by Jill Sanders
“I hate you right now,” Mia said, stopping directly in front of him, “but…” She pushed the black puppy into his arms. “Merry Christmas.”
He laughed as the puppy leaned up and started kissing him.
“You got me a puppy?” he asked.
“No.” She sighed and reached for the brown puppy in Kristen’s arms. “I got you two.” She smiled when the puppy started doing the same to her. “Your family sucks. They blindsided me with cuteness,” she said between laughs.
“Okay,” he said slowly.
“I told them one,” she said, trying to hold onto the wiggling puppy. “But they showed up with the two brothers and… who can separate these two?” she asked as the puppies tried to play with one another while being held by two different people.
“I told you.” Kristen smiled at Tyler.
“Yes, you did.” He reached into his pocket and handed Kristen a five-dollar bill.
“You bet on me?” Mia’s eyes narrowed as she set the puppy down. It immediately started jumping at Brian’s leg, so he let its brother down and watched as they started wrestling around the living room. “Ruthless.” She shook her head and sat down to play with the puppies along with Kristen.
“Tom filled us in on everything while we waited outside.” Tyler shook his hand. “Guess this means you’ll be heading out soon?”
Brian glanced over to where Mia and Kristen were playing with the puppies.
“Not if I have my way,” he said. “I’ve meant to talk to your mother about her offer,” he said softly.
“Consider it a done deal.” Tyler chuckled. “She knew you’d come around sooner or later.”
He thought of the money in his savings and knew he had enough for a down payment, but since he’d just quit his job…
“Tom’s been going on about retiring.” Tyler sighed. “Don’t suppose you know someone who’d be looking for a job as police chief? Someone who’s qualified?”
Brian’s heart skipped and, suddenly, he knew what it was like to be part of a family. Shaking Tyler’s hand again, he smiled. “Now I just have to convince Mia to stick around and say yes to her Christmas present.” He smiled.
“If it helps… Kristen was right about Mia’s gift, she might just be right about yours.” He leaned in and whispered. “I’d gladly give her another five bucks, because I can tell by the way Mia’s watching you that she was right again.” Tyler slapped Brian on the shoulder
It was hard to believe that, a few years ago, Brian would have turned around and punched the guy for such a move. Now, instead, he turned and laughed with his cousin.
Epilogue
When Mia finally looked up from the puppies, it was to watch Brian and Tyler disappear with everyone else out the front door.
“Something smells wonderful,” Kristen said, holding her stomach.
“Oh.” Mia jumped up and rushed to the kitchen. She’d totally forgotten about the turkey and potatoes in the oven. She’d forgotten that it was Christmas Eve and her mother and Steve and Rea and Tom were due to arrive any minute. Tom was already here, somewhere, working, but still, Rea and the rest would be here soon.
“Is everything okay?” Kristen asked, from the other side of the countertop.
“Yes,” she answered, pulling out the turkey. It was perfectly cooked. “I guess I’d just forgotten I had a turkey in the oven. With everything that’s been going on…” She dropped off with a smile.
“Did you really take down the drug ringleader yourself?” Kristen asked, leaning against the counter.
“Yes.” Mia shrugged. “He was about to put a gun to my head.” She shrugged. “I hate it when they do that.” She chuckled.
Kristen’s eyes grew large. “Just how many times has that happened to you?” Kristen asked.
Mia instantly realized that it had happened too many times in her life.
“I’m hoping that was the last time,” she answered truthfully. “It’s gotten rather old.”
“Okay, Dylan was right, you are a badass,” Kristen said with a chuckle. “I’m so happy we’ve gotten to know you. I hope you decide to stick around.” She reached over and touched her hand.
“All clear, ma’am,” one of the officers said from in the living room.
They had cleared the shattered remains of her coffee table, after taking pictures of everything.
“Thank you,” she said, setting down the oven mitt she’d been using to pull the potatoes from the oven. She would peel them and mash them after they cooled a little. “Do you want a glass of wine?” Mia asked Kristen.
She laid a hand over her belly and shook her head. “I’d better not.”
“You too?” Mia smiled. “Gosh, it must be in the water.” Mia instantly thought about the possibility of raising her own family, here, in this very house. The thought warmed her heart and had her head feeling a little light.
She was pissed at Brian, sure, but still, her heart ached for the future she’d dreamed of. The future she knew she wanted more than anything else in the world.
If there was one gift that he could give her, it would be just that. Their future.
“You’re really pregnant?” Mia asked softly.
Kristen laughed and, after nodding, glanced around. “I’m going to tell Tyler tonight.” She smiled.
