Page 30
Story: Hunted
They’d been so happy since she’d made her decision to stay in Vegas and move in with him. She thanked God each day for the second chance she’d been given with him. Thomas was growing by leaps and bounds, too. He was talking in full sentences these days, most of which even made sense. Clint read to him each night and she was working with him on his coloring skills and basic counting. Before she knew it, it would be time to get him into pre-school. Time was going so fast.
Her job at the dental clinic was going well, too, and she was up for a promotion to staff leader. She loved her clients and her work and was considering going back to school at night at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas to become a full-fledged dentist. It would mean lots of hard work and tons of studying, not to mention more student loans, but she was done avoiding risks—especially when there was a chance of such great rewards. Look at the rewards she’d gotten from the last risk she’d taken. A life she loved, a son she adored, a loyal, generous, kind-hearted man who made all of her dreams come true. She’d been truly blessed, and she knew it.
Speaking of that kind-hearted man…
Clint peeked through the door then entered the gun range, walking over to her and slipping his arms around her from behind, pulling her back into his chest, his breath warm against her ear. “Look at that beautiful target work. No wonder I love you so much, honey.”
“Aw, thanks, sweetheart. I love you, too.” She turned slightly to kiss him over her shoulder. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing much. Store’s been busy, but I wanted to let you know that I saw the news at noon.”
Leila’s heart gave a little skip and she moved away to face him. “Did they have anything on about the trial?”
Mike’s old gang had been rounded up one-by-one over the last few months and taken into custody. The media had said that her ex had turned state’s witness and would be going into Witness Protection after testifying. Good thing for Mike, since if any of those bastards caught up with him, he’d be dead in no time. The gang members didn’t take well to betrayal.
Good for her too, since it meant the threat to her from that quadrant was finally over. WitSec would hide Mike somewhere far away from here—and he’d know better than to return. There had been no trouble for her from Mike’s gang since his arrest, so she believed the police officer had been right in saying that they’d leave her alone.
“Nope. Just that it’s going as expected and the whole thing should be wrapped up by the end of this week. It’s almost over.”
She’d gotten the fresh start she’d wanted. Finally, she and Clint and Thomas could focus on the future.
She breathed a sigh of relief.
“Um, there is something I’ve been meaning to ask you,” Clint said, reaching into the back pocket of his jeans. He was acting nervous, his normally graceful movements stiff and shaky. Her chest squeezed. Uh-oh. Things had been so good. Maybe too good. What if he’d decided taking on her and her kid wasn’t what he wanted after all? What if…
Then he went down on one knee in front of her and all Leila could see was the sincerity in his beautiful blue eyes and the sweet smile on his handsome face and oh God! She covered her mouth with a trembling hand as her tears began to flow.
“Leila, honey. I love you, and I love Thomas. If I’m honest, I have since the first day you walked into my gun range and asked to buy a gun.” She snorted and he grinned. “You know I have a thing for independent women who can take care of themselves. Well, at least for one woman in particular. Over the last six months, you and Thomas have become my light, my world, my everything. Please say you’ll be my wife and that we can live as a true family for the rest of our days.”
Through her sniffling, she smiled and knelt before him, nodding as he slid a glittering diamond solitaire engagement ring on her finger. It was beautiful, but not as amazing as the man in front of her. She hugged him close and kissed him long and deep, then rested her forehead against his. “Yes. Yes! I love you, Clint. I always have, and I always will. You’re part of my true family, now and forever.” She kissed him again and laughed. “I never expected a happy ending like this, not for me, but I’m so….so…”
“Happy?” he suggested with a grin as he rose and pulled her to her feet with him.
“Yes. Let’s call my mom right away and tell her.” Leila knew that her mother was going to be over-the-moon excited. “She’s been eyeing you as a son in law ever since we went to San Juan on vacation last month.”
He raised a dark brow at her. “Does that mean I get to enjoy your mama’s amazing tostones and empanadas whenever I want?”
“You know it!” Leila chuckled, happier than she could ever remember being. “She loves you almost as much as I do. You’ll never starve with her around, that’s for sure.”
“I’m not starving now,” he said, pulling away slightly. “In fact, I’ve never felt fuller. Full of love and joy and peace and contentment. And it’s all thanks to you. You and Thomas. Thank you.”
