In Her Sights (29 page)

“He sure is, baby.”

Jazz touched Luke’s arm. “How did you escape the blast?”

“No way would I leave you. I stopped right after I turned out of sight of the house and got out. Joy wanted to bring her blanket and Hero, but they were too bulky. Then Joy told me Hero had been hurt. I noticed the ripped seam and saw the explosives. I tossed it into the field just before it exploded. A few seconds later, and, well, things would have been different.”

Jazz hugged them both. “Thank God you’re both safe.”

A gruff voice intruded on her relief. “Jasmine?”

Slowly Jazz turned. The man before her smiled, sparkling eyes crinkled at the corners. His hair was white now, his face cracked with age, but she would never forget those eyes. They still twinkled. Gratitude swelled in her heart.

“Sheriff Clarkson?” She embraced him. “I’m so glad to see you. Thank you.”

He patted her back with a weak hand. “I didn’t think I’d ever hear from you again, but I always hoped you’d call me. I understood why you didn’t…”

Jazz couldn’t breathe. This man had saved her life. “I don’t know what I would’ve become without you. You took a big chance and broke a lot of rules when you believed in me. I didn’t understand what that really meant then. I do now.”

The old man pulled out a roll of butter rum Life Savers from his pocket. He offered her one, and she grinned, popping a candy in her mouth. “Why did you do it?” she asked.

“I liked your spunk when I arrested you.” He laughed, his belly shaking a bit. “I liked that you kicked the Johns in…” He glanced at Joy, who listened wide-eyed from her perch in Luke’s arms, “…in their personals. They deserved it. You deserved a chance.”

“You didn’t just give me a chance. You gave me a whole new life.”

Ace landed the Piper Lance at McElroy Airfield and taxied toward the terminal. After coming to a stop, he turned in his seat and smiled down at Joy, who lay asleep in the chair next to Luke. “She gonna be okay?”

It took Jazz a moment to regain her bearings. She turned in her seat and saw the love on Luke’s face as he gazed at his daughter. She nodded, yawning. She’d passed out the moment the plane took off from T or C, not waking until they touched down. “It’ll take some time, but she’ll be home soon with people who love her. That’ll help.”

“Give me a few minutes to go through my landing checklist and we’ll get you out of the plane and home,” Ace said as he pulled off his headset. “Luke, if you ever want to know more about your father, come see me. I’ll tell you about him.”

Luke unbuckled his safety belt and stood up. “I intend to.”

Ace jumped down from the plane and gave them a secretive grin. “You folks stay here. I’ll let you know when I’m done.”

“You and Joy are two of a kind. I’ve been waiting for you to wake up.” Luke knelt next to Jazz’s seat and cupped her face with his hand.

She closed her eyes and leaned into his touch, soaking up the warmth of his skin and the tenderness of his caress.

He gently kissed her and clasped her hands with his. “I thought I’d lost you.”

“I know,” she breathed. “When I thought you were gone, I almost lost myself. I realized I’d never…”

He tugged her toward him and brought her lips to his, the kiss oh so sweet, oh so tender. When they parted, he smiled and his heart lay open in front of her.

“We’ve never dared say it, have we? Both of us too cautious to trust. But it’s always been true.” His chocolate eyes held her gaze. “I love you, Jane Sanford, Jasmine Parker. Whatever you call yourself doesn’t matter to me. It’s
you
I love.”

They were words no one had ever spoken to her, and her last defenses crumbled. “How can you still love me after everything that’s happened, after everything I put you through? After what I almost cost you?”

“You saved Joy. You put your life in jeopardy for us.”

She shook her head. “I put you and your daughter in danger in the first place.”

He clasped her shoulders and held tight. “Listen to me. You didn’t do anything. A crazy woman did this. You, on the other hand, are everything I’ve ever wanted in a woman. You’re brave and honorable—and too tenacious for your own good, but it doesn’t matter. I want you. I want a mother for my daughter who she can be proud of and from whom she can learn how to be a strong woman. I want a partner. A lover. A best friend. Someone I can always believe in.” He paused and stroked her cheek with a gentle hand. “Jasmine, I want you…in my life…from now on. As my wife…and Joy’s mother.”

The words stunned her. Terrified her. No. She couldn’t be a mother. She didn’t know how. She didn’t fit in their family. “You’re just saying that now because Joy is safe, but Luke, this proves I don’t belong. I don’t know anything about being part of a family, being a wife. Or, God, being a mother.”

“Do you love me?”

“You deserve better.” She tried to pull away from him, felt her heart shrinking, trying to protect itself from a hurt she didn’t know if she could bear.

He wouldn’t let her go. “Oh no you don’t. I’m not giving up on you, because I know once you commit, you do it all the way. I want that from you, Jasmine. Your heart and soul. I want it all.”

“Luke—”

He cut off her protest. “Good-bye won’t work. I’m fighting for you this time—all the way. I love you.” He stared her down. “Do you love me enough to take a chance?”

She shivered at the words. She felt like she was bursting through the door without a Kevlar vest. Leaving herself wide open and vulnerable. “No one ever loved me like you do. No one ever came back for me. No one ever protected me, even from myself.”

He’d gone tense and stiff, unwilling to look away.

“Just you. You keep me safe,” she whispered. “Yes.”

“What?” Shock and wonder crossed his face.

The last of her resistance collapsed and she laughed. “I. Love. You.”

He clutched her to him. “Thank God.”

