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Speeding Ch. 01

By: HaydenBraeburn



Kendall Mathison was going to be late. Again. Calculating the time from the stop light on Aspen, she was fifteen minutes away from her brother's law firm. Of course, she was supposed to be there in five minutes. Kyle was going to be pissy. Awesome. As soon as the light turned green, she stomped on the accelerator, throwing her red BMW into the stream of traffic as quickly as possible. She sped down the road, weaving through traffic until she saw the lights in her rear view mirror. Well shit, now she was really going to be late. 

Reid Caufield didn't really have to pull the Beemer over. He was off-duty, headed home, but driving like a bat out of hell through the heart of Aylesford bothered him. The driver smoothly guided the car to the shoulder as he followed. When he approached, an amazing looking woman leaned out the window, license and registration in hand.

"Guess I don't need to tell you why I stopped you," he said, noting her eyes were an interesting shade of aqua when she pushed her sunglasses into her dark hair.

"I'm sorry. I was... am... late for an appointment," the beauty explained.

A hair or nail appointment, no doubt, he thought as he took her paperwork. A woman wasn't that gorgeous without work, and driving a forty-thousand dollar car drove that home. He nearly chuckled at his pun. 

"I'll just borrow these a minute, and be right back with your ticket."

Taking note of his name, she asked, "Officer Caufield? Will this take long? That appointment.... My brother will beat me if I miss it."

"Your brother is violent?"

"Oh, no! He's a lawyer. I mean, he's an attorney." She said the last word with deliberate inflection. "He thinks he's responsible for me." 

"Not your first offense, then?"

She blushed before answering. "I... let's say I was something of a trouble-maker." She let out a little laugh, "I had to balance out Mr. Stick-in-the-ass." As soon as she'd said it, her hand flew up to cover her mouth, her blush deepening. "I shouldn't have said that."

Thoroughly enjoying this woman, Reid asked the question that he guessed had a different answer than he first thought. "What kind of appointment are you late for?"

"Kyle wants me to join his team as an investigator. My degree is in journalism. I love uncovering a story, but I don't know if investigating for a law-firm is the right fit."

Now that he wasn't as pissed about her speeding through traffic, he was intrigued by her story. He finally walked to his car, and looked at her license. Kendall Mathison, age twenty-four, even looked good in a DMV photo. 914 Mulberry Lane. The registration was telling as well. Kyle Mathison, the brother. His address was also listed as 914 Mulberry. Hmm, she lived with her brother, but she was plenty old enough. Unnerved by his wayward thought, he wrote her ticket.

Officer Caufield was gone for a few minutes, and Kendall could finally breathe. The man was making her head mushy. She had always had a bit of a fascination- oh, let's face it- an obsession with men in uniform and Officer Caufield lived up to the obsession perfectly. She'd guess he was at least six feet tall with a chiseled jaw and thick, dark hair. It was also obvious the man spent time in the gym. Yum. She just wished he would take his sunglasses off, she was dying to know if his eyes were blue or green.

She sat patiently while Officer Caufield wrote her up. It wasn't like she didn't deserve the ticket. Kyle would just have to deal with it. He'd bought her a red car for heaven's sake. Brilliant idea Counselor Mathison, buy little sister a sporty red car. She was sputtering with laughter when Officer Hottie approached.

"Care to let me in on the joke?" 

"My brother bought this car for me. He was insistent he put it in his name to save on insurance, but he bought me, the lead-foot in case you hadn't noticed, a sporty red car. And he prides himself on being brilliant."

"You could always just slow down," Reid answered, a smile on his lips.

"I could.... But I will be late for something else and give in." She shrugged at his raised eyebrow, "Hey, at least I'm honest."

Honesty, a refreshing quality in a woman. She was beautiful, honest, witty and intelligent. He really should've left that train of thought in the cruiser. Somehow his mouth engaged before his brain could stop him, and he found himself saying, "Kendall, would you like to go out to dinner?"

Holy shit. "Yes, when?"

"Is tonight too soon?"

"Tonight is fine, but I need you to do two things for me first."

"All right, but you still have to pay your ticket."

She almost said, "Duh" but stopped herself. "Of course. No, I need to know your first name and I'd like to see your face."

"Reid. Reid Caufield at your service," he said as he pulled his sunglasses off, revealing a face even more gorgeous than she'd first thought. His eyes were a deep sapphire blue. She was in trouble.

