Matthew drew closer and just the scent of her skin, light and fragrant as a sunny day, made him ache for everything that was just out of his reach. When he spoke, his voice broke with the emotion he was trying to hold inside. “That day at the hospital I asked you what mark you wanted to wear for the rest of your life. Did you ever figure out what that was?”
Kara shook her head in dejected silence.
“I know my answer. I want to wear the mark of happiness. You and Briana represent everything that’s good and worth having in my life. It’s not this place or my job. My home is wherever the two of you are. So, the ball is in your court. When you figure things out, I’ll be waiting.”
Kara looked torn. He knew that feeling. He’d been through it all the years when they were kids and Neal was the one she looked at with love and adoration. Now that he knew how he felt in his own heart, he no longer knew conflict of that nature. He offered her a pained, yet somewhat playful grin, and went off to play with Briana, leaving Kara to her turbulent thoughts.
It was late that night when Kara was tucking Briana into bed, exhausted after the long drive back to the Bay Area, when she was surprised by Briana’s sleepy question.
“Do you love Matthew?”
Kara startled, all thoughts of sleep and a sore back from sitting in one position too long gone in an instant. “What do you mean, sweetheart?”
“I dunno. I mean, you look at him funny and he looks at you just as funny. I thought maybe that’s what moms and dads look like when they’re in love. And if you’re both in love…how come you live apart?”
“That’s a lot of complicated questions for such a late night, kiddo,” Kara said, wondering how to answer. Should she offer the truth? Or lie to keep her feelings private because she wasn’t ready to admit them to herself?
She sighed, and with that one small sound, she betrayed herself. Briana looked at her and said, “If you wanted us to move to Lantern Cove, that would be okay with me.”
Kara stared, surprised at the quiet sadness in her daughter’s gaze. “Why, honey?”
Briana rubbed at her nose before answering. “It’s hard being here without Mai. Everywhere I look, she’s there but not really. I think it might be easier to be somewhere she’s never been.”
Kara was floored by her daughter’s keen maturity, but the cause of it pained her deeply. She pushed a lock of hair from her eyes. “But wouldn’t Lantern Cove bring up bad memories? I mean…your time there wasn’t exactly a picnic.”
“Yeah, but Matthew is there. He makes it all right.”
Kara waited to feel jealousy at her daughter’s innocent comment but it didn’t come. Instead, she felt warm and teary-eyed that Briana considered Matthew her champion.
“Yeah, he does, doesn’t he…” she murmured, smoothing a knuckle down the soft fuzz of her daughter’s cheek. She pictured leaving the city behind and living by the beach, watching as Briana adjusted to a quieter pace, strumming the guitar by the bonfire with Matthew…and smiled.
Always Matthew. Strong, reserved Matthew. So many years lost in regret…she thought of Neal and how she carried the guilt of his death around with her, wondering how things might’ve been different if she’d stayed.
Now she knew it wouldn’t have been better. Neal was of weak character, always covering his flaws with jokes and charisma. Being around Matthew would have illuminated her true heart’s desire and it would have destroyed Neal just the same when he realized he’d lost her. Tragedy would have struck either way.
Kara took a long look around her small house and knew Briana was right.
They couldn’t return to the present and look to the future without the ghosts of the past lurking around every corner.
She never thought the day would come that she’d be ready to let her career take a backseat to her personal life but now that she was considering it…the idea didn’t fill her with panic like she thought it would.
The truth was, this case had changed her. And she didn’t know if she could go back to the way she was before.
Crossing to her cell phone, she called Dillon.
“Someone better be in grave danger,” Dillon snapped, sleep making his tone gravelly and hoarse. “Or better yet, dead, otherwise you’re in a heap of trouble, Thistle.”
Kara chuckled and realized Dillon would be the hardest to let go of. “I’m going to put in for a transfer. I wanted you to know first,” she said.
The sleepiness left his voice. She half expected him to give her a ration of shit over her decision but he didn’t. Instead, she heard respect. “It’s about time you did something right for yourself,” he said. Then, he added, “He’s a good man. A lucky one, too.”
Kara grinned. “Actually…I think I’m the lucky one.”
“Go get your man, Agent Thistle.”
She laughed and clicked off. That was one bit of advice she didn’t mind following. Not one bit.
Epilogue
Several months later
Kara stood at her kitchen window and took a deep lungful of the salty sea air, sharp and tasting of rain as another spring storm hovered on the horizon, and a smile born of happiness and gratitude curved her lips.
Two strong arms slid around her torso as firm lips nuzzled the soft skin of her neck. She angled into Matthew’s body for better access.
“No regrets?” Matthew pulled away and she turned to him, the smile remaining.
“None,” she answered, looking into his eyes. “I love it here. Feels different from before, when I was younger. For the first time I feel at peace. Is that weird? I mean, I never thought Lantern Cove would make me feel at rest. With my dad, Neal and then the Babysitter case…it seemed Lantern Cove would always harbor bad memories. Until you. And Briana.”
He planted a light kiss on her mouth and she leaned into him, ever hungry for his touch, his warmth. “And soon…” he said, his voice trailing softly.
She blushed and her hand strayed to her still-flat stomach. A rush of love made her extremities tingle…or was it the memory of what put that little tadpole in her tummy that made her feel that way? She smothered a giggle and pressed another kiss to his lips. “Soon, everyone in town will know what we’ve been up to.”
He grinned against her mouth and his hand slid to her rear for a gentle squeeze. “Good. I want the world to know Kara Thistle is mine.”
Kara offered a low, throaty laugh. “You know, in the past I might’ve shot someone who said something like that. But the truth is—” she wrapped her arms around him “—I like the idea of being yours. I just wish it hadn’t taken me so long to figure it out.”
“Amen to that,” he joked. “I thought I was going to have to throw you over my shoulder and hogtie you to the bed until you came to your senses.”
Kara’s gaze narrowed. “I definitely would’ve shot you for that.”
Matthew threw his head back for a good laugh. “Well, it’s a good thing I didn’t try it.” He sobered then, but his eyes retained the warmth of laughter as he added, “But I think it would’ve been worth it just to see the look on your face.”
“You’re a man who lives dangerously. Who knew you were such an adrenaline junkie,” she teased, and then leaned her head against his solid chest. She sighed and then, turning her head to the side, gazed out the window. The truth was, he could’ve done all those things and more. He’d already taken her heart, and her body had willingly followed—it was just her head that had needed convincing. But those days were blissfully over.
“Are you up to taking a walk on the beach?” he asked. “Briana wants to look for sea glass and seashells for her school project.”
“Yep. I can’t imagine anything I’d like to do more,” she said, starting to pull away to get ready. But Matthew pulled her back with a mischievous glint in his eye.
“You can’t imagine anything?”
Kara bit back a coy grin but her cheeks flushed at the suggestion in his expression. “Well…now that you mention it…I do have a bit of a headach
e. Perhaps you could spare a moment to help me out?”
“Sweetheart, I can’t imagine anything I’d like to do more. And that’s the truth.” He laughed and they retreated to the bedroom for a little…headache remedy—Beauchamp-style.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-6478-0
TO CATCH A KILLER
Copyright © 2010 by Kimberly Sheetz
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*Home in Emmett’s Mill
To Catch a Killer Page 18
