Dangerous Memories (18 page)

His lips lingered on her forehead for just a moment, then he smiled crookedly. “I won’t, Jo. Not ever.”

Chapter Twenty-One

“I thought I’d lost you,” Levi whispered into Jo’s hair and leaving another feather-light kiss.

The doctors were finished. Her wrists had been cleaned and bandaged. Bruises on her temple and jaw were darkening. Levi sat in the hospital bed with her sleeping cradled in his arms. He could lift her into the second patient bed, but she seemed comfortable enough
curled to his side, legs stretched across him, cheek resting on his chest. It was more for his benefit than her security, and it had helped her fall asleep.

One of Lanning’s agents was at their room door. He could drift off, catch a nap, knowing she was safe. His witness—that wasn’t a witness—was finally under his protection.

“Good morning.”

“Lanning.” Levi opened his eyes. He must
have really slept. Sunshine poured through the window. He squinted at the clock. “Ten o’clock?”

Jo snuggled a bit more adding a little groan of protest when he shifted his arm.

“Your phone’s off. Turn it on. Boss lady called to say she wants you on the first plane back to Denver. You’ve been reinstated.” Lanning made himself comfortable in the corner chair. “I think she wants to be awake
for this.”

“I’m awake. I was hoping you’d feel guilty and maybe leave.” She sat next to him on the bed.

Levi moved his arm and meshed his fingers through hers to keep her next to him. That second bed could stay empty. She accepted his unspoken direction and tucked the blanket closer around her legs.

“Docs said you can both leave the hospital soon. Question is...where do you go?”
Lanning held up his hand. “Hold on. Before you go jumping down my throat, Cooper, I’ve arranged protective custody for your girl until the trial or we determine that no one else wants her out of the picture.”

“Is that really necessary? I don’t even know why Price-Reed wanted my family dead or what it was about.”

“That I do know. Carol Price-Reed was the wife of a Dallas County judge
and daughter of a Texas real estate giant who was greedier than either of the men in her life.” Lanning tapped the thick file on his lap. “They’re having a field day discovering all the crooked business dealings she’s been associated with over the past thirty or forty years. So many illegal companies that they’re splitting up jurisdiction. The names inside the dog were the missing connection.”

“Dad left a clue? Why didn’t you tell me?” She faced Levi, accusing him of withholding information.

“Wait a minute. You sort of took off on your own before I found it and I’ve been a little busy rescuing you.”

The bed that had barely been big enough to hold them suddenly had a lot more room as Jo pulled away to the edge.

Lanning cleared his throat and they both turned back to
him. “The names provided by your father, Miller and Phillips, appear to be as innocent as your mother. Connecting the banker, the appraiser and the title work your mother sometimes did, unraveled all the carefully twisted lies and layers of dummy corporations.”

“Why didn’t anyone make the connection earlier and what stirred the pot for another investigation last year? Is Jo still at risk?”

“Did the mute survive? And is Price-Reed talking yet?” Jo asked at the same time.

“I knew you’d have questions.” Lanning smiled at Jo. “They both lawyered up as soon as the cuffs were on. The mute and his brother were ID’d from their prints and a long list of wrongs as Sonny and Tommy Smith. Seems Judge Price kept them out of prison more than once, probably had something to do with the
investigation twenty years ago. Sonny’s lawyer says he has evidence to put Price-Reed away for the rest of her days. They’re talking to the DoJ.”

“Then why do I need to go into hiding?” Jo’s body stiffened, her hands going to the edge of the blanket, ready to pull it back and stand.

Levi shifted, holding her hand tighter, shaking his head to discourage her leaving his side. “After what
you’ve been through, I’d think you’d welcome it.” He had to convince her to take the protection. No matter how much he wanted her next to him, this was the only way to assure her safety. She had to understand.

“I think I’ve proven that I can take care of myself.”

“But you don’t need to worry about proving yourself,” Levi stressed. Jo’s mouth formed a thin line. He was close enough to
hear her jaw pop as the result of gnashing her molars. This is what he did. He protected people. He could protect her with the proper resources.

“Don’t mind me, the sleepless FBI agent that saved both your hides. I’d leave, but I need to arrange what happens next.”

Jo showed him the back of her shoulder, essentially ignoring him and his experience. “Sorry, George, but do you really think
I’m in any danger?”

