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Authors: Roxanne St. Claire

Then You Hide (25 page)

BOOK: Then You Hide
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He was silent long enough for her to know that was the wrong question.

Will you be back?

But she couldn’t bring herself to ask.

The receptionist in the tiny lobby of the yet undecorated and unpacked offices of Porter and Easterbrook LLC gave Wade a surprised look when he stepped in from the street. “She’s gone,” she said, accurately assuming that Wade was there to see Vanessa. “She popped in to get some files this morning, then left with luggage.”

Luggage? “Any idea where she was going?”

“No, I’m sorry, but she was in a real hurry.”

Something new and different. He returned to the crowded streets of lower Manhattan, flipping his phone open. He had so much to tell her about his day at Lucy’s, and it had to be told in person. Even as he dialed, he shooed away any doubts. He knew where she’d gone. He
knew
it.

“I need a plane,” he said when the call was answered on the second ring.

Lucy laughed. “You’re a full-time employee for what, an hour, and you want one of my jets?”

“My principal is on the move, and I have to get her.”

“Where are you going?”

“Columbia, South Carolina.”

“You’re in luck. Get to JFK, and meet Fletch and Miranda. They’re about to take off. I’ll have them wait for you.”

“Great. Any progress on the investigation since I left?”

“A few of us are brainstorming. I’m bringing in a specialty team to step up the investigation. I’ve promised Miranda she’ll be the first to know our progress, and you can tell Vanessa she’s next in line.”

“Great. Thanks, Luce.”

“And Wade, thank you again. I’m so happy to have you onboard.” Lucy’s voice was warm. “You seem much more…content than before.”

“I’m gettin’ there, Luce.”

Fletch didn’t seem thrilled to have company on the flight, but Miranda welcomed him with a genuine hug. That affection never wavered. In fact, she never once took her hand out of Fletch’s, especially during takeoff and landing. The entire time, Wade watched her interact with the man she obviously loved, and the three of them discussed the investigation Lucy had decided to undertake.

In addition to Eileen’s ramblings, they had some solid clues—the tattoos, some missing transcripts from the trial, lists of people who had enough pull for media silence on the case.

Lucy could figure it out with the help of the Bullet Catchers. And, Fletch added with a bit of Aussie smugness, ex-Bullet Catchers. It would be interesting to see who Lucy picked to be on her team for this one. But Wade’s job was to protect Vanessa, and that’s where he planned to put one hundred percent of his efforts.

When the plane landed, they took a cab to the hospital where Eileen had had the transplant procedure done. Once they were cleared, they took an elevator to the second floor, then followed a long hallway to reach a nurses’ station, where they were told to wait. As they turned into the waiting area, Wade balled his hands into fists, certain that Vanessa would be right there.

The room was empty.

He stood for a moment, disappointment punching his chest. He’d been so
sure
she’d be there. So sure she’d let go of that hate, so she could love.

Was he just kidding himself?

“Wade.” Miranda put her hand on his arm, pulling him back to the moment. “Fletch and I are going in to see her now.”

“Okay,” he said, dropping onto the closest seat. “I’ll be here.” He leaned his head back against the wall and closed his eyes, trying to imagine all the places where Vanessa might run and hide from life and love, and all the affection he could give her that she didn’t want.

“You really
are
good at finding people.”

For a moment, he thought he was dreaming. But then he opened his eyes and saw her sitting next to him, her eyes as red as when he’d caught her crying that morning.

He touched her cheek, noticing she wasn’t wearing her glasses and her hair was pulled off her face. “You’re not very good at hiding.”

She turned her face and kissed his palm. “I’m not hiding from you. Or from my past. Or from my murky gene pool anymore.”

“Did you talk to her?”

She nodded. “A little. She was really out of it. I’m not sure she knew who I was.”

“Lucy is certain she’s innocent, Vanessa. And that the killer is still very much a threat. I’m not going to let you out of my sight until that person is caught, convicted, and put away.”

She smiled. “Or you’ve taken him down.”

“Some other Bullet Catcher gets that job. Mine is to protect you.”

“You signed the contract?”

He nodded with pride. “I did. With the caveat that I had first dibs on all jobs in New York City, starting with protecting you.” He closed his hand around hers. “I can’t think of anyone I’d rather have on my radar.”

“Yeah? Me, too.”

He rubbed her knuckles. “I guess that’s the closest thing to ‘I love you’ that I’m going to get from you, unless you’re hanging off a mountain, waving a Ruger with the safety on.”

She laughed softly. “I still can’t believe I did that.”

“I can,” he said seriously. “It shows what you’re capable of.”

“Murder?”

“Love. For a woman you barely knew.”

“Stella is like a mother to me.” She rolled her eyes. “As if I didn’t have enough of those.”

He lifted her face to his. “I was thinking about this on the plane down here. You know, you’ve never really been taught to love. Everything that happened made you tough and strong and able to handle anything. Anything but…” He gently rubbed her lower lip. “Love.”

She cupped his face, her fingers warm and steady. “I’ve been thinking about it, too. And talking to…” Her eyes filled. “My mother.”

“What did she say?”

“Not much, but I said plenty.”

He waited, holding his breath.

“I told her that of all the people in the world, you made me figure out why I am…lovable.”

So, so lovable. Still, he waited.

“And worthy,” she continued softly, a tear falling. “Of your affection…and your love.”

Finally, he exhaled.

She smiled. “I’m just sorry it took me forever to catch on. I’m usually much quicker on the uptake.”

Inhaling her sweet scent, he closed his arms around her. Lucy had said he seemed content; that was an understatement. This was so much more than content. This was bliss.

“You know, Vanessa, taking forever is not a bad thing,” he said. “Forever…could be really nice.”

She leaned closer and kissed him. The kind of kiss he liked the best—long and slow and sweet like a summer evening. When she pulled away, her face was wet with tears. “I could do forever.”

He couldn’t stop the smile that came from deep inside. “If those aren’t the sweetest damn words I ever heard, I don’t know what is.”

“You watch your mouth, Billy Wade. There are ladies around.”

“Don’t I know it.” He closed his eyes and kissed her hair. “
My
lady.”

His tarty, speedy, stubborn, brilliant, sexy, amazing lady.

 

BOOK: Then You Hide
11.51Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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