“That one’s easy to figure out,” Rogers replied. “Sandy worked during two of the killings, and her alibi is firm. That’s part of the reason we didn’t realize she was missing for an entire day, because we were no longer looking at her as a suspect. Kenneth had to know that, so he still needed two people to take the blame. He was going to let Sandy take his place as Rose’s accomplice.”
Cassie’s stomach turned. “He thought nothing of destroying all those women just because I refused to date him three years ago and Lynn managed to leave. I don’t understand how someone could be that deranged.”
“He felt like you and Lynn wronged him,” Rogers said. “You made a fool out of him, and he couldn’t tolerate that once Lynn left. I think the urge to kill was always in him. This situation just gave him what he felt was a legitimate reason to follow through with his urges.”
“Thanks for coming by and telling us,” Cassie said. “I’m glad to know he and Rose can’t hurt anyone else, and I’m glad Sandy is safe.”
“You’re welcome.” Rogers stood, resting her hand against the back of the black plastic chair. “One more thing. You were right about the Hinesman kid passing away. The one you told me had quit breathing back when Kenneth trapped you in the hallway. I’ve spoken to his mom. She admitted she was the person you saw in the hallway that day at the rehab center. She never planned to harm you, but she was angry so wanted to tell you off. I told her what really happened the night her son stopped breathing. I think she feels better knowing her kid is getting justice of some sort and Kenneth is going to jail for life.”
Cassie blinked back tears, wondering if the damage Kenneth had done would ever stop piling up, even years after he did things. She could only imagine what the families of the women he’d murdered were going through and would continue to go through for the rest of their lives.
“If I’m being honest,” Cassie said, “I’m a little sorry he isn’t getting the death penalty.”
Rogers’s lips twitched into a frown and she nodded. “Me too.”
Turning, she left the room without a backward glance.
Now all Cassie had to do was face Frankie. One more hurdle for them to overcome, and they could move on with their life and hopefully, find a future.
***
Frankie waited for the door to fully close behind the detective. He squeezed Cassie’s hand, which was a spot that didn’t seem to hurt her if he touched it. “You okay?”
She blinked rapidly, and he knew she tried not to cry, but she also gave a tremulous smile. “I’ll be okay. He was a destructive force, and I’m sad for everyone who had to deal with him.”
“I know. Sometimes when things like this happen, it can make you feel guilty you survived when others didn’t.”
Cassie nodded. “I think you might be one of the only people who truly understand how I feel. Why did I get to live when others didn’t?”
“Same reason I had the nightmares about those poor kids for so long.” Frankie knew Cassie would have a long road ahead of her. It wasn’t easy to let go of guilt, no matter how innocent the person feeling it truly was. “You’ll get through this, Cassie, and I’ll be here for you every step of the way.”
Knowing he would be pressing his luck, but unable to wait any longer, Frankie removed his hand from Cassie’s to reach into his pocket for the tiny diamond ring he’d bought her.
“I know this isn’t much. It’s all I could afford right now.” He showed the ring to her. “It’s okay if you still need time, but I know what I want. Say you’ll stay with me and work on our future. Nothing else matters to me except that right now.”
She gasped slightly and raised her hand toward the ring, brushing it lightly with her fingertip. “Frankie, that’s the sweetest thing I can imagine, but we need to talk first. I started this relationship on a lie, and you have to know the truth before we go any further.”
“I already know,” he repeated, just like he’d tried to tell her before Detective Rogers walked in. “You tricked me into getting you pregnant, but it’s okay. I’ll stick with you no matter what, Cassie. I love you and I’m glad we’re going to have a baby.”
“They did a pregnancy test here, Frankie. I’m not pregnant.”
Frankie closed his eyes, heavy disappointment settling on his chest. The past week had been wonderful, believing he and Cassie had started a family. The doctors wouldn’t tell him anything specific, but they had said she was healthy and would make a full recovery. He assumed that meant the baby was fine too. “Laura said you weren’t sure about the pregnancy, but I wanted it to be true.” He looked back at her, shrugging slightly. “Did that bastard make you lose it by hurting you or were you never pregnant?”
