Alexandra was well, and, miraculously, the case would be closed soon. That would be enough.
More than enough, really.
He tuned back into what Alexandra was saying, forcing himself to pay attention.
“And I knew,” she said, “that Miss Gilbert took a dislike to me, as well as a curiosity about me, so I could only presume she was the one asking questions, or having them asked. Considering she was also involved with the missing people, as evidenced by her knowing far too much about the docks unnecessarily, I figured that she would not pass up the opportunity to take me, if given the chance.”
Tucker jerked at that, staring at his wife, barely restraining his horror. She figured that Gilbert would…
“What?” he managed to ask without sounding too outraged. “You… you planned on getting taken?”
She looked at him frankly, no hint of shame in her expression. “I did. Which was why I left the note. And the ribbon when they took me.”
He could barely see straight for a moment, and only blinked once. Then he looked at Gains. “Excuse us for a moment, would you, Gains?”
Without waiting for the young officer’s response, Tucker pulled Alexandra up, his hold on her hand tightening, and tugged her from the room into an office, closing the door.
“Why do we need privacy at this moment, Tucker?” Alexandra asked with some confusion, though sounding amused. “I wasn’t finished, you know.”
He rubbed his hands over his face before turning to face her. “You got kidnapped on purpose?”
Alexandra’s eyes narrowed in confusion. “Yes… Didn’t I say that?”
“I was hoping I misheard,” he responded weakly, shaking his head. “You got kidnapped on purpose.”
Understanding dawned on his wife. “Oh… this upsets you, I take it. I was trying to prove myself, you see. To you, to me, to my father, and I figured the best way for us to solve the case would be to…”
Tucker took three steps towards her. “You foolish little bird, do you have any idea what losing you did to me?” he bellowed. “I could have died on the spot when Charlie told me. And to discover just now that you put me through all of that on purpose? I swear, I would absolutely throttle you right now if I wasn’t so madly in love with you!”
“Well, then it’s a very good thing that you are,” she yelled back, flinging her arm out. “I was willing to risk myself for our case, and isn’t that the point of being an agent? I wasn’t worried at all about what would happen to me because I knew that my partner would save me, because I am so wildly in love with you!”
They stared at each other, chests heaving.
Then her words clicked in his brain, and he hesitantly pointed at her. “Wait, what did you say?”
Her expression could have mirrored his. “What did you say?”
There was a moment of suspense, and then, together, they replied, “I love you.”
Tucker gaped, and so did Alex.
She giggled then, and he grinned, then closed the distance between them and swept her into his arms. She kissed him fiercely, folding her arms around his neck and arching up on her tiptoes. He solved that issue by lifting her off the ground, bringing her lips on level with his. Her legs locked around his hips, which was a perfect anchor, as his arms could nearly touch his shoulders around her. If he could have drawn her into his chest completely, he would have done, but being so thoroughly and pleasantly devoured by her lips was certainly enough.
And he was exerting quite a bit of effort to render her as breathless as he was becoming, and if her trembling in his arms was any indication, it was working rather well.
Alex broke off with a faint gasp, stroking his hair and resting her brow against him. “I do apologize,” she panted. “This is a most unladylike position for your wife to be found in.”
“I like it,” he replied, moving one hand to pat her leg reassuringly. “I hope to repeat it often in our future.’
She smiled, stroking his hair again. “We have a future?”
He kissed her hard, then lingered. “I say we do,” he breathed, nudging her with his nose. “What do you say?”
She moaned and tipped his mouth up for a slow, sweet kiss. “I guess I do,” she whispered.
“You guess?” he teased as he slowly let her unlock her legs and slid back to the ground.
She shook her head and cupped his cheeks, her eyes staring directly, and frankly, into his. “I know.”
Tucker grinned and kissed her nose. “Me too.” He stroked her cheek gently. “You said you were willing to risk yourself. I applaud your dedication, but don’t do it again. I’m not willing to risk you. I can’t risk you. I love you, Alex.”
Alexandra hummed a delighted laugh, smiling dreamily at him. “I love you, too, Tuck.”
He exhaled, took her hand, and led her back out into the office, where Dobson stood with Charlie, frowning.
“Dobson?” Tucker asked, approaching with some trepidation.
The sergeant met his eyes. “Gilbert has just confessed and given details on the missing persons.”
“That’s good, isn’t it?” Alexandra asked, looking between them.
Dobson looked at her, shaking his head. “She only confesses to fifteen of the twenty-eight. Insists she had nothing to do with the rest, and says she has proof of her being unable to do so.”
Alexandra squeezed Tucker’s hand, shaking her head. “What does that mean?”
