Nora Roberts Land

by Ava Miles

  Peggy’s fingers clenched Tanner’s coat. “Keith, honey. Why don’t you take this man’s order? I’m sure he doesn’t have a long break.”

  She met Barlow’s gaze, and her smile dropped.

  He smacked his gloves against his hand. “You’re a cop?”

  “Yes, out of state. I’m only here for the holiday.”

  Barlow scanned her body. “You carrying?”

  “No.” She had her gun locked up in his house.

  “You didn’t think about checking in with us?”

  “As I said, I’m here on vacation. It’s nice to be away from the job. You know.”

  Her appeal to professional camaraderie was worth a try. Maybe Barlow wouldn’t feel threatened.

  And pigs would fly.

  “Well, we don’t have much crime here. Do we, Tanner?”

  He settled back on the balls of his feet and met Barlow’s stare dead-on. “I haven’t seen any in the police reports.”

  Barlow’s mouth twisted. “Good to remember. We keep things quiet in Dare.”

  “That’s nice to hear,” Peggy noted, her voice like rough gravel now.

  “Here’s our coffee, mom,” Keith called. “I’ve got the bestest hot chocolate in the world.”

  Tanner reached for their drinks so he wouldn’t deck Barlow.

  Peggy pointed across the room. “Go sit by Miss Hale. Good to meet you, Deputy.”

  “Nice meeting you,” Barlow said, stepping closer. “Have a safe trip.”

  Her eyes turned to slits. “Thanks. We will.”

  Tanner’s insides felt like they’d been tossed in a blender. Barlow hadn’t known Peggy was a cop, but he did now. Would he wonder if she was involved? Of course he would.

  He kissed Meredith’s frown as he sat down next to her, placing a coffee in front of her. “Drink up,” he commanded gently.

  Her worry radiated like the space heater against the window, the blast impossible to ignore.

  Peggy wrapped her hands around her cup. “Gee, that was fun.”

  “Sure was,” Keith cried, bouncing in his seat, totally misreading her sarcasm.

  When Meredith blew out a breath, Tanner wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “It’ll be all right.”

  “What will?” Keith piped up, his young eyes scanning the adults like they were a mystery he needed to figure out.

  Forcing himself to wink, Tanner said, “Everything.”

  Meredith and Peggy started to sip their coffees, their gazes flicking out the window to watch Barlow tear out of his parking space.

  Keith’s smile dimmed. “What’s wrong, Uncle Tanner?”

  “I’m just glad you’re here,” He said, pulling the boy onto his lap.

  “I don’t want to go tomorrow,” Keith whined, hugging him.

  It’s for the best, kid, he thought.

  “It’ll be okay,” Peggy assured him.

  God, he hoped so. He wouldn’t sleep well until his sister and nephew had left town.

  Chapter 43

  You sure you have everything?” Tanner asked as Peggy loaded the last action figure into the car.

  She patted her chest, where she was hiding the two evidence bags. “I’m good.” She turned to Keith, who was holding Tanner’s leg with one hand and a dancing Hugo with the other. “Are you, young man?”

  He lifted his shoulder in the perfect imitation of a sulk. “If not, we can always come back.”

  She stared him down. “No. Uncle Tanner will have to pay lots of money to the mailman to send anything you forgot. You don’t want that, do you?”

  “I don’t wanna go!”

  Tanner picked him up and hugged him tight. “I’ll see you soon. Christmas is only a few weeks away.”

  He’d decided he liked this whole family holiday thing. He was already thinking about what he’d buy Meredith for Christmas—and how they would spend it together. Fucking scary thoughts for a man who’d never had roots.

  This kid pulled back. The wet gleam of tears alarmed him. Oh, don’t do it, he wanted to say, it rips my guts out. Instead, he gave him another bear hug. “I love you, Keith.”

  “I love you too.”

  “We’ll call you when we get home,” Peggy assured him.

  He set Keith aside. When he turned to Peg, she wrapped her arms around his waist.

  “This was nice. I’m glad we met Meredith. Good luck telling her.”

  He eased back. “What will she do?”