“I wasn’t pregnant.” She took his hand back in hers, setting the ring on his wheelchair table and leaning forward to kiss his fingers. “For the record, I never planned to get pregnant to trap you. I really do love you, Frankie. That night, I wanted you so badly. I had convinced myself it was nothing more than lust, but I wanted to be with you more than I wanted to be rational. I told you I couldn’t get pregnant so you’d make love to me.”
Thayne would be happy to know she hadn’t tried to trap him. It hadn’t mattered to Frankie one way or the other. However, it certainly boosted his ego knowing she’d been so wild for him that she hadn’t wanted to stop.
“I’m sorry for lying,” she said, seeming nervous that he hadn’t responded. “Does this change the way you feel? Is the possibility of a baby the only reason you asked me to be with you?”
“Don’t ever think that,” he said. “I knew I wanted you almost from the second we left the rehab center together.”
“It was the same for me,” she whispered, looking away from his gaze. “I was too scared to admit it.”
“It’s not that I don’t eventually want kids,” Frankie clarified, “but it doesn’t have to happen right now. Dispatch called and that job is mine, so I’m going to be busy between getting rehab after my amputation next week and then starting the job.” He squeezed her hand. “As excited as I was about the possibility of a kid, I’m also a bit relieved that I get you to myself for a while.”
Tears shimmered at the bottom of her eyelids without falling when she looked back at him. “Knowing that I started us out with a lie, you still want to be with me?”
“You really need to ask?” He pulled her forward, cupping her hand against his cheek. “All I want is you. I love you.”
Cassie let out an audible breath of relief. “It’s actually been a big worry for me, to tell you the truth. My parents divorced, yours are in the middle of a divorce, and I started us off on a lie. I was afraid you wouldn’t forgive me, and all I want is to be with you.”
Frankie picked up the ring, pressing it back into the palm of her hand. “Then put this on, love. Just because we didn’t get pregnant the first time around, that doesn’t mean we can’t try again later.”
Laughing, Cassie slipped the ring onto her finger and then swung her legs over the side of the bed. She set his water on the nearby rolling table and removed the tabletop from Frankie’s wheelchair. “I haven’t stood much in days, but I need to kiss my man.”
Frankie patted his lap. “Then get down here.”
Cassie practically fell into his lap, but the pain it flared throughout his legs was short lived when her lips crashed against his.
Persistence had paid off and Cassie stopped running. Just holding her in his arms made Frankie’s love blaze hotter than it had before. Nothing could stop them from taking this world by storm. Physical disabilities, killers, and even insecurities couldn’t hold them back. They had each other, and that was all they needed.
Author’s Note
Thank you so much for reading Blazing Hotter! I’ve had Frankie’s story roaming around the back of my mind ever since finishing Blazing Love last year. The pain in the butt probie who was supposed to be someone to hate during Thayne and Laura’s story turned into a character I loved and knew needed his own roman
ce. I’m very pleased with how Frankie and Cassie’s lives turned out, and I hope you enjoyed reading about them as well.
I had a few tie-ins with other books of mine throughout this story. Of course, Thayne and Laura had to be there since they were in Blazing Love, but it was also fun to have them get married on McCallister’s Paradise, the world of my contemporary romance series. If you missed Thayne and Laura’s love story, I tried to keep the mystery aspect of that still a mystery so you could pick their book up. If McCallister’s Island perked up your interest, you can check out the first book in the series for free (Happy Endings) and get to know the McCallister siblings.
As far as what is up next for me, I’m going to finish the final McCallister book, telling their baby brother Shane’s story as he cooks his way into love. After that, I have several Christmas novellas to write this year and then I might start a new series about a paranormal investigator and his uneasy romance with a skeptic who wonders if the man is a fraud. I keep dreaming about this couple, and although I haven’t written paranormal stories thus far, I’m hoping enough of you will have an interest in reading about them. So far, in my mind, they are a compelling couple and I can see a few stories involving them.
