Page 96 of Protect My Heart

She took both of his hands in hers. Her warm eyes softened a fraction before her forehead crinkled and the you’re-a-dumbass look crossed her face. “Because the people I love are here. Yes, my overprotective, overbearing family drives me nuts, but I don’t want to live a thousand miles away anymore.”

“So, for your family?”

“It seems I have a habit of loving overprotective and overbearing people. And in your case, crotchety and a little dense.”

His heart sang with joy at her teasing. He pulled his hands away. “I’m offended.”

“Really?” She raised the mug to her lips. “I was planning a trip for you and I to visit my friend and get away for a while after all that happened. But now, I think I should change our plans and book a two-week Caribbean cruise.”

His gaze landed on the mug. Her better half. Pulling her out of her chair, he settled her onto his good knee. “I think you should book the trip to visit your friend. I’d like to meet her. Besides, the cruise would make a perfect honeymoon.”

She choked on her coffee.

Jim patted her back. “Breathe.”

Her beautiful brown eyes blinked once, twice, then the mist of tears coated them. “Are you asking me to…? Do you want to…”

“Marry me?” The frogs in his stomach started an Irish jig as he waited for what seemed like hours. Okay, it was only seconds, but Jim couldn’t breathe until the word he longed to hear crossed her lips and floated to his ears.

“Yes.” It was barely a whisper.

The following bark of laughter startled him. She threw her arms around him and kissed him. The play of lips and tongues gave way to roaming hands and the next thing he knew their shirts were on the floor.

“You will be my wife?” At her nod, he laughed then. “Good. I’d hate to see you have to return the mug.”

“Oh, I’m definitely keeping it. I think we should add to the collection. Maybe a new mug for each child?”

Jim liked the sound of that.

Epilogue

On a sunny March day, Patrick O’Roarke was finally laid to rest. Multicolored light filtered through the stained glass windows of St. Mathias Catholic Church. Jim watched the dust motes float through the air just like when he was a kid. But today, instead of sitting next to his mother, he sat by Doc. Her long slender fingers wrapped around his. His thumb rubbed her bare fourth finger. It wouldn’t be naked for long. The jeweler had called that morning to let him know the one-carat diamond ring was sized and ready for pick up.

His thumb made one more pass before he tucked it inside their joined hands. Soon, but not today. Today was for closure. In the last few weeks, Doc had come to terms with the man Patty O’Roarke was. His strengths and his flaws. And she loved him for all the tangled mess that was her father.

He felt her stiffen. His gaze followed hers to the side door of the church.

Her breath hitched. “What is he doing here?”

Davis Sampson stood in shadow, a guard at his side.

“Your doctor friend recommended letting him say goodbye.” Jim slid an arm around her. “If it bothers you, I can have him removed.”

She put a hand on his knee. “No. I’m surprised. That’s all.”

Amy Larson slid into the pew behind them. “Want me to have him removed? Just say the word.”

Jim shook his head, and she relaxed back into her seat. Well, as relaxed as any cop could be in a crowd. Amy had become close friends with Doc over the last month. He’d be lying if he didn’t admit that the two made his nerves jump when they started conspiring. Jim and Doc were taking a paint and wine class with a group, CJ and Lorna included. The women were always planning one thing or another. Maybe the men should plan the next event. Axe throwing sounded fun.

Jim didn’t really care, as long as Doc was happy, he was too.

The priest finished his blessings, and the crowd moved to the social hall for refreshments. That was what they called it. Salads and ham sandwiches provided by the church ladies. Jim’s mom had been making bars for funerals for as long as he could remember. She was in the kitchen now, orchestrating the meal. CJ and Lorna hugged Doc as they stood near the front of the room.

When lunch was over and the crowd dispersed, CJ and Jim crossed the parking lot to retrieve the cars.

Jim’s eyes scanned the parking lot.

“Chief Martin just called me.” CJ clicked the key fob as they closed in on his car. “The toxicology report isn’t in yet, but Peterson is leaning toward natural causes.”