Page 38 of The Maverick

She nodded. “I’m fine. Truly. With you here, I’ve never been better. Greg is gone. You saved my life…and yours. He would have killed you and then me.”

Nick nodded. “All I care about it that you are safe.”

Bruce walked up to them. “The DA will have to clear you completely and it will take a couple of weeks for the tests to all come back. I’ll take you back to the house so you can get your car.”

“Thank you.” Nick placed his arms around Rachel and hugged her to him. He turned to Bruce. “We’d still like for you to come out to the ranch. Bring Jenny and the kids and your swimsuits. We’ll make a day of it. You know the kids will love it. But maybe we should wait until this is cleared up, say in three weeks. Do you think the investigation will be completed by that time? I don’t want to give anyone a reason to think we’re being given preferential treatment.”

“It should be. It will take a couple of weeks to get all the test results back. The autopsy will be complete and the GSR results will be in. Those things, along with your statements, should be enough for the DA to clear the case. You two go home. Hug your children. Make love. Whatever you want to do to forget this entire episode.”

Nick guided her to the SUV and got her buckled in the middle of the back seat.

He slid beside her and buckled up before placing an arm around her shoulders and letting her lean against him. Nick kissed her forehead. “Relax, sweetheart. You’re safe now, forever.”And forever in my arms, if I can convince you.

Reggie was already behind the wheel and drove them back to the ranch without breaking the speed limit anywhere.

Nick checked Rachel’s face in the overhead light. “You’ll have some nasty bruises tomorrow, they’re already starting to show. Do I need to check the rest of you when we get home?”

“No, except for my forearms when I was blocking his fist, I don’t think he hurt me anywhere else.”

“Okay, just let me hold you. If he wasn’t already dead, I’d kill him again for what he did to you.”

“Don’t think about that. Just hold me.”

Nick held Rachel the entire way and had never felt more content. He hoped she felt the same way.

CHAPTER10

Rachel had seen nothing more wonderful than the ranch when it came into view. She sat straighter, but Nick’s arm stayed around her shoulders and she didn’t want to dislodge it. She was safe, a feeling she hadn’t felt for a very long time.

All she wanted to do now was to hug Jake and tell him the nightmare was over. She couldn’t say it that way, but she would emphasize his father couldn’t hurt them anymore. That he was gone and wouldn’t come back. She closed her eyes. How do you tell a child that his father is dead, killed in self-defense, by the man you love?

Reggie pulled into the garage. After he turned off the SUV, he exited and opened Nick’s door.

Nick cupped her jaw with one hand and turned her to face him. “Are you ready to get out? We can stay here as long as you need.”

She turned her head and kissed his palm. “Thank you for today, for rescuing me in more ways than one. You’ve freed me, Nick. Something I haven’t been since before I married Greg. You kept me safe and Jake, too. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you.”

He cradled her face with both hands, then lowered his head to hers before whispering, “Your gratitude is enough. It’s always been enough, Rach. Always.” He closed the distance to her lips and kissed her, pressing his tongue against hers and taking everything she offered.

When they broke apart, she rested her cheek against his chest and felt a twinge of pain from where Greg had hit her. His heartbeat was as wild as hers. The sound soothed her for some reason.

Nick wrapped his arms around her and held her, just held her.

He couldn’t have done anything more perfectly. He didn’t push her faster than she needed; yet, he was there. Nick was always there—if not in person, then in her heart and her dreams. She shifted her gaze up to his. He looked down at her...seemingly content. Was the same expression on her face, in her eyes? Rachel pulled back.

He let her.

“I’m ready. Let’s go see our kids. Hopefully, they had a good time while we were gone.”

Nick chuckled. He’d escorted her through the garage and into the kitchen.

The children in question were sitting at the island, chowing down on ice cream sundaes. In between bites, they were regaling Sarah with the events at school that day.

“Mommy!” Jake jumped off his stool and ran to his mother, hugging her tightly.

She leaned over, kissed the top of his head and hugged him back. Then she straightened. “How was your day? It sounds like you were telling Sarah what a good day you had.”

He nodded, then he looked up. “Did my father do that?” He pointed at her face.