Friends and Lovers (23 page)

“I love you,” he said softly, his voice full of emotion he couldn’t freely express yet. But he would.

Lauren’s eyes glittered with tears and her lips trembled. “Me too.”

Wes reluctantly released her hand and Lauren slid in next to Jackie. Perez closed the door and walked around to the driver’s side.

Wes didn’t move until the car turned at the end of the block and passed out of view.

Nothing could have rammed his love for Lauren home more forcefully than the threat of losing her. He ached with the need to protect her, be the one who watched over her and kept her fears at bay while she slept. He wanted to be the one who understood her asides, understood her moods, understood…
her
.

They needed time to amass their private jokes and references like other couples. It would take him a lifetime to unwrap and fully appreciate the complicated woman he loved. He wanted to be the one who filled her womb with children and ran beside them when they learned to ride bikes. He wanted to look at his daughter with Lauren’s eyes and kiss her on the head after he bandaged her scraped knee.

He wanted, with an intensity that staggered him, to go home and hold Lauren, love her like it was the first time, the last time, the only time—every single time.

Taking a deep breath, Wes went to find Chuck.

The stretcher rolled past him. An oxygen mask covered Coulter’s face. A cop got into the back with the paramedic and a black and white followed the ambulance to the hospital. The bastard was going to be under guard for the rest of his life, whether it ended during surgery or carried over into prison.

Ballistics pulled Coulter’s bullet out of the wall and bagged it. Afterward, Wes and Chuck caught a ride back to the station with the lieutenant.

They turned in their gear and went to clean up before heading upstairs.

Wes hung his head under the tap. Wetting down his scalp, he splashed cool water into his face and groaned with relief.

Chuck stood silently by, wiping his face and neck with a paper towel. He tossed it in the trash, then pulled several more out of the box and handed them to Wes when he shut off the faucet.

Wes blotted his hair and face then straightened up. “Thanks.”

It was impossible to miss Chuck’s concern when they locked eyes in the mirror.

“Are you okay?” Chuck asked.

Wes lowered the towels and shook his head. “No. I’m still pretty shaken. I could have lost her today. Talk about irony.”

The distressing reminder sent Wes spinning around to walk off his spiking emotions like a caged animal. His fingers gripped his wet hair as he fought to breathe through the stress all over again. Only after he’d composed himself did Wes bother to brush his hair back with his fingertips. He tossed the wad of towels at the garbage can then gave Chuck a curt nod and led him out.

It was the most unguarded moment Wes ever had in front of his partner.

* * * *

“Really? I don’t need a mask?” Ken asked the nurse as she moved him aside for the bassinette.

“Not at this hospital.”

She shooed him back to Sherry then went to the end of the bed and detached the footboard, rolling it out of the way. Someone else came in carrying a pair of stirrups and those were attached to the bed. They were just lifting Sherry’s legs into the stirrups when her doctor waltzed in.

“Ah, just in time I see,” he said brightly, sitting on a stool and rolling into position.

Sherry groaned at her husband. “Have you noticed how many people have seen my hoochie-cooch today?”

He shook his head and smiled. “Sorry, sweetie.”

“Good.” Another contraction hit her and now the real fun began.

Chapter 22

Lauren stared at investigator Hammond across his desk and groaned with exhaustion.

“We just covered that,” she said. “Have a heart. I’ve been through a lot today.” She sagged back in her chair with a sigh. “Like I said before, Coulter’s not a nice guy. I never saw a hint of empathy in the man.” Lauren scrunched up her face uncertainly. “If I said that Coulter deals with everything in the id would you understand?”

The cop set his elbows on his armrests and clasped his hands together. “Explain.”

“People like that can’t put themselves in someone else’s shoes. Coulter only sees other people—his wife, his daughter, all of us—in terms of how
we
impact
him
. It’s fairly common in abusers, actually. He blamed his wife for his behavior. Eventually he would have blamed his daughter too. We sheltered them from him so naturally we’re to blame. That’s it in a nutshell. Now please, I just want to go home.
Please
.”

Jackie rubbed Lauren’s shoulder, and Lauren reached up and patted her friend’s hand while the cop wrote down her comments.

