Chapter Twenty-one

After pouring batter onto the Belgian waffle iron, Becca lowered the top and turned her attention to her laptop. Threat gone or not, the nightmares continued. Rather than disturb Connor this morning, she came downstairs to start breakfast after waking up from the most recent one. Eventually they would stop.

She hoped.

She hadn’t had a decent night’s sleep since before the break-in.

Opening her preferred internet browser, she typed in the address for her favorite news site. As expected, articles pertaining to Kassidy’s arrest had been everywhere for the past few days. A story about a top scientist stealing research intended for military use was just too good for the press to ignore. The media would keep running articles until they got every dime they could from the story too.

Becca now had a better understanding of what Connor and his family must have gone through following the arrest and prosecution of his father. And each time she saw her stepsister’s picture on a news site, she thought of Robert.

She’d talked to both her stepfather and mom following Kassidy’s arrest. He’d been in complete denial despite the evidence against Kassidy, evidence that included the hard drive with all the research data she hadn’t yet sold to her buyer. Perhaps in his shoes she’d be in denial at first too. No parent wanted to believe his or her child would break the law and end up in prison.

She hadn’t spoken to him again, but according to Mom, he’d since accepted the truth and hired a fantastic defense attorney for Kassidy. Not that even the best lawyer in the world would be able to keep her stepsister from serving time.

When the news site opened, she reached toward the touch pad, prepared to scroll past the articles about Kassidy and see what else was happening in the world. The first headline on the screen kept her fingers motionless.

Federal Authorities Arrest Congressman Dale Fuller.

The arrest of a congressman wasn’t an everyday occurrence.

Becca scanned the article under the headline. Her eyes stopped when they passed over the name Kassidy Buchanan, and she reread the sentence.

She’d thought nothing else about Kassidy’s arrest would surprise her. She’d been wrong.

Dale Fuller and Kassidy had been working together. Unbelievable.

Hoping the article would share the role the congressman had played in Kassidy’s plot, she read the next paragraph.

Kidnapping for hire—the words jumped out from the long list of charges against the Virginia congressman.

Scrolling down, she continued reading, oblivious to everything else.

Beep! Beep! The smoke detector on the ceiling erupted, disturbing the quiet. Jumping up, Becca grabbed a dishtowel and waved it near the device until the offending sound stopped.

Then she went to check the damage.

“Crap.” An overcooked waffle greeted her when she opened the lid. Not even a gallon of maple syrup and strawberries would make it edible. She’d have to start a new one.

Removing it from the iron, she set it on a plate and reached for the mixing bowl.

“Maybe we should go out for breakfast.” Coming up behind her, Connor kissed her neck and settled his hands on her waist. Despite the threat being gone, he’d stayed with her every night since the kidnapping attempt at the hospital.

Stupid smoke detector. She’d wanted to surprise him with breakfast in bed. “No need. I was reading the news and got distracted. I’ll keep a closer eye on them this time.” After pouring more batter into the machine, she closed the cover and turned. “Sorry I woke you. There’s coffee if you want some, and I have some bacon in the oven.”

“You didn’t. The call from Ax did. When the smoke alarm went off, I was on my way down. Bacon in the oven?” He brushed his lips across hers before going for coffee.

“Trust me on this. It tastes so much better if you cook it under the broiler.”

“Whatever you say.” He took a seat at the kitchen island. “Anything interesting going on in the world this morning?”

“Interesting is one word you could use to describe today’s breaking story.” She took a sip of coffee before continuing. “Authorities have evidence connecting Kassidy, Michael Jefferson, and Congressman Dale Fuller. Fuller’s been arrested, and he’s facing a long list of charges. The article is still up on my computer if you want to read it.”

The green light on the waffle iron went on, indicating the breakfast treat was ready. Before another waffle turned into an inedible piece of charcoal, she removed it and then covered it with fresh sliced strawberries.