A smile tipped her full lips as she thanked him. Damn he hoped he'd be at her service. Pulling a woman over wasn't his usual way to ask her out. It'd been so long since Amy, he didn't really remember his usual way to ask a woman out, but Kendall was magnetic. "Seven tonight? I'll pick you up."

Right, he had her address now. "Seven is perfect. Now, to the dragon's lair."

~*~

Kyle was pacing around the office when Kendall finally walked in. She didn't even have time to prepare herself before he started in on her.

"Kendall, what am I going to do with you? You're nearly an hour late."

It was thirty-eight minutes, but she didn't dare point that out. "I had an... unexpected stop."

He quirked a sandy brow over a hazel eye in question. He didn't need to open his mouth to make her feel like she was a child again.

"I was stopped for speeding." At Kyle's scoff, she rushed on, "I was trying to get here on time. I have a date tonight now, though, so it wasn't all bad."

"You were speeding, got pulled over and now you have a date? Really, Kendall, you're sleeping your way out of trouble now? Lovely."

"No, it isn't like that. I still have to pay the ticket. Reid made sure to point that out before he asked me to dinner."

He pinned her with such a derisive look, she nearly burst into tears. Why was Kyle so demanding and so disappointed in everything she did? He had always been able to make her feel an inch tall without even saying a word. She knew she should be grateful he had stepped in to raise her, but it was getting harder every day. As he stared her down, she wished she hadn't come back to Aylesford.

"He was so taken by your beauty he just had to ask you out, is that it? You think he won't hold it over you?"

Her hands were curled into such tight fists, she wasn't sure she hadn't drawn blood. "I was speeding, and deserved a ticket. He doesn't have anything to hold over me, and even if he did, he's not you. You have held your delay to college and your scholarship loss over me almost my entire life. Have you ever stopped to think maybe everyone isn't like you?" She threw the papers she'd been holding on the floor, ground the heel of her boot into them. "I will find my own way. I don't care how much this job pays, how wonderful this firm is, or how disappointed you are. I will never give you the right to be the boss of me again." Nearly spitting on the application she had tossed, she turned and stomped out the door, making sure to slam it as hard as she could. It may be juvenile, but it felt good to slam a door.

Making the dramatic exit was one thing. Following it through was something else entirely. She left the car Kyle had purchased and registered in his name for her in the Jamieson, Trenton, Parker & White lot, and walked into the heart of downtown hoping for a sign. She didn't know if she was hoping for a "Help Wanted" sign or a sign from God, but right now she'd take either. She sure as hell couldn't go home without a job, or a plan, or something. Her degree wouldn't be much help unless Lois Finnegan had expanded the Aylesford Tribune in the last few years. So she walked.

Kyle had always been so driven. He knew he wanted to be a lawyer from the time he was fourteen and had pursued that goal with such single-minded passion, she had been proud of him. She loved him, and she would be forever grateful for him coming home to Aylesford to take care of her after their parents plane had crashed into the Atlantic, but she had to strike out on her own. She knew she hadn't been easy to deal with, and she understood his resentment to a point. To become a surrogate parent to a sulky twelve year old sister when he'd just started at UVA had to have been hard. She sighed. She had been difficult, terrible even, but it had been twelve years since their parent's death and she'd cleaned up her act a long time ago. She had worked hard, and now had a bachelor's degree. Granted, she couldn't use it for much here, but she had gone to Washington and Lee on partial scholarship, and graduated with honors. That had to mean something, didn't it?

She was very nearly stomping down Oak Street, lost in thought and memories and she almost missed it. Her calling. Okay, that might be a tad melodramatic, but there it was. Taylored Jewels. She and Taylor had been friends since elementary school, unfortunately losing touch when Taylor went to California to study gemology and jewelry making. Kendall was hoping Taylor Jamieson was her answered prayer.

Smoothing her wrinkled khaki linen skirt, she took a deep breath and pushed open the cut glass door. Inside, she found a beautifully appointed shop decorated with wood, glass, and stone, with framed designs that looked to be hand painted on the wall. Tay had done nicely for herself. Shrugging off the feeling of inadequacy, she waved away the sales associate and wandered the store. In one case was a collection of colored stones in ornate settings, in another were engagement mountings of every variety. She was mesmerized by a particularly intricate diamond engagement ring when she heard her name.

"Kendall Mathison!" Taylor exclaimed. "Shopping for an engagement ring?"

Laughing, Kendall looked up from the case to see her childhood friend all grown up. Taylor's red hair was pulled into a sleek twist, her make-up was perfect and a slate blue skirt suit- a very tailored, beautifully made skirt suit- adorned her body. Always a pretty girl, Taylor Jamieson was a stunning woman.

