“Good friends are hard to come by,” Ajay said.

  “What if I’m putting her in danger? If anything happened because of our association, I would be devastated.”

  “I won’t say it’s not a risk. I honestly don’t know. But I do know it’s highly unlikely that, whoever this guy is, he’s going to harm anyone else. He’s had ample opportunity, and he hasn’t taken it. My sense is this is more about making you his possession, either for profit or his own perverse gain.”

  “Well, that makes me feel better,” Lizzy said facetiously. The snark in her tone was thick.

  “Everything’s going to be fine,” Ajay said as he gave her a wide smile. “I promise.”

  She blew out a sigh of relief, wanting to believe because Ajay seemed both determined and certain. She turned her attention back to the road.

  From the back seat, Pumpkin eased her snout over Lizzy’s shoulder, nudging her. Lizzy smiled, that little gesture of comfort taming the angst in her heart.

  * * *

  When Ajay turned onto Cross Road, the private drive into the Crosswinds Training Center and the Cross family home, he wasn’t sure who got more excited—Lizzy or Pumpkin. He turned left past the medical building toward the kennels and training areas. The single-family home was in walking distance of the kennels, and he turned into the parking area between the two.

  Both woman and dog were bouncing up and down in their seats. Lizzy squealed as if she’d won the biggest prize at the state fair, and Pumpkin whined as if she’d been given a treat for her good behavior.

  Crosswinds was Owl Creek’s pride and joy. The facility was owned by former marine Sebastian Cross. Sebastian was well-known in the community for his expert training and handling of search-and-rescue dogs. He also supported veterans with PTSD, providing them with service dogs to help with their healing.

  Sebastian’s new love, Ruby, was a Colton, Jenny’s eldest daughter and Lizzy’s first cousin. She owned Colton Veterinary Hospital, and her vet services surpassed all others in the area. Both Sebastian and Ruby were thriving, living their best lives. Friends and business associates, they worked well together, focused on building their respective businesses.

  When Sebastian became a target, his land considered prime real estate, no one had expected that Ruby would get caught in the cross hairs of a fanatic claiming to do God’s bidding. Fighting side by side for what they believed in had given the couple a new look on what life could be like for them. Now they were celebrating the birth of their first child, a baby boy named Sawyer Colton Cross.

  Lizzy hadn’t seen her cousin for a little while, only hearing bits and pieces of the drama from other family members. Mama Jen had told her of the new baby’s birth, but Lizzy’s current situation had kept her from visiting.

  There weren’t enough words for Lizzy to express to Ajay how happy she was. He had made her entire world turn on its axis. She was beyond ecstatic.

  “I’m going to take Pumpkin over to the kennels so she can nuzzle some of the puppies if they have any. Ruby and Sebastian are at the house. I’ll catch up with you in a few minutes,” Ajay said.

  “Thank you,” Lizzy said as she threw her arms around Ajay’s neck. She pressed her mouth to his, kissing him with an intensity that bordered on ravenous.

  He couldn’t help but kiss her back, his lips dancing in perfect sync with hers. He tasted like mint, she thought, wintergreen, fresh and airy. When his tongue darted past her lips to tangle with her tongue, Lizzy felt like she might have dropped to her knees had she been standing.

  They both pulled away at the same time. Ajay’s eyes were wide, and he looked as if he wasn’t certain what was expected of him next. Lizzy’s palm was pressed against his chest, and she could feel his heart racing. He was visibly fighting to catch his breath.

  Lizzy pressed her mouth to his for a second time, giving him a quick peck on the lips, then she jumped from the car and sprinted down toward her cousin’s home.

  * * *

  Ajay shook his head. Clearly, he and Lizzy were headed down a path of no return. Neither was going to be able to come back from the growing tsunami of emotions swirling between them. He bit his bottom lip as he exited the vehicle, Pumpkin on his heels.