“No need. I already know. Ax told me. It was part of why he called. Surprised the hell out of me too.” He accepted the plate she handed him and smiled. “This looks amazing. Thank you.” He didn’t bother to add any maple syrup before he dug in. “I figured there was another party involved. Never expected it to be a congressman. Not even after you gave us the guy’s name.” He cut another large segment off his waffle. “Both Kassidy and Zane implicated Fuller and turned over evidence against him.”

She carried her waffle and the bacon over to the island. “Do you think they did it in exchange for lesser charges or something?” Right or wrong, it was a common practice in the judicial system.

Snagging a few slices of bacon, he shrugged. “Possibly, or they gave him up because if they were going to prison they wanted his ass there too. Ax didn’t say, and I didn’t ask.”

She wanted the congressman to pay for whatever role he’d played. At the same time, Becca hated the idea of Kassidy and Zane getting off easy after all the suffering they’d caused. “I know it sounds terrible because she’s family and everything, but I hope Kassidy stays locked up for a long time.”

He paused with a strip of bacon almost to his lips. “No, it doesn’t.” Lines of concentration deepened along his brows and under his eyes. “When my father was arrested, I refused to believe it at first. After all the facts came out and I learned the full extent of what he’d done, I hoped he’d rot in jail. And I haven’t talked to him since.” Reaching over, he covered her hand with his. “Anyone in your position would be thinking the same thing.” He gave her hand a little squeeze. “Considering the danger she put you in, I hope she never gets out. You don’t want to know what I’d like to see happen to the congressman and Zane.”

He’d risked his life to protect her. Somehow saying thank you didn’t seem sufficient, but she’d tell him anyway. “I should’ve said this sooner, but thank you. If not for you, I’d be who knows where.”

“No thanks needed. I protect the people I love. I’d do whatever I had to do to keep you safe.”

She’d known he’d cared about her, but hadn’t expected him to drop the L-word over waffles and bacon. Since he’d said it, she couldn’t think of a good reason not to admit the truth herself. “I love you too.”

She expected some sign of surprise. Instead he said, “I know.” Then he reached for his bacon again.

Was he giving her hard time, or had he known before she opened her mouth? “Really? And how did you figure it out?”

“Easy.” He shrugged, the gesture annoying her just the slightest bit. “You don’t hide your thoughts or feelings well.”

So, more or less, he was telling her she was easy to read too. She’d never thought of herself that way. Maybe she should start, and at the same time work on keeping her emotions under wraps.

“It’s not a bad trait,” he added. “Just means you’d never be able to deceive people the same way Kassidy or my father did. And you probably have a terrible poker face. I recommend staying away from Vegas.”

When he put it that way, it didn’t sound like much of a flaw. Placing both elbows on the granite countertop, she leaned forward. “And what am I thinking now?”

The smile he gave her sent her pulse racing and warmed her across the space separating them. “You want to take me upstairs and show me how much you love me.”

He’s not wrong.

***

Yeah, he’d known she loved him before she said anything. But he hadn’t realized how much hearing the words would affect him. When she told him, it’d been like receiving a shot of adrenaline. And he was still riding the high.

Next to him, Becca moved, propping herself up on her elbow. “Life’s crazy, isn’t it?” Slipping her hand onto his chest, she continued. “When we ran into each other at the café, I hadn’t thought much about you in years. And I had no idea what to expect before our picnic.”

“Not me.” He folded an arm under his head and readjusted the sheet near his waist. “I thought it’d be a one-and-done kind of day. We’d catch up then both go back to our own worlds.”

She frowned, and the fingers brushing against his skin stopped. “Before you say it, I know your thoughts from back then shouldn’t bother me. But they do.”

His experience in the relationship department was limited. Still, even he knew telling the person you loved and who at the moment happened to be lying next to you naked that you’d always hooked up with women simply to get laid was a bad idea. So he softened the truth the best he could. “Becca, it had nothing to do with you. I’ve never wanted or looked for the type of relationships you’ve had.”

She stared at him as if he’d grown a third arm. “Seriously? Never?”

“No. I liked being able to do what I wanted without considering or worrying about anyone else.”

“And now?”

You knew that one was coming. “I’ve got you.”