“I can’t force you to—”

“Yes, you can.” Levi leaned forward, cupping her chin to guide it to face him before he pleaded, “Take it.”

Jo turned a frosty gaze to him. Something he hadn’t seen since the funeral. She stood with jerky movements, making certain her elbow caught him a couple of times below the ribs. She secured the blanket around her shoulders and marched
barefoot to the now standing Lanning. He ignored her extended hand and pulled her close for a Texas hug, smirking over her shoulder and extending the gesture a tad longer than necessary. Levi was about to jump out of the bed when Jo broke off the embrace.

“George, I appreciate your arrangements. But if that’s the only option, then we’re done. I’ll, of course, make myself available for whatever
the FBI needs.”

Levi looked at George then at her. Gaping at them was probably a better description. He couldn’t believe what was happening. “That’s it? You’re just going to let her walk away?”

“I can’t force her into protective custody. You, of all people, know that.” If Lanning’s cocky smile meant anything, it was that he’d be glad to take up where Levi had left off.

“Go back
to your life, Levi,” Jo said. “You have your job back. I need some time.”

“Jo. You can’t turn this down. We’ve been trying to get you protection for a long time.” Telling her what to do had never worked. Would never work. He silently cursed himself for not phrasing the words as a suggestion. “It’s what your dad wanted.”

The fierce need inside his chest hung on the edge of a precipice.
Levi waited for her to agree. A look of embarrassment would confirm her consent. A look of encouragement would keep them talking, trying to convince each other of their side. And then, the look he’d dreaded, the one that confirmed she was leaving, sent his heart plunging to die a slow death.

“I know, Levi.” She paused on her way out the door, trying to hide the tears pooling in her beautiful
eyes. “I just...can’t.”

Everything about him that was a man missed her immediately. His arms missed the way she fit within their circle. The beat of his heart missed the echo of hers beneath her breasts. She’d been willing to sacrifice everything to get to this moment. The last thing between them would not be her walking away.

* * *

T
HE
DAYS
HAD
been very long and lonely without
him—not to mention the nights. She was trying to accept that the romantic part of their relationship was over. Harder still to accept their friendship was over.

Jolene stretched, enjoying the lumpy mattress. Lumpy was so much better than being hidden in a hotel for the past two nights while she gave her statements to the FBI. Car lights momentarily brightened her small bedroom, reminding
her to get darkening curtains once she got on the road.

“To where?”

At this point she didn’t care. Anywhere except Dallas. Any direction that didn’t require turns until she got used to driving this huge monster. Get on a highway out of town and just keep going. She could do it. She could learn. And if she couldn’t, she’d stop and take lessons. But she needed to get lost for a while,
just turn whichever way wasn’t blocked with red tape and a handsome U.S. Marshal.

She closed her eyes, attempting to fall asleep for the countless time, excited for her big start in the morning. Her heart beat so fast she thought the motor home was moving.

“Wait.” She threw her legs over the side and fell back when the wheels bounced over a speed bump. She charged through the door, prepared
to pick up a frying pan if the driver wasn’t the familiar head she expected in the driver’s seat.

“Levi?”

“Did I wake you? You told Lanning you wanted to get an early start.”

“Not at two in the morning. Pull over.” The motor home was shifted into Park and he twisted in his seat to give her a sexy onceover look that had her squirming on the laminate floor. “I told George I didn’t
want to see you. Didn’t he tell you?”

“I listened.”

“You aren’t supposed to be here. I wrote you a letter. I explained that I wanted to travel and you’re going back to your job.” Did she really want to leave him?

“I read it.”

“It’s better if I’m on my own for a while, to think.”
To get over you.

“Not happening.” He shook his head and stood, shrinking the space between
them. She wanted to run into his arms. She always did.

He stood straighter, appearing taller but somewhat less confident than he had a couple of days ago when she’d marched out of the hospital.

“Maybe I should take us back.” He got behind the wheel and returned to their spot in the park. He stayed put in the driver’s seat. “There were a couple of questions we saved for later.”

“And this is later?” The need to take him to their bedroom was overwhelming, but he was right. There were things they needed to settle, things she needed to know about what made Levi who he was.

“You asked me why I went along with your dad and lied to you all these years. First off, Joseph asked and I respected that, but I also gave him my word. About the same time, he sort of gave me the
same talk my own dad did before he died.”

