Page 106 of Dark ’N’ Deadly

She sighed, never imagining things would have worked out as wonderfully as they had.

After Harley’s attempted bombing, the remaining sovereign citizens involved in the conspiracy had been rounded up. Pritchard, Ruffalo, and the other others had already pleaded guilty. Not even Charles Fenway—the Excelsior Hotel’s assistant manager—had escaped. He’d been pulled over by a state trooper halfway down the New Jersey Turnpike.

Most importantly, there was Eric. She squeezed his hand, and he sent her a quick wink that never failed to send delicious tingles to all the right places of her body.

She and Jesse had officially moved into Eric’s house. They’d compromised on the new carpet she and Eric had once made love on and settled on a rich cream color. As for the rest of the house, there were flowers and crystals and candles everywhere. It was a work in progress. Baby steps. Lots of baby steps.

He rested his big hand on her thigh. “Are you excited?”

“Very.” Actually, her anticipation was soaring. She was finally going to get a dog. Her own dog. Of course, Tiger had to approve. “Just look at all of them!” She clapped her hands in delight as they drove past fenced-in areas with dozens of dogs.

“Hey, get off me!” Jesse shouted.

She twisted in the seat to look behind her and laughed. Tiger was now partially standing on her brother’s lap, his head erect as he took in all the rescue dogs romping in the newly fallen snow blanketing the ground.

Jesse and Tiger were best buds now. Her brother had fully recovered from his appendectomy, and Eric was helping to lay the groundwork for him to pursue his dream. During the week, Jesse attended John Jay College of Criminal Justice and worked weekends at the Canine Haven, a no-kill rescue dog facility in Rockland County, New York.

The drive to the Haven was over an hour, but Jesse’s boss—Katrina Vandenburg—had graciously given him his own accommodations on weekends. On the one hand, she missed her brother terribly for those two days, but there were some definite perks to having Eric all to herself. In fact, she couldn’t wait to get home and take advantage of one perk in particular. In their massive king-size bed, or in the shower, or on their brand-new living room carpet. Again.

They parked next to Dayne’s K-9 SUV. “What’s Dayne doing here?”

Eric shut off the engine and grabbed a small plastic case from the console. “I need to return a piece of equipment I borrowed from him. He caught a case in this area, so we arranged to meet here.”

By the time she’d zipped up her jacket, Dayne was at the passenger door, opening it for her. The sounds of dogs barking—little dogs, big dogs, and every size in between—came at them from all directions, ratcheting her excitement up another notch.

“Hi, Dayne.” She enveloped him in her own version of a bear hug and gave his waist a good squeeze. In the months since the near-bombing, they’d barely seen him, and she missed having the big lug around. He was still the darkly brooding man she’d first met, but there were also fleeting moments when she’d glimpsed another side of him. The side he kept hidden most of the time.

“Hey, Red,” he said, calling her by the same nickname Nick used, then giving her one of his rare smiles.

Something he should do more often.

Since the night at the ATF office when they’d had their heart-to-heart, she’d known he experienced something mysterious and unpleasant in his past, but he’d never expounded on it. Whatever it was.

He released her to shake hands with Eric. “You’re looking good, my man. Cohabitation agrees with you.”

Eric handed Dayne the plastic case, then looped his arm around her shoulder, pulling her close. “That it does.” He dropped a quick kiss on her lips, a cute little thing he was doing more and more often, and she loved it.

“Dayne, you wanna help us pick out a girlfriend for Tiger?” Jesse tightened up Tiger’s leash while the dog pranced in place, clearly eager to investigate all the dog smells. “Katrina and I already picked one out, but Tess and Tiger have final say.”

“Sure. Why not?” From his surly tone, Tess was certain he had a hundred reasons why he didn’t want to go inside. Stoic that he was, he didn’t voice them.

“I can’t wait any longer.” She began dragging Eric to the front door, avoiding a giant mud puddle on the dirt walkway. “Let’s do this.”

When Eric opened the door, the first sight that greeted her was entirely not what she expected.

A stunning, willowy woman in a glittery silver strapless evening gown walked—no, glided—toward them. Draped around her neck and dangling from her ears were the most beautiful jewels she’d ever seen. Diamonds. A symbol of inner peace, strength and courage. Not exactly the rose quartz she preferred, but to each her own.

“You must be Tess.” The woman extended her hand. “I’m Katrina Vandenberg. Jesse’s told me so much about you. I feel as if I know you already, but it’s nice to finally meet in person.”

“My pleasure.” Tess couldn’t stop staring at Katrina’s eyes. Are they…amethyst? She had to be wearing colored contacts. No one’s eyes looked that way naturally. “Thank you so much for giving Jesse this incredible opportunity.”

“He’s a doll.” When Katrina smiled at her brother, he blushed.

Beside Jesse, Dayne’s eyes narrowed to slits, and there was no mistaking the disdain in his eyes.

What is that about? Was she missing something?

“Good to see you again.” Eric shook hands with Katrina.