Epilogue

INDIE

^SIX MONTHS LATER^

Indie lifted her head toward the fan, allowing the meager wind to blow against her neck as she tried to find some reprieve from the June heat.

The day had started hotter than normal, and the weatherman’s promised heatwave had arrived with a vengeance.

She had left the back door open to relieve some of the heat in the small workshop, but the light breeze blowing in did not help.

Dabbing the cool cloth against her face helped to keep her cool, and the thin-strapped summer dress she wore felt like a hindrance.

She pulled the knee-length skirt to the top of her thighs, giving the breeze more access as she sat on the stool, preparing the newly forged bracelets for polishing.

With a heavy sigh, she dropped her foot onto the pedal and watched the brushes spin to their optimum speed.

The rose-shaped red garnets in the bracelets took her back to the morning when Seth’s blood covered the snow on the sidewalk.

Her hands slowly fell into her lap, the bracelet curling onto the cloth, forgotten.

Indie felt her airways constrict at the fear she still felt, seeing Seth so pale, his life dripping out between her fingers.

She could still feel the slickness of his blood, and the smell still lingered in her nostrils.

Seeing the man she loved laying so still sent cold chills up her spine.

The first bullet had hit Seth on his chest at about the height of Indie’s head, a clear indication that Tereza had aimed for her, but the Kevlar vest had stopped the bullet and saved both their lives.

The second bullet had just missed the bottom edge of the vest, lodging in his abdomen.

***

^SIX MONTHS EARLIER^

~“Call nine-one-one, please!” Indie begged as she watched Seth’s face lose color, the snow turning a bright red from his blood. Things happened so fast after that. ~

~The manager of the diner had seen the incident and she dialed the emergency services. ~

~It seemed to Indie that the ambulances arrived within seconds, with the sheriff pulling up as they stopped. He lifted Indie to her feet, giving the paramedics space to work. ~

~Another deputy pulled their vehicle behind Seth’s and crouched by Tereza’s still body. He looked up at the sheriff and shook his head. ~

~“Well, that solves Seth’s major issue,” he said, his deep baritone holding a note of relief. ~

~“Now we need to concentrate on making sure he lives to enjoy it.” ~

~The way the large man was leading her to his car and buckling her belt reminded Indie of the first time she met Seth, and how gentle he had been with her despite his large size. ~

~Before she realized that she was in the sheriff’s vehicle, he had started the engine and was escorting the ambulance with his lights and sirens blaring. ~

~“My…car—” Her shocked mind refused to think about Seth being loaded onto a gurney, and instead it froze on things that weren’t important. ~

~“One of my deputies will pick it up.” Sheriff Burnsley’s voice was calm as he sped through the icy streets to the hospital. He glanced at Indie’s pale face. ~

~“Seth is like a son to me, a blessing because my wife and I have four daughters. I won’t ever admit this to anyone, but I love the boy as if he was my own. And I am so glad he has you.” ~

~Four hours…Four hours from the minute the ambulance stopped at the emergency department’s doors to the time Maggie handed Indie a cup of lukewarm machine coffee and took a seat next to her. ~

~Sarah sat on Indie’s other side, their arms wrapped around each other as they waited for news from the doctor. ~

~Leith was taking care of the girls at Sarah and Seth’s apartment, and the sheriff had stayed at the hospital. ~

~Deputies and police officers had come and gone to hear if there was any news of the deputy’s sergeant. ~

~When they weren’t on active patrol, they occupied available chairs around the room. ~

~Those four hours became the longest in Indie’s life, especially any time she saw a doctor approaching. ~

~The air refused to leave her lungs and supply oxygen to the rest of her body. Her head started pounding in rhythm with her heart. ~

~She blinked her eyes as her vision became narrow, the edges disappearing in a gray haze. ~

~“Indie? Are you okay?” Grace’s voice sounded as if it was coming from very far away. ~

~She shook her head, and a wave of dizziness made her head spin. “I—I feel sick…I need…” ~

~“This way,” the sheriff said, gently taking her hand and leading her to a bathroom. He knocked on the door and entered the ladies’ room without waiting for an answer. ~

~“I’ve got her, Sheriff.” Felicity took hold of Indie’s other arm. They entered a stall and Indie brought up her breakfast, Felicity rubbing her back. ~

~As she emptied her stomach, Indie started to cry, her body convulsing from the dry heaving and the power of her sobbing. ~

~She wasn’t sure how long they stayed in the bathroom, but when she turned, Sarah, Grace, and Maggie were standing at the sinks. ~

~“Felicity brought you a clean shirt and some other things she thought you might need.” Grace unpacked an overnight bag, and the girls went to work tidying Indie up. ~

~She glared at Maggie when her sister tried to brush her teeth, taking the toothbrush from her with jerky movements. ~

~The taste of the toothpaste made her stomach turn again and she took a deep breath, thankful that it settled quickly. ~

~Together, the five women exited the bathroom and sat down just as the doctor entered the waiting room. ~

~Everyone jumped to their feet and the doctor stopped when faced with a wall of black uniforms. ~

~“Who—who is Indigo?” he stuttered. ~

~A path opened up, directing the doctor to her. “Ma’am, before he passed out, the deputy asked for you.” ~

~“How…” Indie cleared her throat. “How is he?” ~

~The doctor looked around the room and gulped visibly as he was met with concerned frowns from more than thirty people staring at him. ~

~“The bullet was low enough to miss any vital organs, but it settled in his back. Close enough to his spine to cause problems, but far enough that we could remove it quite easily. ~

~“He lost a bit of blood because the bullet nicked an artery, but with some quick thinking in the field, it saved him from bleeding out.” ~

~“He’s going to be okay?” Indie gasped. ~

~“With some physiotherapy and loads of rest, he’ll be just fine.” The doctor smiled his reassurance, and the whole room sighed in relief. “Would you like to see him?” ~

***

^PRESENT DAY^

Indie felt the air crackle behind her, and then his lemony scent filled the air moments before she felt his hands on her shoulders, another kind of heat filling her spreading to the rest of her body.

She leaned back, trusting him to support her body.

She closed her eyes as he kissed the exposed skin of her shoulder, his hands sliding down her arms and briefly twisting their fingers together before he cupped her slightly rounded belly.

She gasped as a riot of fluttering resulted from the contact.

Seth chuckled softly as he felt the foot against his palm, and Indie shivered as the sound traveled down her spine to tighten her inner muscles.

He kissed her jaw, a tiny, fleeting brush that moved toward her earlobe. She sucked in a breath as he tugged it between his teeth and flicked it with his tongue before sucking it hard.

“Seth,” she moaned even as his hands explored the exposed skin of her thighs until he framed her womanhood, and she cried out when she felt her throbbing nub swell in anticipation.

She opened her legs wider, giving him better access to her and he groaned when he touched her wet underwear.

With one swift move, he had her bent over her workbench, his hands tugging her panties down her legs.

She squealed in shock when he placed a kiss on her naked buttock, and then another on her hip, his lips lingering.

“Close your eyes, bambino. Mommy and Daddy are just having a taste of our wedding night…”

“Seth!” Indie’s gasp of shocked laughter turned to a whimper when he proceeded to do as he promised.

^End of Book One^