Page 89 of Evening Shadows

With a shaky hand, he reached for her cheek, and she leaned into his palm. “Yes, I will. Don’t worry. Come on, curl up here. We should try to get a couple hours of sleep while it’s offered.”

“Maybe we should’ve waited until you were fully healed.”

“No way would I have changed this moment. I’d endure any pain, as nothing in this life beats the feel of being inside you—body and soul. That damn poet or whoever coined the phrase had been right. Love does conquer all.”

Although she’d never expected something so poetic from him, as his bookshelf held only thrillers, she had to agree with the statement. The two of them had come a long way and overcome many obstacles to come together. The strength of their love was their foundation.

Slipping off him, she stood to get something for them to clean up. Once clean, she curled up beside him as he’d asked. She’d have done it anyway.

With his eyes closed, Ken slipped his hand through strands of her hair, and she welcomed the tender touch.

“I love you.” She hadn’t meant to rush it out, but she held her breath, waiting to see what he said in response. Sure, he’d told her he loved her, but how would he receive this?

Thinking he hadn’t heard her since his hand hadn’t stopped or even faltered, she prepared to say it again, but her nerves were a little shaky.

Tucking a strand behind her ear, he lifted up on his elbow, then looking into her eyes, he asked, “Sam, sweetheart, the question still stands. Will you marry me?”

With the knock on the door, Sam stiffened and he growled at the intrusion.

Kate’s statement had her blood running cold. “They’ve got Beverly.”

35

Sam jumped up from bed and adrenaline raced through her body. “What? Who? Where?”

“They picked her up trying to break into your home. Ken, Jesse’s asking for you.”

Her breath caught at the implication. Thank God she hadn’t taken Cody to her house. But what did Bev want now? Too many possibilities existed that she’d prefer not to entertain.

Surprisingly, Ken had dressed before she’d even laid out a top. He kissed her on the nose. “I’ll see you over there.”

She gaped at his leaving her but understood he had his own role to play. She raced to get herself ready, wanting to figure out how to stop her friend’s madness and refusing to allow the team to exclude her.

Pulling out her clothes that Kate had brought for her, she frowned. What did one wear to confront someone who’d played such an important role in their life only to find out they’d been manipulated and set up?

Sam dropped on the edge of the bed. A number of emotions jumbled within her until she couldn’t figure out how she felt. The two that stood out the most were gratitude for HIS and all they’d done and uncertainty at what was to come. Make that three—her love for Cody and Ken.

Could the three of them make a loving family? While Ken asked her to marry him before, they hadn’t talked about his feelings for the boy and becoming a father. Not everyone could step into that role effectively.

Shrugging, since she couldn’t figure it all out at the moment, she shelved it and focused. After slipping into a pair of jeans and a T-shirt that actually fit, she then accessorized.

She looked at her appearance in a full-length mirror and then pulled her hair back into a sloppy bun with the elastic band she’d used earlier. Even though Em had picked up makeup for her, she rarely wore it since it rubbed off on her rifle butt and it also had a slight fragrance that a breeze could capture, alerting anyone to her presence. She bypassed it for this meeting.

Satisfied she’d prepared for the coming battle, she exited the room to stop short when she saw Kate waiting.

“I thought you might want to know that Ken is lead in the interrogation.”

She wanted to lead this with all her being. Bev couldn’t get away with what she’d done. But that wasn’t her role on this op. Sighing, she’d trust the agents to get them through this. Her team had never led her astray, even when she’d almost gone that way. If they said let Ken lead, then Ken needed to lead.

“Before you argue, think about it. She despises Ken and will get blistering mad and probably share everything to spite him since she’ll think we have no authority.”

Bewildered, Sam asked, “I didn’t think we had authority. When did it change?”

Kate laughed. “We don’t have it, but we won’t let her realize she’s right and can leave whenever she wishes. Besides, we have the authorities on the way.”

Her mind whipped back to what was most important. “Where’s Cody?” Her breathing rushed in and out, frantic as her eyes roamed the area.

“Calm down.” Kate’s soothing voice and soft touch on her arm relaxed her a bit.

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