Capturing Hearts - Faleena Hopkins Page 0,29

“Freckles?” and I nearly jump out of my skin.

Pulling out my phone, I text Bobby: Home. Thank you! as I call back, “I’m here, babe! I’ll be right there.”

Bobby texts back within seconds: Good. Was about to come knocking.

I shoot him back a smiley face before quickly shoving my phone into my purse and leaving it on the table by the door. I hang my coat on the rack next to my husband’s black pea coat. Giving his a light touch as I pass, I walk to the bedroom, forcing a smile.

Brendan’s head is lifted off his pillow as I walk in, the city backdrop skirted in fog. “How was work?”

Sitting on the edge of my side of the bed, I pull off my black pregnancy jeans with effort. “We did better than last night even.”

His eyebrows raise up and he plops his handsome head on the white pillowcase. “Yeah? That’s great. Come here.”

“I’m trying. This takes time. My shoes are giving me trouble with these exploded ankles of mine.”

He smiles with his eyes closed and I can tell he’s beginning to drift off. How men can fall asleep so fast is a mystery I will never solve.

Pulling off my black t-shirt, I toss it on the ground and look at his face, the chiseled stretch of his jaw, his dark wavy hair, the long eyelashes that make his blue eyes so striking. And inside is a man who treats me so well and who always lets me know I’m loved. But maybe it’s just because we’ve only been married a few months, and the honeymoon-stage is still in full swing? I smile at the jaded thought sneaking in to ruin a moment… but my smile fades away as I stare at him.

How did I ever get so lucky as to marry the love of my life?

Climbing in, I snuggle up to his warm body. He moves his arm so I can burrow into his chest, putting it around my shoulders. In the silence, I lay my hand on his heart and wait until I can feel its steady beat. Glancing up to his face, I catch him sleeping with the corners of his mouth turned up.

That smile is what I wanted. Wiping it away can wait until tomorrow.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Tommy

Nerves: Shot. Me: Stuck. Car: Blue 1983 Dodge Colt.

“C’mon, Bruce, you couldn’t have gotten me a nicer car?” I grumble, yanking the stick shift into neutral after the damned thing’s conked out on me again. I grab a curly fry from the fast food bag beside me and chew as I give the car some gas. This time it starts up and I pull away from the parking lot across from Location Times Three at a casual, restrained speed. The hoodie Bruce left me is pulled up around my head shielding me from view, but there’s no one here anyway. From my years working at the ad agency, I knew it’d be closed on Christmas Eve, so I came to take one last look around. I thought I needed closure to my old life, but it just made me feel like crap.

I should escape to Canada, and I should do it now. That would be the smart thing to do. But I can’t. I’ve got to stay here and finish what I started.

My burner phone rings and I pull it out of my pocket to see a number I don’t recognize. But there’s only one person who’d be calling: Bruce.

“It’s about time,” I tell him, hitting speaker and laying the phone in my lap. “Couldn’t you get me a better car? And these jeans are way too loose. What, dya think I’m a fatty?”

He’s nervous and it shows in his voice. “The beater was the safest thing I could find. It’s small and unintimidating. And I had to guess on the pants. You’re welcome,” he adds with dripping sarcasm.

I chuckle, looking to my right so I can change lanes. “Thank you. And I appreciate the cash, too.” I grab another fry and start crunching.

He pauses and doesn’t join me in the smile. “Tommy, you’re on the news.”

I swallow the fry before it’s ready, and mumble, “I’m not surprised. Guess I won’t be buying things again until I’m out of here.”

“What’d you buy?”

“Just some food. You don’t know how long I’ve been craving a burger.”

“Did you see her last night? Did you take care of it?”

I stop at a red light and wait. “I saw her. But she heard me coming and