  “She’ll be hurt, and she’ll worry about trusting you. But I think she’ll forgive you. It may take time, though. We divorced ladies need a little extra patience.”

  “Got it. Be careful.”

  “Always. Keith, let’s go.”

  After more hugs and tears, Keith settled into the backseat. As Peggy drove away, she rolled the window down and waved. He lifted his hand in the sudden silence. Even Hugo folded his paws on the cold ground. The wind rustled the trees, but the sound couldn’t compete with Keith’s laughter. His shoulders slumped.

  Being overseas was almost easier. Since he rarely saw them, it was hard to miss them—at least like this. Was there a hole in his chest? He rubbed it and walked back to the house. Hugo barked.

  At least he could see Meredith now. Tell her and stop worrying about it. He picked up his pace.

  When he picked up his phone, he frowned. Sommerville had left him a voicemail. He listened to it while picking up the family room. Damn jerk was reminding him to send another picture. Well, screw him.

  Time to man up. He’d show her the file on David. Explain the blackmail. It wouldn’t be pretty, but it was the right thing to do.

  Oh, and he would tell her he loved her.

  He rubbed his throat. He’d never told a woman outside his family that. Had never allowed himself to feel that strongly for someone. He’d picked a career where objectivity reigned supreme—and he was damned good at it. Transplanting to different cities had suited his needs just fine for his entire life. Until now.

  Until Meredith.

  “I love you, Meredith,” he practiced and cringed.

  Hugo barked.

  “I’m not talking to you.”

  People thought he had a way with words. If they could only see him now…He kicked the couch. He hated feeling this way. Like the floor could turn to quicksand. His feet weren’t grounded. He took a breath, trying to be still, calm. It would all turn out okay.

  “Right, boy?”

  Hugo leapt at his leg.

  “Thanks for the vote of confidence.”

  Meredith picked up on the second ring. “Hi, there. Company gone?”

  “Yeah.” He cleared his throat. “I was…hoping you could come over.”

  “I can be there in twenty. Start a fire. Oh, and open some wine. I feel like getting silly drunk.”

  His mouth dried up. Lust tangled with nerves. “Okay.”

  “See you soon,” she sang.

  He set the phone away. Tell her before or after they made love? Being a guy, he wanted the latter, but he knew it wasn’t right. Best tell her straight out and let her decide if she wanted to stay. God, he hoped she’d want to stay.

  His phone rang again almost instantly. When Peg’s photo popped up on the display, he smiled. He looked around for something Keith had left. The little stinker.

  “Forget something?”

  “No. I need you to stay on the phone with me.”

  Her voice was off. He pushed Hugo from his lap and sat up straight. “What’s the matter?”

  “A sheriff’s car is following me,” she said in a hushed voice. “My gut tells me it’s Barlow.”

  “Jesus, Peg.” He shot off the couch. “Where are you? I’ll come—”

  “No. He’s only trying to intimidate me.”

  “Oh, Christ.” The thought of Barlow stalking his sister and nephew turned his guts to raw meat. His boots pounded on the hardwood floors as he strode back and forth.

  “He turned his lights on, and he’s speeding up.”

  His p
umping heart reverberated in his ears.

  “Mom, are you speeding?” he heard Keith ask.

  “You can’t stop, Peg. We don’t know what he might do.”

  “Dammit, I know that. Gimme me a sec. Keith, I need you to be quiet for a minute. Okay?”

  The piercing siren carved a ragged edge in his nerves. This helplessness was like watching families be gunned down in a village where he was reporting. Only worse. This was his family.

  “How far is the next gas station? I’m about two miles out of town. Just passed the golf course.”

  Tanner pulled the map up in his head. “There’s one about a mile ahead of you.”

  “Okay. Keith, honey. Mommy needs you to do something really important. I need you to tell the officer you have to go to the bathroom really bad when we get to the gas station.”

  “But I don’t have to—”

  “I know, honey, but I need you to hold the front of your pants and dance around. It’s like you’re in a school play.”

  Tanner put his finger in his other ear so he could hear their conversation over the sirens.