  Inside the kennels, Della sat at the front desk, her dog, Charlie, resting beside her. Charlie barked in greeting, moving to Ajay’s side for a scratch behind his ears. Pumpkin pressed her nose to her friend’s, the two engaging in typical scratch-and-sniff doggie behavior as they greeted each other. Ajay motioned for Pumpkin to take a seat, and she lay down on the floor, curling her body against Charlie’s.

  “This is a surprise! I wasn’t expecting to see you out and about.” Della stood to give him a hug.

  “I thought it would be good to get Lizzy out of that house, and she hasn’t seen the new baby.”

  “Babies always make you feel good, and that one is a cutie!”

  “How’s it going?” Ajay questioned.

  “Work is work. Still no news on Lizzy’s stalker. It’s really starting to mess with everyone’s heads. It’s been a minute since I’ve seen the team so frustrated by a case.”

  “Glad I’m not the only one.”

  “You need to let this go, Ajay.”

  He rolled his eyes skyward. “Didn’t I just hear this lecture from you?”

  “You need to hear it again. Go back to search and rescue and do what you do best. The captain has put his best detectives on the case to help you. I know how important this is to you, but you don’t need to let it consume your entire life. They’ll catch him.”

  “I think whoever it is, they’re known to the family. It’s someone they’re friendly with and maybe even someone they trust.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “No forced entry into the home, which suggests they had a key, and the intruders knew exactly where Lizzy’s bedroom was. They didn’t waste time looking for it.”

  Della nodded. “I’ll pass that information on. In the meantime, though, want to tell me how things are with you and Lizzy?”

  Ajay’s brow lifted, the question putting him on edge. “What do you mean, how things are with me and Lizzy? Things are fine.”

  “I saw you two swapping saliva. Things looked more than fine.”

  “How the hell...?” Curiosity turned to embarrassment.

  Della laughed as she gestured to the security cameras. One was pointed toward the parking lot, his vehicle front and center. “Sebastian had these put in when the trouble was going on a few months back. Just to be safe.” She tapped her hand over her heart. “They’ve been good for my voyeuristic spirit!” Her raucous laugh was teasing.

  Ajay shook his head slowly. “Let’s keep this between us, please. I still don’t know what’s happening with me and Lizzy.”

  “Looked cut-and-dried to me. I mean, that was some kiss!”

  “She kissed me,” he said sheepishly.

  “It didn’t look like you were putting up much of a fight, my friend.”

  Ajay laughed. “I got caught up. It won’t happen again.”

  “That’s your lie,” Della said with a shrug. “Tell it any way you want to tell it.”

  The two laughed cheerfully together.

  Chapter 10

  Lizzy and Ruby were clinging tightly to each other when Sebastian entered the small family room. He stood patiently, allowing the two women a moment that both clearly needed. Ruby kissed Lizzy’s cheek. Even though she had her biological sisters, Lizzy had always been special to her. She’d been the baby girl of all the babies, and Ruby had been especially protective of her since she’d been the only girl in a house filled with yucky boys.

  “I’ve been worried sick about you,” Ruby said as she grabbed Lizzy by the hand.

  “I’m fine. But you had a baby!”

  Ruby grinned. “I did.” She pointed toward Sebastian, who was cradling their infant son against his broad chest.

  Lizzy squealed, her excitement brimming out of every pore. “Can I hold him?” she asked, her arms extended.

  The noise startled the dog reclined in front of the fireplace. Oscar, Sebastian’s golden retriever, sat up and looked around.

  “It’s okay, boy,” Sebastian said as he took a step forward. His smile was bright as Lizzy reached for the baby, lifting their bundle of joy from his arms.

  Lizzy moved to the sofa and sat down. The small person in her arms had chubby cheeks and suckled his tongue. His blue eyes opened and closed and opened again as he looked up at her. Lizzy declared him the most beautiful baby she had ever seen.

  “He’s absolutely precious,” Lizzy gushed.

  “He’s a sweet baby,” Ruby said as she unfolded a white spit cloth and laid it against Lizzy’s shoulder. “I think we’ll keep him!”

