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Two hours later, while Dillon walked Lucy back to Patrick’s hospital room, Kate frowned at Qui
“We had to do it,” Qui
Kate sighed. “Not that it will do any good. Neither the FBI nor local law enforcement has the resources to police the Internet.”
“Maybe not, but it will give people the tools to police it themselves.”
“What I don’t understand is, how did a smart girl like Lucy get sucked into his trap?”
“And she’ll never be able to forgive herself for it,” Qui
“It just proves that it doesn’t matter how smart or careful you are; if a predator wants you he’ll find a way.”
“You sound defeatist,” Qui
“Touché.” Kate played with her fingers. “I never thanked you for standing by me for the last five years. I’ll never forget it.”
“I had a sense of what drove you.” Qui
“I hope so. For the first time I’m looking at the future. I’m hoping I won’t be looking at it from behind bars.”
Dillon met up with Kate in the parking lot. “Where’s Qui
“He had to take a call.” Kate motioned over toward the edge of the parking garage, where Qui
“Jack’s going to take Lucy home. Why don’t you come with us?”
Kate tensed. As much as she wanted to be with Dillon, she didn’t know if she was ready to face the Kincaids. She’d met most of them over the last few days, but together? They were a force.
“Qui
“I’ll go with you. Six eyes are better than four.”
She shook her head. “Go with your family.”
Dillon took a step closer. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
He didn’t say anything, but his eyes spoke volumes.
“Lucy needs you,” she insisted.
“You’re making excuses. Why don’t you want to meet my family?”
“Now is not the right time. They have too many stresses on them.”
“Why is meeting you a stress?”
“Your mom doesn’t need to entertain company.”
“Why do I think you’re pushing me away?”
“I’m not.”
“Yes you are, Kate.”
“Am not!” Oh, God, she sounded like a child.
“Kate.” He pushed her chin up, forced her to look at him. “Don’t do this. I want to bring you home.”
“Dillon, the Kincaids are…” She couldn’t think of the right word. “Overwhelming. There’s so many of you.”
“We’re not going to all jump on you at once.”
“I feel like an outsider. And I’m going to remind them of what happened to Lucy.”
“Stop right there. Give my family credit. They’ll like you for you.”
“I don’t know how families act. My grandparents died before I even hit puberty, then foster care and all that crap. I just don’t know if I’m ready.”
“Kate.” Dillon forced her to look at him. He kissed her.
She swallowed. “Why now? Can’t we just hold off for a day or two?”
“You’re shaking.”
“Am not.”
“Kate, I love my family, and so will you.” He backed her into the car and said, “You fit right in. We have a couple cops, a PI, Co
“My family will love you as much as I do,” he whispered in her ear. “Please let me take you home.”
She wrapped her arms around him, held him tight. “I don’t deserve you,” she said.
“Right back at you, Kate.”
She laughed. It felt good to laugh; it had been way too long. “Let me work the case, okay? It makes me feel useful.”
“Then I’ll join you.”
“Why don’t I meet you there later?”
“For di
“No, I don’t want to put your mother out.”
“I’ll cook.”
“You cook?” she asked, wide-eyed.
“Absolutely. My mother taught me. Said the quickest way to a woman’s heart was cooking.”
Kate laughed again. “Okay, you have a date. I’ll be there in a few hours.”
“Are you sure you don’t want me to join you?”
“Yes.” She paused. “You, um, don’t live with your parents, do you?”
Dillon smiled seductively. “Nervous about sleeping together under my parents’ roof?”
Her eyes widened. She couldn’t imagine a man of Dillon’s confidence and prestige living at home.
He laughed, kissed her. “I have my own house, Kate. But the expression on your face was priceless.”
Dillon rode with Jack and Lucy back to the Kincaid house.
“Did anything I say help?” Lucy asked.
“Yes.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“Lucy, sometimes it’s the smallest details that help in catching a criminal. I’m very proud of you.”
“Is Patrick going to get better?”
“The doctor’s are hopeful,” Dillon said cautiously.
“You’re lying to me again.”
“I’m not lying to you, Lucy. Patrick is healthy. The surgery was hugely successful. They believe he will recover. But the human brain is still a mystery. It might take some time.”
“Or he might never come out of the coma,” she said defiantly.
“He might not. But I don’t believe that. And you shouldn’t, either.”
After Dillon checked in with his parents, made sure Lucy was okay, and informed everyone that he was making di
He could hardly wait for Kate to come home with him that night. He understood her hesitation-the Kincaid’s were a bit overwhelming to outsiders. But Lucy was home and safe. Jack had returned, even if it was only temporary. And while Patrick was still in a coma, the doctors assured Dillon that everything looked promising for him to make a full recovery.
Dillon wanted to introduce Kate, the woman he loved, to his parents. It surprised him how quickly it had happened, but he was nearly thirty-nine years old. He hadn’t been in love since med school when he dated the same woman for three years. That time, it had taken him months to realize that he was in love. Now, he knew it without reservation. Dillon loved Kate Donovan. She was just going to have to get used to it.
He turned the corner and saw his small, comfortable bungalow. Kate would fit in here, with his family, but she also might want her old life back. Maybe move back to Virginia and reclaim her job. He would support her in whatever she decided, but more important, he would be there with her.
He walked up the porch stairs, unlocked his door. It didn’t budge. “Damn,” he muttered. He always bolted the front door when he was home, primarily using the kitchen door as his entrance and exit since it was closer to the garage. When he left on Thursday, he must have gone out the back door.
He strolled down his driveway. The small rose garden he cultivated along the drive needed pruning. He might need to hire a gardener to tend to the landscaping, especially since he pla
A smell hit him. Food. Had he left garbage in the house? He wouldn’t be surprised; he had left in a hurry and it had been four days.