Chapter 22

The next week was surprisingly normal. Jack had never left her at night, just like he had promised. He came to the coffee shop every day for his daily dose of caffeine. Sheriff Hardy now had a supply of free coffee for life, as did Agent Lahey. Her house had been cleaned from top to bottom after Jack had woken up early one morning to find her furiously scrubbing the kitchen where David had stood. Jack had called in reinforcements and Lucy and Marc showed up, armed with pizza and cleaning supplies.

Isabella smiled as she saw Connor enter the coffee shop.

“Morning, Connor. The usual?” she asked.

“Please, Isabella. And when you have a moment, we need to talk,” Connor said.

Isabella’s heart clenched in panic. Calm down, Izzy. David’s locked up now. He can’t get to you anymore. “Sure thing. Let me make your coffee and I’ll meet you in my office.”

Connor nodded and went to her office to wait for her. She made his coffee, her mind awhirl with thoughts of why he could be here. But there was no point worrying about it when he was waiting in her office for her.

She grabbed his coffee and her own, and carried them both to her office where Connor had already sat down.

“Here you go,” she said as she set his coffee down on the desk in front of him and moved to her seat behind the desk.

“Thank you,” he said and took a small sip. “I don’t want you to worry so I’ll just get right down to business. The confession you got for us is enough to convict him. We also found his storage unit with other stolen goods in it, so that will help with the conviction as well. David admitted to everything again once he realized there was no way out. He’ll never get out of prison. Ever. You did it, Isabella. Thank you for your help.”

Isabella sat there, shocked. David would be locked up and never be able to go anywhere near her again.

“Do you have any idea how badly I’ve wanted to hear those words? And for how long I’ve waited for them?” she asked.

“You’ll be safe now to live your life however you want, with whoever you want,” Connor said with a small smile.

Isabella smiled widely as the realization dawned on her. “Yes, I will. Thank you, Agent Lahey. Thank you so much.”

“Just doing my job, Miss Montgomery,” he said with a friendly smile.

“Well, anytime you want coffee, you know where to come,” she said.

“I’ll take you up on that. I might be staying for a while as it so happens. My boss is having me investigate something else nearby and I’d hate to leave this coffee shop behind in favor of a big brand,” he said.

“You’ll always be welcomed here,” she said with a smile. “And if you were to clear things up with Jessica, that would just be the icing on the cake.”

“I’m not sure I know what you’re talking about,” Connor evaded.

“No? Well, I’m sure the two of you will work things out in the end,” Isabella said.

Connor shook his head. “Anyway, I just wanted to let you know about David. We might not even need you to testify if all goes well.”

“That’s good news,” Isabella said.

Connor smiled and stood up. “Well, you have a good day, Isabella. Enjoy the nice weather.”

“I will. You should, too,” she said as she stood to walk him to the door.

“Paperwork might not let me,” he said.

“Well, I’ve got an endless supply of coffee with your name on it if you need help with that paperwork. Just let me know,” Isabella said.

“My thanks,” Connor said as he left.

Isabella leaned against the doorframe as she watched him walk away and she saw Jack at the front. She gave him a little wave and he smiled at her. Connor walked over to speak with Jack and she watched them for a moment before she disappeared back into her office, a smile on her face as Jessica joined her for a quick chat.

“Is it contagious?” Connor mused as he looked down into his coffee.

“Is what contagious?” Jack asked, confused.

“Love. First Isabella’s sister, then you and Isabella. I’m just wondering if it’s in the water.”

“Hmm. No, but it might be in the coffee,” Jack suggested with a devilish grin.

Connor glanced up at Jack before he considered his coffee again. “That’s a risk I’ll have to take.”

“It’s well worth it, my friend,” Jack said with a smile and a friendly clap on Connor’s shoulder.

“I’ll take your word for it,” said Connor in a droll voice before he glanced at Jessica leaving Isabella’s office and then left to go work on his paperwork.              

Jack watched as Connor studied Jessica, who took great lengths to avoid looking at Connor. And so it begins, my friend. Enjoy the ride, Jack thought to himself as he took his coffee from the barista behind the counter and walked back to Isabella’s office.

“Morning,” he said as he walked up behind her and dropped a kiss on her cheek.

“Morning,” she whispered as she turned her head to look at him.

“You okay?” he asked.

“Yeah. Just tired still, I think,” she answered.

“From the FBI investigation or other activities?” he asked with a smirk.

Isabella let out a little giggle. “Both, probably. You’re bad for my sleep schedule.”

“You weren’t complaining last night,” he said, the heat thick in his voice as he looked down at her.

“Jack,” she hissed and looked over at the open door to her office where anyone might walk by.

“Fine. I’ll behave,” he said as he held his hand up.

“What did Connor want?” he asked as he sat on the edge of her desk.

She leaned back in her chair and took a deep breath before she let her head drop to the back of the chair. “Can we talk about it later? It’s nothing bad, I promise. I’m just tired of dealing with it and want a break.”

“Sure, Izzy. How about I make dinner tonight? You can just sit down and relax tonight,” he said.

“Until later,” she suggested with a coy look.

“Are you sure you’re up for that?” he asked with a smirk. “I thought I just about ruined you last night.”

“Maybe I have more stamina than you think I do,” she said with a grin.

She watched his eyes grow dark as he inhaled deeply and tried to control himself at what she implied. “Do you, now, kitten? Perhaps we’ll find out tonight then.”

She blushed, her bravado fading slightly in the wake of his suggestive tone and the lust in his eyes. Her only response was to nod.

“Tonight then, kitten. Better rest up,” he said with a smirk before he planted a quick kiss on her lips and sauntered out of her office.

She leaned forward and planted her head on her desk as she tried to control her breathing. All it took was one look from Jack and her breathing grew labored. He was definitely trouble, but he was the kind of trouble she would gladly accept into her life.

He was her kind of trouble and she wouldn’t trade him for anything in the world.