Undercover Love (The Women of Manatee Bay, Book 2) (29 page)

Rachel peered closer. “Isn’t that the mayor?” She squinted. “At the warehouse?” Where he’d met Maggie.

Suddenly the screen filled with uniforms rushing towards the mayor, FBI emblazoned on their backs. The look on the mayor’s face was so comical, Rachel giggled. “Wasn’t expecting you guys, was he?”

She glanced at Grant. He grinned as he took the flash drive out. “Nope.”

“So you’ve been working with the Feds this whole time? What about Owens’ wife? Does she know?”

“Whoa, slow down.” He guided her to the couch and pressed her shoulders.

Huffing, she sat down. If she had to sit to hear the juicy details, then she would. Besides, she was still feeling fuzzy from his declaration of love.

“Spill,” she said.

The couch sunk as he sat beside her. “Mrs. Owens is hiding out but he thinks she’s at a mental hospital. The flash drive you gave me when you were shot at cracked the case wide open.”

“That shooter better be in jail.”

“He is, but you weren’t his target.”

That snapped her spine straight. “Why not?”

Grant laughed. It vibrated all the way through her and made her smile. “Trust you to ask why you weren’t shot at.”

“Very funny. What’s the deal?”

“Maggie was the target. The mayor worried the news of her abortion would get out and people wouldn’t vote for him.”

“That jerk.” Her fuzzy, happy-bubble feelings were popping real quick.

“She’s fine. The FBI has been investigating him for awhile. Embezzlement and drug trafficking.”

“How did you know that?”

He winced. “I was their tipster.”

“You turned the mayor in?”

“I had to, Rachel.” There was steel in his voice, a strength and determination she understood completely.

She nodded once and changed the subject. “So how did the flash drive change things?”

“The wife downloaded and encoded some documents on it. They led straight to some personal files on his computer that exposed him.”

She gaped at him. “I encoded those.”

“That’s illegal.”

“I thought I’d lost that drive in the woods.” Frowning, she backtracked over her actions when she’d hacked into the mayor’s computer. Both flash drives had been white, one Lexar, one Cruzer. She must’ve confused them. The files she planned to give Mrs. Owens had actually been the mayor’s personal financial information, instead of pictures of his lady friend.

“You encoded the drive when you broke in, didn’t you?”

“I had to snoop a little.”

Grant’s face seemed to pale in the moonlight and she laughed. “Don’t worry. I’m going to be doing things honestly and ethically from now on. You were right to believe so strongly in obeying rules. Especially God’s. It was a good reminder for me to see you so intense about pleasing Him.”

“That reminds me.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a dark object. “You’ve taught me some things too, Rachel. Life isn’t about following rules. It’s about relationships.”

“This is for you.” He held out his hand. A small black box nestled there.

She took the box, weighing the velvety feel of it against her palm. Jewelry? She met his gaze, saw the charming quirk of his lips, and her heartbeat tripled. Breath held, she opened the box. The air whooshed out of her in a scream.

He laughed while she stared at the ring. The planes of the princess-cut caught the moonlight and sparkled beneath its blue-hued gleam.

Grant slid off the couch and knelt before her. “Will you marry me, Rachel McCormick, PI extraordinaire?”

She turned the diamond and let the starlight dance against its surface. Answering was impossible; tears clogged her throat.

This was much more romantic than she’d ever expected. Scott had asked in a practical voice as they drove to a church service. Her gaze shifted from the ring to Grant. He knelt before her, looking more vulnerable than she’d ever seen him. Serious and intent. She looked down and saw his knuckles white.

Swallowing her tears, she smiled but before she could answer Maggie’s bedroom door slammed open.

“What’s going on?” Her hair framed her face, a rat’s nest of corkscrew curls. Nose wrinkling, she stepped closer to the couch. “And what is that stench?”

Joy blossomed in Rachel’s chest. She beamed at her sister. “I’m getting married.”

“What?” Maggie’s scream was almost as loud as the one that had woken her. She barged over, taking the box Rachel held out triumphantly. She loved how her sister’s eyes widened and how her mouth hung open like a gaping fish.

“This is two carats. How can Grant afford this?”

“I’ve been taking care of only myself for years. Savings.” His sardonic voice melted over Rachel, warmer than any Florida summer she’d ever felt. She took the hand he held out to her, relishing the strength of his grasp. They stood together.

Maggie handed the box back to her and gave her a triumphant smile. “I told you.” She tossed her hair over her shoulder. “I’m going back to bed.”

She trudged back to the room, though Rachel thought she heard a giggle as she left.

Rachel turned to Grant, letting him enfold her. “I love the ring. How did you know I like diamonds?”

“You’re that kind of girl.” She felt him smile into her hair.

She shifted so she could look up at him. His dimples deepened and his eyes warmed. A look she would never grow tired of.  “A lifetime with you is more than I ever dreamed of. I’ll marry you. Gladly.”

The hands holding her so gently tightened. “Soon?”

She grinned. “How do you feel about a honeymoon in the Keys?”

THE END

Coming in 2014
:

Forever Love (Book 3)

Free-spirited Maggie McCormick has a history of messing up in love. For a small town girl, that can spell trouble...especially when she finds herself falling for a very hot and very eligible local pastor.

You can find Jessica Nelson at her website

www.jessicanelson.net

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