Hometown Hero (Hometown Alaska Men Book 2) (23 page)

"Yuck," Tawney said, the word popping out of her mouth before she could stop it.

Fox ran a hand over his bald head. "Yes, well, I can see the idea doesn't sit well with you."

"What do you want, Fox?" she asked. "I told you I'm not interested, so unless you’re here to rape me or murder me, I don't understand what you want. I've told you no. No!"

A recklessness born of anger and exasperation took hold of her. She was done being a victim. She had nothing to lose and everything to gain by seeing an end to her twisted encounters with Fox.

"Why do you keep returning my ring?" he asked. "Well, technically you didn't return it the last time. Gave me hope for a moment, but then it turned up in a pawn shop."

"You can't buy me," she said. "If you want the money back, I'll give it to you. I haven't spent that much."

He laughed, the sound sinister. "I don't want the money."

"I will never be with you. I love someone else."

His brows drew together. "Hmm, yes. Your neighbor."

"How do you know about him?" she asked, and then it came to her. Destiny. "He's a police officer."

Fox laughed. "As if that matters. I can give you everything, Tawney. Why can't you see that?"

"Things don’t matter," Tawney said. "Love matters. Family matters."

"You've never given me a chance." Fox advanced on her. "How is that fair?"

"You can't buy me," Tawney said. "I'm never going back to Vegas. I belong here. I won't let you take this life from me. You've taken enough already and I've worked too hard to get where I am. I'm not your victim, not anymore. I'd rather be dead than live in fear one day longer." She bumped up against the desk.

Fox stopped in front of her. The breast pocket of his jacket bulged with her gun.

Tawney reached behind her and locating the paperweight, she brought it up, aiming for his head. Fox caught her wrist, using her arm to twist her around, her back now against his chest.

"You are so beautiful, even in anger." He kissed the side of her face.

"Let me go." Tawney struggled, trying to get her feet in position for a step back or kick. He'd pushed one of his feet between hers, pinning the front of her legs against the desk.

He laughed. "Settle down, although I do like a good fight. I can see that the only way to have you would be to force you and as much as that excites me, I've never forced myself on any woman. I had to see you one last time, make sure you couldn't be persuaded. I love the chase, and you led me on a merry one."

What? Had she heard him right?

"I'm not a monster, Tawney. I'm going to let you go," he said. "I liked your mother. It's out of respect for Destiny that I'm going to walk away and take my ring with me. So you see, my dear, your mother actually did you a favor."

He released her.

The second she was free, Tawney bolted for the door, running smack into Rick.

Startled, she could only stare.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his eyes on hers. Then he looked past her into the room.

Rick set her from him and with a snarl, he attacked Fox.

Tawney screamed.

The two men toppled to the floor.

"He's got a gun," Tawney shouted. "Rick stop. He was just leaving."

Brandi charged in. "What's going on?" Her gaze bounced between Tawney and the men tussling on the floor.

Rick landed a solid punch to Fox's jaw.

"Stop it," Tawney yelled.

In a flash, she saw the gun in Fox's hand. Before she could react, Brandi picked up the discarded paperweight, bashing Fox on the head.

Fox went still.

Tawney looked at her sister. "Brandi."

Brandi dropped the paperweight. "Oh no. Did I kill him?"

Rick turned Fox over, feeling for a pulse. "No. Call the police."

Tawney did as he asked. Why did this keep happening to her? Why was Rick here? So many thoughts played tag in her head.

Rick got to his feet. His clothes were disheveled, but other than that he appeared fine.

"Are you okay?" he asked Tawney. He reached her, taking her face in his hands. "God, oh baby. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

He pulled her close, holding onto her so tightly. But she couldn't hug him back, didn't trust him enough to let him in because if she did, she knew she would crumble.

A siren cut through the silence. Police officers swarmed her house. They were separated, each of them giving a statement. Fox was taken away on a stretcher. Charges would be filed, but Tawney knew they would never stick. Fox's attorneys were too good. The most she could hope for was that he'd keep his word and leave her alone.

