U.S. Marshals: Chased (U.S. Marshals Book 2)

by Laura Marie Altom

  “Guess not.” Allie tried ruffling his hair, but he ducked before she got too close.

  “We’re done,” he said, guzzling the last of his chocolate milk. “Can we watch the Disney Channel?”

  “Clear the table first.”

  “Aw, man.”

  “Cal,” Caleb said reflexively, ignoring Allie’s squinty glare.

  The boy quickly finished his work and dashed off with the dog, leaving Caleb once again alone with Allie. Only he wasn’t all that sure alone with her was a place he wanted to be.

  “I’m losing him,” she said, cradling her forehead in her hands. “All this macho stuff. Before you showed up, he’d wanted to be an airplane for Halloween.”

  “Allie…” Caleb instinctively put his hand over hers. She tried snatching her hand free but he wouldn’t let her. After a few seconds of struggle, she relaxed against him. “He’s growing up. It would’ve happened whether I’d entered the picture or not. Shoot, I remember the year I switched from cute to scary. Same thing happened with my brothers. Gillian even started out as a princess and Cinderella, but wound up a witch.” He winced. “Don’t tell her I said so, but during a few of her teen years, she kept up the costume year-round.”

  “That’s mean.” With her free hand, Allie delivered a light smack to his arm. “What about all of Cal’s gun play? Before you showed up, he never… How could I have forgotten?”

  “What?”

  “The day you got here, but before you’d arrived at the courthouse, instead of making airplanes or houses with his Legos, he’d made a gun. This thing with Francis, it’s affected him more than I thought. I’m sorry for blaming you.”

  “Apology accepted.” He was touched by her willingness to admit she’d been wrong. “But even without Francis, Cal is going to grow up. Are you ready? Have you thought about how your life is going to change when he’s no longer dependent on you?”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “I don’t know.” He shook his head. “I’m not sure why I threw it out there.”

  “To punish me,” she said, yanking her hand back, then crossing her arms. “Yet again.”

  “No.”

  “Then why do you keep bringing up things you know are only going to upset me?”

  “Believe me, Al, if that is what I’m doing, it’s not intentional. I’m sorry if you think it has been.”

  “Are you, Caleb?” The look she fixed on him was chilling. Hard and cold and flinty, and at the same time sad. So sad. Had he caused all that?

  “Why, Caleb?” she asked. “Why do you keep asking me to marry you? The truth?”

  He rubbed his throbbing temples.

  “That’s what I thought,” she said.

  “What? I didn’t even say anything.” How could he when just looking at her had him so mixed up he could hardly remember his name, let alone why he was still so angry with her. Why he’d ever been angry with her.

  “I’m going to bed,” she said. “Could you please tuck in Cal? Oh, and leave the dishes. I’ll do them in the morning.”

  “Allie, wait.”

  “Why?” She paused on the bottom step of the back staircase, refusing to meet his gaze. “Why should I wait for you now, Caleb, when you never gave me a reason to wait all those years ago?”

  “We could start over,” he said. “We should start over.”

  “I’m too tired,” she said.

  “That’s not fair.”

  “To who? Cal or you?”

  “Both.” He left the table to go to her, finger her robe’s soft lapels.

  She closed her eyes, arched her head back, giving him an unobstructed view of the sweet, simple column of her throat. His fingertips itched to feel it, caress it. His lips ached to kiss it.

  “Whether you want to acknowledge it or not,” he said, “there’s still something between us. Just because you abandoned it—me—that doesn’t mean the energy went away.” Far from it, in his case anyway. While he’d hoped, dreamed, prayed that with time what he felt for Allie would forever fade, in reality it had simmered, just beneath the surface.

  Taunting, teasing.

  And now it was back.

  Reminding him with Allie’s every breath just how much he stood to lose all over again if this time he couldn’t make her forever his. It wasn’t just them he’d be losing, but also their son. A boy who only after knowing a few weeks he already fiercely loved.

  Caleb avoided Allie as best he could the next few days—tough considering he was being paid to protect her.

