Page 60 of Constant Risk
Tanner would be right there standing between her and whatever danger thought it could get to her. So if Jeter had something planned, he should be aware of that.
Tanner had already put a text into Whitaker. He was going to hang out with Bree at the station in a few hours, so Tanner could go to Parkland Hospital. He wasn’t trying to keep his meeting with Jeter a secret, but neither did he want Bree to feel like she needed to come with him.
He closed the ring box and slipped it back into his jacket pocket. He knew he wasn’t going to ask her to marry him in a hotel in the middle of Dallas when they were both exhausted.
He lay back down on the bed beside her. She didn’t stir as he pulled her into his arms, just fit against him the way their bodies had learned to do instinctively.
As soon as he got her back onto the ranch, he’d be down on one knee.
A few hours later Tanner awoke to Bree’s bright smile. After spending an hour giving them both even more reason to smile, they packed up and headed to the station.
Bree was excited to be going home, but was more than happy to make sure Penelope understood the details of what she’d done to help stop the killers. Detailed reports would help make prosecuting the case that much easier.
Penelope and Leon were both looking a lot more relaxed, although Tanner doubted either of them had gotten a chance for much rest yet. But just knowing the worst was over was enough for now.
Whitaker walked up to shake Tanner’s hand as he entered control central—now being returned to just a normal set of conference rooms—to a scattering of applause for Bree, which did nothing but make her embarrassed.
Jeremy was back and immediately had questions for Bree. She was obviously glad to have someone who understood and could appreciate what she’d done with the case, since she immediately turned and walked to the terminal with Jeremy without a word to Tanner or Whitaker.
Both men let out a chuckle. The behavior was so typically Bree that neither of them could be offended. The woman had a one-track mind. That had just saved four people’s lives, so no point getting bent out of shape about it now.
“I called Sheriff Duggan and let her know we’d be on our way home today. Thankfully all has been quiet on the home front,” Tanner said to Whitaker. “I know you like this sort of big-cityaction, but I think I’ll stick with Risk Peak and our small-town stuff.”
The other man clasped him on the shoulder. “Me too, brother. I’m glad we could help out here, but I think I’ll stick with small town too. Although, we’ve had our share of action over the last few months.”
That was the damn truth. “Hopefully we can have some excitement of a different type from here on out.”
Whitaker raised an eyebrow. “Oh, yeah? Got something in mind?”
Tanner grinned. “Seems like wedding planning could be dangerous enough. I just need to get that woman home and out of danger long enough to ask her.”
“A feat in and of itself.” He chuckled and held out his hand to shake. “Congratulations. I knew you two were perfect for each other from the moment I tried to arrest you both for murder.”
Now Tanner chuckled. “I’m just glad that didn’t stick. Thank you for keeping an eye on Bree today. I just want to double-check on the Jeter situation myself while I’m in town.”
“Are you sure you don’t want me to come with you? I think it would take more guts than even Jeter has to try to get to Bree in the middle of a police station.”
Tanner shook his head. “But if anyone would try, it’s him. I won’t take a chance with her safety. You’re the only one I can trust to take this threat seriously. Until we know for sure Jeter is firmly locked away in prison, I consider him an outright threat to Bree.”
“I’ll be sure she’s safe. But you watch your back too. Jeter is not just a danger to her.”
Tanner would much rather him be a target than Bree, but he knew the truth. Bree was Jeter’s obsession. Especially now after she’d put him in prison. Tanner was of no interest to the other man.
Bree was still deep in conversation with Jeremy, so Tanner said his goodbyes to Whitaker and headed to the hospital.
He wasn’t able to get any information about Jeter at the hospital front desk, even after showing his badge. That was actually a good thing. It meant someone was doing their job right. Finally, Tanner asked for a representative from the US Marshals, the law enforcement group in charge of transferring prisoners, to meet him there at the front desk. He had to wait nearly fifteen minutes before a man in his early fifties, hair cut short, with a hard, cynical look in his dark eyes finally approached him.
“You the fellow looking for information about Michael Jeter?” the man asked, fingers never far from the holster at his waist.
Tanner gave him a brief nod and slowly reached for his badge. “I’m Deputy Captain Tanner Dempsey out of Grand County, Colorado.”
The man’s eyes narrowed slightly. “You’re one of the arresting officers in the Jeter case.”
Tanner nodded. “That’s right. I’m a little surprised you know that.”
“When I found out it was Michael Jeter my men and I were responsible for guarding, I made it my business to know. I’m Aaron Pinfield.” The man held out his hand and Tanner shook it. “You’re a long way from home, Deputy Dempsey.”
“Tanner, please. I was in town with my friend Bree Daniels, consulting on a completely separate case.”