Abruptly straightening from her crouch, Kendall replied, "Oh, no, although this is gorgeous. And my lord, you look amazing."

A blush crept into the jewelry designer's face. "This is my commercial look. I'm normally not so clean and shiny around here. I look perfect-ish today until you look at my hands." She held up the appendages in question, showing the calluses, burns and perpetual polishing compound of a working jeweler.

Grinning, Kendall affirmed her original assessment before taking in and blowing out a bracing breath. "Do you happen to be hiring?"

Taylor looked toward the ceiling for a moment, tapping a finger against her chin. "How are you with sales and merchandising? And, what do you know about jewelry?"

"I adore jewelry, and am willing to learn anything. I worked in a bridal shop in Buena Vista when I was at W&L. My degree is in journalism, but I minored in theater, so I have set decoration and costume design experience as well. Taylor, I know it's a thin resume, but I just can't let Kyle support me anymore."

Taylor's delicate eyebrows knitted together with her puzzled look, "Why did you come back to Aylesford if you can't let Kyle take care of you anymore? I would love to help, and I think we might be able to work something out, but why aren't you writing somewhere? You always wanted to write." She took Kendall's right hand in both of hers, "I so wish we had stayed in touch."

Enjoying the warmth and caring emanating from her friend, Kendall replied, "California is far away." She shook her head before continuing, "Kyle said he thought I would be an asset to his team and being the glutton for punishment I am, I ran home. I thought he saw value in me and my work; instead, it was just another way to control me."

Understanding dawned on the redhead's face. "Be here at nine tomorrow morning, Kendall. We'll sit down and figure everything out then."

"Thank you! I promise you won't regret this, Tay," she gushed before she turned to walk out the door.

~*~

After her tirade in Kyle's office, Kendall wasn't excited to head home. Although her luck had been good in the late afternoon, she wasn't holding her breath it would hold out any longer. Despite Kyle, she'd hopefully found a job with a good friend, and she had a date in a short while. Smiling, she walked in the door.

Less than two seconds after crossing the threshold, the smile slid off her face. Not only was Kyle home, he'd brought backup. Shit.

"Where have you been?" He demanded. "Do you know how worried I've been? Your car was at my office and you were gone. I almost called the police."

Instead of pointing out the police wouldn't help because she was an adult and she'd only been gone four hours, she said the only thing she could. "I'm sorry you were worried."

"Where were you?"

"Does it really matter?"

"You bet your ass it does, you didn't answer your phone."

"I was downtown. My phone was dead, but I didn't expect you would call me. I left my car, because really it's your car isn't it? I walked off some steam, stopped for coffee, caught up with Taylor Jamieson and got a job. Do you really care?"

"He's always worried about you. Afraid you and your antics will land you in trouble. Again," Nichole was quick to interject. Oh, how Kendall disliked Nichole McClaren. Three years older than Kendall, she was almost finished with law school, never had a hair out of place, and had Kyle wrapped around her French manicured finger. She knew that given the choice, Kyle would choose the paralegal over herself. But why was Nichole here now, and why were a few hours such a big deal?

"My antics?" Kendall rounded on the blonde. "Kyle hasn't even begun to see my antics. My life is my own now, and I plan to live it." She planted herself inches away from the Barbie-doll, "Why the fuck are you even here?"

"Kendall Renee Mathison! You will not disrespect Nichole that way."

At the admonishment, Kendall began to laugh. "I am not a kid anymore. My full name is not scary, brother dear. But, really, why is she here?"

Before he could answer her question, or she could call out his full name in retribution, the doorbell chimed. Cursing the god of timing, she turned to her brother, "It's seven and my date is here. Why don't you go cross-examine him? I need to freshen up."

Kyle stood rooted to the spot for a long moment before turning toward the door. Pasting on a smile, he unlocked it.

Reid had listened to the majority of the argument while standing on the porch. From what he heard, Kendall was tired of her controlling brother, the brother's girlfriend was a bitch, and Kendall was working somewhere other than the law firm. Tucking the information away, he was smiling when the door swung open.

"You're here for Kendall?" Kyle did nothing to cover the disbelief in his voice. 

"I am. Reid Caufield," he introduced with an outstretched hand. 

Kyle accepted his hand, introducing himself in kind and openly looking him up and down. "I believe we've been on opposing sides of a couple cases, Officer Caufield." 

"A defense attorney, then?" Kendall said her brother was an attorney, but hadn't said what type or which firm.