  “But why?” Keith asked.

  “Because Uncle Tanner thinks this police officer is a bad man. I don’t want you to be scared. You know I’ll protect you, right?”

  “You have your gun?”

  “That’s right, and I’m really smart. I want you to stay close to me. If I tell you to do something, you do it, just like we talked about. Right?”

  “Yes, Mommy,” Keith cried, his voice unnaturally high. “He’s coming closer, Mommy. I’m scared.”

  “I know. Tanner, he realizes I’m not going to stop. I want you to get the number for the state police ready, but we won’t call them unless there’s a need.”

  “Dammit, just head back to Dare. I’ll meet you.” He grabbed his keys.

  “No! I’ve got this.”

  “Peg, let me—”

  “No, it’s safer this way. Keith and I can make him believe we didn’t stop because he had to go potty. Otherwise, he’ll know I’m involved in this mess. I’m putting you on speaker now in my pocket so you can hear everything. You’ll know if you need to call the police. I love you.”

  “I love you too,” he said hoarsely.

  “Okay, Keith, when mommy stops the car, you and I are going to run inside. You remember what I said about pretending you need to go potty.”

  “Mommy, I’m scared,” Keith cried.

  “I know, but I won’t let anything happen to you. See, lots of people are getting gas. It’s going to be okay. I’m turning into the parking lot now, Tanner.”

  He heard the siren stop and a door slam.

  “Come on, sweetheart.”

  “Hey! Wait.”

  “Sorry, Deputy. My son needs to use the bathroom real bad.”

  “Why didn’t you stop?”

  “Have you ever had a kid who needs to go potty?”

  “Mommy, I need to go,” Keith whined.

  “He’s going to have an accident if we don’t hurry. Besides, I wasn’t speeding. What were you pulling me over for?”

  “You were speeding a little,” Barlow announced.

  “I don’t speed. If you want to write me a ticket, fine, but I need to get my son to the bathroom right now.”

  Tanner heard a door chime and some overhead music.

  “Almost there, honey,” Peg encouraged. Another door creaked. “Tanner, we’re in the bathroom. Come here for a sec, Keith, and let Mommy hold you.”

  Tanner rubbed the bridge of his nose when Keith started crying. So close. Oh, Christ.

  “There’s my brave little boy. We’re safe now. It’s all right.”

  “Mommy, I’m scared.”

  “I’m right here, and I would never let anything happen to you.”

  Tanner didn’t say anything as she continued to comfort her son. He fell back on the sofa exhausted, his body made of lead. His mind played images of what could have happened in vivid Technicolor.

  “Okay, now. We need to go back to the car.”

  “I don’t want to! I want Uncle Tanner.”

  Tanner’s heart tore.

  “We can’t do that,” Peg answered. “We need to go home. Trust me, everything’s going to be okay. You trust me, right?”

  He heard Keith blow his nose.

  “Now, am I the toughest cop in the world or what? Don’t I make bad guys go to jail all the time?”

  “Uh-huh.” He sniffed.

  “Then take my hand.”

  “I wet my pants, mommy,” Keith cried.

  “That’s great acting! You’re the best actor in the world.”

  He gave a sob. “I am?”

  “Absolutely. Isn’t he Tanner?”

  He cleared his Sahara-desert-dry throat. “You’re the best, buddy. I was so impressed.”

  And terrified. Bone-chillingly terrified. His scalp tingled like someone had held a gun to his head.

  “Okay, we’ll change your pants in the car. Don’t worry. I’m here.”

  “You have your gun?”

  “Right here.”

  “I love you, Mommy.”

  “Oh, I love you too. Big hug.” She made a squeezing noise and gave him an audible smacker. “Let’s go.”

  The door jingled.

  “See, the bad man’s gone now. Hear that, Tanner? Everything’s fine.”

  Tanner fell back against the cushions. Right, fine.

  “Who’s the best cop in the world?”

  “You are,” Keith responded, but without his usual enthusiasm.

  The car door slammed.

  “Tanner? Are you still there?”

  “Yes.” He bounced to the couch’s edge.

