Page 97 of The Redemption of Remy St. Claire

Remytackledcleaningthekitchen while Rusty took on the challenge of baths. Her husband was so organized, he cleaned as he went. Despite the volume of cooking and baking, few dishes needed cleaning. She was finishing up when Calleigh and Mira came toddling out, each holding books.

“Story time.” Matching grins accompanied the chimed request.

She followed them into their bedroom and sat on Calleigh’s bed. Her little sister tucked herself under one arm while Mira tucked herself under the other. Gratitude overwhelmed as she found herself surrounded by boundless love and trust.

Blinking away a tear, she took the book Mira had selected. Huh. A frog looking for a mate. A boy frog looking for a boyfriend. Cute. Teach them tolerance early and maybe the lesson would stick.

Calleigh’s choice was a young girl getting her first puppy.

This was not the first time Remy’d read this story. Although the girls hadn’t come out and asked, she suspected what they wanted for Christmas.

Eyes drooped by the time she finished the second story.

Mira didn’t protest when Rusty moved her to her own bed. By the time the adults turned off the lights and flicked on the nightlights, both girls were asleep.

She trailed him to the living room.

“You’re tired.” He waited for her to sit in her chair and then he sank to the couch.

Apparently she wasn’t the only one who’d had a long day.

“Did you have a rough day at work?”

“I’m not that tired. And I had a very good day at work. Well, good for my work, but not good for the victim. Except I think today helped this victim….” She was rambling. Obviously.

“I know what you mean.” As always, he was quick to assure her. “You walk a fine line. You celebrate when you nab a perpetrator, and then you remember he’s only there because there’s a matching victim.”

Thank God he understands.He always knew the right thing to say to her. He understood her work and how important it was to her.

“We found another victim. She’s one hundred percent certain it was the creep, and all the evidence stacks up. We’re closing in on him, Rusty. I want to take this to trial and a jury, but Zach wants us to use this new victim as leverage. She’ll make a compelling witness, but I can’t guarantee anything.”

“What’re your instincts telling you?”

Her gut tightened. “That Zach’s right. If we can negotiate a significant and lengthy jail sentence, then it’s worth it. We’ll leave it up to the courts to decide if he’s a dangerous offender.”

“And if they decide that?”

“He may spend the rest of his life in jail.”

“I’m so proud of you, sweetheart.” His eyes shone with warmth and comfort.

Exhaling, she gave herself permission to bask in his praise. He was so open with his emotions. He never hid anything from her, and she appreciated that.

But she had another pressing item on her mind.

“I think the girls want a puppy for Christmas.”

He cocked an eyebrow. “You got that feeling too, eh?”

“I…I don’t know what to say. I mean, how are we going to tell them it won’t happen?”

“You never had a pet growing up?” He leaned forward.

She shook her head. “My father was deathly allergic to fur. He had to take an antihistamine if we were going anywhere that might have pets. I had a goldfish, but it died, and I didn’t want to go through the trauma again.”

“Do you think you could take the trauma now?” He eased himself from the couch and circled the room. “You have such a beautiful house—"

“You mean,wehave a beautiful house.”

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