Suddenly, it all makes sense.
“But Rafe didn’t deal with him, did he?”
Indy lifts his chin. Anger flares hot in his eyes. “No. I wanted to be the one who did it. That fuckerrapedmy sister. He got away with it for years. We looked him up. He was a predator. Eden wasn’t the first, and I’d bet she wasn’t the last. He had money, and he would have kept getting off. Unless…”
“Unless you did something.”
“Yes.” He turns to face me. “I killed him, Bea. And I don’t regret it. At least I didn’t. Until I realized you might not want to be with me because of it.”
Before I can reply, he adds, “It won’t ever come back on me. I made sure of it. But if you?—”
“I would never tellanyone. Indy, how could you think?—”
“I don’t think you would. But you dedicate your life to helping people, Bea. And knowing I killed someone, not out of duty but vengeance…”
“Stop.” I climb back onto his lap, tucking my legs up on either side of his. “You are a good man, Indy Garrison. A great man. A hero. You were protecting your sister. You were protecting the women he could have—would have—hurt if you didn’t stop him.Some men, they’re just evil. And sometimes jail doesn’t work. Sometimes the police can’t do enough.”
“Still.”
“When I was in training, I worked with a woman who’d been beaten so badly by her husband, she had to have her leg amputated. He smashed her bones with a hammer, Indy. Shattered them.”
“Shit.”
“You know what happened to him? He went to jail for three years.Three. Released for good behavior, or maybe the prison was too full, I don’t know why. But he did. And then he went after her again. And the second time… he killed her.”
“Bea.”
I lift my chin as I ask, “Do you think that man deserves mercy? Because I don’t.”
“No. He doesn’t.”
“Right. So in my mind, it’s no different. You aren’t a bad man, Indy. Not even close. And knowing what you did… it doesn’t change how I feel about you.”
Hope glimmers in his eyes. “It doesn’t?”
“No. It doesn’t. Because—” I take a deep breath. “I’m falling in love with you, too. And I want to see where this goes. Not with me across the country, but close by. I can look for a job in Portland, find an apartment close to B and A…”
“Bea.” It’s rough. Thick. Indy hugs me to his chest and presses his lips to the top of my head. “I want that, too.”
I snuggle against him. “So we’re going to try thisliving on the same side of the countrything?”
His hand strokes down my back. “It sounds like we are.”
“So.” I glance over his shoulder in the direction of the bedroom. “I know you’re probably tired. After you eat, maybe we should take a nap? Together?”
Indy leans me back to look into my eyes. His gaze heats. “When you say nap, you mean sex, right?”
My belly tightens. An ache pulses at my core. “Well, it would be the best way to make sure we get some sleep after, don’t you think?”
A smile tugs at his lips. “It would be.”
Then he scoops me into his arms and rises from the couch in one fluid move.
Which—whoa. So sexy.
As he hurries towards the bedroom, he adds, “We can eat later. And I’ll make sure you’reveryhungry, Bea. That’s a promise.”
CHAPTER 17
