She nodded with big eyes. “Keanu?”
“He’s just fine.” Wyatt gave her a slight smile. “Pissed off he’s not here saving the day, but he’s going to live to give me shit for this, and for not telling you how I really feel, for the rest of my life.”
Clover’s mouth curved into a sweet smile. “You want to express your undying love for me now?”
“Oh, my God. Shut the fuck up. No one cares, and you’re all going to be dead as soon as you sign your new fucking will.” Trisha grabbed Clover by the hair and shoved her face into the wall before yanking her back toward the kitchen.
Wyatt growled and took a large step forward, but Julie stepped in his way, shoving a gun in his gut.
“No funny stuff, or the girl gets it first, got it?”
Wyatt nodded as he offered a hand to Chris, yanking him to an upright position. “He needs a doctor.”
“He needs a medical examiner because in a few minutes, you’re all going to be dead.”
Wyatt helped Chris into a chair next to Clover who held a pen in her hand.
“I’m in the dining room,” Parker’s whisper tickled Wyatt’s ear.
“I’m in the kitchen behind the island,” Isaac said. “I’ve got a clear shot for Chris.”
Wyatt slid to the right, blocking Chris. While he knew Chris had been in on the scheme, he got the feeling that Chris wasn’t part of the master plan. And as much as he had no feelings of empathy for this redheaded chick and he couldn’t care less about Trisha, he didn’t see the need to make them all collateral damage, unless he had to.
“Okay. Guess we’re not taking out Chris,” Isaac said. “Repositioning myself so I can get a shot of the redhead. And not a shoot to kill shot.”
“We’re about to have company,” Landon said. “Cops are less than five minutes out.”
Time to end this charade.
“Don’t sign it,” Wyatt commanded.
Trisha pushed the gun into Clover’s temple.
Clover gasped and dropped the pen to the floor.
“Stupid bitch,” Trisha muttered. “Pick it up.”
Out of the corner of Wyatt’s eye, he saw a shadow slink across the kitchen floor. Julie stood on the other side of Chris, her weapon pointed at Wyatt’s chest. The bloody knife still lay on the table, only inches from Clover’s hand.
Clover glanced over her shoulder as she reached for the pen.
He did his best to motion toward the knife with his eyes. Hopefully, she understood. But even if she didn’t, Wyatt was going to make sure if anyone took a bullet, it would be him.
“Trisha, you’re forgetting one thing,” Wyatt said. “And that’s Keanu is alive, and he saw Chris and Julie abduct Clover, and I bet he too recognized Julie as your stepdaughter. That’s not going to bode well for you.”
Trisha’s lips parted, and she hesitated.
“Now,” Wyatt said loud and clear. Swiftly, he kicked the gun from Trisha’s hand.
Bang!
Wyatt twisted his body and watched Julie drop her weapon and grab her hand.
“Motherfucker,” she screamed as blood pumped from the gaping hole in her wrist. She dropped to her knees just as Isaac tackled her.
Parker rushed in and took care of Trisha.
“Clover,” he said softly, lifting her into his arms. “Are you hurt?”
She shook her head wildly, but her big blue eyes stayed locked on his gaze.
The rest of the team, including Cookie and Benny, came barreling in, followed by the local police.
Needing a few moments alone, he whisked Clover into the family room and set her down on the sofa, ignoring the shouting in the other room. He brushed the hair from her face and pressed his lips against hers in a tender, loving kiss. “I’m so sorry I left you and Keanu alone. I should have known that was a ploy to get us out of the house.”
“None of this is your fault,” she said, tears streaking down the sides of her face. “My own mother was going to kill me for my money, the bar, and my songs.” She buried her face in the palms of her hands. “My father protected me from her for years, but I had no idea she was this ruthless.” She raised her head and blinked. “What does that mean for me? I mean, I am her flesh and blood.”
“You are nothing like Trisha, so don’t even think that for one second. Your father did protect you from her, and I only wish I had honored him and done a better job of it myself. I hate disappointing him, and right now, I know he wouldn’t be very happy with me.”
“I know he’s looking down on you with a smile and full of pride. Thank you for protecting me.”
He rested his forehead against hers and let out a long breath. “We will be spending the next few hours giving statements and all that good stuff, but I want you to know that I plan on spending what little time I have left of my week vacation wining and dining you so you’ll see that I might not make the worst boyfriend ever.”
She jerked her head. “Did you just reference yourself as my boyfriend?”
He nodded, smiling like a schoolboy who just got his first kiss under the bleachers. “I know I’ve been all over the place, but loving you scares the shit out of me.”
Epilogue
Four Months Later
The last time Clover waited for Wyatt to return from deployment she planned on telling him she had feelings for him.
This time she had bigger news, and she wasn’t sure how he was going to take it because they had only discussed it once since they started dating.
Well, not dating, since he moved in with her right before he left three weeks ago. And for the last week, she’d been going apeshit crazy, bursting at the seams, wanting to tell someone, but she couldn’t.
Not until she told Wyatt.