"I'm an associate at Jamieson, Trenton, Parker and White."

Aha. That was why Mathison looked familiar. "I just met your sister today. Where have you been hiding her?"

"She was down at Washington and Lee." He gave Reid another long up and down look. "She's only twenty-four."

Controlling, yet protective older brother. "A few years is hardly a problem."

He gestured with his arm, ushering Reid in the door before continuing, "I'd say there's quite an age difference."

Shaking his head, Reid told him, "Not too much. I don't think it bothers Kendall, and she's the one who matters, right?"

Kyle just let out a "humf" sound and stalked in, encircling a petite blonde in his arms. Reid had just sat down on an ottoman when Kendall walked out of what he assumed was a bathroom. Wow. He thought she was beautiful in the car earlier today, but he hadn't seen the whole package. The flared jeans hugged a world-class ass, the silky blue halter top showed off mouthwatering curves leaving her back bare, and her long chocolate curls framed her drop-dead face. He felt his jeans tighten, and he prayed he could control himself.

Holy shit. She remembered Officer Reid Caufield as hot, but damn. Although she had a thing for uniforms, out of uniform the man was still burning her alive in lovingly worn jeans and a white dress shirt. She felt herself slicken, her heartbeat speed up, and knew she was done-for. It was going to be difficult getting through dinner without mounting the man. 

~*~

Dinner was Mexican. Fajitas were her favorite, and as they assembled and devoured them, the conversation flowed. She learned Reid had two brothers. Ryder and his wife Madelyn owned a restaurant in Ashford, Mimosa, and Reece and his fiancee Cassandra were currently in Atlanta.

"So, how does the oldest brother hold out on the marriage thing?"

He trailed his hand down her bare back as he answered, brushing the sensitive spot above the waistband of her jeans, "I haven't found the right woman yet." He grinned as he watched her nipples come to attention with his touch, and nearly moaned as she slid her hand up his thigh.

Her hand had crept up his thigh over the course of the meal, and now she was avidly running her fingers over his hard length through his jeans. Unable to resist, he leaned over and captured her mouth with his own. Changing the angle, he deepened the kiss, pulling Kendall as close to him as possible. They had to get out of there before he untied that top and got them both arrested.

"God, Reid, take me home."

"Home?" 

"Your home. I need you."

He pulled back from her to look into her stormy eyes. "We've only just met." God, how those words were hard to say.

She reached up to kiss him again, thrusting her tongue in his mouth. She deepened the kiss, claiming him, coming up only to say, "Don't say no."

He had tried to be a gentleman, but no man was that honorable. Tossing a fifty on the table, Reid picked Kendall up, wrapping her mile long legs around his waist, and walked them out of the restaurant. He carried her easily, never releasing her mouth for more than a breath, until he reached his truck.

If she hadn't been wearing pants tonight, she was sure she'd already by full of Reid's cock. As it was, she'd soaked through her jeans. Never, never had she wanted a man with such a vengeance. She needed him like she needed air, and she couldn't wait. She slid her hand into his jeans, wrapping her hand around the largest cock she'd ever handled. Holy mother. "I'm on the pill, Reid. Please, I can't wait, just take me here."

He couldn't stop himself. He unbuttoned her low-rise jeans, unzipping them to find her waxed pussy just beneath. The last of his tenuous hold on resistance fled when he slid his fingers around that hot, wet, bare pussy. He stripped one pant leg off her, driving two fingers into her as he did. As he filled her with his fingers, she freed his cock from the confines of his own pants and boxers, all the while fondling him to the point of breaking. Wasting no time, he pulled his fingers from her and replaced them with his cock, driving into her like a mad man up against the side of his truck in a public parking lot.

Holy shit, the man was huge. As he fucked her with long, deep strokes, she only wanted harder, faster and told him as much. He drove into her again and again, harder and harder, faster and faster as she urged him on, until she broke into a massive screaming orgasm, her muscles clamping on him like a vise. He couldn't hold out a moment longer and poured into her as she continued to spasm.


Speeding Ch. 01



Panting against his chest, Kendall was the first to speak. "That should take the edge off at least."

"Since we just committed a Class A Misdemeanor- not that I regret it in the least- let's go home and do this right. I want to see you, taste you, feel you, Kendall. I want to make you scream my name over and over again." 

~*~

He drove to his house faster than he thought possible, Kendall writhing in the seat next to him. She wasn't kidding about just taking the edge off, he'd just been inside her and was already ready to go again. Kendall noticed his erection growing and reached over to fondle him, one hand snaking into his jeans to wrap around him as he drove, the other in her own pants, stroking her clit. He was rock hard when they pulled into his driveway and Kendall was already on the edge of another orgasm.