“How old were you when you lost your dad?”

“Ten. My mom left Amarillo by the time I was two. High school sweethearts who made a mistake.” He looked at ease, like he’d come to terms with his mother’s decision a long time ago. “Both of our fathers spoke about how important it was to keep my word. That ultimately it was the only thing I had.”

“You lived with the aunt you mentioned?”

“Yeah. We’d been living with my aunt and uncle most of my life already. I’ve always made it a point to keep my promises, Jo.”

“You’ve more than kept your promise to my dad.”

“That’s not the promise I’m talking about.” He paused a long time. “I promised not to let you go.”

There was a look about Levi she hadn’t really seen before.
Something akin to petrified. He was afraid. He was really worried.

“That was when you rescued me. Levi, I didn’t mean forever.”

“But I did.”

He swooped in and spun her around the small kitchen, kissing her mouth, making her want more. “So do I.”

Epilogue

“You’re certain you’re ready?” Levi asked Jo, slipping on his coat once they’d finalized everything with the Vegas wedding coordinator.

“Levi, you know everything there is to know about me. We’ve lived and traveled in a motor home from one side of the country to the other over the past six weeks.” She put her hands on her hips like the spunky partner he’d had on the
train just a short time ago. “I think you’d know by now when I’ve made up my mind.”

Yeah, he knew. She’d taken a turn at the wheel of the motor home and headed them to Amarillo to pick up his aunt Catherine. She was the one who’d made hotel arrangements in Vegas and researched wedding chapels. Even arranged for him to have a best man.

“We don’t have to do this now, today. We could wait.”
Levi took her hands, searching her eyes.

Calm. Hope. Excitement. Love. He could see the emotions waiting to be shared with him.

“Sounds like you’re the one trying to back out,” she teased.

“Not happening.”

He pulled her into his arms to prove how much he wanted her in his life. Marriage was the next step, one he’d pushed for since they’d left Dallas. His only second thoughts
were of how hard he’d pushed and if this were really her decision.

“You said you needed to think about what you wanted. You haven’t had much alone time.”

“I love you. It’s the only thing I don’t need to think about and that isn’t going to change.” She tipped her chin, leaning into him, her eyes closing before their lips connected.

When they were together he tried to make her forget
everything else. Each kiss took him back to the beginning of their adventure. A curious kiss at an airport that had spoiled his chances of falling for anyone else.

“Let’s get this shindig going. I hear the slots calling my name.” George, playing the part of best man, rubbed his hands together.

“I still can’t believe you invited this guy.”

Lanning had kept them informed on the investigation
and had kept their names out of the press—as promised.

“I wanted your aunt to be a part of things. So...” Jo slid her hands over his shoulders, smoothing his jacket. “You needed a best man if I had a best gal.”

“I have plenty of friends who didn’t play me like a fool.” He winked at her proving he wasn’t upset. He actually appreciated George. And Jo knew that.

“But
I
don’t know them.
At least not until we get back to Denver.”

It was time. Their turn. The coordinator waved them inside the doors. Levi watched the woman he loved link arms with his aunt and march to the front of the Vegas wedding chapel. Everything was set and in a few minutes, Jo would be his for life.

“That’s one great woman you’ve got there,” George said, slapping him on the back. “Appreciate the
invite.”

“I never had the chance to thank you for loaning me your truck or setting me back up with my girl.” He handed his best man the wedding rings he’d bought without his fiancé’s knowledge.

“Don’t mention it.” George shrugged off the thanks. No one had mentioned the help he’d given Levi during the search for Jo. Help that had contradicted the Bureau’s orders.

“If you take your
spot, George, we can get this party started,” Jo said, returning with her chapel-provided bouquet.

George kissed her cheek and took his place next to the minister waiting with his aunt up front.

“You’re very beautiful,” Levi told Jo, suddenly wondering how he’d gotten so lucky.

“This is it, Marshal Cooper. Care to walk me down the aisle?”

“It would be my pleasure, soon-to-be
Mrs. Cooper.” He hooked his arm and patted her hand once it was in place. “Is that going to feel weird to you? Being Jolene Cooper?”

“It’s the only name that’s ever felt one hundred percent right.”

* * * * *

Keep reading for an excerpt of
Cowboy Cop
by Rita Herron!