Page 20

Chapter 20

Brenna opened her eyes and blinked. Where was she? Sterile white walls stared back at her, relieved only by two metal-framed prints of pastel gardens and a television mounted in the upper corner of the room.

Her throat felt raw and scratchy, and her lungs were tight. Other than that, she was just glad to be alive.

The pungent smell of alcohol and disinfectant permeated the air, stirring memories of her long stay in the burn ward when she’d undergone skin grafting at ten years old. She’d avoided hospitals since and didn’t want to stay any longer than she had to, now. Tossing the sheet aside, she sat up.

“About time you woke up.” Alice rose from the chair beside the bed and leaned over to kiss her cheek. “I thought you’d sleep the day away.”

“Who’s watching the kids and Mom?” Brenna asked.

“You’ll never believe it. That nice FBI agent, Paul Fletcher, charmed Mom into eating carrots at the hotel. The kids think he hung the moon.”

Events of the previous night flooded into Brenna’s mind, and her heart squeezed so tightly in her chest she almost doubled over. She reached out and grabbed her sister’s hand. “I’m sorry, Alice.”

“Sorry for what?” Her sister smiled weakly down at her, tears trailing down her cheek onto their joined hands. “It wasn’t your fault Stan killed all those women.”

“No, I’m sorry I was right about him.” She squeezed her sister’s hand.

“I should’ve known something wasn’t right. I should’ve been able to see through him.” Alice pulled her fingers loose and buried her face in her hands. “Those women shouldn’t have died.”

“As you just told me, it’s not your fault Stan killed them.” Brenna shivered, blaming it on the cool gust of air rushing in through the gaps in the back of her hospital gown. “He fooled a lot of people, including those he killed.”

Alice glanced up, her pretty face ravaged with tears and guilt. “I lived with him!” She hunched over in her chair, her shoulders shaking with her sobs. “How do I tell the children?”

Brenna slid from the bed, clutching the gown at the back to avoid mooning anyone walking in. Kneeling beside her sister, she took her into her arms. “You don’t.”

“I can’t live here anymore. I couldn’t stand for people to stare and point fingers at the woman who was so stupid. The woman who slept with that horrible, calculating, murdering son of a bi?—”

“You can come to Minneapolis with me, Alice. You, Mom and the boys.” Brenna lifted her sister’s chin and pushed the shiny blond hairs off her tear-stained cheeks.

“Thanks, Brenna.” She hugged her close, burying her face against the thin hospital gown. “I can’t believe I almost lost you.”

“I’m still here.” Brenna stroked her sister’s hair. “I’m so glad it’s over and that you and the boys are okay. We’re family, and we’ll stick together.” Dreams of being with Nick drifted farther out of reach, and her heart ached. Not that he’d ever said anything about a long-term relationship. Her family needed her. Nick didn’t.

Brenna stroked her sister’s hair. Her little bit of smoke inhalation and a bump on the head were nothing compared to what her sister had to recover from. She’d need her now more than ever. Brenna planned to be there for her.

“The police told me Stan’s mother’s house burned to the ground with him in it.” Alice’s voice was barely a whisper.

Brenna leaned closer to hear.

“They said he started the fire to kill you.”

“Yeah, he did.” Brenna forced a laugh. “Seems he did carry a grudge about the time I told you not to marry him.”

“I never told you, but it was Stan that opened the barn door back when we were kids and you were locked inside, but only after I saw him there. I always thought he saved you from that fire. Until now.” Alice stared up at her. “He might’ve been holding it closed. Brenna, that barn didn’t have a lock on the outside.”

Brenna squeezed her eyes shut to keep from showing her sister the disgust and loathing she felt for Stan. When she opened them, she smiled down at Alice. “It doesn’t matter. It’s over, and Stan’s gone.” And it really didn’t matter anymore. She was free of him, the fire and the fear of losing another victim to his insanity.

Alice continued, “Not only is the house burned, but the flood waters also rose and took the rest.”

As if God had cleansed the Earth of Stanley Klaus.

The two women sat in silence, deep in their own thoughts. After a few minutes, Alice sat up straight and gave a half-laugh. “Enough crying. I have two boys to care for, and I’m feeling the need for their hugs. I should go, but I promised Nick I’d stay until he got back.”