By the time he managed to unlock the door, Kendall had untied her top, putting her glorious breasts on display. She immediately went to work, kicking off her sandals and shimmying out of her jeans until she stood before him, naked, wet and ready. His already hard cock lengthened even more, imagining all the things he meant to do to this woman.

Never had she been so ready, so eager for a man, and Kendall was almost afraid of the scorching heat between them. Instead of analyzing, she watched him strip, revealing hard slabs of muscle and that amazing cock. Before she could really enjoy looking at him, he had her on the floor, his head between her thighs. Oh good lord in heaven the man could use his tongue. He ate at her pussy like a starving man, adding three fingers to the mix before sucking her clit into his mouth. She came, arching her back off the floor and wailing her release as he slid up her body and rammed into her.

Magnificent. That was the word that flitted through her head as Reid pounded into her. Never before had she been taken this hard, this savagely, and she loved it. "Harder!" She screamed before he ramped up the pace, plunging deeper into her as he took her mouth in a consuming kiss, his tongue mimicking his cock. She went off, shuddering beneath him and he followed her over.

He couldn't get enough of this woman. He'd had her in a parking lot, on the floor, in the shower and twice in bed and he wanted her again. He should let her sleep, she had to go in for what was hopefully her first day of work in the morning, but all he wanted to do was plunge into her again. She shifted, sliding her naked and wet pussy against his thigh, and he couldn't help himself. He rolled her under him, unerringly sliding home in one thrust. He took her gently this time.

What a way to wake up. She was wrapped in Reid's arms, full to bursting with his cock, and he was making slow, deliberate love to her. She brought her mouth to his as she met him stroke for stroke, shattering around him with a long, low moan. She could get used to this.

"So....." She looked at him over her coffee cup. She didn't want to ask the dreaded question about where this was going.

"We can swing you by your house to pick up some clothes before you head to Taylored Jewels."

She nearly spat her coffee all over the kitchen. "Clothes?" 

"I was thinking, no, let's be honest here, hoping, you might want to stay here again tonight." At her shocked expression, he rushed on, "I know I'm moving really fast, but-"

She was grinning as she cut him off. "I'd love to stay with you tonight." And tomorrow, and the next day, and forever. Whoa. Whoa, whoa, whoa. Okay, so yeah, the sex was great, amazing... all right fine... unfuckingbelievable, but forever? 

"I've never ridden in the front of a police cruiser before," she admitted as she slid into her seat.

Chuckling, he asked, "When did you ride in the back?"

"I was sixteen, angry and stupid. I thought I could get back at Kyle by causing trouble. I dressed in my skimpiest outfit, drove to Sheridan and put myself on a corner."

"Baby..."

"It's okay. I didn't actually do anything. Thank God the man that picked me up was an undercover cop. He saw that I was not only young, I didn't look like I belonged there and he was sure someone was missing me." She shook her head. "I told you I was stupid and angry."

"But why did you think that would get back at Kyle? You were putting yourself in danger."

"I know. It was just the way I came up with to embarrass him. A hooker for a sister? He'd be horrified. I didn't exactly think it through. I thank God for Detective Matthews." She smiled, then went on. "The other time, I was eighteen and my boyfriend at the time had just dumped me. I was drunk at a bar and a guy hit on me. I liked the attention, and ended up making out with him. Until his wife showed up. I swear, I didn't know he was married, but I couldn't let someone beat me up, so I fought back and got hauled in for fighting and underage drinking."

"So my girlfriend is a criminal, huh?"

Girlfriend? Surprised things were going so well, she smirked as she replied, "Reformed."

He was glad she didn't fight him on the title of girlfriend. He wanted to keep her around a long time. A really long time.

~*~

"Do you want me to go in with you?" Reid's concern was written all over his face.

"Nah. I should be fine."

"I'll wait here while you change and grab some essentials, then I'll drop you at the store before heading to the station."

She leaned over to kiss him. She'd meant for it to be a short, sweet kiss, and instead she found herself consumed with him all over again. She finally broke the kiss, her eyes a little unfocused. "God, Reid. We have to stop now or I'm going to jump you in your cruiser."

He was hard and throbbing, but he couldn't fuck her in her driveway while he was in uniform in his cruiser. Could he?

