Dead Don't Lie (26 page)

CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

One week later

E
VERYTHING
IN
E
VELYN
’
S
body still hurt, including her heart. Liam slept beside her in his car seat. When they pulled up in front of her home, she took a deep breath, then winced. Maybe her insistence on being released from the hospital so soon
hadn’t been the best idea. Crap.
Marcus opened her door and helped her out of the car. She gathered Liam into her arms and followed Marcus up the sidewalk. He’d gone ahead of her to unlock the door.

Derek walked out.

“Derek?” Evelyn frowned. “Why are you still here? I thought you went back East.”

“Nope.” He leaned against the door frame, hands in his pockets. “Not until you came home, safe and sound. Turns out I’m quite fond of you.”

Evelyn laughed, then stopped abruptly when her muscles screamed at her.

Derek took Evelyn’s bags from Marcus and stepped aside. Marcus helped her into the house.

“I’m going to put this little guy to bed. I’ll be right down.”

Marcus and Derek exchanged a quick glance, which Evelyn caught. “Am I missing something?”

Derek threw up his hands. “I’m innocent.”

He walked over and kissed Evelyn on her good cheek. “Duty calls. I’m heading to Omaha. Take care of that brother of mine. Got it?”

She nodded, her throat tight. Derek drew Marcus into a massive bear hug, then slapped his back. Then he left, shutting the door behind him.

“What’s going on, Marcus?”

“This way.”

Evelyn followed Marcus up the stairs. Her head spun and her heart ached. She wanted to keep her word to Derek, but somehow she didn’t see her and Marcus living happily ever after in the cards.

Marcus stopped in front of her office. He reached for the handle. “I hope you don’t mind.”

“Don’t mind what?” She peeked over Liam’s tousled curls.

Marcus opened the door to her office and flipped on the lights.

The walls that had once housed painful memories of the past were now decorated with colorful jungle animals. She gasped.

It reminded her of Liam’s room at Ryan’s. Only fresher.

“How?”

“I took a photo. Derek and I tried to recreate it.”

“When?”

“While you were in the hospital recovering. I hope you don’t mind. All your evidence has been boxed and labeled. It needed to be done, Evelyn.”

She nodded, eyes glistening. “You’re right. It did.”

Liam stirred, reminding Evelyn that her left arm was tired. Her right one was in a sling.

“I need to put him to bed,” she whispered.

“Sure.” Marcus walked to the side table, tucked against a chocolate-brown leather rocker, and clicked on the light. Then he took Evelyn’s face in his hands, bent his head to hers and left her breathless. “I’ll be downstairs if you need me.”

* * *

E
VELYN
WALKED
DOWN
the stairs sometime later. Marcus leaned against the post at the bottom of the steps. He lifted his eyes, smiled. Her heart swelled in her chest. She couldn’t think of any place she’d rather be than right here, right now, with this man. And yet...

She swallowed hard. “He finally fell asleep. Poor little man.”

Marcus handed her a glass of wine and studied her. She felt herself flush.

“You look like hell.”

She laughed. “Thanks.”

“I’m worried about you.”

She took a sip of wine, went to the living room and sank into the overstuffed chair. She moved slowly, still recovering, and tucked her legs beneath her. Marcus sat on the sofa.

“Liam and I will both be okay.” She stared at the fire. “It’ll take some adjustments—for both of us—but we’ll be fine.”

Marcus put down his glass and moved toward her. Her heart raced, like it did every time she saw him. He stood over her, took her chin in his hand and lifted her face. She stared at him and got lost in his warm brown eyes. She memorized his features, committing every detail of his strong, handsome face to her memory.

He lowered his head and brought his lips to hers. The kiss was soft and gentle. That same breathless feeling washed over her. Then his kiss grew, became demanding and heavy.

She wanted to throw herself into the kiss, to think about nothing but the moment. She needed Marcus more than anything.

Her brows furrowed.
Oh, no.
She couldn’t handle it if he left her, not after all that had happened. She wasn’t strong enough for that yet. As much as she pretended not to care, to just enjoy this time in space, let the cards fall where they may, she couldn’t.

