a baptism by family fire. “But don’t talk about the baby or the proposal. I need to tell them in my own way.”
A way he hadn’t quite figured out yet.
“I want to go with you,” she insisted. “I want to get a look at that spatter. It happens to be my area of expertise, and I can help you determine what happened. Or if it’s been staged. Considering everything else that’s going on, someone could have planted the blood there.”
He was shaking his head before she finished. “This isn’t your fight.”
“To heck it’s not. Someone’s trying to kill me because of this fight. I’m not asking your permission. I want to see that crime scene, even if I have to hire a bodyguard or two to go with me.”
Wyatt jammed his thumb against his chest. “I’m your bodyguard. And there’s that little thing about conflict of interest.”
“I’ll be an observer. I won’t touch the evidence or even talk to the investigators. But I want to see what they’ve found. And if it’s legitimate, I want to stop anyone from tampering with it.”
It was a good argument, but he had a better one. “Until we’re married, you’re in danger. I don’t want you out there.”
She looked at the marriage license. Then at him. “You’re sure that’s the only way to keep me and the baby safe?”
“Yes.” And Wyatt prayed that was true. If this gamble failed, the consequences could be fatal.
Lyla pulled in a long breath. And nodded. “All right. Let me get a look at that blood, and then...” She stopped, gathered more breath, as if she might choke on the words. “I’ll marry you.”
Chapter Six
Lyla’s heart dropped when she heard what Wyatt said to the person he’d just called. Justice of the Peace Elliot Stowe.
“Meet us at the Rocky Creek Children’s Facility,” he told the man. “I have the bride and license. You can marry us at the end of the road that leads to the facility. We’ll be there in twenty minutes.”
“We’re doing this now?” she asked the moment Wyatt ended the call.
Wyatt didn’t take his eyes off the road or their surroundings. As he’d done since their quick departure, his gaze kept darting to the side and rearview mirrors of the SUV he’d taken from the ranch.
“I’m not taking you inside Rocky Creek until we’re married,” he insisted. “It’s the only way to ensure your safety.”
“But there are CSIs and probably cops out in the building. You’ll be there, too. Heck, it’s probably one of the safest places in Texas right now.”
He looked at her, those sizzling eyes showing some anger. “You agreed to this.”
“Yes, but I thought I’d have some time to adjust.”
And change her mind along with coming up with a different plan.
Mercy, this was happening too fast. She needed some downtime so she could think. But then Lyla remembered the sound of those bullets tearing into her place. Any one of them could have hit Wyatt, her or the baby, and she couldn’t risk that again.
“Swear to me there’s no other way,” she said.
But he didn’t swear. Well, he swore some profanity, but he didn’t give her a charming or terrifying spin on why this had to happen. Right now, she needed some logic to hang on to.
“Consider this,” he finally answered. “I think you’re carrying the baby that I’ve wanted for the past five years. Heck, all of my life. I’ll do whatever it takes to protect you. That includes putting my life on the line to save you.”
Oh.
Well, that was something to hang on to, all right. Heaven help her, she believed him. About that part anyway.
“Swear on your wife’s grave that this isn’t an attempt to get custody of this baby when he or she is born.”
No profanity this time. No quick answer, either. And that didn’t do anything to steady her nerves.
Lyla groaned.
“I won’t use the marriage to try for custody,” he finally said, “and that’s the only promise I can make.”
She studied his expression, especially his eyes. Well,
A way he hadn’t quite figured out yet.
“I want to go with you,” she insisted. “I want to get a look at that spatter. It happens to be my area of expertise, and I can help you determine what happened. Or if it’s been staged. Considering everything else that’s going on, someone could have planted the blood there.”
He was shaking his head before she finished. “This isn’t your fight.”
“To heck it’s not. Someone’s trying to kill me because of this fight. I’m not asking your permission. I want to see that crime scene, even if I have to hire a bodyguard or two to go with me.”
Wyatt jammed his thumb against his chest. “I’m your bodyguard. And there’s that little thing about conflict of interest.”
“I’ll be an observer. I won’t touch the evidence or even talk to the investigators. But I want to see what they’ve found. And if it’s legitimate, I want to stop anyone from tampering with it.”
It was a good argument, but he had a better one. “Until we’re married, you’re in danger. I don’t want you out there.”
She looked at the marriage license. Then at him. “You’re sure that’s the only way to keep me and the baby safe?”
“Yes.” And Wyatt prayed that was true. If this gamble failed, the consequences could be fatal.
Lyla pulled in a long breath. And nodded. “All right. Let me get a look at that blood, and then...” She stopped, gathered more breath, as if she might choke on the words. “I’ll marry you.”
Chapter Six
Lyla’s heart dropped when she heard what Wyatt said to the person he’d just called. Justice of the Peace Elliot Stowe.
“Meet us at the Rocky Creek Children’s Facility,” he told the man. “I have the bride and license. You can marry us at the end of the road that leads to the facility. We’ll be there in twenty minutes.”
“We’re doing this now?” she asked the moment Wyatt ended the call.
Wyatt didn’t take his eyes off the road or their surroundings. As he’d done since their quick departure, his gaze kept darting to the side and rearview mirrors of the SUV he’d taken from the ranch.
“I’m not taking you inside Rocky Creek until we’re married,” he insisted. “It’s the only way to ensure your safety.”
“But there are CSIs and probably cops out in the building. You’ll be there, too. Heck, it’s probably one of the safest places in Texas right now.”
He looked at her, those sizzling eyes showing some anger. “You agreed to this.”
“Yes, but I thought I’d have some time to adjust.”
And change her mind along with coming up with a different plan.
Mercy, this was happening too fast. She needed some downtime so she could think. But then Lyla remembered the sound of those bullets tearing into her place. Any one of them could have hit Wyatt, her or the baby, and she couldn’t risk that again.
“Swear to me there’s no other way,” she said.
But he didn’t swear. Well, he swore some profanity, but he didn’t give her a charming or terrifying spin on why this had to happen. Right now, she needed some logic to hang on to.
“Consider this,” he finally answered. “I think you’re carrying the baby that I’ve wanted for the past five years. Heck, all of my life. I’ll do whatever it takes to protect you. That includes putting my life on the line to save you.”
Oh.
Well, that was something to hang on to, all right. Heaven help her, she believed him. About that part anyway.
“Swear on your wife’s grave that this isn’t an attempt to get custody of this baby when he or she is born.”
No profanity this time. No quick answer, either. And that didn’t do anything to steady her nerves.
Lyla groaned.
“I won’t use the marriage to try for custody,” he finally said, “and that’s the only promise I can make.”
She studied his expression, especially his eyes. Well,
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