Page 58 of Dairy and Deadly

“Along with my partner,” she added brokenly.

Caro frowned down at her in concern. “I’ll personally see to it that Police Detective John Bench’s rank and medals are restored.” Her lips tightened. “Your file will be cleared, too.”

It dawned on Johnny that this was likely the reason the Dallas Police Department had refused to allow Ashley to return to duty. She’d been under investigation the whole time.

“What about Tina and the baby?” Ashley still looked troubled. “John’s family?”

Caro nodded gravely. “His life insurance benefits and pension will be restored, and they’ll be paid retroactively.”

Tears of gratitude slid down Ashley’s cheeks. “Thank you.”

Caro drew a deep breath. “I’m sorry for everything that happened to you and your partner. You’re true American heroes, both of you.”

Ashley gave a choking sob that she tried to cover with a laugh. “I don’t feel very heroic.” She spread her hands. “I was completely duped by a certain attorney…and became a casualty of war when the going got tough.”

“Baloney!” Johnny hated seeing her blame herself like that. “You gave him the boot, which threw a sizable monkey wrench in his plans.”

“There’s that.” She gave him a watery smile.

Clint and Caro finally said their goodbyes and quietly slipped from the bay.

“Can you believe it?” More tears leaked down Ashley’s cheeks as she surveyed Johnny tiredly. “Caro and I were investigating each other for the same crime!”

“Quit blaming yourself,” he commanded quietly. “You followed the clues where they led.”

“Did I?” She looked uncertain. “I worry that I let my personal feelings blind me to the truth every step of the way.”

He leaned his forearms on the edge of her mattress, toying with her fingers. “You were willing to give that undeserving bozo your heart. It’s his tremendous loss that he proved unworthy of it.”

“I don’t want your pity, Johnny.”

His fingers tightened on hers. “If you think for one second that what I’m feeling right now is pity…” Throwing all caution to the wind, he closed the distance between them and brushed his mouth against hers.

She lightly punched his shoulder. “Really Johnny? A pity kiss?”

For an answer, he slanted his mouth over hers, deepening the kiss to prove just how wrong she was.

Like it was every time they were together, it simply felt right. Gone was his guilt about moving on as a widower. Loving her was exactly the next step he was meant to take.

Since she’d been through so much today, he kept the kiss short. “Does that answer your question?”

She reached up to touch his cheek. “I thought we agreed we weren’t going to test the rebound waters.”

“I’m in no hurry, Ash.” He covered her hand with his, holding her fingers against his cheek. “Take all the time you need.”

The smile on her lips grew wobbly. “He never loved me, Johnny. I know that now. It takes the sting out of things, if that makes any sense.”

He drank in her shy, uncertain smile. “Does that mean I can kiss you again?”

For an answer, she curled her hand around the back of his neck and gently tugged his head back to hers.

Chapter 11: Worse than Imagined

March

“Martin Hobbs is still missing.” Caro gingerly perched on the opposite end of the sofa from Can Opener. She’d gotten in the habit of dropping by Ashley’s cabin a few evenings per week to exchange notes about the case. She didn’t have to. She could’ve used her standing in the FBI to swat Ashley like an insect. Instead, she’d managed to bring her officially on board the case as a federal consultant. It was a paying gig, too. Ashley was trying not to let it give her a big head.

“Three weeks is a long time to take off from work,” she mused. “What are his associates saying about it at the law office?” Now that she had the funds to spare, she’d invested in a new coffee dispenser. She pulled a pair of porcelain mugs from the cabinet and pressed the start button to brew the first cup.

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