—or dead,” Kendall agreed.

  “Other than his assignments, you haven’t mentioned why you think Supervisory Special Agent Fisher is working with Public Exposure,” the major pointed out.

  “This is the part that’s really thin.” Heath wrapped his arm around his midsection and took a deep breath.

  He and Kendall looked at each other. “Paper-thin,” she agreed.

  “Skylar Dawn has a habit of mimicking people she’s around.” Heath twisted in his seat to make eye contact with everyone. “For instance, she says ‘my, my, my,’ when imitating my mother-in-law. Or ‘that’s a relief,’ which is something Kendall says.”

  “That’s true. She even does my mom and dad after riding,” Slate threw out.