She leaned in close, breathed in his essence, secure within the comfort of his arms, lulled by the strong, steady beating of his heart. Something shifted deep inside her and warmth filled her, like sunlight reaching her darkest recesses. For the first time in her life, she was free—of the past and of the fears that had kept her from giving this man all that was good and powerful and loving within her.

She raised her gaze to his and smiled, her emotions breaking out and overflowing. “I love you, Luke Montgomery. And I want to be part of your family. Forever.”

Immeasurable happiness transformed his face.

Yes. This was right, and real. “I can live without being a sniper. I can even live without my badge. But my life would be truly empty without you.”

He lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her softly, his lips promising a vow she knew would last for a lifetime.

A round of applause from outside the plane broke through her haze of happiness.

Luke raised his head a fraction and saw a large group of familiar faces. “I think it’s fair to say the arrest warrant is behind us.”

“Jazz, stop the mushy stuff and get your butt out here,” Carl Redmond shouted, amidst a bevy of whoops.

“What in the world?” She climbed toward the door as Luke unbuckled a sleepy Joy from her seat.

“Daddy? Are we home?”

Ace wrenched open the door. “Time to go,” he said with a wink. “People are waiting.”

Jazz, Luke, and Joy climbed out of the plane to cheers and whistles. Jazz couldn’t believe it. The entire SWAT team stood there, along with Seth and Caleb. They circled around them, questions flying back and forth about what had happened in Truth or Consequences.

Finally Sarge stepped forward, his movement stopping all conversation. He walked over to Luke and stuck out his hand. “You were right.”

“And wrong,” Luke said. “I thought Paretti was one of the good guys.”

“Me too,” Sarge said. “But you helped us clean house. I, for one, am grateful.”

Jazz knew Luke wasn’t finished yet, of course. He would find a way to help Grace somehow. She slipped her hand in his and squeezed tight. He smiled at her, his gaze knowing and determined. No, he wasn’t through. He would always search for the truth. For justice. Because he was a hero. Her hero.

“Cops are like everybody else. Most good, some bad.” Sarge faced Jazz. “And some, damned amazing,” he said, holding out his hand, her badge lying in his palm. “Wouldn’t want anyone to think my lead sniper wasn’t the best. Position’s yours, if you’re still willing.”

Jazz scanned the crowd. She’d pushed them away at every turn and never let them really get to know her, never let herself truly be a part of them, and here they were. Again. She’d stayed alone, watching, just like she had on the playground all those years before. How different might life have been if she’d reached out?

“There need to be some changes,” she said.

Sarge quirked a brow.

“I’d like to be part of the SWAT family this time, Sarge. I won’t just watch from the outside. I’ll do my part to make it happen. I hope you guys are willing to reciprocate.”

Sarge grinned and held out his hand. “It’s a deal.”

The team clapped her on the back and congratulated her and Luke on taking down Lisa Matthews. After a few more apologies about Tower and Paretti, they drifted away. Dirty cops were hard for all of them to deal with, and Paretti had been one of their own.

“I’m so proud of you.” Luke pulled Jazz into his arms and kissed her softly.

She sighed as Luke’s warmth and confidence enveloped her.

“Princess?” Joy tugged on Jazz’s shirt. “My daddy’s kissing you. Are you going home with us?”

With a soft stroke of her hand and a promise for later, Jazz eased from Luke’s embrace and smiled at the girl who looked at her with such faith and trust. She would protect and love Luke’s daughter with all her heart. This little girl would never doubt that she was cherished.

Jazz knelt down. “Would you let me, Joy?”

The blond curls bounced as she nodded, her face serious. “Yeah. If the bad witch comes back, you’ll make her go away.”

“Oh, honey, the bad witch won’t be back anymore.” Jazz kissed the girl on the cheek and picked her up in her arms, cradling her close. “You’re safe now. I’ll help your daddy take good care of you.”

Joy hugged her blanket and nestled closer to Jazz. “My daddy always chooses the bestest people to take care of me.”

Luke kissed his daughter’s cheek and enfolded Jazz in his arms. “Yes, I do. Ready to go home?”

Jazz nodded, but Joy looked worried.

“Daddies live with mommies.” Joy bit her lip and looked at Jazz from beneath her lashes. “You’re a princess.”

Jazz’s heart raced. “What are you trying to say, sweetheart?”

“My friends have mommies, but I don’t,” Joy said softly.

Jazz froze. The pain of not having a father, of being different, of being teased washed through her. She knew how Joy felt, but she didn’t know how to heal the little girl’s heart.

“Could you be my mommy instead of being a princess?”

Tears burned Jazz’s eyes as she reached out to touch Joy’s earnest face. “Oh, honey, I would love to be your mommy. That would be the best name I could ever have.”

Luke pulled them all close and, for Jazz, the warm embrace cradled her heart, protected and safe. She could depend on him, without hesitation, without fear. He would always be there for her, no matter how tough things got. She had no doubts.

“Daddy, you’re squishing me.”

“Sorry,” Luke said, his voice rough with emotion. “I guess we all know where we belong now.”

Jazz clasped Luke’s hand, squeezed tight, and smiled as she met his loving gaze over Joy’s head. Dreams were real. They came true. She’d never be alone again.

Jasmine had her family.

THE END

This book is the destination in a long journey of a dream fulfilled, and the beginning of a new and exciting excursion, but I never walked alone. So many held my hand and propped me up in guidance and support along the way. I wouldn’t be here without them. I could never name them all, but in particular I have to thank—

Jill Marsal, literary agent extraordinaire—her belief in me and this book, her editing skill, and her savvy brought me to this wonderful place.

Ann Steinmetz—for asking me if the heroine could be the sniper. One simple question, and a book was born.