When at last the police were gone and only the three of them remained, Brandi said, "I'm heading home. I can't wait to fill Bud in on all of this."

Tawney hugged her sister. "Are you sure you are okay?"

"I'm good." Brandi smiled. "It was like an episode of a crime show or something, right?"

Tawney smiled. "Or something."

"I’m just glad you are okay, T." Brandi squeezed her tighter. "Take care of my sister," she said to Rick.

Tawney blinked in surprise. Brandi hated Rick. Why the change of heart?

He nodded.

The sisters parted and Tawney turned to Rick. More than anything she wanted to throw herself into his arms. She had so many questions for him, but pride and a broken heart kept her silent.

"We need to talk," he said.

"There's nothing left to say." She held the door open for him so he could leave.

He walked to her, but instead of leaving he closed the door. "I’m not leaving."

"It's been a long day," she said. "I'm tired. I can't do this right now."

"Why did you come back today?" he asked. "Why aren't you on the plane?"

Her chin came up. "Why are you here?"

"I never intended to leave permanently."

"Well, how am I supposed to know that? You didn't exactly call me and fill me in." She shoved against his chest with her palms. "I’m so angry with you." She pushed him again.

Rick took the hits. "I guess I thought that you would understand that I needed some time. Not time away from you, but time to come to grips with what happened in Seattle and what happened at the cabin."

"I did understand that, you jerk," Tawney said. "Leaving is your MO. I understand that, too."

"No," he said. "I know I should have called more, tried to make you understand. When I saw Joey holding a gun to your head, I lost it. All my doubts about protecting Angie, you, all rose to the surface. I was paralyzed with fear. I can't live like that anymore, Tawney. I won't. I felt unworthy of you. I talked to the department shrink in Seattle. For the first time, I was honest with her. She helped me come up with a plan, and I intend to follow through with that plan. You are the most important thing to me."

She shook her head. "No. It's too late."

"It's not too late." He reached for her, taking her face in his hands. "I love you."

She tried to twist away. "I hate you."

"I love you." He tried to kiss her, but she turned, his lips grazing the side of her face.

"I hate you," she said weakly.

He kissed her neck. "I love you," he whispered against her skin.

"No."

"I want to spend the rest of my life showing you how much I love you." He kissed her jaw, her chin, her mouth.

Tawney's anger dissolved. Love caused a physical ache in her chest. She kissed him back and it was as if her soul had come alive again.

"I love you," he said, his lips against hers.

"I love you," she said back, her arms going around him.

He took her face in his hands. "Marry me."

In his eyes she saw so much: respect, loyalty, love. Didn't she deserve all those things? He was her dream, her everything. If she didn't take a chance on love she'd regret it forever.

"Yes," she said. "I'll marry you."

"You won't be sorry," Rick said with a smile.

"Don't make me sorry," she said, a teasing note to the words. "My self-defense moves have gotten really good. Especially the one where I knee the guy in the—"

"I promise," he said quickly. "You won't need to use those moves on me."

"What kind of moves will I need?" she asked, her tone serious now.

Rick's eyes took on a predatory glow. Without warning, he lifted her up into his arms and bore her to the bedroom.

Tawney smiled against his neck. Everything was going to be all right now. Whether he liked it or not, Rick was her hero, today and for the rest of their lives.

EPILOGUE

Tawney opened her front door. "Hey, Star. Welcome back, we've missed you around here. Come in." She pulled Star inside, giving her a hug. "How was the honeymoon?"

"Fantastic. The best." Star's face glowed, her eyes bright.

"Where's Cade?" Tawney asked, peering around her sister.

"He saw Rick out front and headed over to see him." Star removed her jacket, hanging it up.

"Ah." Tawney shut the door. "Good, that gives us a few minutes to get caught up before everyone arrives and this engagement party gets started."

"What the heck has been going on around here?" Star asked. "Brandi filled me in some on the phone, but you've been silent."

Tawney shrugged. "Drama. Too much of it."

"Tell me everything." Star took a seat on the sofa, patting the cushion beside her.

"Where do I start?" Tawney laughed.

"First of all," Star said, "with you and Rick."

