rang in the air as Wesley crumpled to his knees and then fell onto his back.
A sob rose in Lemon’s throat as she stumbled toward Jaxson. He placed his arms around her, stroking her hair. “It’s over,” he said.
She turned to look at Wesley’s lifeless body. The relief that went through her made her weak in the knees. Even so, she was sick at heart. She’d thought Wesley was her friend. Never could she have imagined the evil that lurked beneath his carefully concealed mask of wealth and class. She turned her back to Wesley, not wanting to look at him anymore. Such a waste of a life.
“Thank you,” she said to Ramsey “… for everything.”
He nodded. “You’re very welcome.”
Her stomach clutched as she thought of something else. “Is Officer Williams okay?” She glanced toward the red light. Officer Williams’s car was gone. Cars were slowing down, curious passerby interested in the events that had just taken place.
“Let me find out,” Ramsey said, reaching for his phone. “Hey, Chief … yeah, we’re all okay. Two men down—Wesley Livingston and his hired gun. Lemon’s safe. How’s Officer Williams? Okay … thanks.”
“Officer Williams is good,” Ramsey announced. “The gunman held him for a while but then took off when he realized that Wesley and his cohort were shot. The police are looking for the assailant now. I suspect it won’t be long before they capture him.”
Lemon sighed in relief. She didn’t want to add another death to her conscience. Officer Williams seemed like a good guy. He deserved to have a long, full life.
Jaxson cupped her cheeks with his large hands. He searched her face, a deep depth of emotion sounding in his voice. “I was afraid I’d lost you.”
A smile tugged at her lips. “You’re not trying to get rid of me, are you? So you can go back to your playboy ways?”
He laughed in surprise. “Never.” Worry clouded his features. “What about you? Now that you have your memory back, are you gonna head straight back to the big city, or do you think you’ll stick around for a while?” His words were spoken lightly, but she could hear the undercurrent of seriousness.
She tipped her head, her face pulling into mock concentration. “Hmm … I’m not sure.”
He swallowed in disappointment. “I understand.”
A giggle rose in her throat. “Do you really think I went through all of this angst and turmoil just to up and leave? This time, I’m here to stay.”
A large smile split his face. “I like the sound of that.” He moved in and gave her a long, thorough kiss.
Ramsey scoffed. “Get a room. You’re seriously sucking face when you’ve got two dead guys in the parking lot? Unbelievable!”
Jaxson pulled back, keeping his arms fixed firmly around Lemon’s waist.
“You’ve certainly been doing your share of sucking face lately, little brother.”
“Speaking of which, I’ve got a feisty redhead waiting for me at home.” A lopsided grin pulled at his lips. “I wish the cops would hurry up and get here, so we can wrap this thing up. I have a honeymoon to get to.”
Sirens sounded in the distance.
“Right on cue,” Jaxson quipped. “You must be living right,” he joked. He looked at Lemon. “After we answer all the obligatory questions from the police … dot all the i’s, cross all the t’s. Whaddaya say we go home?”
Warmth glowed over Lemon. “Home,” she sighed. “I like the sound of that.”
Epilogue
One day later …
It was a perfect evening—the kind that was good for the soul. Members of the Romeo family who were in the vicinity had gathered to make hot dogs and s’mores around the large fire-pit behind the main ranch house. Lemon was grateful to be included among the bunch. She and Jaxson were sitting on a double Adirondack chair. Jaxson had his arm draped around her shoulders, his ankle propped up on a large, moveable stump that served as an outdoor ottoman.
Lemon nestled into the curve of Jaxson’s arm to ward off the slight chill in the air. Her gaze went to the fire in the pit. For a second, she let her mind get lost in the mesmerizing glow of the feathery orange flames licking up the logs. She looked around the circle of people, catching flutes of laughter as well as bits and pieces of the various conversations taking place around her. Zoe, her children, and Briggs were sitting together. A grin curved Lemon’s lips. Briggs was helping Madison slide two marshmallows onto a roasting stick. Watching