Two police cars raced up the straight road and blocked Mandy’s car. Lights flashed as Graham and Nate, another deputy, opened their doors, squatted down behind them, and pointed their weapons.
“Clear!” I shouted. I held up the gun in my hand so they could see it as they approached.
Graham took the weapon from me as Nate moved to stand at the front bumper, gun lowered but in his hand as he focused on Mandy.
I stalked around the car and pulled her out. She barely weighed anything, her arm all skin and bones beneath my grip. She was practically feral as she clawed and resisted.
Graham joined me and helped me restrain her arms behind her back so he could cuff her. Once done, I handed her off.
“Sarah!” I shouted, spinning around toward my SUV. It was movement to my right that had me turning again. Sarah pushed herself up from the ditch and ran over. I pulled her close, hugged her fiercely.
Thank fuck she was fine. My heart was hammering.
She held something up, and I studied it. Frowned. “Is that—”
“Her starter fuse?” she asked, the corner of her mouth turning up. She tipped her head toward Mandy’s car. “It was all I could do to help.”
“Show me later where that is on a car, yeah?” I asked, then kissed her soundly.
“What do you want me to do with her, Chief?” Graham asked, holding a now sobbing Mandy.
“Book her. The list will include everything from reckless driving to attempted murder.”
“On it,” Graham replied, pushing Mandy toward his squad car. Nate followed.
I looked down at Sarah. “You okay?”
She nodded, tucked her hair back behind her ear. Her palms were dirty and so were her jeans at the knees. “You?”
I ran a hand over my face, tried to calm down. “Fuck. That was a mess. Now you’ve met Mandy,” I said, then laughed, but there was no humor in it. “She’s out of the picture for good. It’s over.”
“Good. Because we’ve got plans.” She hooked her hand behind my neck and kissed the heck out of me. “I think her car’s gonna need a tow. Know someone?” she asked when she finally pulled her lips from mine.
18
SARAH
In the end my father was called to tow Mandy’s car. He was the shop on record with the department. For now. Based on the way Huck wasn’t wild about my dad, that would probably change, even if I didn’t set up my own business. All I knew was that I hadn’t been the one to tow it. I wasn’t sure if Roy had been scraped from the bottom of a liquor bottle, but I didn’t care.
Huck and I had been long gone from the scene by then and settled at the station. I’d had to write up my statement about what had happened, but Alice had offered to come and collect me when I’d finished. I’d refused, even though Huck had reports of his own and had to book Mandy into custody. Being with Huck, even in the same building, was important, although I’d gone to the deli down the street to get sandwiches for everyone.
We finally left around eight and stopped at my house—as originally planned—to get a few of my things before heading back to the ranch. Claire hadn’t run out to meet us as she had earlier, but when we went inside, we found her coming down the steps with damp hair and pale blue pajamas.
“Daddy!” she squealed, then launched herself off the third step and into his arms.
I panicked for a split second, sticking my arms out to catch her, but it was obviously a move they did often because he squeezed her close and tickled her. He made growly bear sounds and she giggled.
“You’re back,” she said to me once Huck stopped winding her up.
“I am. Is that okay?” I asked, setting my overnight bag down.
She nodded vigorously. “You can sleep with Daddy in his room. That’s what mommies do. My friend Lizzie’s mommy and daddy share a bed, and she says they make funny noises in it.”
I could feel my cheeks heat, and I glanced up at Alice, who’d followed Claire down the stairs but at a slower pace. By the smile on her face, she was amused. As Huck had said, he was thirty-two years old, but still… I didn’t want to be disrespectful since this was her house, too.
“I bathed and brushed and it’s books time. Will you read to me, Sarah?”
My heart swelled, and I couldn’t help but smile. Offering a glance at Huck, I saw the satisfaction I felt in his gaze. “I think Daddy needs to read, too.”
She bounced in Huck’s arms. “Yes!”
Huck set Claire down. “Go pick out two books, and we’ll be right there.”
She dashed up the stairs.
“I heard what happened,” Alice said, her smile slipping.
“It’s over,” Huck told her.
She nodded once.
“It’s finally time for you two to be together. I couldn’t be more pleased,” she said. “I’ll be in my room watching my show… in case you want to make any funny noises.”
I stared at her openmouthed as she walked off. “Did she just wink?”
Huck laughed. “She’s been our champion all this time.”
“Daddy!” Claire shouted.
He looked to me and rolled his eyes, but his expression screamed happiness instead of frustration. “We each read one book. Don’t let her sucker you into more. She’s smart and will try.” He spoke as if the five-year-old was a cunning legal expert. After I nodded in—supposed—understanding, he leaned in and kissed me. “Then you’re mine. All mine.”
Thirty minutes later Huck closed his bedroom door behind us. He’d been right. Claire had tried several different negotiation strategies to extend her reading time, which impressed me. I had a feeling she’d gotten away with it in the past, but tonight Huck wasn’t having it.
He was having me, and hopefully very soon.
Seeing him snuggled up in a single bed with Claire, reading a book
