Page 56 of Protect and Serve

But to his surprise, after a couple miles the truck began to decelerate with no warning. Henry slammed on the brakes to keep from hitting it. When Dustin pulled over to the side of the road, Henry stopped behind him and got out of the cruiser with his gun drawn.

Charlie did as well and they flanked the truck.

Before Henry reached the driver’s side, the door opened and Dustin barreled out. With barely a glance at Henry, he bolted into the shadowed scrub.

“Freeze,” Henry bellowed and, when Dustin ignored him, he bolted after him. Sounds of a scuffle echoed across the empty plain, followed by a dull thud and Dustin’s howl.

“Do you have him?” Charlie called.

“Got him,” his friend responded in a victorious tone. “You go get your girl.”

Without hesitation, Charlie holstered his weapon and ran to the truck, wrenching the door open. He froze and stared at Claire, her hair askew, her eyes red with tears, her beautiful mouth covered in duct tape. She was so gorgeous and perfect and dear it made something deep inside him liquefy. He yanked her into his arms and held her tight. “Claire. Claire. Claire. Thank God you’re okay.” He pulled back and stared at her. “You are okay, aren’t you?”

“Mufm merfs,” she said. And all of a sudden he remembered it was difficult to be understood through duct tape. Carefully, he removed it, trying not to hurt her.

“There you go, my darling. Are you okay?”

“I am so glad to see you. I can’t tell you.”

“Me too. Thank God he stopped.” And then, “Why did he stop?”

She snorted. “He ran out of gas. He was so intent on getting me to Las Vegas, he wouldn’t pull over anywhere.”

“Vegas?” Something rippled up his spine. “Why Vegas?”

“Because he intended to marry me, of course.”

He gaped at her. “Marry you?”

“You needn’t sound so shocked. I’m not that old.”

“Old?” Where on earth had that idea come from? “Who said you’re old?”

She ignored his question with a sniff. “And some people do want to marry me, you know.”

He growled. “That’s not what I meant and you know it. I was just shocked that he thought you would marry him when you’re obviously in love with me.”

She blinked. “I am?” The question should have gutted him, but her hint of a smile saved him.

“Yes. You are. And you are going to marry me.”

“Oh, am I?”

“I think so. But not Vegas. A church wedding.”

She lifted a shoulder. “They have churches in Vegas.”

He eyed her. “Are you saying you want to be married in Vegas?”

“No. You’re the one who brought Vegas up.”

He hadn’t brought Vegas up, she had—but he didn’t see the point of arguing about it. “Where do you want to be married?”

“At home, of course. But you know what I’d really like?” This she asked sweetly with a shy flutter of lashes.

“What, my darling? Anything.”

“I’d like to be married not wearing duct tape.” She held up her wrists. “Do you mind?”