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“Get back!” the guy snapped.
Raven watched as Brittany frowned at the man. Suddenly, her hip swung out to the side and she plastered her other hand on the other side of her waist. “What’s going on, Mike? Why are we standing around at the post office? I’m hungry. Don’t you want some pancakes? There’s a pancake place just down the street.”
“No! I don’t want pancakes, you idiot! I’m fixing a problem. Now, if you’d just walk away, I can finish this and then I’ll get you some damn pancakes!”
Brittany shrugged and stepped back. Raven watched as Mike turned so his back was to her. “Where are you? You’re late and I won’t accept tardiness.”
“I’m here,” Raven replied in a calm tone. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Brock swivel towards her, as if surprised.
But Raven didn’t have time to figure out why Brock was so shocked. Because Mike turned to look directly at her. She watched as he reached behind him. Then in slow motion, she saw the mysterious nutcase pull a gun out from his waistband and point it at her.
Raven was already moving, pulling Tim down even as he was pulling her head onto his lap. She felt something bump the back of her head, but didn’t think anything of it. She wasn’t hurt. Still, she waited for the sound of a gunshot. When nothing happened, she lifted her head an inch. Tim did the same and they both stayed well below the window level, keeping their heads protected from stray bullets.
But when there still were no gunshots, they finally peeked out.
“Woah!” she whispered, then laughed, sitting up higher in the passenger seat. She felt Tim’s hand still on her back, ready to pull her back down to safety if necessary. But instead they watched a cute, denim clad butt sitting on top of a squirming man as Agent Brittany Andrews slapped handcuffs on him.
“I’ll be damned!” Tim muttered.
Raven laughed again, slapping a hand over her mouth. “That’s Brittany and she’s amazing! She’d just started on the team when I was leaving, but I got to know her a little. She’s tougher than she looks.”
“Apparently,” Tim replied, still watching as Brittney hefted the strange man to his feet, still spewing expletives.
Now that the danger had passed, Raven stepped out, but waited until Tim came around the car. Immediately, he wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her in close. She buried her face against his chest for a moment and took a deep breath. They were alive and the guy who had been after her was in custody. It was over.
“Are you okay?” Brock demanded, his eyebrows furrowed as he glared at her.
“I’m fine,” she called back to him, squeezing Tim’s waist. He reciprocated the gesture, then wrapped his other arm around her. “You okay?”
Tim blinked down at her, then shook his head. “Not yet.” He glanced around, noting more police cars arriving. “But if you would allow me to shower, then take you shopping for an engagement ring, I think I might recover.”
She laughed at that. “I think that’s an outstanding plan.” She nodded towards the others. “I don’t think that they need me anymore. They seem to have that guy well in hand.” In fact, the man was being stuffed into the back of a police car as she spoke.
“It’s over,” she whispered to Tim.
He kissed the top of her head and her heart ached with love for him. “Thank you for being here for me.”
“Every time,” he vowed. “All the time!”
She looked up at him and smiled, hoping that he understood how important those words were to her. “How about if we pick up a pregnancy test after the engagement ring?”
Obviously, Tim had forgotten about that little issue because his eyes widened. Then a slow, satisfied grin formed. He nudged his glasses higher on his nose as he nodded. “That sounds perfect.” But he glanced down at himself. “But definitely a shower first!”
Epilogue
For security purposes, the ceremony was very small. Tim and Raven joined hands in a tiny church way out in the country. Sheik Zahir bin Aristi of Sidrina walked her down the aisle and Raven beamed at Matteo, Levi, and Sean as they stood by Tim’s side, acting as groomsmen. Clarissa, Kennedi, and Bailey were already standing at the front, dressed in soft yellow gowns and Bailey’s newborn infant was being supervised by a two year old Declan with a bodyguard right next to him.
Raven stood in front of Tim, wondering how all of this had come about. But when the officiant said, “Do you take…” Raven stopped wondering and smiled. “I do,” she whispered, emotions causing her voice to crack.
When it was Tim’s turn, he was much more eloquent and voiced a very confident, “I do,” when the question was put to him.
And then it was over! The tiny church, which had been built before the Civil War and was decked out with flowers, echoed with the cheers and applause as Raven and Tim sealed their vows with a kiss.
It was Declan who stood up and glared at everyone, his eyebrows drawn down in a perfect imitation of his father’s scowl. “Shhh!” he ordered everyone, his tiny finger covering his mouth. “Brynn is still sleeping!”
The crowd immediately quieted and everyone offered softly spoken congratulations.
Sean chuckled and walked over to his son, lifting him into his arms. Immediately, Declan wrapped one arm around his father’s shoulder while still looking down at the sleeping infant.
