Page 43 of Two Hearts' Accidental Heroes

Wes hesitated, glancing at Rick. “Your dad has done some things that he’s not proud of in his life. And because I didn’t want you to get in trouble and do things like me, I wanted you to live with someone who would make sure that you kept on being a good boy.”

Johnny seemed to understand because he nodded his head.

That’s when Shanna reached into her purse. “Look what Johnny painted, Wes.”

Wes’ eyes went wide. “Johnny? I think you’re going to learn a lot from your mom.”

That’s when Wes did the strangest thing of all.

He smiled.

And that’s when Rick smiled too, glancing at Shanna.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Wes passed awayquietly in his sleep another four days later. Although Wes hadn’t asked for anything special, Grace wanted to bury him in the cemetery near their family home in Ontonagon, away from Rice Lake, where he’d grown up.

Jake loaded them all on the private plane again to return to Ontonagon for the funeral, and after attending a small burial service for Wes at the cemetery and saying their goodbyes, they hung around town for a few days and were introduced to Grace and Johnny’s friends.

Much to Shanna’s relief, Grace would be returning with them to Crystal Rock to stay for a while until Johnny adjusted to the move. So along with Rick, who Jake had insisted should remain with them for now in case there was trouble, they settled in as a family at the large cabin on Pebble Lake. Jake took care of all the details of enrolling Johnny in school, and Rick decided that he would drive him back and forth for a while so he wouldn’t have to ride with strangers on the bus. Once he made friends, things would change.

There was plenty of room at the cabin, and even an apartment downstairs, where Grace had insisted she’d stay so that she could give them all some privacy. While Shanna spent as much time as possible with Johnny, Grace was more than happy to do the shopping while they both took turns cooking.

Rick was working with Jake full time, officially attached to AFOSI. Apparently, there was concern about some of the names of service members who were listed as financial contributors to the most prolific trafficking organization ever discovered. Every single name that was listed in those notebooks would have to be investigated independently.

While Shanna was living in the luxurious master suite upstairs, Rick slept in the bedroom at the end of the hallway. It had been getting more difficult by the day living with Rick, barely having any physical contact with him anymore. She was beginning to think he was avoiding her, and one night, after Johnny had fallen asleep, she decided it was time for them to talk.

When she knocked on the bedroom door, Rick opened it quickly. All he was wearing was a pair of shorts, and her eyes ran over him heatedly.

He looked impatient as he ran his hand through his hair. “Shanna. What’s wrong?”

Suddenly, she started to cry. Spinning on her heels, she ran back to her room.

Rick had obviously followed her, because he tugged her into his arms once he reached her room. “What’s wrong?”

“Why are you ignoring me?” she asked, resting her head on his chest beneath his chin as tears fell from her eyes.

“Don’t you know what you do to me, when you look at me like that?” he growled.

“No.” But actually, she did. She could feel his impatience growing as he held her in his arms.

He snorted, pulling away. “I thought you needed some time. You haven’t even had your first session with the psychiatrist.”

“I don’t care,” she said, stomping her foot. “Don’t you realize that I’ve never known what it’s like to be with someone who wants me for me—and not just as some kind of sex object?”

“You really feel like you’re ready for this?” he answered, seeming slightly nervous as he held her gaze.

“I’ve been ready since the day you showed up downstairs at the front door. It’s like I’ve been waiting for you to come and rescue me my entire life,” she said unevenly.

“You’re so beautiful,” he said softly, pulling her into his arms, holding her, nibbling at her ear, and running his lips gently against her chin before covering her mouth with his.

They kissed, and it went on endlessly until they finally had to gasp for air.

Determinedly pulling away, Shanna approached the door, snapping it shut. Turning, she let the robe she was wearing slip to the ground, exposing the sexy little nightgown that Rick had thrown into the cart at Walmart when they’d gone shopping.

“I figured you’d like to see this on me since you were the one who picked it out,” she said in what she thought was a sultry voice.

Much to her surprise, Rick started laughing. “I love you, you know.”

---