Page 63 of Condemned By Secrets

She pushed herself up, so she was sitting, then she opened her arms. “I don’t care. Get over here.”

He moved to sit on the edge of her bed, and she wrapped her arms around him, laying her head on his chest. She breathed in his familiar citrus and grass scent until she noticed his arms weren’t returning the embrace.

Anna tilted her head up to look at him. “I’m notthatfragile, Luther.” After nearly dying, she was done being cautious when it came to him. “Hold me like you mean it.”

His eyes burned hot for a second before she saw him let go. He pulled her close and buried his nose in her hair.

She felt him shaking, and it broke her heart. “I tried to get out—to warn you. I couldn’t stand the thought of them going after you.” She took a deep breath. “I love you, Luther.” Tears clogged her throat, but she swallowed past them. “I thought I wasn’t going to get to tell you.” Her voice broke on a sob, and Luther stroked her hair.

“I love you too, baby. So damn much.” He paused and squeezed her tighter. “When I thought I wasn’t going to get to tell you, . . . It killed me.”

She tightened her arms around him as his words healed her damaged heart. Wiping her eyes on his shirt, she asked, “What happens now?”

Luther kissed her head before he pulled back and brushed the rest of the tears from her face. “We’ll take care of the mayor. She won’t get another chance to hurt you.”

Anna nodded and waited for him to tell her the rest.

“The conversation you overheard . . . it sounds like she was arguing with the real estate developer of the new project the town just voted on.”

Anna’s eyes widened.What did that mean?

“My suspicion is she’s been helping him launder money through the developments. I’m guessing for kickbacks.” Luther shrugged. “But they use the properties as fronts to wash the illicit cash. That kind of thing draws attention, and Officer Haines and our captain were keeping the heat off.”

“Oh!” Anna covered her mouth with her hand. It was worse than she’d thought. Not only the mayor but the police captain was involved too.

“Yeah,” Luther shook his head. “The captain’s been suspended while Internal Affairs conducts its investigation, and the FBI is going after Gerald Harding—the developer.” He cupped her cheek. “Clearing this up will take a while. Several local businesses in the Shoppes development were shell companies involved in the laundering, but that’s not for you to worry about.” Luther paused, and his eyes held hers. “You’ll likely be asked to testify against the mayor, but I’ll be with you every step of the way.”

Anna smiled at the determination shining in his eyes. With Luther by her side, she could face it. His love had washed away the blight of her past, and she was ready to build a whole new future with him. “Good. Because I’ve got plans for you, Officer Hottie.”

He grinned, his dimples winking at her, and the weight he’d been carrying since she’d woken up cleared from his eyes. “Me too, Shortcake.”

She laughed, but it turned into a moan as his lips came down on hers. As Luther kissed her, a sense of euphoria filled her, and her heart and head reeled. In his arms, she was complete. Together they could take on anything. So, bring it on, world.I’m ready.

EPILOGUE

Ten Months Later

Anna’s stomach had contracted into a tight ball of nerves that bounced in excitement. She rubbed a hand against it to ease the discomfort as she stared across the property. It was hard to believe this day was finally here.

After everything that had happened with the mayor, the town had been sympathetic to Anna’s plans for the Cooper Farm, and today was the debut event for Yeoman’s Hall. She smiled as the Edison bulb lights strung across the property winked on, illuminating the darkening sky. Once the sun set, it would look magical.

From where she stood in front of the refurbished barn, she could see the way to the pond where she’d overhead the mayor so many months ago. She’d had the path widened, and the brush cut back. They’d found a stream that fed into the pond and built an arched wooden bridge across it. She thought it added to the charm they’d restored to the property.

As did the white gazebo she’d had built beyond the outbuildings. It was surrounded by picnic tables and benches, inviting people to sit for a spell and soak up the fresh air. She envisioned it filled with musicians for an evening concert. Not a bad idea going forward and something she’d add to the website offerings.

People were starting to arrive, and the hum of voices echoed around her as she continued her survey. The air of neglect, which had once lingered here, was gone. The remaining buildings had been stabilized, and the debris left behind by years of occupants cleaned out.

Her heart squeezed when her eyes fell on the spot the farmhouse used to stand. She hadn’t been able to save it, but she had commemorated it. The rubble trench foundation showed the outline of where it had stood, and Anna had added a marker with the house’s history. She’d even found an old photograph in the town archives and had it printed on the plaque.

“There you are, Anna!”

She jumped at the greeting, then chastised herself for getting lost in her thoughts. “Hi, Sandy. Or should I say, Mayor Redland?” Anna grinned at the older woman whom she’d come to call a friend. After Mayor Landstrom was convicted, the town elected Sandy. With the bubbly brunette on the job, getting preservation plans approved had become less of a struggle.

Sandy smiled and shook her head. “You know I prefer Sandy. It’s almost go time, dear, and I wanted to make sure you were ready.”

Anna turned with her and took in thepièce de resistance—the barn. It was no longer a faded splotchy red. Now it glistened a bright white in the waning light of this spring day. The trim and doors were a contrasting black, as were the double barn lights she’d had installed above them. It was gorgeous, and that was only the outside. “More than ready, Mayor.”

Sandy chuckled and gave her hand a quick squeeze before heading in toward the stage they’d set up inside.

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