Page 99 of A Cowboy's Trust
Then she couldn’t see the man anymore because Jake cupped her face in both hands and kissed her tenderly.
Screw the aches and pains. She was alive. Tansy kissed him back, curling her arms around his neck the best she could while hooked to an IV. Jake hugged her back so tightly Tansy had to pull hard for air. Did she care?
Not. One. Bit.
The hug eased slightly as Jake took a big breath and let it out slowly.
Tansy took a big breath as well and let it out, only she pursed her lips and blew in his face.
His lips twitched, and some of the fear in his expression lightened. “Mischief.”
“You know you love me.”
“I do.” His expression went serious. “You up for an important talk?”
“Yup.” Because once it was over, she could ask for more painkillers. Plus, the guy watching them from the doorway—it was creepy, to be honest.
Jake leaned back, speaking softly but clear enough to be heard by the man in the door. “I called in a few favours. Jackson Murray is a friend, and he’s taking point on the investigation. You remember what happened?”
“Yeah.” Tansy hesitated, searching her memories. “Did I hear Aiden right? Melissa didn’t make it?”
His expression went grim again. “Yeah. And I can’t say much more because Jackson needs to ask you official questions, but the fact Melissa died while in your SUV is messed up.”
Tansy shivered. That could have been her?—
“Shhhh.” Jake’s strong arms curled around her again. “You’re alive. You’re safe.”
“Jeffrey is safe, too.” Tansy nodded against Jake’s chest. It still didn’t feel possible, but she would cling to all the good she could. “Investigation? Am I a suspect in her death?”
“No. Not really. But he needs to talk to you.” Jake tipped his head toward the door. “Okay if he comes in?”
She would have liked a ton more time to talk first, but that probably wasn’t an option. “I guess.”
Jake squeezed her hand as he rose. “Don’t worry. Jackson is on our side. It’ll be okay.”
Jackson was a dark-haired white man with silver at his temples and a pair of wire-framed glasses he pushed up immediately after shaking Tansy’s hand. “Sorry for having to do this right away, but the sooner we get the info in, the better.”
“Okay.” Tansy sat up straighter. “What do you need to know?”
“Petra found your phone, so we found the message Melissa sent you.” Jackson took out a notebook and pen. “Why did Melissa ask if you wanted Jeffrey?”
God, what was the right answer? How much of the truth had Jake told his friend? Tansy deliberately didn’t look at Jake as she mentally raced through options of what to say.
In the end, she went with a simple truth. “I wanted Jeffrey to have a better life than Melissa was giving him. Both Jake and I wanted that, and Melissa knew it.”
Jackson made a couple of notes. “What happened when you got to the lookout?”
Explaining about the trunk incident, and her shitty SUV brakes, and the mad scramble to get out of the car took more energy than expected, and in the end, Tansy felt like day old celery as she leaned on her pillows and sipped the water Jake handed her.
Jackson nodded slowly a few times as he finished his notes. He glanced between Tansy and Jake then dipped his chin. “I got enough. You get a copy of that paperwork we talked about in as soon as possible, Jake, and that’ll cover all the bases.”
“We appreciate it,” Jake offered his hand as the man stood.
Jackson shook it firmly then smiled gently at Tansy. “You’re a lucky woman. Second chance at life and all that.”
“Never a dull day,” Tansy quipped back.
The door closed, and Jake returned to her side. “Sorry I couldn’t warn you ahead of time. You did great.”
