Page 106 of Her Rugged Guardian

He faked choking. “You’re one of those high maintenance girls, I see.”

“First of all, I’m a woman. And more important, that’s the going rate I hear.” I shifted to face him, wrapping my arms around his waist as I tilted my head.

“Hmmm… Expensive.”

“I’m worth it.”

“Yes, you are and you’re all woman, baby.” He lowered his head slowly and I rose onto my tiptoes. The kiss was tender, as if he was giving me his heart and soul in return.

As he lifted me off my feet, another moment of swooning rushed into me. I hoped I would always feel the same burning need, the electricity crackling between us white hot. He was every girl’s fantasy and he was all mine.

The sound of someone clearing their throat seconds later caught us both off guard.

Jake eased me down and I peered around him at Bart, who was in his official uniform.

“Hey, buddy,” Jake said. “I thought you were off today.”

“Oh, I am now and I’ll change in a little while. But I wanted you to be the first to know before it hit the press.” Bart grinned, glancing from one of us to the other.

“What is it?” Jake folded his arms, tenser than normal.

“I was just told that more than three dozen indictments are rolling down the pike against Malcolm Robinson, his father and brother, and about a half dozen other people in town, including Judge Lee. It’s going to be a messy situation around here for a while.” His grin remained.

I couldn’t help myself, squealing as I clapped my hands. When I rushed forward, kissing Bart on the cheek, I embarrassed the hell out of him, his face turning red.

“Wow. I’ve never gotten that kind of reaction before.” Bart cupped his face, his grin widening.

“Don’t get used to it, buddy. Or I might have to kill ya,” Jake said.

“You do know threatening an officer of the law is a bad thing to do. Right?”

We laughed but I sensed we were all relieved. “What about the two girls who were killed?”

“Well, one was an undercover officer, which is why I couldn’t find out anything about her,” Bart said. “The other was the daughter of someone who’d already provided information to the FBI.”

“Who murdered them?”

“It’s not clear yet, but there is no doubt Malcolm initiated it. Then he used that as a mechanism of threatening you, Cassandra.”

“What was the final straw in having him arrested?” Jake asked.

“The cherry on top was the information Margaret gathered.”

“Which you knew about,” I said to him.

Bart shrugged. “I suspected given a conversation I’d had, but she died too soon.”

Jake pulled me tightly against him, the move comforting. “What about her death? Can you pin it on him?”

“Not unless you’re willing to exhume the body.” Bart looked at me.

“No. She deserves to rest in peace.” I’d talked about it with Jake, realizing that what little I’d accomplish by doing that would also dredge up the same feelings and sadness. I was ready to move on and that’s what my mother would want.

Bart nodded. “Anyway, I’m sure the authorities will still need to talk to both of you so don’t leave town.”

“Neither one of us plan on it even if we’re not living here,” Jake said quietly.

“Yeah, I’m sorry about that.”

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