“Well, I suppose I have all I need. But you’ll be available if I have any more questions, right?” said the investigator.

“Yes, you have my number,” Lauren said, sensing escape was at hand.

“So, we’re finished?” Jackie asked, looking just as glazed by the redundant questions.

“For now.”

Lauren started to rise then froze. “Wait a second. What happened to Jeri and Simon?”

Hammond looked up from his notes. “Pardon?”

“Where are Jeri and Simon? What happened to Sylvia and Hope? Where is everyone staying tonight? Did anyone feed the kids? They missed their lunches, you know.”

Hammond smiled. “We were able to make temporary arrangements with the Murray Hill shelter to take in Ms. Reynolds and her son. I understand Officer Boyd bought the boy a Happy Meal on the way. Unfortunately, we couldn’t find accommodations for your other residents so we reserved rooms for them at the Holiday Inn on Hamilton Avenue. Mrs. Coulter and her daughter are already there.”

Lauren gave a weary nod. “Good.”

“If you remember anything else, please contact me right away.” He slid a card across the desk.

Lauren picked it up. “One more thing,” she said, her eyes coming up after reading it. “You wouldn’t know where I can find Wes Dunlop, would you?”

“He’s in conference with Lieutenant Reuter.”

“Could you tell him we went to the stand down the block for something to drink?”

“Sure.”

“Thanks.” Lauren got to her feet. She was so beat she swayed into Jackie. “Let’s get out of here.”

Jackie nodded. “Hell yes.”

It felt good to get back outside. Being late afternoon, there was more traffic on the streets than on foot as people tried to beat rush hour. Lauren and Jackie were the only customers at the outdoor eatery. They took the one clean table out front and dropped onto the benches, absolutely exhausted. Lauren hardly had the energy to sip the Tropical Breeze—heavy on the pineapple—that was slowly warming between her hands. Jackie’s long handled spoon lay abandoned on the table and she sucked her soupy chocolate shake through the straw.

All talked out, they turned their glazed eyes on the lone employee picking garbage off the other tables. He gave the sticky spots a cursory wipe with a damp towel, obviously preparing for the dinner rush.

A shadow passed over Lauren and she looked around then shot to her feet, throwing herself against Wes. That’s when the hot tears finally came. She didn’t know how she held it together for so long.

Wes kissed the top of her head and rocked her gently. He sounded tired when he said, “Hi,” to Jackie over her shoulder.

“Hi.”

Lauren looked at her friend. Jackie’s smile was feeble and fleeting. But to her deepest gratitude, Wes was already on it.

“I know we haven’t been properly introduced, but you look like you could use one of these too.” He held out his arm and invited her in.

“You know, I really could,” Jackie admitted, her voice breaking and her eyes glittering. Their hug became a threesome.

Lauren rubbed her cheek dry on Wes’s shirt, knowing he wouldn’t mind. “So…did Coulter make it?”

“No word yet.”

She nodded and gripped him harder at the same time that Jackie pulled away.

Jackie gave Wes a self-conscious smile. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

Lauren moved around to Wes’s side and hooked his waist. His arm went across her shoulders and they both looked at Jackie.

Lauren asked, “Are you ready to go home?”

Jackie nodded. “More than ready.”

Ten minutes later they pulled in front of the shelter so Jackie could get her car. They waited until she left and to Lauren’s surprise Wes got out.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“I want to make sure the house is locked and secure.”

Lauren got out with him. “I’ll go with you.”

“Why don’t you wait here? I’ll only be a minute.”

“I don’t want to be alone.”

Wes smiled and held out his hand. They went around the building together, checking the doors and windows.

“Well, everything looks good,” he said, tugging her away from the back door when she tried to see inside.

She frowned at him. “What?”

“Don’t look. Trust me. The crime scene cleaners will be here tomorrow. Let them handle it.”

They returned to his car and Lauren watched the shelter grow smaller in her side mirror as they drove away. They ended up holding hands all the way home, neither willing to break the necessary contact. Walking into the house, they were both quiet, but as soon as Wes shut out the world behind them he drew Lauren close and they held each other for several silent minutes.

Lauren eventually stepped back and wrinkled her nose. “You really need a shower.”