“It means,” Tucker muttered, disgruntled, “that there is more involved in this shanghaiing business than our resident criminal.”
Dobson exhaled roughly, clearly displeased. “I’ll have a run at Creet, see what he says. Now that we know as much as we do, we have a better chance of taking care of it all.” He smiled at the two of them weakly. “Think we could convince the pair of you to stay a bit longer while we try to tie up loose ends?”
Tucker looked at Alexandra, and she looked up at him. She shrugged shoulder lightly, and he stroked her hand with his thumb. “I think we can be prevailed upon to stay,” he told the sergeant, still staring at his wife.
She winked and nodded. Then she looked at Charlie. “You, on the other hand, are free to go back to Savannah and my father.”
“Unless,” Tucker said slowly, an idea forming, “you would prefer a different sort of assignment.”
Charlie folded his arms. “I’m intrigued. Go on.”
“Stop by Denver on your way back home,” Tucker suggested. “See a man named Archibald Gordon. I’ll write you a recommendation. If he thinks you’ll do, listen to his offer. Consider it. I think you’d do well.”
Charlie nodded in thought, smiling just a little. “I just might do that.” He hid a yawn behind his hand. “But first, I think I need to sleep for a few days.”
Alexandra didn’t bother to hide her yawn. “Me, too.”
Dobson chuckled and held out a hand to Alexandra. “You’ve earned yourself a full week of sleep, Mrs. Carlton. Kindly come see Mrs. Dobson and myself when you’ve rested. Bring your husband, if you like.”
“Oh, I like,” Alexandra assured him in a low, teasing voice, making Tucker’s knees weaken slightly.
“And on that note,” Tucker said, tugging her away, “we bid you all goodnight!”
They laughed as they waved to them, and he pulled his wife back out into the Portland night, heading slowly for the boarding house.
He said nothing for a moment, and neither did she, but their fingers continued to brush steadily against each other in their hold.
“So,” Alexandra finally said, “it seems we’re going to be partners for life. Can you bear to be stuck with me that long?”
He shrugged. “I’ll survive.”
“You are a skilled agent, after all.”
“This is true.”
“And I think I’ve proven myself capable as an agent.”
“You have.”
“So we will be partners in this, too.” She laughed once. “The adventures of Chickadee and Mutt! Ca
n you even imagine?”
He shuddered for effect. “No. It’s a terrifying idea, and I don’t want to.”
She nudged him hard. “Yes, you do. You love adventures.”
“I hate adventures,” he countered. “Especially with you. Scares me to death. I never know what you’re going to do next.”
She laughed at that. “It’s what you like best about me, isn’t it?”
He grinned and looked down at her. “It’s on the list.”
Alex narrowed her eyes. “Where on this list?”
“Near the top.”
“And how long is this list?”
“Long enough.”
She smiled shyly, her thumb rubbing against his hand. “I’m chirping again, aren’t I?”
He brought their hands to his lips and kissed the back of hers. “Chirp away, Chickadee. I’ve grown rather fond of the sound.”
“Aww,” she purred happily. “I love you, too, Mutt.”
Tucker stopped, turning his wife towards him, taking her waist in hand and dipping his head towards her. “Woof,” he whispered.
Alex grinned and kissed him, her lips full of teasing, passion, and tenderness. “Good boy,” she whispered against his lips, smiling again.
He swallowed that smile, and then the song his little bird sang best when he kissed her. And oh, how she sang.
I hope you have enjoyed Wyatt & Diana’s story of finding love. Want to find out what happens to all the agents in The Pinkerton Matchmaker series? Follow the link to find out what is next in the Pinkerton series!
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Coming Soon in The Pinkerton Matchmaker Series
Series starts October 12, 2018 with new releases weekly
An Agent for Lucy – Amelia Adams
An Agent for Claudette – Christine Sterling
An Agent for Regina – Marianne Spitzer
An Agent for Wilhelmina - Sophie Dawson
An Agent for Audrey - Laura Beers
An Agent for Victoria - Kate Marie Clark
An Agent for Elizabeth - Julia Ridgmont
An Agent for Cecily - Marie Higgins
An Agent for Charity - Patricia PACJAC Carroll
An Agent for Diana - Rebecca Connelly
An Agent for Belle - Nerys Leigh
An Agent for Ada - H.L. Roberts
An Agent for Arielle - Parker J. Cole
Plus, many more books being released soon!
About the Author
Rebecca Connolly writes romances, both period and contemporary, because she absolutely loves a good love story.
She has been creating stories since childhood, and there are home videos to prove it! She started writing them down in elementary school and has never looked back.
She currently lives in the Midwest, spends every spare moment away from her day job absorbed in her writing, and is a hot cocoa addict.
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