“No.” She traced her fingertips over his lips, her hear near to busting with emotion for this man. “Thank you. Thank for taking us in and for showing us how a real family should be. I love you, Clint.”
“And I love you, Leila.” He kissed her again sweetly then stepped back. “Now, let’s go call your mom.”
Her job at the dental clinic was going well, too, and she was up for a promotion to staff leader. She loved her clients and her work and was considering going back to school at night at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas to become a full-fledged dentist. It would mean lots of hard work and tons of studying, not to mention more student loans, but she was done avoiding risks—especially when there was a chance of such great rewards. Look at the rewards she’d gotten from the last risk she’d taken. A life she loved, a son she adored, a loyal, generous, kind-hearted man who made all of her dreams come true. She’d been truly blessed, and she knew it.
Speaking of that kind-hearted man…
Clint peeked through the door then entered the gun range, walking over to her and slipping his arms around her from behind, pulling her back into his chest, his breath warm against her ear. “Look at that beautiful target work. No wonder I love you so much, honey.”
“Aw, thanks, sweetheart. I love you, too.” She turned slightly to kiss him over her shoulder. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing much. Store’s been busy, but I wanted to let you know that I saw the news at noon.”
Leila’s heart gave a little skip and she moved away to face him. “Did they have anything on about the trial?”
Mike’s old gang had been rounded up one-by-one over the last few months and taken into custody. The media had said that her ex had turned state’s witness and would be going into Witness Protection after testifying. Good thing for Mike, since if any of those bastards caught up with him, he’d be dead in no time. The gang members didn’t take well to betrayal.
Good for her too, since it meant the threat to her from that quadrant was finally over. WitSec would hide Mike somewhere far away from here—and he’d know better than to return. There had been no trouble for her from Mike’s gang since his arrest, so she believed the police officer had been right in saying that they’d leave her alone.
“Nope. Just that it’s going as expected and the whole thing should be wrapped up by the end of this week. It’s almost over.”
She’d gotten the fresh start she’d wanted. Finally, she and Clint and Thomas could focus on the future.
She breathed a sigh of relief.
“Um, there is something I’ve been meaning to ask you,” Clint said, reaching into the back pocket of his jeans. He was acting nervous, his normally graceful movements stiff and shaky. Her chest squeezed. Uh-oh. Things had been so good. Maybe too good. What if he’d decided taking on her and her kid wasn’t what he wanted after all? What if…
Then he went down on one knee in front of her and all Leila could see was the sincerity in his beautiful blue eyes and the sweet smile on his handsome face and oh God! She covered her mouth with a trembling hand as her tears began to flow.
“Leila, honey. I love you, and I love Thomas. If I’m honest, I have since the first day you walked into my gun range and asked to buy a gun.” She snorted and he grinned. “You know I have a thing for independent women who can take care of themselves. Well, at least for one woman in particular. Over the last six months, you and Thomas have become my light, my world, my everything. Please say you’ll be my wife and that we can live as a true family for the rest of our days.”
Through her sniffling, she smiled and knelt before him, nodding as he slid a glittering diamond solitaire engagement ring on her finger. It was beautiful, but not as amazing as the man in front of her. She hugged him close and kissed him long and deep, then rested her forehead against his. “Yes. Yes! I love you, Clint. I always have, and I always will. You’re part of my true family, now and forever.” She kissed him again and laughed. “I never expected a happy ending like this, not for me, but I’m so….so…”
“Happy?” he suggested with a grin as he rose and pulled her to her feet with him.
“Yes. Let’s call my mom right away and tell her.” Leila knew that her mother was going to be over-the-moon excited. “She’s been eyeing you as a son in law ever since we went to San Juan on vacation last month.”
He raised a dark brow at her. “Does that mean I get to enjoy your mama’s amazing tostones and empanadas whenever I want?”
“You know it!” Leila chuckled, happier than she could ever remember being. “She loves you almost as much as I do. You’ll never starve with her around, that’s for sure.”
“I’m not starving now,” he said, pulling away slightly. “In fact, I’ve never felt fuller. Full of love and joy and peace and contentment. And it’s all thanks to you. You and Thomas. Thank you.”
“No.” She traced her fingertips over his lips, her hear near to busting with emotion for this man. “Thank you. Thank for taking us in and for showing us how a real family should be. I love you, Clint.”
“And I love you, Leila.” He kissed her again sweetly then stepped back. “Now, let’s go call your mom.”