Not when she loved him. And she did. Completely and irrevocably.

She knew she couldn’t ask him to love her back.

Not now.

Not when she was a package deal. Because she was. She wouldn’t abandon her responsibility to Liam. Her heart whimpered.
So much loss.

She pulled back, shaking her head. “Don’t. Please don’t. Not unless you’ve really thought it through.”

“Look at me.”

She refused to meet his gaze.

“Evelyn, look at me.”

When she did, her heart seized in her chest.

She loved him. How could she tell him goodbye?

“I don’t know what’s gotten into that pretty little head of yours.”

She cringed. The muscles in her upper back tightened. “I won’t ask you to take this on—”

“Good.” He stepped toward her, closing the space between them. “I don’t need you to ask me. I don’t need you to—”

She went to argue, but his eyes flashed, so she snapped her mouth shut.

He shook his head. “It’s already decided. I didn’t come here expecting to find a woman I couldn’t live without. Heaven knows I didn’t come here looking to start a family. But it happened. You happened. You’ve gotten under my skin and into my bones. I can’t live one day without you. So I’m not going anywhere. I love you, Evelyn Davis.”

He gently pulled her to him, lowering his face to hers.

She jerked her head back. “You love me?”

“Why is that so hard to believe?”

“It’s been such a long time since something good has happened. It’s hard to imagine it being so simple.”

“I’d hardly call this simple. Complicated? Emotional? Yes. Simple? Hell no.” He laughed. “But I wouldn’t have it any other way. I don’t want to wake up next to anyone else but you.”

Her muscles relaxed as relief washed through her. He loved her. Her stomach tickled at the thought.

He cleared his throat. His face softened. “Marry me, Evelyn. Grow old with me.”

“What?” Her head spun. She’d steeled herself to say goodbye tonight. To let the man of her dreams go. She hadn’t expected a marriage proposal. It was all too much, yet just right.

She looked up at him, her eyes sparkling with tears.

It was as if they’d always been Marcus and Evelyn. They just fit.

“Yes.”

EPILOGUE

Three months later

M
ARCUS
WALKED
E
VELYN
and Liam up to his family’s home in San Diego. Evelyn commanded her heart to settle down.
Breathe. Just breathe.
She hitched Liam higher on her hip, reached up and gingerly traced the scar on her face. Even with multiple surgeries, an angry line reminded her daily of what she’d almost lost. Liam shifted his weight, his arms wrapped tightly around her neck. Marcus put his hand on the small of her back. Just his slight touch soothed her.

He opened the front door without knocking and walked in. The foyer was silent, deserted. Evelyn took a deep breath, glanced at him and followed.

“Hello?” Marcus called out to the quiet home.

Excited, loud voices broke the silence. An older man and woman came around the corner from the kitchen.

“MK! You’re home!” a younger woman yelled as she ran down the steps and threw herself into Marcus’s waiting arms.

Evelyn shifted Liam onto her other hip and stepped back. The instant flurry in front of her amazed and overwhelmed her. She hadn’t been around such excitement for a very long time. Mesmerized, she watched as hugs and kisses were exchanged, along with a lot of joking. She felt herself begin to shyly pull back, shrink from the human contact in front of her.

Then there was that constant, strong touch. Marcus had managed to untangle himself from Alexis’s arms and stood next to Evelyn once more. She smiled up at him, grateful that, once again, he’d sensed her need for his closeness. He beamed at her, then glanced up at his family.

“Everyone, this is Evelyn.”

Marcus’s father smiled, his face warm and inviting.

Alexis threw her arms around Evelyn. “It’s about time we get to meet you.”

Instantly, Evelyn felt at ease. Being in Alexis’s arms felt familiar, like hugging Kate, or Olivia. Sadness washed over her, followed quickly by an overwhelming sense of gratitude. She’d lost so much. And gained so much in return.

She let her guard down and returned Alexis’s embrace. She pulled away when Liam squirmed in her arms, whimpering.

