Total pages in book: 127
Estimated words: 127715 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 639(@200wpm)___ 511(@250wpm)___ 426(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 127715 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 639(@200wpm)___ 511(@250wpm)___ 426(@300wpm)
They lay there, tucked tight, for some time, and Lillian didn’t fade back into sleep.
“If you have troubles getting to sleep, I should have kept us on the couch,” Harry belatedly muttered.
Lillian pressed closer. “Oh no, honey, this is much better.”
She was very right. He was just pleased she agreed.
He still wanted her to go back to sleep.
Harry stroked her back.
And then she told him where her thoughts were, which would be the same as his.
“Who would do that to them?”
Harry buried his face in the top of her hair, wishing he could promise her he’d find who murdered her parents. Wishing he could actually do that so she’d have answers and justice.
But sixteen years had passed. Evidence assuredly had been lost. Witnesses definitely had forgotten. And the ultimate crime didn’t happen on his patch.
In other words, as much as it fucked him, Harry couldn’t make that promise.
What he could say was, “I’ll do everything I can to find out.”
“Are you sure you’re okay being here? Are the dogs okay by themselves for the night?”
“They’re with Rus. Which means they’re with Maddie, and she’s probably feeding them raw filet mignon and they won’t want to come home.”
She laughed softly, it sounded genuine but out of practice, like that evening had lasted ten years and she hadn’t felt mirth during any of them.
They fell silent.
Then Lillian whispered, “I’m so sorry you have to go through this with me.”
“Lilly,” he said sharply.
At his tone, he felt her head move and her gaze on him through the dark.
When he got the last, he stated, “I feel like the luckiest man on the planet that I get to be here for you while you go through this.”
He wasn’t lying.
This was who he was.
And at this very moment in his life, this was where he was made to be.
She pushed her face in his throat and whispered, “My good guy.”
“Damn straight,” he murmured.
Her fingers curled spasmodically against the skin of his back, like she could clutch it.
Then they loosened and pressed tight.
“’Night, Harry,” she said.
“’Night, Lilly,” he replied.
It took a while, but eventually Harry felt her relax in his hold as sleep claimed her.
Then, as it claimed him and he gathered Lillian even closer, he thought he’d never know what kind of woman a black hat would win.
What he knew for certain was the men who wore the white hats got the best ones.
EIGHTEEN
But You Will
Harry
It was unsurprising when Harry woke up the next day, he saw Lillian’s head on his shoulder, and he knew she was already awake.
It had been so long, he gave himself a selfish moment to savor the feel of waking up with a beautiful woman pressed to him in bed. To feel her softness. Smell her scent. Support her weight.
In the night, they’d moved only so he’d fallen to his back and she’d cuddled to his side, but their legs were still tangled, and he had his arm around her, she had hers resting along his stomach.
This was probably why she sensed him awake and tipped her head back.
“Hey,” she said softly.
He turned to his side and into her.
“Hey,” he replied.
“Sleep okay?” she queried.
He nodded.
“Worth me wasting breath to ask if you did?” he inquired.
“Not really,” she mumbled.
“Honey,” he whispered.
“Though, it’s been an enjoyable few hours, watching the sunrise illuminate your chest,” she quipped. “You’re pretty built, Sheriff Moran.”
The position of the sun was a problem.
He’d slept in.
Harry didn’t mention that. “That’s good, since I work hard at it.”
“I can tell.”
He smiled at her.
“You make plans with Ronetta today?” he asked after what he overheard in snippets the evening before.
“Yeah,” she said. “I have a couple of clients coming into town this weekend. Ronnie’s coming with me to do a little tidying at their places. Then Jenna needs help at one of her greenhouses, so we’re going to go over there.”
This was the Lillian he was getting to know. She preferred to be busy.
“Want me over tonight?” he asked.
She gave him a squeeze. “Yes, please.”
“Then I’ll be over tonight.”
Her expression turned thoughtful. “Maybe I should go to you. Even pooches think that Daddy is better than any filet mignon.”
“If you’re cool with it, I can bring them here.”
He knew the answer. She’d already invited them. He just didn’t remind her why they didn’t come.
But he was surprised at how her eyes lit up. It wasn’t her usual blinding radiance, but he’d take it.
“That’d be awesome,” she agreed.
He nestled her closer before he had to say, “I can tell by the position of the sun I’m running late, so I need to get going.”
“It’s good work is only a five-minute walk away, then,” she replied.
This was something interesting to consider, and blindsiding him, Harry found himself considering it.
He didn’t live far from the department. Fifteen minutes, if traffic was good. Twenty if it was tourist season or the equivalent of rush hour in Misted Pines.