  “I think everything’s okay now. Barlow was trying to make a point. We’ll leave here in a little while. I’ll call with updates.”

  “Peggy—”

  “Don’t say it. It’s not your fault. We’re going to get these guys, Tanner. You have my word. No one messes with my family.”

  “You stole my line,” he managed.

  “Watch yourself. I’ll be in touch. Tell Uncle Tanner goodbye, Keith.”

  “Bye, Uncle Tanner. I…I miss you.”

  His eyes burned. He rubbed them fiercely. “I miss you too. Take care of your mom,” he said, realizing how often people had told him the same thing when he was growing up. “I love you guys.”

  “Love you too.”

  He set the phone aside, feeling beaten and bruised. How dare they go after a woman and child? Fuckers. Cowards. He kicked the couch and resumed his pacing. He wanted to tear the front door off with his bare hands.

  They probably suspected Peggy was helping him since they knew she was a cop. Thank God, she’d put the samples in her bra, thinking it was a good hiding place. If Barlow had tried to search her car while she was in the gas station, he wouldn’t have found them.

  Hugo darted to the front door, barking. Meredith had arrived. He wished he could send her away, but he didn’t have the strength.

  He needed her. God, so much.

  But Barlow’s pursuit of Peg and Keith had changed everything. She wasn’t safe. She’d been dead wrong about there being safety in numbers or about certain people being off limits. If a cop and kid weren’t safe, a Hale wasn’t either.

  He’d have to make her see she couldn’t keep helping him. He had to make it clear to Barlow she wasn’t involved anymore.

  But how? He’d told her a dozen times how worried he was about having her help. Each time, she’d informed him she’d pursue the story with or without him. Arthur wouldn’t give an inch either. He’d have to think on that.

  First, he was going to hold her tight. His plan to tell her about the blackmail would have to wait. He couldn’t handle it now. He needed to calm the hell down. When he told her the truth, he needed his full faculties. Otherwise, he’d screw up the best thing that had ever happened to him.

  Chapter 44

  Meredith checked her hair in the rear-view mirror before
dashing for the house. Joy propelled her up the stairs. She was finally going to tell him she loved him and about the article. God, she was nervous, but she was giddy with relief too. He was her Nora man, and it was time for him to know it.

  When he opened the door, she careened into his chest and wrapped her arms around him. “How’s that for a welcome?”

  His arms clamped around her, but he didn’t respond. His silence and the tension in his muscles burst the happy bubble inside her. She tried to ease back, but he gripped her in place.

  “What’s the matter?”

  “I’ll tell you in a sec. Just let me hold you.”

  Alarm spiked as she stroked his back.

  “Barlow followed Peg out of town. She called me. I had to stay on the line and do nothing while he threatened my family!”

  He clutched her tighter and told her the whole story. By the end, her body was shaking. Going after a cop was one thing. But a little boy? She wondered what Barlow would have done if Peg hadn’t eluded him the way she did. Would he have run them off the road like Kenny had done to Ray?

  “Don’t think about it,” she whispered to him as much as herself.

  He pushed back. “How can I not? My God, that’s my sister and nephew. Those bastards went after them, and all I could do was stay on the phone.”

  His anger made her shake harder. “Peg handled it. She’s smart and tough.”

  “She’s still my sister!” he fired back. He held up a hand. “Sorry. I’m not mad at you. I’m angry that I put them in danger. I never should have let them come here. What was I thinking?”

  She stepped closer until they were just inches apart. The tension in his body was contagious. Her muscles bunched when she met his fierce eyes. “You couldn’t have known this would happen.”

  “They must have guessed she was helping when Keith told Barlow she was a cop. But dammit, I never saw this coming.”

  “So now he’s threatened another police officer. It means they’re scared. They’re going to slip up. Peg will have the test results soon, and we’ll know more.”

  He stalked away. “No, we won’t. I’ll keep looking into it, but I don’t want you and your grandfather to be involved anymore.”

  Her stomach quivered. “I know you’re upset, so I’ll cut you a break, but there’s no way I’m backing out now. This only firms my resolve. I know Gramps will agree.”