“Yes, dear, it’s so good to meet you.” Charlotte Moretti’s blue eyes sparkled. “We’ve heard so much about you.”

Evelyn glanced at Marcus, arching an eyebrow. “Oh, really?”

“If we had our way, we would have met the woman who stole our son’s heart months ago.” Charlotte winked, then turned her attention to Liam. “And who is this handsome little guy?”

Liam tightened his death grip on Evelyn’s throat, buried his head into her chest and trembled.

“This is Liam,” Marcus explained to his family.

Evelyn’s chest constricted, watching happily as Marcus gently ruffled Liam’s tousled curls. Liam peeked out from his hiding space. Charlotte took a step toward them. Liam’s head snapped around. With hawklike attention, he watched her move next to Evelyn. Charlotte smiled at him. He buried his head in the crook of Evelyn’s neck.

“Hey, little guy,” Charlotte whispered in a soft, buttery voice.

Evelyn looked over his curls and caught Marcus’s eye. She held her breath.
You’re safe, little man. I promise.

Slowly, Liam peeked out again, curls bouncing as he nodded. A tiny smile twitched at the corner of his mouth. Marcus’s eyes grew warm. Charlotte smiled back at Liam. Evelyn’s heart fluttered.

“I have fresh cookies in the kitchen. Do you want one?”

The toddler’s eyes widened. He moved slightly in Evelyn’s arms. Charlotte opened her arms and waited. He glanced up at Evelyn’s face. She smiled, then kissed the tip of his nose. He visibly relaxed.

Then he reached up, took Evelyn’s face between his chubby, baby hands and leaned his forehead to hers.

Soft gasps came from the adults gathered in the foyer with them. The tender, intimate moment melted Evelyn’s heart.
How was it possible to love this little man so much?
She pulled him close, felt the rapid beating of his tiny heart.

“You’re okay, little guy,” she whispered. “You’re safe now. We’re safe now.”

Liam dropped his hands, turned slightly in Evelyn’s arms and reached for Charlotte. A smile burst across her face as Liam climbed from Evelyn’s arms to her own.

Marcus’s father whistled softly. “Well, there you go.”

He winked at Evelyn, then followed his wife into the kitchen.

Marcus reached over and pulled Evelyn to him. He tucked her to his side and draped his arm across her shoulder.

She felt safe and secure under its weight.

“Welcome home,” Charlotte called softly.

Liam’s giggle bounced off the wall. Evelyn smiled.

“Yes, my love,” Marcus whispered into her ear. “Welcome home.”

* * * * *

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

T
HEY
SAY
IT
takes a village to raise a child. I think the same can be said about bringing a book to life.

It’s a bit overwhelming to think of all the people it took to help me get here, but I’m so grateful for this incredible group of people:

Jill Marsal, agent extraordinaire at Marsal Lyon Literary Agency. I will never forget your call in that busy airport—best eight-hour flight of my life! Thank you for believing in me. Here’s to many, many more.

Lauren Smulski, my incredible editor at HQN and fellow lover of wine. You answered my million-and-one questions like a pro—I owe you a bottle of Malbec!

Susan Swinwood, Margo Lipschultz and the amazing team at HQN for making this book the best it can be.

Kate Dresser, for originally bringing me into the HQN family.

Amy B., for reading and re-reading and re-reading each of these drafts.

Lynnette Labelle, developmental editor (and now friend!) who pulled the gold out of me and gave me invaluable advice.

My sister, Lynette Ruiz, who has been cheering me on since childhood and is always there when I need her.

My brother-in-law, Nathan Ruiz, for demonstrating crazy military moves, answering my million logistical questions and being just plain awesome.

My parents, Tim and Raenell, for always believing in me and teaching me that no dream is too lofty.

To all the sassy, courageous, gorgeous women in my life—you know who you are. Most only have one or two such friends; I’ve been blessed with several across the world. And for everyone else who has supported this dream in one fashion or another, thank you.

Last, but certainly not least, my champion of a husband, Drew. You are my rock and number one fan and encourager. I couldn’t do this without you. Thank you for cheering me on like only you can do. I love you.

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