Chapter Eight
Beth’s
scream echoed inside Tabby’s head. Her sister released her hold on Tabby’s
hair. Tabby blinked as tears formed from the nauseating smoke curling around
them. Her mind tried to make sense of the chaos.
Men’s
voices filled the air. "FBI! Drop your weapon!"
Beth
crouched behind Tabby, using her body as a shield. "Don’t move or I’ll
kill her!" Beth shouted and pressed the gun into Tabby’s ribs.
Through
the haze of smoke Tabby could make out three armed men filling the room. One of
the men, an older man with salt–and–pepper hair, made a gesture with his hand
and the men lowered their weapons. Tabby swallowed back the terror that rose to
choke her. She could feel Beth working at untying the rope holding her to the
chair. When the rope fell away, Beth grabbed Tabby by the arm and forced her to
stand.
"Beth,
please, just give up!"
"Never!"
Keeping Tabby in front of her, Beth dragged her toward the front door.
"We’re going to walk out of here and you’re not going to stop us,"
Beth shouted.
"There’s
nowhere for you to go," the man in charge said, his voice smooth and
commanding. "The place is surrounded."
"Beth,
please. Do as they say," Tabby pleaded, hating to think how this could
end. One or both of them dead.
"Shut
up!" Beth fumbled with the doorknob. She flung the door open. "Back
off!" she shouted to the agents out front as she pulled Tabby out the door
and closed it behind her. "Anyone moves and she dies."
Movement
to her left drew Tabby’s attention. Jon crept through the rosebushes toward
them. Fear for Jon pushed at Tabby’s mind. She mouthed the word,
"No".
He
edged closer.
Fear
for her own safety fled as terror for Jon ripped through her mind. What was he
doing? He was going to get himself killed!
"Miss
Grant, we have the money you asked for," Kyle said as he stepped forward
and dropped another duffel bag at his feet. "All you have to do is let
your sister go."
Grateful
for the distraction, Tabby kept her gaze riveted on Jon. Dear Father, please
don’t…oh, please don’t let anything happen to him.
"You
think I’m crazy?" Beth shouted. Her fingers dug into Tabby’s flesh.
"She’s the only thing between me and a bullet."
"No
one will shoot you," Kyle said, his voice soothing.
"Get
the car from the garage," Beth demanded, her voice hard.
"We
can do that." Kyle sidestepped to the right, drawing Beth’s attention away
from Jon.
Tabby’s
mouth went dry as she met Jon’s gaze. He gave her a slight nod before springing
up and grabbing for Beth. She jerked, swinging the gun in his direction.
"No!"
Tabby screamed.
Fearing
Beth would shoot the man she loved, Tabby flung back her head and connected
with her sister’s nose. A loud snapping noise barely registered as pain burst
through Tabby. Bright dots danced before her eyes. She heard Beth screaming
from what seemed like a long distance.
Then
Jon was there, his handsome face coming into focus as he scooped Tabby into his
strong arms, carried her down the porch and away from the chaos as her sister
was taken into custody. Her two accomplices were also cuffed and led to a
police car. It was over.
Gulping
sobs racked Tabby’s body. Jon was safe. She wrapped her arms around him,
clinging to him and wanting to never let go, but deep inside she knew she would
have to. She couldn’t go back to being just his assistant.
Because
she loved him.
…
"There
you are!" Jon exclaimed as Tabby walked into his office five days later.
He’d missed her terribly, but had tried to understand when she’d told him she
needed a few days to get her head together after that horrible night. Her
sister had been taken away and admitted back to the psychiatric hospital. Her
accomplices would be doing time for kidnapping in the Massachusetts State
Prison. And Jon had his cash back.
But
most importantly, Tabby was safe.
Tabby’s
slight smile didn’t reach her blue eyes as she stopped just inside the doorway.
She wore black slacks and a red sweater that complemented her pale complexion.
A red clutch was tucked beneath her arm and a matching red bow captured her
hair at her nape. She looked impossibly younger than her twenty–eight years and
even more gorgeous than she had just a few days ago. Tenderness and love welled
in his heart. He’d never get tired of looking at her.
Able
to read the nuances of her mood, concern raced through him. He rose, came
around his desk and stopped in front of her. Reaching for her hands, he said,
"You’re upset. Talk to me."
She
dropped her gaze. "I…" She took a deep breath and lifted her eyes to
meet his.
The
determination and resignation he saw in her gaze confused and concerned him.
His pulse picked up speed.
From
the inside of her purse she handed him an envelope.
"What’s
this?"
"My
resignation."
His
stomach plummeted. "Your… I don’t understand."
"After
everything I put you through I can’t continue to work for you. It wouldn’t be
right."
"That
you put me through?" He drew her to him. "You have nothing to
feel guilty about. This wasn’t your doing."
For
a moment she seemed to melt into his embrace but then she pushed back to stare
into his face. "I shouldn’t have involved you. I had no right to ask you
to put your life at risk for me."
"You
didn’t ask, remember? I insisted." He cupped her cheek with his hand.
"I’d walk through fire for you, Tabby. Don’t you know that?"
Her
eyes widened. "You would?"
"Yes."
Love filled his heart and echoed in his voice. "I love you, Tabitha Grant.
I think I’ve been in love with you since the first day you stormed into my
office saying I needed you working for me. I didn’t realize then just how much
I do need you. I can’t imagine my life without you. You’ve shown me what real
faith is."
Her
eyes brightened with tears. "I love you, too."
Words
to live by. "Tabby, the only way I’ll accept your resignation is if you
agree to become Mrs. Spangler."
A
small gasp escaped from her parted lips. "You’re asking me to marry
you?"
Her
stunned expression made him smile. "I am. What do you say?"
Joy
beamed in her expression. "I say yes." Then a mischievous glint
entered her gaze. "On one condition."
He
arched an eyebrow. "Negotiating a marriage proposal, Miss Grant?"
She
grinned. "Yes, Mr. Spangler."
He
grinned back. "Let’s hear your condition."
"I
get to keep my job."
"Yes!"
Delighted to the tips of his soul, he dipped his head and captured her lips,
sealing the best deal of his life.
THE END
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