Page 64 of Tough Justice
She sighed and melted further into his embrace. “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be. But can you do one thing for me?”
“Name it.”
“Can you take me out of these damn woods?”
In one swift motion he scooped her into his arms and pressed his mouth to hers. “I’ll take you anywhere you want to go. As long as we can go together. I love you, Suzy. I love you so damn much. I should have told you sooner, but I was an idiot.”
She touched her lips to his. “I love you, too.”
His heart nearly exploded with joy as he carried her out of the woods. She was his and he was hers, and nothing in this world could ever be better than that.
Suzy’s headcontinued to spin at the weirdness of life. Earlier that morning, she’d been convinced her life would soon be over. That the end was in sight and nothing could save her from the man who wanted her dead.
Now, hours later with the sun setting and the town decked out in holiday cheer, she couldn’t imagine ever being happier.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Duke asked, his arm hooked around her waist.
She smiled and sipped her hot chocolate. “I’ve told you over and over again, I’m fine.”
“Yeah,” Heather said. “We’re all fine and happy and want to experience this tree lighting we’ve heard so much about. Right, Mom?”
Dorthy beamed. After her kidnapping, she was left with a few bruises and trauma to unpack, but Chrissy hadn’t been able to hurt the woman who’d always taken such good care of her. “Right. This is all amazing. If this town was like this all year round, I don’t think I’d ever leave.”
“Duke and I would love that,” Suzy said.
“Nope, not happening. Mom can visit any time she wants, but she has to go back to Texas with me. Trust me, after we’re here another week you’ll be ready to be rid of us.”
“Let’s hope the rest of your visit is less eventful,” Duke said.
Suzy snuggled him close as they continued their walk down the sidewalk toward the town square. She silently agreed with Duke but couldn’t fathom a universe that would create any more chaos for them. Chrissy and Carl had done enough of that to last her a lifetime.
“Hey, there’s Lane and Celine with Parker.” Heather waved her arm over her head to gain their attention.
The little family weaved through the growing crowd to reach them.
“How you holding up?” Lane asked.
She peeled herself from Duke long enough to give her brother a hug. “Like I keep telling Duke, I’m fine. Happy to be here with the people I love the most to see one of my favorite things.”
“Me, too,” Lane said. “It’s been too long since I’ve been here for this.”
She could hear the emotion in his voice but didn’t comment. Lane showing up to be a part of the tree lighting meant more to her than she realized. “Did you bring ornaments?”
“We sure did.” Celine held out a golden bull with the wordsBaby’s First Christmasscrawled across it. “This is the start of a beautiful tradition. Heather and Dorthy will have to come back every year.”
“We’d love to.” Dorthy gave her daughter a side hug and pinned her close.
“What about you?” Lane asked Duke. “Doing okay?”
Duke grinned down at Suzy and winked. “Never better, but I’m still shaken from all this shit. I can’t believe Chrissy went through so much trouble to hurt me. And I never in a millionyears would think she’d be the one with a change of heart. Doesn’t mean I’m not happy she’ll be behind bars for a while for the part she played, but without her letting Mom go this whole thing could have ended a lot differently.”
Suzy wrapped her arms around Duke’s middle. “But it didn’t so there’s no reason to waste our time considering things that didn’t happen. I’m just glad Spencer will be okay. I hate that he was injured.”
Lane grunted. “Damn unlucky the way it happened. He’ll be on desk duty until his leg heals. That’ll drive him crazy.”
Dorthy clapped her hands together and gained their attention. “Enough talk about the bad things. For the rest of the night, we’ll put that all behind us and focus on the good. On the community you all have here, and the love that continues to grow. This is a special place. I’m glad my boy found it, and all of you. Especially you, Suzy.”
“I’m glad he found me, too.”
