Page 104 of Tessa's Trust

I gasped and looked down. “I wasn’t shot?”

“No.” He grabbed my face and pulled me up, cradling me and looking around. Aiden and Anna rushed in from the rear, and Aiden had Louise in front of him with her arms behind her back.

“Are you okay?” Anna ran toward me, panic in her grayish eyes.

“Yeah, I’m great,” I said, and then I passed out.

Chapter 36

Ten hours after being stabbed—well, sliced—for the first time in my life, I danced beneath a sparkling disco ball with Nick Basanelli holding me close. His body was hard and warm against mine, and I couldn’t forget the way he’d leaped over a deck to take down somebody with a gun.

It turned out I ended up at the hospital right when Mert Smiley was being released, so he waited until my arm was stitched. Of course, that meant he had to deal with all my family because the minute everyone found out I’d been injured, they arrived en masse. We were accustomed to showing up at the hospital for Anna, so it was a different experience for me to be the one in the bed. I could sympathize with her a lot more than I thought.

Tonight, my dress was green and sparkly, and Nana O’Shea had added flimsy sleeves within one hour to partially cover the bandage on my left arm. Nick wore a tux and looked like a dangerous animal on the prowl. I liked it. It was a good look on him.

He brushed my hair back from my face, his hand heavy on my waist as he moved us to the soft music. “Are you sure your arm’s okay?” he asked. “We don’t have to dance.”

“My arm is fine.” My legs were still a little shaky, but I didn’t have frostbite, and I would be okay.

“Good,” he murmured, leaning in. “Our families are watching us.”

“I know.” I felt eyes on us from every direction, as well as hope. I was supposed to take it easy, but I was thrilled to be alive and wanted to have some fun. We could leave early…and have more fun together just the two of us. “They really want us together.”

He leaned down and kissed my nose. “I want us together, too.”

It was our third dance, and he was driving me crazy—like usual. The music stopped, and he took my hand, walking over to the bar. “You want anything?”

“Champagne,” I said.

He ordered some and a scotch for himself.

Sheriff Franco sauntered up. “How’s the arm?”

“It’s fine,” I told him. “I’m going to be okay.”

“Good, good. I heard they’re holding Louise without bond this time.”

That was definitely the right thing to do. I nodded. “What about Sadie and Jonathan?”

Sheriff Franco shrugged. “The prosecuting attorney is looking at the evidence now, but I think she can prove self-defense. If not, she’ll hire your sister and win at trial. I’m not worried about Sadie. She’s as tough as they come.”

I nodded.

“Also, I have good news for you,” the sheriff said, smiling.

That sounded wonderful. Finally, good news. “You do?”

“Yes. I took all the proof to Marilyn Brando, and she finally agreed that Sadie did not transfer the property to Rudy.”

Nick narrowed his gaze. “You went to her?”

The sheriff smiled wider. “Yes, I did, and although she seemed reluctant to believe me, I believe Sadie then paid her a visit. So, anyway, the woman has dropped her case against you. You should be receiving the paperwork later this week.”

I couldn’t believe it. I now owned two restaurants—or was at least part-owner of the second. “Thank you, Sheriff.” I was happy about that, but I couldn’t help but look at Nick. My dream had been to own restaurants…yet dreams could change.

“Come on.” He held out his arm.

I slipped my hand through it and waved at my sister, Anna, who was dancing with Aiden. They made a perfect couple. It turned out she and Aiden had seen Louise force me from Nick’s condo and then followed us all the way to the cabin.

---