by Carol McPhee
"To be honest, Lori, I conned you into this. I know you were trying to help. Look, our mission is almost over—it wasn't the end we expected, but neither was it a surprise. These guys like Warner think they'll always come out on top.” Rand folded his arms and watched her. “What are your plans?"
"I'm going back to my job. I can handle it now. And you?"
"I'm putting in for a transfer and thinking seriously about getting married."
"You are?” She'd never thought to ask about a sweetheart. Now she knew. “You made love to me with someone waiting in the wings? I would never have believed you could be so cavalier. I guess I didn't give you credit for things I should have and gave you c-credit where it wasn't d-deserved.” She strode past him and stood near the door. “It's not my first mistake in that direction, but I'll try to make it my last."
Resting his foot firmly on a chair rung, his elbow on his knee, Rand ignored her tirade and didn't make any move to leave. “I'm set in my ways and used to calm in my private life. Don't envy her. I'll probably be hell to live with."
"Oh, for heaven's sake, I don't envy her at all. Smarten up. If you love each other, you can compromise."
"Well, I hope I can learn to do that ... with a patient teacher."
"As far as I'm concerned, whoever she is, if you cheat on her, she deserves better.” Lori turned the doorknob and yanked. With her heart ripped apart, she kept her back to him as she faced into the night. “You can leave now. Goodbye."
"No, Lori. It's a ‘hello’ of sorts."
"What on earth are you talking about?” She turned around just as his lips crushed against hers, stealing the breath from her lungs.
"Hello ... teacher,” he whispered.
Her back stiffened. “W-What?"
"I talked with George. The pressure of nabbing this gang is over and after tomorrow, he'll be going home to his family. He's very excited and made me realize that I don't want to go home to an empty apartment. Lori, I want us to be together."
"But you're married to your job."
"That's where the compromising comes in. I keep mulling over what George said about how a family gives an even better reason to stay with the RCMP. I'll compromise by using whatever skills I have to deal with a wife whose spontaneity is bound to get her in trouble. I think that will be just as challenging as my work. And it sure will stop the loneliness. I know it's soon, but I don't want to risk losing you. Want to marry me?"
Lori knew rash actions weren't Rand's style and hopefully they wouldn't be hers any longer now that she understood the havoc they could cause. She stared into his dark pleading eyes that had captured her attention so long ago in the courtroom. Too much time had been wasted. Rand was set in his ways and bull-headed to boot. His tendency to always be the one in control would be a source of aggravation, but it would also be more than enough to challenge her wits. “Sounds to me like you need someone to unset your ways, Rand. How could I say no?"
She rushed into his outstretched arms, prepared to face a different onslaught—one of kisses, hugs, and warmth—and love.
Meet Carol McPhee
Carol's writing began in 1997 when a story kept circulating in her head on a long drive from Nova Scotia, her home province, to Ottawa. She thought if she wrote it down it would disappear, little knowing it would become a fixation to not only finish it, but get it published as Scotian Run on Highway7.com.
Her husband encouraged her to write another and another and showed his support by teaching her what she needed to know writing on computers. Means To An End is the fourth of her novels to be published by Wings ePress.
You may contact Carol at RR#2 Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada, B2N 5B1 or at her website's guestbook: www.geocities.com/carolmcphee2003
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