"Look." Tawney held up her left hand, showing Star the gorgeous, tasteful diamond ring Rick had given her the day after his proposal. She still had trouble believing she was going to marry Rick. The diamond winked at her, a visual reminder that this was real.

Star took her hand. "The ring is breathtaking. Classic. So you."

"I know." Tawney admired the ring. "I was so relieved that Rick chose a round cut, not a big square one."

"Like the emerald ring," Star said. "Brandi told me Fox brought the ring back here."

"He did," Tawney confirmed. "I'm hoping that ring is gone for good."

"So he was arrested?" Star asked, her eyes worried.

"Yes, but he was released soon after. All they had on him was breaking and entering. And although he pulled a gun on Rick, Fox claimed it was self-defense—which, technically it was. Rick attacked Fox, but he had good reason. The whole thing was twisted. I'm not pressing charges."

"Why?" Star asked.

"I want Fox out of my life. I don't want to go to court and see him looking at me. I don’t want to make him angry. I just want him gone. Fox didn't press charges against Rick or Brandi. It was as if he decided he was done with me. I'm afraid to believe that after everything he put me through he really has just walked away, but that's how it seems. I think it had something to do with Mom. Fox seemed to respect her."

Star leaned back against the cushions. "Wow, who knew that Mom would come to your rescue on this one."

"I know, weird, right?"

"So Fox is back in Vegas?" Star asked.

"Yes, Rick's partner Phil has confirmed it."

Star reached for Tawney's hand, squeezing her fingers. "I'm so relieved for you. And what about Harry?"

"Still in jail. No bailout for him." Tawney blew out a breath. "He has a whole slew of charges against him. I'll have to testify at some point, but I'm okay with that. And Mel has apologized to me for giving me such a hard time. I think he's afraid of me now, or maybe he's afraid of Rick. I'm not sure."

"I'm so sorry that happened to you," Star said. "You are a strong woman."

"Thanks to Rick." Tawney smiled. "If not for the shooting practice and the self-defense moves he taught me, there might have been a different outcome."

Star shook her head. "Thank God for Rick."

The now familiar warmth filled Tawney's heart. "I love him so much, Star."

"It's so good to see you happy, T."

"It feels good to be happy." And it did feel good, like a bright light had been turned on inside her. "My life is really coming together, not just romantically with Rick, but professionally, too."

"How so?" Star asked.

"Liv is cutting back, doctor's orders. She's asked me to be a partner at Karma Fitness."

"That's wonderful, honey."

"I know. It's a dream job for me, right here in Seward."

"So you and Rick will stay on here?" Star asked, a hopeful note in her voice.

"Looks like it. Rick's applied to join the police force here."

"This is a whole new life for you," Star said. "I'm so glad that the three of us are here, you, me, and Brandi. Now if only we could get Ruby up here."

"Wishful thinking," Tawney said.

"I know. Hey," Star said, "let's go and find the guys and get this celebration started."

"Sounds good to me." Tawney stood. "I'll get the champagne."

The door opened and Rick and Cade came inside.

Tawney's heart lurched at the sight of Rick and she wondered if Star's heart beat a little faster when Cade entered the room.

"What, no champagne yet?" Rick asked as he removed his jacket. He grinned at her.

"Just heading that way," Tawney said, going to him.

He kissed her, his arms circling her. She inhaled the scent of fresh air on his skin. He'd always been the one for her, and he always would be.

"Congratulations, Tawney," Cade said.

"Thanks." She smiled at her brother-in-law.

"Come on," Rick said. "I'll pop the cork."

A knock sounded, and Cade let in Brandi, Bud, and baby Will.

"Sorry we're late," Brandi said. "Will decided to take a long nap."

Tawney smiled. She'd heard about people who had perfect moments. Right now, at this exact minute, her life felt perfect. She had her sisters. They were all together. They'd all found true love.

Life didn't get any sweeter than that.

Also by Joleen James

Coming soon: Ruby's and Dane's story in the exciting conclusion to the Hometown Alaska Men Series:
HOMETOWN HEARTBREAKER.