  At the moment, he was standing outside the Morning Glory Inn, hands shoved in his jeans pockets, yet again trying his damnedest to avoid the inevitable. His only solace was that Allie looked equally uncomfortable, surrounded by his sister, baby niece, brother-in-law and dad. His brother Beau chatted with Adam. His son, Milo, and step-niece played on a swing set in the two-story inn’s side garden. Now that so many of Francis’s gang had been rounded up, Caleb's team had been slimmed to six.

  Allie looked beautiful.

  Really extraordinarily beautiful.

  The day was sunny and fine, like when they’d been to the petting farm. She wore her long hair down. When the light breeze tickled it against her cheeks, she kept brushing it away. Her denim dress and black boots looked hot. Gillian’s baby fisted one of the ends of her orange-and-black scarf, making Allie laugh while his sister passed the baby off to her. Chrissy put the scarf all the way in her mouth, happily gumming the candy-corn decorated silk while the two women talked.

  Anger clenched Caleb’s gut.

  Allie had cheated him out of so much. Out of so many never to be reclaimed moments like seeing her hold their baby. Of sharing holidays with their son and his family. How many different Halloween costumes had he missed?

  Chrissy snuggled against Allie’s breasts, bringing to mind still more questions. Like had she really asked him to make love to her?

  Had he really turned her down?

  “What’s got you so deep in thought?” his dad asked.

  Caleb laughed. “As always—a woman.”

  “She’s a looker, I’ll give you that.”

  “It’s not her looks that have me bugged.”

  “Yep,” his dad said. “Gotta say I’ve had a few angry moments myself over this whole situation. Your boy’s handsome. Smart as a whip. Just wish I would’ve had more time to fish with him or sit with him on my knee.”

  “I know what you mean.”

  “So when are you two going to tie the knot?”

  “Not sure,” Caleb said.

  “You asked her though, right?” The sound of Cal’s laughter rose above his father’s question. Looked like he was having a ball getting to know his cousin, who was currently chasing him, trying to conk him on the head with her fairy princess wand. He took a harmless swing at her with his plastic sword.

  Milo barked and romped between them.

  “Yes, sir,” Caleb said. “But she hasn’t given me an answer.”

  “You planning on keeping after her? Demanding she make a choice?”

  “I guess. But unfortunately, we’re not living in the Old West. I can’t just drag her and Cal back to my mountain cabin.”

  “So then you’ve put her on a deadline?” his dad asked. “Marry you, or else?”

  “Not in so many words, but I think it’s understood that as soon as she delivers Francis’s sentence, I’m gone—not out of Cal’s life, but hers.”

  His dad frowned.

  “What? I should just hang around like a sap? Waiting for her to make up her mind?”

  Shrugging, his dad said, “Got anything better to do?”

  “Thanks, Pops. You’re a lot of help.”

  “You’re welcome.” He winked. “Let me know where to send the bill.”

  “I appreciate you throwing this party,” Allie said to Gillian, early that evening. “I can tell Cal’s having a super time.”

  “What about you?” Gillian asked, making a last-minute repair on a H
alloween-themed gingerbread haunted castle she and Meghan had spent the past week perfecting for the party. Allie had been under the impression that they were just going to have an intimate get together for family, but Gillian had instead hired a party planner who had transformed the inn’s event room into a spooky wonderland complete with carnival games that Cal and his cousin were happily trying to win. Piles of candy and howling coyote and cackling witch sound effects were also crowd pleasers.

  Cal’s entire class was invited, along with Milo and all of Allie’s coworkers. Allie told Giselle Caleb was officially off-limits—not that Allie yet knew what she’d do with him, but the point was to keep her options open. Giselle now used her many charms on Bear, who stoically stood guard near the door. Though his arms were crossed, face grim and alert, Giselle looked determined to make him smile.

  Allie’s mom hadn’t been able to come. Turns out she’d promised to dog sit for neighbors who were taking a twenty-five-year wedding anniversary cruise. While Allie missed her mom, she was secretly relieved to put off at least her portion of the family reunion.