She sat on front stoop and stared down the street. He’d texted her at ten in the evening telling her he’d returned and would head straight home after debriefing, which could take hours. She’d set up the restaurant for a big breakfast for his team since they couldn’t do their usual ritual tonight. He responded to that text with a thumbs-up emoji, but she hadn’t heard from him since, and it was close to two in the morning.
The rev of an engine echoed in the distance. A single headlight appeared around the corner.
She stood and smoothed down the front of her yoga pants. The garage door hummed as it opened.
Wyatt waved as he pulled into his spot. He took off his helmet and set it on the handlebars. “I was kind of hoping you’d wait up for me.” Pulling her tight to his chest, he held her in a long embrace, kissing her temple. “I missed you.”
“I missed you right back.” She tipped her head and was rewarded with a tender, but promising kiss. “I love you,” she whispered.
“I love you more,” he said.
“Doubtful.” Her cheeks hurt from smiling so hard. “Let’s go inside.”
“And upstairs to bed.” He patted her bottom. She giggled and ran toward the stairs, taking the steps two at a time.
She skidded to a stop in front of the guest room next to the master. “I need to talk to you before we go to bed.”
He arched a brow. “I’ve been gone for almost twenty days, and you want to talk? I don’t like the sound of that.”
She bit down on her thumbnail.
He batted her hand away. “What’s going on?”
“I think you might want to sit down for this one.”
“Now you have me nervous, so whatever it is, please, just tell me,” he said.
The butterflies in her stomach turned to leap frogs. Her chest tightened, and she found it difficult to take deep breaths. “Maybe it’s best if I show you.” With a shaky hand, she twisted the doorknob.
On the guest bed, she’d put a big teddy bear with a card.
Wyatt stepped into the room with a puzzled expression. He glanced around with his hands on his hips before staring at her. “I’m really confused, and whatever it is it can’t be that bad because you haven’t stopped smiling.”
“Open the card.”
“What card?”
“This is not going as planned,” she mumbled as she breezed past him, snagging the card and shoving it at his chest.
“Okay.” He held it up to the light. “To Daddy? What the hell? This isn’t for me.”
“For a smart man, you are being stupid.” She hugged the teddy bear that sported a T-shirt that said baby on board. “Just open it.”
He shrugged, pulling out the card. He took the sonogram picture and held it up to the light. “Is this what I think it is?” He moved the image closer to his face, then pushed it farther away before bringing it close again. “Whose baby is this?” He squinted. “Or should I ask who do these twins belong to?”
“You,” she blurted out.
“That’s funny because in order for them to be mine, they’d have to be…” He dropped the card and the sonogram. His jaw slacked open, and his eyes burst wide.
“Yes. They are mine too. We’re pregnant.”
“I think I need to sit down.” Wyatt’s butt missed the edge of the bed, and he fell to the floor. Grabbing the image, he held it up again. “We’re going to have two babies at once?”
“Yes.” She lowered herself and snuggled up against him. “I know it wasn’t planned, and we haven’t really talked too much about it.”
“I told you I was on board with having a baby.” He set the image down and shifted, shoving his hand into his pocket. “That’s why I bought you this. I was hoping I could make an honest woman of you before that happened.” He held up a huge diamond ring.
“Holy shit.” She reached out to touch it but yanked her hand away. “Is that what I think it is?”
“I love you with all my heart and soul, Clover. Will you marry me?”
“Oh, hell yes.” This time she snagged the ring and glided it on her finger. Straddling him, she held out her hand, admiring the elegant ring. “I think we need to have sex right here, right now.”
“I’m not going to argue with you.”
“You’re a smart man,” she whispered. “I love you.”
Thank you for taking the time to read Protecting Clover. I hope you enjoyed. Please feel free to leave an HONEST review.
About the Author
Welcome to my World! I'm a USA Today Bestseller of Romantic Suspense, Contemporary Romance, and Paranormal Romance.
I first started writing while carting my kids to one hockey rink after the other, averaging 170 games per year between 3 kids in 2 countries and 5 states. My first book, IN TWO WEEKS was originally published in 2007. In 2010 I helped form a publishing company (Cool Gus Publishing) with NY Times Bestselling Author Bob Mayer where I ran the technical side of the business through 2016.
I'm currently enjoying the next phase of my life...the empty NESTER! My husband and I spend our winters in Jupiter, Florida and our summers in Rochester, NY. We have three amazing children who have all gone off to carve out their places in the world, while I continue to craft stories that I hope will make you readers feel good and put a smile on your face.
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Also by Jen Talty
Brand New Series!
It’s all in the Whiskey
JOHNNIE WALKER
GEORGIA MOON
NY State Trooper Series
IN TWO WEEKS
DARK WATER
DEADLY SECRETS
MURDER IN PARADISE BAY
TO PROTECT HIS OWN
DEADLY SEDUCTION
WHEN A STRANGER CALLS
NY State Trooper Novella
HIS DEADLY PAST
Brand New Novella for the First Responders series
A spin off from the NY State Troopers series
PLAYING WITH FIRE
PRIVATE CONVERSATION
The Men of Thief Lake
REKINDLED
DESTINY’S DREAM
Other novels
JANE DOE’S RETURN
THE BUTTERFLY MURDERS
The Aegis Network
THE LIGHTHOUSE
HER LAST HOPE
THE LAST FLIGHT
THE RETURN HOME
Coming soon!
