Page 89 of Enforcing the Rules

“I don’t think I’m going to be able to keep this badge if I stay with you,” I whispered.

“No one’s making you choose.”

“I think I’m making me choose.” I stared at the road. I was a part of Utah’s world now. “Will it always be like this?”

“No. Absolutely not.”

I hung onto that as we drove through the night.

When Utah pulled into the clubhouse lot and parked, I put my hand on his leg. He paused with his own hand on the door handle and looked at me.

“When I heard those shots coming from the house, I thought you died on me tonight. And that thought only lasted a few seconds, but I’ve never been so scared.”

He cupped my face. “I was just as terrified when we heard that shot from the road. I should never have involved you in this. I should have taken you home and come back out, I was just so determined to catch Ruiz before he slipped through our fingers again. That’s a mistake I’ll never make again. But, I promise you, Kate, you’re not gonna lose me.”

“You can’t promise me that.”

“You’re right. I can’t. None of us know when our time is up. But I’m not going to go out and do something stupid. I’m careful. Always.” He tapped my nose with his finger. “And now I have somebody I want to come home to, so you can damn well bet I’m gonna do everything necessary to come home to her.” He kissed me. “We good?”

I nodded. “We’re good.”

He shouldered open the truck’s door and took my hand.

A prospect came off the porch, and Utah tossed the keys to him. “Clean up the blood in the cab. Get it all. That’s Lola’s truck and Memphis will have someone’s head.”

“Yes, sir.”

We walked inside. It was late and quiet, with no one else around. Utah led me to his room and the connected bath. He reached in the shower stall and flipped on the water, soon filling the room with steam. Then he patiently undressed us and pulled me under the spray. He soaped my body and shampooed my hair, removing every last trace of what happened tonight.

When we’d both rinsed off, he dried me off, then cupped my face. “Feeling better?”

“Yes.”

“Good.” He pressed a kiss to my lips, then smiled, carried me to bed and tucked me against his body. “I don’t want you to think about tonight. If you do, you’ll never get any sleep.”

“I think I’m going to need your help with that.”

“I can do that. I know a way to get your mind off everything but me. I promise.” With that, he slid down the bed and moved between my legs, his mouth going to work on delivering that promise.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

One week later—

Kate—

“What are you going to do with that bounty money now?” Utah asked, looking at my junker car parked in his drive. “Buy a new car?”

I shook my head, staring at the check in my hand. “There’s somewhere I want to go. Will you take me?”

“Sure.”

I gave Utah directions, and we climbed on the back of his bike. It was a long ride over the mountains, but it was a beautiful day.

Finally, we stopped in front of the little white house with the wheelchair ramp.

“What is this place?”

“I’m surprised you didn’t know about it.”

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