  Allie had been touched by Gillian’s gesture to throw the party. Touched, but also confused. Why would Caleb’s sister do all of this for her and her son? Especially after she’d kept Cal from the Logues for all these years?

  “Sure, I’m, ah, having lots of fun.” Allie flashed Gillian a hesitant smile.

  “Look,” Gillian said, licking black frosting from her thumb, “before all of Cal’s friends get here, there’s something I need to get off my chest. Let’s talk.”

  “Here it comes,” Allie said with a grimace in a relatively quiet corner near Coyote Mountain Slide, which was not yet in use. “I’ve been wondering when you’d let me have it.”

  “Oh, Allie, no.” Gillian surprised her with a hug. “Where would you get that idea?”

  “Maybe because that’s what I’d do if I were standing in your shoes?”

  “Yell at yourself?” Gillian laughed. “What purpose would that serve?”

  Tears sprung to Allie’s eyes. “Oh, Gillian, I’m so sorry for what I’ve done. At the time, it just—I couldn’t see any other option. Caleb had so many plans, all of which centered around a career that could snatch him from me and our son. I never meant to lie about Cal. It just happened. Every year, I planned on telling him, but the more time that went by, the more scared I got. I didn’t know how he’d react. Couldn’t imagine.”

  “Shh…” Gillian patted Allie’s back. “Now that you and my brother are finally getting married, you can put all that behind you. Yes, you hurt him—all of us—but we’re a forgiving bunch.”

  Allie nodded.

  “Whoa,” Gillian asked when Allie couldn’t stop crying. “What’s the matter now?”

  “N-nothing,” Allie said with a sniffle.

  “You and my brother are getting married?”

  “I—I don’t know.”

  “He asked, didn’t he?” Gillian demanded to know.

  “Uh-huh.”

  “Then what’s the problem?” Scooping up a handful of M&Ms, Gillian popped a few into her mouth and chewed.

  Sighing, Allie asked, “Got a few years?”

  “Honey, after what Joe and I went through to get together, I know what you mean. How about you and I trade our punch for wine and head upstairs for some serious girl talk. The boys can handle the party.”

  “You think?” Glancing at the four rowdy kids already assembled, Allie had a tough time imagining Caleb handling even them, let alone more.

  “Oh, sure. Joe’s great with kids, and it’s high time my brother learned.”

  Caleb flashed a panicked look at his brother-in-law, Joe. “Where’d that wife of yours run off to?”

  “She said she and your soon-to-be-wife were just going for one quick glass of wine. Next thing I knew, you and me were both banished to kid hell.”

  Laughing, Caleb yanked a kid dressed as a Power Ranger off of the snack table.

  Milo stood in a quiet corner, ears raised as if he wanted to join in, but wasn’t sure where to start. His official work as a comfort dog during crisis situations didn’t offer as much opportunity to play as he’d gotten with Cal.

  After corralling a daisy, a vampire and Miss America, then finding time to snag a few hot dogs, Caleb was hiding out with Joe in the haunted house when he asked, “How long did it take for Gillian to give you an answer after you proposed?”

  “About two-point-five seconds once I got my head out of my behind enough to get up the nerve to ask. Why?”

  “No biggee,” Caleb said around his latest bite of hot dog.

  “All right, Gil’s gonna kill me if I don’t ask the obvious question.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Well?” Joe peeled the foil from a chocolate cupcake. “What’s the problem? We’ve all been planning a Christmas wedding. Should I make your sister cool her matchmaking heels?”

  Rolling his eyes, Caleb said, “You should know better than anyone that you can’t make Gillian do anything.”

  “True,” Joe said. “Hey, you know that kid?”

  “Which one?” Caleb leaned to his right, peering out the crooked haunted house window.

  “The one with the pink hair and spiders for eyelashes who’s fishing in the punch fountain?”

  “Sure. That’d be my son’s pal Billy Stubbs. Save my spot while I feed him to the werewolves.”

  “Tired?” Caleb asked Allie after they’d said goodbye to the last little goblin.