Wes laughed. “I’d love a shower. Join me?”

“Okay.”

* * * *

They both turned when a cellphone started ringing on the other side of the rippled glass doors of the tub. Wes blinked water out of his eyes and frowned at the pile of clothes on the floor. Somewhere in that sweaty, stinky mess, buried deep in one of his pants pockets, was his phone.

“Let it ring,” he said, in no mood to be bothered now that they were safely home and he had Lauren all to himself. The world could go screw itself for all he cared.

Ignoring the incessant noise, he finished rinsing his hair while Lauren kissed and tongued his chest, her hands molded to his slippery bottom. She looked up and nuzzled under his chin as he swept the soapy water back from his face with his hands.

“I really lust you right now,” she said, following his muscular dips and bulges with eager hands.

But every ring built on Wes’s tension, and it wasn’t doing his hard-on much good either. Even with Lauren’s rather skillful caresses he was losing it. Thankfully, after eleven rings, the phone went silent.

Wes sighed and rocked his forehead against Lauren’s. “Finally.”

“Where were we?” she asked suggestively.

He hummed with relief as she brought him back to the moment at hand, so to speak. Wes returned the favor, slipping his fingertips between her legs to gently strum her silky slit while their mouths consumed each other.

Then the phone in the living room obliterated their peace.

Wes groaned in frustration. “This isn’t happening. Damn it! I have to get that.” With a curse he stepped out and ran naked through the house, catching the phone in mid ring. “What?” he said impatiently.

“Where the hell have you been?” Ken barked back.

“Why do you always have to catch me in the shower?”

“We’re at Memorial, room five-eighteen. Get your ass over here and meet your nephew.”

Wes watched his already flagging erection give up the fight.
Shit.

“Lauren!” he called out, hanging up.

Chapter 23

They stopped off at the gift shop for flowers and balloons before heading up to maternity.

The grandparents were already there, whispering excitedly over the baby while Ken rocked Robin in his arms. Sherry was sound asleep. Clearly, exhaustion had taken a toll.

“Hey,” Wes said softly. He set the arrangement down on the counter and tiptoed over to take a look. Sherry wasn’t the only one sleeping.

Lauren set the balloons by the window and crouched down to smile at the newborn.

He had a downy cap of wispy brown hair and everything about him was so amazingly tiny. His little hand was curled around one of Ken’s fingers, and they couldn’t get over how perfect his fingers and nails were or how sweet his little nose was. Even his pouts were adorable.

“Six pounds two ounces and twenty-one inches long,” Ken whispered.

“Wow.” Lauren sighed, utterly captivated.

“So how’d Sherry do?” Wes asked.

“She was a bear,” Ken admitted with a grin.

Everyone quietly laughed at that.

Ken looked at her with unabashed love in his eyes and shook his head. “Turns out we could have skipped the Lamaze classes. Everything we learned went right out the window. Sherry wouldn’t listen to me, and she bitched at everyone else. The nurses around here aren’t going to miss her when we check out.”

Wes raised his eyebrows and grinned. “Did you honestly expect her to listen to you?”

“Well, yeah.”

“Fool.”

“Oh, come on,” Lauren said, jumping to Ken’s defense. “I’m sure Sherry was terrified. Who wouldn’t be? With no personal experience and plenty of horror stories to fill in the blanks, I know I’d be a basket case.”

Mrs. Dunlop smiled and picked up the camera sitting on the tray by the bed. “Come on, Grandma wants another picture.”

Everyone crowded in and she raised the camera then lowered it, her wide eyes pinned on Lauren. “What happened to your cheek?”

Lauren delicately touched the back of her hand to her cheek, making sure it wasn’t bleeding again. She turned to Wes and he shrugged, leaving it up to her.

She looked at his mother and said, “It’s a long story. I’ll tell you later.”

“All right.” Mrs. Dunlop snapped a couple of pictures and handed the camera around so everyone could see them.

“Have you held Robin yet?” Lauren asked her, passing the camera to Wes.

“I did—just before you got here. It’s been a long time since I held such a tiny baby. I was half afraid I’d drop him.”

Ken looked up at Lauren. “Do you want to hold him?”