The car door opened and a man leaned down. “Deputy Chief, I’m Alan Lancore with CPS. We need to take the child into custody.”
Meghan tightened her hold on Georgina. “Can we have just another few moments?”
Lancore nodded. He gestured toward the sedan he’d arrived in. “I’ll be waiting over there.”
Meghan showered kisses on Georgina, causing the little girl to giggle with glee. “You’re going to be okay, sweetie,” she said. “I’ll do everything in my power to make sure we’re together.”
Even if that meant destroying the reputation of Aiden Fitzgerald.
And costing her the chance of having Ryan in her life.
But what choice did she have?
By the time they’d returned to Fitzgerald Bay, the moon had risen and cast silvery shadows over the dunes, creating a picturesque scene of light and dark that Meghan never tired of seeing.
Ryan walked Meghan to the door of her cottage. The quaint little beach house, with its white picket fence and beautiful stonework, sat back off the beach sheltered by gently rolling sand dunes.
The rumble of the ocean waves crashing on the shore echoed the thunderous beating of her heart. Mist blowing in from the water dampened her hair, making her shiver.
“Cold?” Ryan asked, rubbing her arms.
Cold, overwrought and heartsick at having to be away from Georgina. “I miss her already,” she whispered, tears clogging her throat.
He pulled her close. They’d both showered and changed after their ordeal, using the NYPD’s locker rooms. She wore a borrowed tracksuit from a female officer. He wore sweats, a fresh T-shirt and a pair of flip-flops, replacing his ruined shoes. The faint scent of soap clung to his skin. She wrapped her arms around him, aware of every point of contact. She tilted her head back. Their gazes locked.
He dipped his head and captured her lips, in a kiss filled with pent-up fear, hope and words that needed to be said. She reveled in the sensations coursing through her, in the emotions rising to the surface. She never wanted the kiss to end. When he eased away his mouth, she nearly cried out at the loss of contact.
Breathing hard, he touched his forehead to hers. “Wow.”
She smiled. “Yeah. Wow.”
For a long moment they remained still and quiet. Hoping they could talk and figure out what was going on between them, she asked softly, “Would you like to come in? I could make us some tea.”
He drew back but kept his arms snuggly around her. Shadows played across his features, hiding his thoughts. “I need to write up my report. I’m sure the chief will have questions.”
The chief of police. His father. The subject of the article she planned to write. Unease slithered down her spine. As much as she hoped the piece would not only bring justice to her cousin’s memory and advance her career, she didn’t want to hurt Ryan.
“Can’t you do that in the morning?” she asked, hoping to stave off reality for a bit longer. She didn’t want to think about how her article would affect him or his feelings for her.
“I could,” he admitted softly. But she heard the
Her heart pinched at his words. He was right of course. There was no denying the physical attraction was strong between them. But the emotional attachment, the expanding feelings sprouting roots in her heart, made moving in any direction treacherous.
She had no idea how he felt. Maybe this was his way of letting her know he wasn’t interested in pursuing a relationship with her. The thought depressed her nearly as much as being away from Georgina did.
“You’ll keep me apprised of the case?” she asked, not willing to break their bond yet.
“I will,” he promised, seeming in no hurry to let go his hold on her.
“Monday I’ll be hiring an attorney to fight for custody of Georgina,” she told him. “He may need to talk to you.”
“Not a problem. I’ll help you in any way I can.”
A question rose to the forefront of her mind. Her mouth went dry with a fresh kind of fear. “Do you think your family will petition for custody of Georgina?”
His silence battered at her, upping her anxiety tenfold.
Finally, he spoke, his voice low and careful. “I can’t give you a definitive answer until I speak with my dad. I know we’d like to keep this situation ‘in-house’ so to speak.”
Meaning out of the public purview. Apprehension crunched through her tummy. She had to make him understand that wouldn’t be possible. As a journalist she had an obligation to write the truth. And that truth would be instrumental in her custody case. She doubted very much that the court wouldn’t want to know the full extent of Georgina’s heritage. “Ryan-”
“Shh.” He pressed his finger to her lips. A part of her wished it could have been his lips touching hers. “Tomorrow will be soon enough to discuss all this. I’m sure my father will want to have a meeting. I’ll talk to him. Then we’ll go from there.”
“But you need to know-”
His mouth captured hers once again, cutting off her words. She lifted her arms around his neck and kissed him back, giving in to the bundle of emotions bouncing around her head and heart. When they parted, she was breathless and a little light-headed. All thoughts of a story left her.
“My brother Charles and Demi are celebrating their engagement tomorrow night,” he said softly, almost hesitantly. “I was hoping you’d come with me.” He swallowed as if finding his words difficult. “As my date.”
Thrilled by the invitation and the way he was looking at her with such vulnerable expectation, as if he wasn’t sure she’d agree, she smiled wide and nodded. “Of course I’ll go with you. As your date.”
No shadows could hide the pleased expression on his handsome face. She marveled that she’d ever thought him cold. He wore his emotions right out in the open for the world to see. For her to see. The words
But fear of taking that most important step kept her silent.
They’d been through so much together. Shared their hurts and the triumph of rescuing Georgina. Meghan had to be cautious and not jump into anything too quickly. Every decision she made now would affect her bid to gain custody of Georgina. She had to be smart and take things slowly. With a sigh, she slid her arms from around his neck and placed her palms on his chest over his heart. “What’s the dress code for tomorrow?”
“Casual. The celebration will be at Aunt Vanessa’s.”
Vanessa Connolly, Aiden’s sister, ran Connolly’s Catch seafood restaurant with her fisherman husband, Joe Connolly. Meghan had dined there often this past winter for their clam chowder. The best she’d ever had on many a cold blustery day. “Are you sure she won’t mind having me join you last-minute like this?”
He gave a soft laugh. “No. She won’t mind. She took over the role of hostess for the Fitzgerald family celebrations after Mom died. Aunt Vanessa loves to throw a party and the more guests the better.”
“What about the rest of your family?” She tugged on her bottom lip with her teeth. “I wouldn’t want to intrude on their celebration.”
He kissed the tip of her nose. “Don’t worry. You’ll be with me.”
She liked the sound of that.
“Your keys?” he asked.
She handed them over.
“I don’t like the idea of you being alone here,” he said. “I’ll have a patrol come by hourly until Roman is caught.”
Dread rose to rob her of the peace she’d been feeling. “Thank you.”
He opened the door, walked inside and flipped on the lights. The warm glow played across his handsome face as he drew her into his arms once again, tucking her head beneath his chin. She clung to him. After several heartbeats, he let her go. “Call me if you get scared or need anything. I’m just down the beach. I could be here within minutes.”
His offer warmed her heart. “I will. I promise.”