“Don’t worry about me. I’m fine.” She felt even better knowing Nick wanted someone to be with her when she woke. Brenna chose to think it meant something, but she didn’t want to see him when she looked like a train wreck.

“I’m going to shower and see about getting discharged. I’m sure there are others who need this bed more. Besides, I need to get back to work.” And Nick.

Alice shook her head. “You amaze me.”

“Why?” Brenna searched the room for clothing, finding a neat stack of jeans, a T-shirt and a jacket in the corner.

“You never stop to think about yourself. You’re always on the job or thinking of other people. That’s why everyone loves you so much.” Alice hugged her. “I need to get back to the kids. I’m not sure how long Paul can handle them.”

“I’m sure he’s fine. The boys are so well-behaved.”

Alice’s brow furrowed. “They had to be. Stan would accept no less.”

Brenna hugged her sister. “I’m so sorry. I was so busy with my own life I had no idea you weren’t happy.”

Alice hugged her back. “Thankfully, we have a chance to start over. I’m going to make the best of it, and the boys will get to be boys.”

While Alice hunted down the doctor, Brenna dressed in the clothes Alice had brought for her.

With discharge papers in hand, Brenna left the hospital with her sister, eager to get back to the hotel for a shower and then go to the station and Nick.

When Paul returned to the station from helping move Alice, her mother and kids to the shelter in nearby Roanoke, he gave Nick the news that Brenna had checked out of the hospital and gone to the hotel. Nick wrapped up the reports he’d written and hit the road.

The river had crested during the night, sweeping away many homes along the banks, but thanks to the evacuation plan, no lives had been lost.

With the evacuation complete, there was little traffic on the streets, and it didn’t take him long to reach the hotel on the dry side of the city.

All the way up the stairs, he tried to think of what he’d say to Brenna and came up blank. His chaotic thoughts kept replaying the scene in the burning house and the emptiness he’d felt when he’d thought he’d lost her. Now that the future loomed ahead of him, what did he have to offer this amazing woman?

As Nick entered the suite, Brenna stepped out of the bathroom, her hair clean and dry and her face clear of all the black soot from the previous evening. Everything Nick wanted to say rose in his throat to strangle him.

Without uttering a sound, he strode across the room and pulled her into his arms, crushing her to him. He stood for a long moment inhaling the fresh scent of her shampoo and feeling the beat of her heart against his. When he thought he had his emotions under control, he stepped back and looked down into her eyes. “I love you, Special Agent Jensen.”

Her eyes misted, and she smiled up at him. “And I love you, Agent Tarver.” Then she hiked her fists onto her hips. “So, what are we going to do about it?”

He sighed and shook his head. “I don’t have anything to offer you.”

“You just gave me everything I ever wanted.” She placed a hand over his chest. “You gave me your heart.”

“You’ve had that from the first time I saw you biting your lip.” He leaned close and pressed a kiss to that lip.

When he backed away, she pulled the lip between her teeth. “My sister needs me now. She’s moving to Minneapolis with me.”

“Minneapolis?”

She gave him a weak smile and nodded. “They called a few minutes ago. I got the job.”

Clasping her hand in his, he pulled her close. “Then I guess I’ll get a transfer to Minneapolis.” Somehow, he’d make it happen.

“Are you sure?” Her eyes sparkled with hope.

“Never more certain in my life,” he said softly. “I want to be with you.”

“And I want to be with you.” She snuggled closer, smoothing her fingers over his shirt.

“Will you come with me to Virginia to meet my mother and brothers?” he asked.

Brenna smiled. “I’d love to.”

“I’ll be on the road a lot,” he said against her hair. “Can you handle that?”

“I’m in the same business. Can you handle me being away?” She stared up into his eyes. “Nick, I’m not your ex-wife. I understand the nature of your job. I’ll go into this with my eyes open and my expectations clear.” She dipped her head. “But what about you? I’ll never be beautiful.”

“You’ll always be beautiful to me, Brenna. Even when we’re old and gray, rocking on our front porch.” He tipped her face up to him and kissed her full on the lips until they both broke away, breathless. “I’ll always love you.”

“Even with the lights on?” she whispered against his lips.

“Especially with the lights on. I love the way you care about your job and the way you care what happens to people. I love you, Brenna, no matter what you look like.”

“Then what are we waiting for?” Her hands laced around the back of his neck, and she pulled his face down to hers.

Nick had come home to the woman for him.