  “Mmm-hmm…” She eased her arm around his waist, resting her head on his shoulder. It was such a simple gesture. One that in the grand scheme of things probably meant nothing, but he couldn’t help but feel a stir of hope.

  “Judging by the size of Cal’s grin when he took off with Max, I’d say the night was a complete success.” Because of minimal risk, Caleb agreed to the sleepover under the condition that Max’s home had been previously surveyed for potential security weaknesses, and the boy had been accompanied by Milo and a security team. His parents had also been apprised of the still potentially dangerous situation, as had all of the parents of the children who’d attended the party.

  “Thanks,” Allie said to Gillian and Joe. “I can’t get over how much trouble you all went to in welcoming Cal into your family.”

  “Sure,” they said in unison.

  The couple stood with their arms around each other, occasionally sharing glances that told anyone looking they’d found what it sometimes felt like the whole rest of the world was seeking—love.

  Gillian said, “Don’t forget, tonight was also about welcoming you into our family. You’ve just gotta remember to—” She leaned over to Allie, whispering into her ear.

  Allie busted into the kind of laughter Caleb hadn’t heard coming from her in years. “Will do.”

  “What was that about?” Caleb asked Joe.

  “I’m too tired to decode it tonight. Come on,” he said to his wife, taking her by the hand to tug her toward the stairs. “You’re going to bed—with me.”

  “Yes, sir,” she said, but not without an over-the-shoulder grin to Allie.

  After they’d left, Caleb said, “Spill it.”

  “What?” She batted her eyelashes.

  The marshal on duty with them at the far end of the inn’s lobby cleared his throat. “Should I, ah, give you two some privacy?”

  “Thanks, Kent.” Damn. Caleb had forgotten he was even there. “But Allie and I were just leaving.”

  “We were?” she asked, at it again with those flirty eyelashes, adding a pout to her uncharacteristic sex-kitten routine.

  “You been drinking?” he asked.

  “Just a smidge.”

  “That why you left chaperoning the party to me and Joe?”

  “Maybe,” she said, toying with one of the buttons on his shirt.

  “What the hell are you up to?” He used a lock of her hair to tweak the end of her nose.

  She wagged a hotel key at him.

&nb
sp; Again, Caleb was left groaning. “What exactly have you and my sister been talking about?”

  “You know.” Wink, wink. “Girl stuff.”

  “No, I don’t know.” He took the key, planting his hand on the small of her back to lead her up the stairs. “How ’bout you tell me.”

  They’d been in the room exactly fifteen minutes—long enough for room service to deliver wine and hot artichoke dip—when Allie fell asleep.

  Caleb sighed.

  Whatever Allie and his sister had gabbed about, it looked like it’d be morning till he and Al got a chance to talk.

  He took off his roommate’s boots and scarf, then tucked her in for the night. But it was only nine-thirty and he was still wide-awake, so he made a quick call to both security teams to make sure all was still well, then headed down to the inn’s small bar in hopes of finding his dad and brothers.

  “Hey there, sleepyhead,” Caleb said to Allie the next morning in their suite. He’d been reading the paper at a small table in front of a large bank of windows. If he’d opened the shades, no doubt sunshine would’ve flooded the room. But until Allie and Cal were one hundred percent out of danger, he saw no sense in tempting fate. “I ordered breakfast. A little of everything.”

  “Thanks.” She sat up only to clutch her stomach and forehead. “Whoa. How much wine did your sister and I drink?”

  “Considering the fact that you, and according to Joe—Gillian—were both out by nine-thirty, I’d say you both had more vino than you thought.” He went to her, perching on the side of the bed. “Need anything? Aspirin? A cool cloth?”

  “Yes, please. To both.” She grimaced. “And while you’re at it, how about a new head?”

  “Will do.”

  In a few minutes, he was back with both items, along with a cold can of Sprite from the mini-bar. He opened the drink for her to help wash down the two white tablets.

  When she’d finished, he took the can, setting it on the bedside table. “I don’t know about you,” he said, “but that was one of the most romantic nights of my life.”