As always, I appreciate you reading! A review is always helpful to authors, and I’d love to hear what you thought. Hoping this year has brought you happiness and love so far. Keep following your dreams and happy reading!
~ Chantel April 3, 2016
Website: http://www.chantelrhondeau.com
Newsletter: http://chantelrhondeau.wix.com/freebook (Receive free books, news about sales, and more!)
Facebook group/Street team (I’d love for you to join!): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1636019463291441/
~
Chantel’s Books
Romantic Suspense
Stand-alone titles:
Always & Forever
Crime & Passion
Murderous Lies
~
Agents in Love Series:
Love & Deception – Book 1
Love & Redemption – Book 2
~
Love Under Fire Series:
Blazing Love
Blazing Hotter
~
Contemporary Romance
Stand-alone titles:
Season For Love: A Christmas Romance Novella
Unexpected Gift (Sweet Christmas Romance Novella)
Loving Lucy (Sensual Christmas Romance Novella)
Serving Up Love
~
McCallister’s Paradise
Happy Endings –1
Diving Into Love –2
For Love or Charity –3
Love’s Ride –4
Cooking Up Love –5 (coming soon)
http://chantelrhondeau.wix.com/freebook
Preview of Blazing Love
If you missed Thayne and Laura’s romance, read on for a preview! Available on Amazon Kindle and through Kindle Unlimited:
Chapter One
No, no, no. Why does he have to come in here every day? He’s so hot. No man should be that hot. Calm down girl. You got this.
Laura Lyons flashed a tight smile, hoping nothing in her blue eyes would give away her thoughts. “Mr. Bloodgood? How can I help you? Is there another rescued kitten needing help?”
With a shrug of his powerful shoulders, Thayne Bloodgood stepped up to the counter, leaning across it so far, she could smell his spicy cologne. “I don’t have another kitten today. I came to see you.”
A shivery rush of delight wiggled down her spine, ending with a jolt below her waist. None of that! she scolded herself. She could understand why god man never took the hint she didn’t want to date him—she couldn’t even get her body to understand it.
Thayne grinned, showing his chipped front tooth, his only imperfection—and he’d said that was from a man he rescued from a burning building. Apparently, the guy headbutted Thayne when they got outside. Even his imperfections showed how perfect he was!
He clasped his hands on top of the counter, bulging the sinewy muscles all the way up his arm. His tight-fitting FDS T-shirt didn’t hide his well-defined shoulders or muscular pecs.
Not for the first time, Laura’s heart raced and her body tingled all over when looking at him. She thought about the small Xanax pill in her purse, wondering if she would have to take it.
Thayne let out a deep chuckle, turning Laura’s knees to Jell-O. It was a damn good thing she had a chair behind her. It would be embarrassing to tumble to the floor in front of a man who had to be Zeus’s long-lost son. Powerful, brave, hot. Yep, Thayne had to be someone out of Greek mythology.
“You have nothing to say, Laura?” His grin widened. “Or did you plan to just stare at me all afternoon without speaking?”
Heat rushed up Laura’s neck, and she wished the floor would open up and swallow her. How long had she been inspecting his perfect physique?
“I-it-it’s nice to see you,” she stammered, her embarrassment deepening. Lovely, I sound like an inarticulate imbecile. Maybe even someone having a seizure.
Then again, if I needed it, Mr. Hot Bod could give me mouth to mouth.
Laura swallowed her sudden giggle. It wasn’t as if she could actually date him. It was against her rules. But, damn, did she ever love looking at him.
Then came his inevitable question. “Wanna catch a movie tonight? Maybe dinner? My treat.”
Oh, come on. You have to stop asking every day. I don’t have that much will power. I can’t date you. You’re a fireman. Leave me alone!
Not that she was sure she wanted that. Just because she had rules about dating men with dangerous jobs, that didn’t mean the attention was unwanted. Boy, did she want it. Luscious lips, hot spicy scent, fabulous muscles—Thayne had it all, and almost every day for the past two months, he’d offered it to her.