“Congratulations,” Mia said, moving over and hugging Kristen just as the men walked back into the room.
“Congrats for what?” Brian asked easily as Tyler walked over and laid a hand on Kristen’s shoulder.
“For getting rid of all of her puppies,” Mia answered easily and turned to slide the sweet potatoes into the oven. If Brian saw her face, he’d know that she was lying.
“Trust me, we’re thankful you’re taking the last two. They were the two that were the closest out of the litter. We really hated to separate them.” Tyler added, “We’d better get going and let them get ready for their guests. We’ll see you both tomorrow for dinner. Merry Christmas,” he said, followed by Kristen’s own well wishes and hugs.
“Need any help?” Brian asked when they were finally alone in the house again.
“No,” she said, putting the beans into the bottom oven. Everything was almost ready. The dinner was going to be perfect. Even if she had to knock Brian’s block off to make it so.
“Mia.” He took her hips before she could walk away. Pulling her closer to him, he pinned her in between his body and the countertop. “I am sorry I didn’t tell you I was going to drop off the bag of cash.”
Her eyes narrowed and even though she could tell that he was really sincerely sorry, the heartbreak of being betrayed, of being left out, weighed heavily on her. She started to move away, but he held her still.
“What should we name them?” he asked, confusing her. “The pups.” He nodded to the two small balls of fur that had found a cushion on the sofa and had snuggled down for a quick nap.
“They’re yours. Name them whatever you want.” She pulled free and turned to go upstairs, her heart breaking as she went to change into the Christmas dress that she’d bought just for him.
Shit, he thought. He’d fucked up bad. Out of all the stupid things he’d done in his life, this had been the biggest one.
He’d betrayed her trust. She’d been his partner and he’d betrayed that, as well as her friendship. He’d only meant to shelter her from the stupidity of the job. How was he supposed to know things would go as bad as they had?
Looking down at the two puppies sleeping, he thought of what the gift of a dog, let alone two, really meant. He could kiss apartment living goodbye. Matter of fact, what the dogs meant was more than just that. They had meant a different job. Something he’d just figured out himself when he’d seen the gun to Mia’s head, though he’d been thinking about it ever since she’d been kidnapped and almost raped.
Did the gift of the dogs mean that she had planned on quitting as well?
He reached into his pocket and touched the small box he had picked up at the jeweler ear
lier that evening. Pulling the box out, he looked down at it and felt his heart swell.
It wasn’t the largest ring in the store, but it was the one that had called to him the other day when he’d walked by the window. The one that reminded him of everything Mia was.
The beautiful two-tone rose gold band had a row of small diamonds leading up to the 1.5 carat diamond.
He hadn’t thought of the possibility of her saying no. Everything had been going perfect, until today.
Sitting on the edge of the sofa, he tried to come up with a plan to fix things as the puppies climbed up next to him and fell asleep on the pillows.
“What is that?” Mia asked, standing across the room, looking at the small box in his hands.
He glanced down and shrugged. “It’s your Christmas gift. I… thought since I got my present early…” He sighed. “But then I went and ruined everything. Like I normally do.” He tucked the ring back into his jacket pocket.
“You didn’t ruin everything… just…” She sat next to him. She’d changed into a short red skirt, showing off those sexy legs of hers, and a gold and black low-cut tight shirt that sparkled as she moved. Her long dark hair hung over her shoulder in perfect ringlets. She looked amazing. One of the small puppies that had been sleeping next to him crawled into her lap while the other one snored loudly from its spot on the cushion. She instantly lifted the thing into her lap. “Why didn’t you tell me you were meeting Reno?”
He sighed. “You came home looking so happy. So… domesticated.” Her eyes narrowed, and he held up his hands. “Hey, you did. Sorry, it’s the only word that fits. You were happy. Very. Then you started cooking and…” He shrugged. “I didn’t want to shatter your perfect day. Your perfect bubble. I thought it was a simple drop, then we could have a perfect Christmas together. Then I could give you the ring, and we’d solve the case before New Year’s. Which would allow us to secure a loan and close on this house… and be moved all the way in just after the first of the year.” He sighed. “I should have known I’d fuck things up.”
She wasn’t the only one who had tried to outrun her past. Remembering everything he’d been, everything he’d gone through as a kid, he knew that her trust in people had to change if she was going to make a future with him. Or with anyone, for that matter.
“Brian.” She set the puppy aside and laid a hand on his. He knew that he looked so damn pitiful it was breaking her heart. “Give me the damn ring.” Her lips curved up into a smile.