  “I just want to know how you carried him for nine months and he comes out looking just like his father. I don’t see an ounce of Colton in him.”

  Sebastian laughed. “He did get my good looks, didn’t he?”

  “I swear I think it’s karma for something I did in a former life,” Ruby said.

  The doorbell suddenly chimed.

  “Were you expecting someone else?” Sebastian asked, his eyes shifting toward Ruby.

  She shook her head again. “No.”

  “It’s probably my bodyguard,” Lizzy said, nonchalantly, her gaze still locked on the baby.

  The married couple exchanged a look. Sebastian moved to the front door and pulled it open. Laughter exploded as he greeted Ajay warmly, showing him into their home.

  “Ajay!” Ruby exclaimed. “We heard you were pulling watchdog duty.”

  Ajay laughed. “Is that what they call it?”

  “Whatever it is you’re doing, I’m just happy to know my baby cousin is in good hands.”

  Ajay stared where Lizzy was sitting. There was a glow on her face that he hadn’t seen before. Her joy was palpable, filling every corner of the room. She looked good with a baby in her arms and before he could catch them, those words seemed to jump out of his mouth on their own accord.

  Lizzy gave him a smile. “Why, thank you, Lieutenant Wright. That’s very sweet of you to say. I hope to have my own babies someday.”

  Ajay could feel his face warm as he blushed profusely. Sebastian and Ruby grinned at them both.

  “So, what’s up with you two?” Ruby asked. “Mama says you’re staying at the ranch, Ajay?”

  “Just until they can get a lead on whoever has been threatening Lizzy.”

  “I told you I had a bodyguard,” Lizzy said teasingly.

  “For a small community like Owl Creek, we’ve had a lot going on these past few months. And not a lot of it has been good,” Sebastian said. “Della and Max were telling us about what’s been happening with you, Lizzy, and it’s almost as wild as what Ruby went through.”

  Ruby nodded. “It was bad enough when we thought you were lost. But then to find out that someone had actually taken you was really frightening.”

  Lizzy shifted her gaze from Ruby’s face to Ajay’s. “Something similar happened to Ruby not too long ago.”

  “Turned out to be some lunatic from that new church that’s pitched their tent here in town,” Sebastian said. “They’re called the Ever After Church. He was one of their ranking members and claimed he was ordered by God to lay claim to the property here. Setting his sights on Ruby to get to me was his first and last mistake.”

  “If you ever need to talk,” Ruby said, turning toward Lizzy, “you just call me. I know how it feels to have someone coming after you like that. I’ve never been so scared.”

  “And you were pregnant,” Lizzy added. “I can’t even imagine keeping it together under those circumstances.”

  Ruby reached for Sebastian’s hand. “I don’t know what might have happened if Sebastian hadn’t been going through it with me. He was my rock!”

  “I guess boys do come in handy!” Lizzy snuggled the baby against her shoulder.

  Ruby laughed. “Only if they’re not related to you! Brothers are still butts!”

  Both men shook their heads and rolled their eyes, but seemed to be amused. Ajay finally took a seat beside Lizzy, cooing at the little boy who was the spitting image of his friend. Laughter filled the room, ringing warmly through the air.

  “Have you two eaten?” Sebastian asked. “I was going to toss something onto the grill for lunch. There’s more than enough to share.”

  “We don’t want to wear out our welcome,” Lizzy muttered.

  Ajay added, “I should probably get Lizzy back to the ranch.”

  “And Mom brought us a cake,” Ruby interjected. “Chocolate mousse cake! If I remember, that was one of your favorites, Lizzy!”

  “Besides,” Sebastian added, “you’re going to need a crowbar to pry my son out of her arms and that might take a while.”

  Ajay chuckled. There was a moment of hesitation as he and Lizzy had a silent conversation. She attempted to plead with him with her eyes.

  “We’d love to stay,” he finally said. “And if you have a crowbar I can borrow, it would be appreciated.”

  Sebastian laughed. “Steaks and a side of crowbar coming right up!”