“Mr. Bloodgood, I ca—”
“Thayne,” he interrupted. “How can I be your date if you don’t use my first name?”
Laura’s fingers twitched to grab her anti-anxiety meds. Couldn’t he see what he did to her? Her breathing came out in shallow gasps and she trembled all over. It had to be a panic attack, right?
“Tell you what, Laura.” He leaned even closer, his deliciously warm scent overwhelming her as he stroked her forearm lightly. “Go out with me one time. If it’s horrible, I’ll go away and never bother you again.”
She shook her head, not trusting herself to speak.
“Come on. I know you want to. Why do you keep saying no?” He brushed strands of light brown hair from her face, and his fingers lightly caressed her cheek. “I know we have chemistry, Laura. Give in to it.”
Dr. Vicky Blain, the veterinarian and owner of the clinic, chose that moment to step out of her office. “Is my three o’clock here yet?”
Laura turned, seeing her boss and friend blink slowly a few times. Great. Just what I need. She’ll never let this go. She thinks Thayne is the answer to all my issues.
Vicky gave a bright smile, walking dreamily toward the counter. “Thayne,” she cooed, breathless. “How nice to see you.”
Nope. Laura didn’t need the anti-anxiety pill. It wasn’t a panic attack. Thayne had that knee-weakening, body-tingling, heart-racing reaction on every female.
Thayne threw a wink at Vicky. “Hey, Doc. I just popped in to ask Laura to the movies.”
“Again?” Vicky shot Laura a dirty look. “And you, being you, turned him down, didn’t you Laura? What does the man have to do, come in here shirtless?” Vicky’s eyes widened and she turned back to Thayne. “You know, that might not be a bad idea...”
Thayne licked his lips and shook his head. Maybe it was nerves on his part, but the seductive motion of his tongue worked to weaken Laura further.
“You’re a married woman, Dr. Blain,” Thayne reminded her.
Vicky blushed. “Of course. I meant it could help you land this prude if you showed off those firm, hard...” Vicky stared at Thayne’s chest.
Vicky startled, then jerked her eyes toward Laura. “Come on. What’s your problem?”
My problem? My problem is I’m wondering what else Thor can do with that tongue. Thor? Ha, ha. I’m mixing my Greek and Norse mythology. I don’t care which you use, though. It doesn’t make him any less hot.
Thayne’s pecs flexed, making the logo on his shirt jump enticingly. “What do you say, Laura? Even your boss agrees we should go out.”
She sighed. “Look, Thor, I’m sure you’re a really good date, but I don’t go out with firemen. I’ve told you that.”
“Thor?” His brow wrinkled in confusion. “You don’t even know my name?”
Laura covered her mouth, trying to stifle her giggles in earnest this time. I said that out loud? I’m losing it.
His brow smoothed, and he smiled. “I love the sound of your laugh. You don’t do it often enough.”
Maybe because her life didn’t have much to laugh about, but she couldn’t tell him that.
He spread his hands wide. “Okay, fine. I’m never going to be your man.”
Laura nodded, even though a pang of regret laced her agreement. She’d finally rejected him enough. Her Thor was tired of begging. Although, he did give up the chase awfully easy after months of trying.
To her surprise, Thayne smiled. “I guess that means we can be friends instead, right?” His green eyes held a measure of victory, and Laura wondered what trickery he’d devised.
“I guess so...” She hesitated when his smile grew larger. “I’m not much for friends either.”
Vicky leaned against the reception counter. “Not much, try no friends at all except me. All this girl does is sit home with foster cats. She needs to get out more, have some fun.”
Thanks, but I could do without him knowing that, Vicky. She needed the job though, so stopped herself from glaring. Vicky always meddled, trying to help Laura get a social life. She didn’t seem to understand that Laura didn’t want or need one.
Blazing Hotter (Love Under Fire Book 2) Page 22
