Page 75 of Special Agent Storm

Chapter Forty-seven

Kurt couldn’t believe his eyes when Ruby appeared at the restaurant. His lady had drastically changed, and it was difficult to put his finger on the exact reason.

She looked much the same. And yet she didn’t. There was something uniquely changed that he watched closely so he could put his finger on it. Suddenly, he knew. She’d lost the edginess that kept everyone near her from completely relaxing. There’d been a sparkler-like quality that drew and could repel at the same time. She’d been edgy, and he’d always felt he’d have to step carefully.

But now, it was like she’d healed, and her new serenity attracted him even more than the old restlessness. If one had to put a name to the quality, he might have said she’d matured… her new strength a turn on.

Like when she’d held his hand on the seat between them while she ate. Reaching out to touch him had been something new. He’d always been the one forced to make any physical connections. Therefore, feeling her fingers wrap around his had turned him into pure mush.

They’d ended the meal with Ruby eating small amounts off the plate filled with different foods Jill had arranged, while he and Molly had gorged on their favorite hot apple pie and ice cream dessert. He loved cooked apples and just the smell of them would leave his stomach craving.

Once they finished, he turned to Molly. “Mom is it okay if you grab an Uber to take you home? I need Ruby to come back to the office with me and there’s no better time like the present.”

“Sure, honey.”

Jill cut in. “Don’t be silly. I’ll be glad to give Molly a ride back to her place.” When she saw that Molly might be going to argue, she added, “You can give me those recipes we were talking about.”

“What… oh those ones. Sure. That would be nice.” Molly had caught the warning wink from Jill and played along. “I’ll see you later, son.”

After the parting hugs all around, Kurt led Ruby to his truck and helped her inside. The feeling of being watched hit him once again and yet when he scanned the area, nothing looked out of place. No one stood out from the other folks on the move.

He got in behind the wheel. “How’ve you been feeling? Jill said you weren’t able to eat before.”

Ruby chuckled self-consciously but admitted her truth. “It’s because I’d become so upset, little junior here refused to give me a break. Once I’d seen the light and calmed down, it’s like a freakin’ miracle. Weirdly, my stomach settled, and now I feel like a million bucks.”

Kurt laughed, he had to. Number one, it was so great to be with her again. And best of all, she seemed happy and well enough to hear the news he’d been dreading to share.

As he drove, they held hands and chatted about all kinds of things until she finally coughed and brought up the restless elephant between them.

“Did you know my boss suspended me after the car pileup on the highway? For a week.”

“I know. I’m sorry, baby.”

“I’m not. It was exactly what I needed. Both you and Jill tried to tell me to slow down and make better choices, but I believed I could take on the world and that it was strangely expected. That I was the hero in every story. The shit crept into my head, and it grew until I became dangerous.”

Kurt pulled over, shut off the truck, and reached for her. When she came willingly, he breathed a huge sigh of relief. “Baby, you are a hero. Amazing and strong… and so damn brave. Trust me, everyone loves you. Me included.” Oh shit, his tongue had just run away from his brain.

Once the words were out, his breath hitched in his throat, and he sweated through the silence. Then he heard her whisper.

“I love you too. And… I’m fine now. As full of myself as I was, I finally saw the light. I didn’t like what I had become, Kurt. It’s one thing to do the job, but as Captain, it’s another to take unnecessary risks and put others in danger. I was irresponsible and it could have ended up a lot worse. I won’t be doing that anymore.”

He kissed her then, with all the passion of a man whose lady just said the magic words and with all the gentleness of a guy madly in love with a woman back from the edge.

After several heated moments and a hoot from a group of teens passing by, they pulled apart, and he restarted the truck. “I’m so bloody sorry we have to go and hear the bad news right now. I wish I could say let’s wait until tomorrow or next week or never, but with your safety involved, it isn’t feasible.”

“No, baby. I want to know everything. Munchkin is part of my world now. I’ve accepted the baby and need to protect him or her.”

“We both will. I promise.”

“I’ll keep you to that. From the look in your eyes and the sound of your voice, I have a feeling I’ll need all the help I can get.”

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