  * * *

  Lizzy hadn’t stopped talking since they’d left Crosswinds. After spending time with Ruby and Sebastian, they stopped down at the kennels to collect Pumpkin and bid goodbye to Della. Once they were in the car, Lizzy was a bundle of joy and happiness. Her exuberance was infectious, and before Ajay knew it, he was almost as giddy as she was.

  Almost.

  Despite their moment of relaxation and fellowship with the other couple, Ajay was still on high alert. Still looking over his shoulder, and hers, for anything out of place. He understood Lizzy wasn’t safe until they captured whoever was after her. And Lizzy’s safety had to be foremost in his thoughts.

  Lizzy asking him a question pulled him from his musings. “How many kids do you want?”

  Ajay blinked, his lashes fluttering. “Kids?”

  She laughed. “Kids! Those really small people who cry a lot. Have you ever thought about having kids of your own?”

  “Not really,” Ajay answered honestly. “I’ve always been singularly focused on my career. I hadn’t considered what my future might look like with a family. I figured there was plenty of time for that.”

  “I want at least six kids,” Lizzy said definitively.

  “Six?” Ajay was incredulous. He shot Lizzy a quick glance, then shifted his eyes back to the road.

  “I’ve always imagined I’d have a big family. When I was younger, I was determined to only have one child. But then I thought how lonely that must be, and well, coming from a big family, why not have a big family?”

  Ajay chuckled. “As an only child, I can attest to the fact that not having a big family isn’t a big deal. I could probably see myself with two kids. Maybe even three. But six? I can’t wrap my mind around six.”

  Lizzy laughed. “I think we could handle six kids easily. Four boys and two girls. I want the boys to come first and then the girls. Big brothers can be pretty cool.”

  “While we’re at it, why not put in an order for twins?” Ajay said facetiously.

  “Twin girls! Yes!”

  He shook his head. “I can’t with you!” he said, laughing heartily.

  “We should probably get to work on that. Don’t you think?”

  “I think we need to end this conversation before you say something that gets me in trouble.”

  “What kind of trouble?”

  “The kind of trouble that makes babies,” he replied.

  She grinned. “Would that be a bad thing? Practice would be half the fun!”

  Ajay changed the subject. “Tell me about Brian. From what I heard, that was a devastating crash and burn for him.”

  Her brow lifted, surprise washing over her expression. “Who told you about Brian?”

  “One of your brothers might have mentioned him. He was a friend of Greg’s, and from what I hear, you chewed the guy up and spit him out.”

  Lizzy rolled her eyes skyward. “He was my last boyfriend. He was a real douchebag!”

  “Ouch!”

  “I thought he was the one. I’d already planned to name our first child Brian Junior. Then I discovered he already had a son named Brian Junior. Two in fact. And a daughter named Brianna. But he never bothered to tell me. His wife did.”

  “Three kids and a wife?”

  “Three kids, a wife and a mistress.”

  “Greg didn’t know he was married before he introduced you?”

  “No one knew. Not even the mistress who named his second son Brian, too.”

  “What a douche!”

  “Exactly!” Lizzy exclaimed, tossing her hands up in the air.

  “What did you do when you found out?”

  “You really don’t want to know.”

  “No, I really do,” Ajay said, stealing another glance in her direction.

  “I negotiated a meetup with the other two women and their kids and invited him to a surprise party. And we met in the conference room at his job.”

  Ajay laughed. “Please tell me how you managed to pull that off at the man’s job.”

  “I’d been hired to do some marketing work for his firm. I had a presentation to give. He just happened to be the star on my program.”

  “What happened then?”

  “Before or after his wife slapped him with divorce papers?”

  “I don’t need to know anymore. You are ruthless, Lizzy Colton!”

  “I’m not a woman to be played with. If I give you my heart, then I’m trusting you to protect it. Hurt me, and I will cripple you. And that’s after I sic my brothers on you.”

  “And here I thought you were this nice, kind, sweet...”

 

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