The Strong Silent Type (16 page)

Teri nodded her head slowly. “Yes, that would dissolve the partnership. But it might make it hard being your partner if you’re in prison.” She allowed herself a broad smile. “It’ll be simpler if we just get the chief to switch us back.”

Damn, it
was
going to be all right, he thought. He knew her well enough for that, to know when he was in the hot seat and when he wasn’t. “Okay, we’ll do it your way.”

The smile went from ear to ear. “That has a nice ring to it.”

“Since you brought it up—” He began to feel around inside his pocket, hoping what he’d brought with him hadn’t fallen out somewhere. And then he
breathed a sigh of relief as his fingers came in contact with the metal.

“Brought what up?”

And then the banter died on her lips as she stared at what he held in the palm of his hand. It was a ring. A perfect, beautiful, heart-shaped diamond ring.

Words stuck to the roof of her mouth and had to be pried out one by one. “I don’t suppose you got that from the bottom of a Cracker Jack box.”

“No.”

She held her breath as he took her hand and slipped the ring on her finger.

Her heart hammered as she stared down at the gem. “Look at that. It fits,” she whispered in awe.

He hadn’t left that to chance. “I asked your sister if she knew your ring size.”

Teri’s head jerked up. She couldn’t have been more surprised than if he’d just ripped off his shirt to announce that he was really Tarzan. “You asked my sister?”

“Callie.”

She stared at him as if he’d suddenly turned into an alien life form. Or the man of her secret dreams. “You actually communicated something personal to a member of my family?” To cover just how deeply moved she was, she placed her hand over her chest, feigning shock. “My God, Hawk, there’s hope for you yet.”

“Only if you marry me.”

Her knees suddenly went out on her. Afraid of
sinking to the floor, she grabbed his arm. “I think I need to sit down.”

But he wouldn’t let her sit. Instead, he swept her into his arms, holding her close to him. “I won’t let you fall.” She looked up at him, her eyes dazed with disbelief. He could hardly believe any of this himself. But he felt freer than he ever had in his life. And happier. “I’ve never, ever felt about anyone the way I feel about you. These past couple of weeks have been hell.”

Happiness curled through her, filling every nook and cranny. “You mentioned that.”

How had he managed to survive these past two weeks without her? Without holding her like this? “Did I also mention that I love you?”

“No,” she allowed. “That’s new, although the ring did give me a hint.”

“Marry me, Teri—”

Butterflies turned into eagles. Eagles with grins on their beaks. “There you go again, using my first name and getting me all misty.” She looked up at him, her tone becoming serious. She was a goner and she knew it. “You don’t play fair, you know.”

He combed his hand through her hair, cupping her cheek. “I’ll play any way you want me to, Teri, as long as you say yes.”

“To the partnership?” she teased.

“To everything.”

She cocked her head again. “Now, that might be
tricky. My father always taught me not to issue blanket statements I might regret.”

“You won’t regret this, Teri. I swear you won’t regret this.”

“I know.” She threaded her arms around his neck, standing on her toes to do so. “I’m so in love with you right now, I’m going to burst. So yes, the answer’s yes. Yes, I’ll become your partner again, and yes, I’ll marry you.”

He framed her face with his hands. “That’s all I want to hear out of you for a while.”

“No problem,” she whispered just before he brought his mouth down to hers and sealed both their fates.

A
ndrew struggled against the wall of loneliness that threatened to close around him.

Last night had been a surprise. He’d come home from the movies with Brian only to have Teri tell him that she was getting married. To Hawk.

Of course, in a way, he’d seen it coming. Seen the way the young man had looked at his daughter. Probably the way he’d looked at Rose once.

That made four now. Four out of five of his children were getting married, not to mention his nephew, Patrick. Out of the blue, just like that. He thought of how empty the house was going to seem soon. It made him miss Rose all the more.

Maybe he should go back up there, he thought.
He’d hoped that she’d call him, but she hadn’t. She’d had time to think things over.

Maybe if he went, tried to persuade her a little, that might do the trick….

He stopped and cocked his head. Was that the doorbell?

Telling himself he was probably hearing things, he shut off the tap water and stopped rinsing the dishes before stacking them in the dishwasher.

The soft peal of the doorbell disturbed the atmosphere. Well, at least he knew his hearing was as good as ever, he congratulated himself. He grabbed a towel and dried his hands as he made his way to the front door.

They didn’t see too many door-to-door salespeople in this part of the city and it was way too early for one of the neighborhood kids to be trying to sell cookies, or wrapping paper, or whatever their schools were pushing these days to raise funds, he thought.

Like as not, it was either Rayne or Teri. Both had gone out together just a few minutes ago. One of them had probably forgotten her keys. It wouldn’t be the first time.

Slinging the towel over his right shoulder, Andrew reached for the doorknob and swung the door open. “What did you forget?”

The words hung in the air, mocking him, as he looked into the face of the woman who called herself Claire.

She looked nervous, vulnerable and completely uncertain. It took her a moment before she responded. “Everything, apparently.”