Page 46 of K-9 Prime Target

“All right.” She swallowed past a knot of emotion. “That sounds good.”

She thought she would have time to change clothes and maybe straighten the house before Liam arrived, but Sky wanted to play and before she knew it, the doorbell was ringing.

She checked the peephole and found Liam on the doorstep, arms full of groceries, Angel beside him. “Here, take this,” he said, thrusting a bottle of wine at her as soon as she opened the door. “I don’t want to drop it.”

He followed her into the kitchen, the dogs trotting alongside them. He began laying out his purchases on her counter. “When did you have time to learn to cook?” she asked.

“I have a little down time between assignments, and I like to eat.” He looked up and concern deepened the lines at the corners of his eyes. “Has something else happened? You look upset.”

“I’m just tired,” she said. “I’ll feel better after a shower.”

“Go. I’ll bring you the wine when you’re ready.”

When she emerged from the steamy bathroom, dressed in her fluffiest fleece lounge set, Liam met her with a glass of wine and a kiss. “Feeling better?” he asked.

“Some.” She tried to force a smile, but couldn’t manage it.

“What is it?” he asked. “What’s bothering you?”

“Doug is still insisting I don’t have anything to worry about and that Nicholson is harmless.” She sipped the wine and closed her eyes, savoring the flavor. “This is just what I needed.”

“I turned in the video and still shots for the marketing campaign this afternoon,” he said.

“So your work here is done.” She had to force the words out. Did that mean he would be leaving?

“The photography assignment is complete, but I plan to stay around a while longer. If you don’t object.”

“Of course I don’t object.” She took another sip of wine. “Where will you stay?”

“I’ll find something. I want to help you figure out how to put an end to this harassment.”

“How are you going to do that?” she asked.

“I’m not sure, but I’m determined to think of something.”

She set the wine aside and wrapped her arms around him. “I don’t want to talk about any of that right now,” she said. “I just want to enjoy us being together.”

“That sounds like an excellent idea.”

Dinner was delicious, then they moved to the sofa to enjoy one of her favorite comedies. They finished the bottle of wine, then headed to the bedroom to make love. By the time they shut out the lights, Nina was feeling much more relaxed and optimistic. Having Liam here with her again was wonderful—even better than she remembered it being before. But she was afraid to revel in her happiness, knowing how easily it could be destroyed.

* * *

It snowed all night Friday, which meant an early callout for Nina Saturday morning. She left while it was still dark, leaving Liam asleep, Angel curled beside him. Last night they had agreed he would stay with her for the time being. She felt safer with him near, and she genuinely enjoyed his company.

The serious work of launching explosives to clear avalanche paths took all her focus, and the rest of Saturday flew by, with one call for assistance after another. First was a lost child whose parents had skied too far ahead of her. She was quickly reunited with the frantic mom and dad. A twisted knee, broken wrist and broken nose from falls on the ski runs followed, then a more serious head injury that required a helicopter transport from the resort to a Denver hospital.

Nina and Sky visited the ski school kids, then posed for pictures and gave out trading cards in the village plaza as guests trickled back to their cars or hotel rooms at the end of the day. Nicholson didn’t show himself, and no more pictures or notes appeared to taunt her.

Sunday she was off, and she and Liam stayed in, watching TV, reading, making love and eating too much junk food. The day was blissful, one in which she didn’t have to think about the outside world, the past or the future. She allowed herself to sink into the present moment with a man she had quickly fallen back in love with.

Monday was spent preparing for the Mardi Gras celebrations, planning out the parade route and discussing how to best distribute patrol members across the resort to provide the quickest response in case of emergencies.

And then it was Mardi Gras. “I’ve been really looking forward to today,” Nina said as she dressed Tuesday morning. Liam was up and getting ready also.

“Is Mardi Gras usually a big deal at the resort?” he asked.

“This is a first, though I think it could become an annual tradition.” She tossed him a handful of bright beaded necklaces. “Put these on so you’ll fit in,” she said.