THE MATRIARCH
The Collective Order
THE LOST SISTER
THE LOST SOLDIER
THE LOST SOUL
Coming soon!
THE LOST CONNECTION
Special Forces Operation Alpha
BURNING DESIRE
BURNING KISS
BURNING SKIES
BURNING LIES
BURNING HEART
BURNING BED
REMEMBER ME ALWAYS
Search & Rescue Series
PROTECTING AINSLEY
PROTECTING CLOVER
The Brotherhood Protectors
ROUGH JUSTICE
ROUGH AROUND THE EDGES
ROUGH RIDE
ROUGH EDGE
The Twilight Crossing Series
THE BLIND DATE
SPRING FLING
SUMMER’S GONE
WINTER WEDDING
Witches and Werewolves
LADY SASS
ALL THAT SASS
Coming soon!
NEON SASS
PAINTING SASS
Boxsets
LOVE CHRISTMAS, MOVIES
UNFORGETABLE PASSION
UNFORGETABLE CHARMERS
A NIGHT SHE’LL REMEMBER
SWEET AND SASSY IN THE SNOW
SWEET AND SASSY PRINCE CHARMING
FINDERS KEEPERS: THE PURSE
PROTECT AND DESIRE
SWEET AND SASSY BABY LOVE
CHRISTMAS AT MISTLETOE LODGE
THE PLAYERS: OVERCOMING THE ODDS
Novellas
NIGHTSHADE
A CHRISTMAS GETAWAY
TAKING A RISK
WHISPERS
There are many more books in this fan fiction world than listed here, for an up-to-date list go to www.AcesPress.com
You can also visit our Amazon page at:
http://www.amazon.com/author/operationalpha
Special Forces: Operation Alpha World
Christie Adams: Charity’s Heart
Denise Agnew: Dangerous to Hold
Shauna Allen: Awakening Aubrey
Brynne Asher: Blackburn
Linzi Baxter: Unlocking Dreams
Jennifer Becker: Hiding Catherine
Alice Bello: Shadowing Milly
Heather Blair: Rescue Me
Anna Blakely: Rescuing Gracelynn
Amy Briggs: Saving Sarah
Julia Bright: Saving Lorelei
Victoria Bright: Surviving Savage
Cara Carnes: Protecting Mari
Kendra Mei Chailyn: Beast
Melissa Kay Clarke: Rescuing Annabeth
Samantha A. Cole: Handling Haven
Sue Coletta: Hacked
Melissa Combs: Gallant
Anne Conley: Redemption for Misty
KaLyn Cooper: Rescuing Melina
Liz Crowe: Marking Mariah
Sarah Curtis: Securing the Odds
Jordan Dane: Redemption for Avery
Tarina Deaton: Found in the Lost
KL Donn: Unraveling Love
Riley Edwards: Protecting Olivia
PJ Fiala: Defending Sophie
Nicole Flockton: Protecting Maria
Michele Gwynn: Rescuing Emma
Casey Hagen: Shielding Nebraska
EM Hayes: Gambling for Ashleigh
Desiree Holt: Protecting Maddie
Kathy Ivan: Saving Sarah
Jesse Jacobson: Protecting Honor
Silver James: Rescue Moon
&n
bsp; Becca Jameson: Saving Sofia
Kate Kinsley: Protecting Ava
Heather Long: Securing Arizona
Gennita Low: No Protection
Kirsten Lynn: Joining Forces for Jesse
Margaret Madigan: Bang for the Buck
Kimberly McGath: The Predecessor
Rachel McNeely: The SEAL’s Surprise Baby
KD Michaels: Saving Laura
Wren Michaels: The Fox & The Hound
Kat Mizera: Protecting Bobbi
Mary B Moore: Force Protection
LeTeisha Newton: Protecting Butterfly
Angela Nicole: Protecting the Donna
MJ Nightingale: Protecting Beauty
Sarah O’Rourke: Saving Liberty
Victoria Paige: Reclaiming Izabel
Anne L. Parks: Mason
Debra Parmley: Protecting Pippa
Lainey Reese: Protecting New York
TL Reeve and Michele Ryan: Extracting Mateo
Elena M. Reyes: Keeping Ava
Angela Rush: Charlotte
Rose Smith: Saving Satin
Jenika Snow: Protecting Lily
Lynn St. James: SEAL’s Spitfire
Dee Stewart: Conner
Harley Stone: Rescuing Mercy
Jen Talty: Burning Desire
Megan Vernon: Protecting Us
Police and Fire: Operation Alpha World
Freya Barker: Burning for Autumn
KaLyn Cooper: Justice for Gwen
Aspen Drake: Sheltering Emma
Deanndra Hall: Shelter for Sharla
Barb Han: Kace
CM Steele: Guarding Hope
Reina Torres: Justice for Sloane
Stacey Wilk: Stage Fright
As you know, this book included at least one character from Susan Stoker’s books. To check out more, see below.