One to Love (One to Hold 4)

She lifted her head then, resting it on her hand. A dark curl slid over her cheek, and I wrapped it around my finger.

“How’s Stuart?”

“He’s not doing so good. He’s got things... he hadn’t told anybody about.”

Her beautiful blue eyes were serious now. “How long before you have to go back?”

“I took the red-eye so I could be here as long as possible this weekend, but I need to head out on Sunday.”

My chest ached as her brow fell. I knew she wasn’t angry, but I hated to make her sad. “He’s your friend, and he needs you. It’s just, Dex misses you, and I...”

“Elaine’s talking about coming back for Christmas. What if we all spent it there, together? His uncle’s place is amazing.”

“You think you’ll be that long?”

I released an exhale. “Hard to know, but if I am, I want you and Dex with me.”

Her eyes traveled around my face as she reached up to run her thumb across my cheek. “We can be there with you now if you want. My job travels.”

Our last weeks on the horse ranch flickered through my mind—the late nights, the bad nights. The night I had to leave everything and ride across the plains until I found him alone, camped near one of the falls. Stuart was fighting everything right now, including his will to live, and our progress was slow and painful.

“I’m not sure he’d appreciate company yet, but a lot can change in a month.”

A small voice squealed down the hall, and we both stopped. “He’s awake,” Melissa said with a grin, and I was up before she could move.

“I got this.” Scooping my boxers off the floor, I jerked them over my hips. “Be right back.”

Dex was holding the side of his crib, blue eyes bright and baby mouth grinning big when he saw me. A flash of love warmed my chest. “Come here, little guy.”

Scooping him up, he jerked back toward the crib. I only paused a moment to grab his blue blanket, putting it in his arms before he lay his dark head on my shoulder. “I’ve missed you,” I whispered, kissing him and taking a deep breath of sweet baby smell.

Melissa was in bed with her nightgown back on, but she was unfastening the tiny buttons down the front as I climbed in beside her.

“He’s getting so strong.” Dex reached for her as soon as I sat. “How long before he walks?”

She laughed stretching up to kiss my lips before taking him and sliding down on her side. “At least two more months,” she said, pulling him close to her breast.

“Good. Don’t want to miss that.”

Dex latched on quickly, and I reached down to touch the tiny fingers now curled against her soft skin. “Even this is hard to miss.”

“Give me a kiss,” she whispered, and I gladly complied.

Wrapping my arm around her shoulders as she gave our son his breakfast, I rested my chin on Melissa’s head. My eye caught the eagle and SF tattoo on my bicep, and that old secret I carried, the one that could take me away from her for a very long time itched at the back of my mind.

I thought about the news article. Slayer Bennett had gone from criminal to hero. I’d done just the opposite. At the same time, the law, the right thing, these concepts grew nebulous when I thought about what was at stake, the choice that was taken away from me.

Melissa had never pressed me for details about that night, and as yet I hadn’t given her any. Patrick’s advice was never to tell her. Not because she wouldn’t understand—she’d be hurt, but she’d understand. Rather, it was because she’d blame herself, he said.

Happy baby noises were in my ear, and my beautiful future wife was safe in my arms. The secret I carried was an issue only if I let it be, Patrick said. Our one other witness agreed with him. Yet the idea of hiding my crime grated against who I was, my status as a Marine, a retired officer. I was sworn to defend our laws. I’d helped prosecute criminals for a living.

Exhaling deeply, I pressed my lips firmly against Melissa’s head. My best friend was in trouble—his life could be on the line. My fiancée needed me here with her and my son. Questions of justice and atonement would have to wait. For now I had to focus on the ones I loved. My duty for today was with them, but that wouldn’t be the case forever.

* * *

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