His eyes met hers and he could see the change behind those hazel eyes. He could see the hope in them and knew that no matter what their future held that he would never set out to hurt her again.
Slowly, he pulled out the box again.
“I’m going to do this right though.” He got up from the sofa only to get down on one knee in front of her. “Mia, you’ve been my partner, my friend, the first friend that I’ve trusted with my life completely. I hope you’ll trust me again with your heart. Marry me and I promise you that I will never leave you in the dark on a case again.” He smiled.
She glanced down at the beautiful ring. He knew how perfectly it would fit her. He felt his heart rise a little more when she reached out and touched the ring.
“One condition,” she said, causing his eyebrows to shoot up and his heart to skip a beat. “I get to name the dogs.”
He laughed and nodded. “Deal.” He reached over and took the ring from the box, then slid it slowly onto her finger. He had been right, it fit her perfectly.
He could see tears burning her eyes as he pulled her up into his arms and kissed her until he felt the tears slide down her cheeks.
“So.” He pulled back and rested his forehead on hers. “What are their names?” He smiled. “How about Santa’s Little Humper for one of them?”
She laughed and shook her head from side to side. “I was thinking, since I’m officially done running around chasing bad guys for a living—I still want to do it, but I’ll settle for writing about it and keeping all of my excitement on paper…” She bit her bottom lip. “How about Runner and Chase?”
He smiled back at her. “I love it.” He leaned down and kissed her.
“Merry Christmas,” she said just as the doorbell rang and both Runner and Chase jumped up from their spots on the sofa to bark at the front door.
“Let the family fun begin.” Brian smiled and took her hand in his. “We do this, together.”
Mia replied, “Agreed, partner.”
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
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COMING HOME
DIGITAL ISBN: 978-1-945100-09-3
PRINT ISBN: 978-1-692045-83-8
Text copyright © 2019 Jill Sanders
All rights reserved.
Copyeditor: Erica Ellis – inkdeepediting.com
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No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.
Also by Jill Sanders
The Pride Series
Finding Pride
Discovering Pride
Returning Pride
Lasting Pride
Serving Pride
Red Hot Christmas
My Sweet Valentine
Return To Me
Rescue Me
A Pride Christmas
* * *
The Secret Series
Secret Seduction
Secret Pleasure
Secret Guardian
Secret Passions
Secret Identity
Secret Sauce
* * *
The West Series
Loving Lauren
Taming Alex
Holding Haley
Missy’s Moment
Breaking Travis
Roping Ryan
Wild Bride
Corey’s Catch
Tessa’s Turn
* * *
The Grayton Series
Last Resort
Someday Beach
Rip Current
In Too Deep
Swept Away
High Tide
Sunset Dreams
* * *
Lucky Series
Unlucky In Love
Sweet Resolve
Best of Luck
A Little Luck
* * *
Silver Cove Series
Silver Lining
French Kiss
Happy Accident
Hidden Charm
A Silver Cove Christmas
* * *
Entangled Series – Paranormal Romance
The Awakening
The Beckoning
The Ascension
The Presence
* * *
Haven, Montana Series
Closer to You
Never Let Go
Holding On
Coming Home
* * *
Pride Oregon Series
A Dash of Love
My Kind of Love
Season of Love
Tis the Season
Dare to Love
Where I Belong
* * *
Wildflowers Series
Summer Nights
Summer Heat
* * *
Stand Alone Books
Twisted Rock
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For a complete list of books:
http://JillSanders.com
About the Author
Jill Sanders is a New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author of Sweet Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense, Western Romance, and Paranormal Romance novels. With over 55 books in eleven series, translat
ions into several different languages, and audiobooks there’s plenty to choose from. Look for Jill’s bestselling stories wherever romance books are sold or visit her at jillsanders.com
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Jill comes from a large family with six siblings, including an identical twin. She was raised in the Pacific Northwest and later relocated to Colorado for college and a successful IT career before discovering her talent for writing sweet and sexy page-turners. After Colorado, she decided to move south, living in Texas and now making her home along the Emerald Coast of Florida. You will find that the settings of several of her series are inspired by her time spent living in these areas. She has two sons and off-set the testosterone in her house by adopting three furry little ladies that provide her company while she’s locked in her writing cave. She enjoys heading to the beach, hiking, swimming, wine-tasting, and pickleball with her husband, and of course writing. If you have read any of her books, you may also notice that there is a love of food, especially sweets! She has been blamed for a few added pounds by her assistant, editor, and fans… donuts or pie anyone?