"Don't look at me like that. We don't have time." She said it as she crawled across the center console and straddled him. She kissed him again, deeper this time. "I should be sore, and tired. Instead, I want you right now."

It was still dark, and she was so ready for him it wouldn't take much time. She raised up to strip her jeans off as he removed his heavily laden belt and dropped it to the floor, opening his pants just enough. She sank onto him, a groan ripping from her throat as he filled her. It was a fast and furious joining in a cramped space, but that didn't make it any less satisfying. He played with her nipples as she rode him mercilessly, finally sliding a hand to her clit. Her orgasm hit her hard, her muscles clamping on his cock as her pussy coated him with cream. Unable to resist any longer, he shot into her, gritting out her name as he did.

She collected herself and walked into the house to find Nichole standing at the door, clapping.

"You should've gone into porn, Kendall. I'm so hot after watching you and your man out there, I'm going to have to find your brother... Again."

Eww. Pushing the image of her brother and Nichole out of her mind, she asked, "What do you want?"

"I want you out of this house. I want your car. I want your brother. I want you to stay out of his life."

Damn, and she thought this would be hard. "Sure. Let me get my stuff and I'll leave."

Nichole's jaw dropped. "You'll leave?"

"Did you not see what's waiting for me?"

She packed everything she'd brought with her from Buena Vista. When she came out with two suitcases, a duffel and a make-up bag, Reid wasn't sure what to make of it. He stepped out of the car to take her luggage anyway. Maybe she was high maintenance after all, and this was her packing for a few days?

At his look, she explained, "I'm moving out of Kyle's house. I'll find a place of my own."

He shook his head. "You will not. You're staying with me." Indefinitely.

"Hmm... Great sex with a hot guy or a hotel room alone? Such a decision."



Speeding Ch. 02



"Baby, do I need to pick anything up on the way home?" Reid was getting used to making this call.

He could hear her rustling around the kitchen before she answered, "We could use cereal, Bisquick and eggs." 

After they hung up, she laughed at herself. She couldn't believe how happy she was living with Reid. Sure, she hadn't spoken to her brother in more than two months, but otherwise things were good. She'd fallen into a good groove with Taylor, allowing her friend more time in the shop while she and Joanne held down the fort. She found she had a knack for selling jewelry. Not that it was hard with Taylor's designs, and the clout of the Jamieson name in Aylesford didn't hurt. The first time she'd been out after work with Taylor she'd been taken aback by how many people came by to say hello. Of course, since her father Booker was a founding partner of Jamieson, Trenton, Parker and White while her mother, Juliette was a former prima ballerina with the Washington Ballet and now owned a prestigious dance school, it only made sense the Jamieson family was an important one to Aylesford.

Kendall sighed. Following that train of thought always made her jealous. Taylor was the youngest of six, with five older brothers who were overprotective yet not controlling, and her parents were wonderful. She shook her head. She'd better stop before she made herself even more jealous. Instead, she cleaned the kitchen before making dinner. Who would've thought Kendall Mathison could be so domestic?

She had steaks under the broiler when her phone rang again. Thinking it would be Reid, she didn't look at the screen before answering. "Hey, honey."

"Kendall?" Kyle obviously wasn't expecting her cheerful greeting.

"Kyle? What's wrong?"

"What, something has to be wrong for me to call you?"

Um, yeah, it did. "Spill."

"Nichole is pregnant. We're getting married."

A chill went down Kendall's spine. "Are you sure?"

She could practically hear his smile as he answered, "I am. We had our first ultrasound today."

She'd meant if he was sure he wanted to marry Nichole, but knowing Kyle, there was no way he was going to to have a baby with a woman he wasn't married to. "I'm..." what? "...happy for you both." She nearly choked on the words. Dammit, now she would have to deal with Nichole for the rest of her life. "Do you love her?"

"What kind of question is that?" Kyle spat back at her.

She noticed his deflection and ignored it. "I love you, Kyle. I wish you and Nichole every happiness." There, that sounded more sincere.

"I want you at the wedding," he demanded.

"Of course." Had he expected her to say no? Just because she knew Nichole had trapped him into this marriage didn't mean she wouldn't be there.

"Aylesford Methodist, two weeks from Saturday at four."

Didn't want Nichole to be showing, huh? "We'll be there."

"Thanks, Kendall."

She turned the oven off. Her steaks were probably more well-done than the medium she liked, but she didn't care. She sat on a stool and fell into musings once again. Nichole McClaren for a sister? A niece or nephew? She needed a minute to catch up with life.

Reid walked in the door soon after to find her still sitting on the stool. He took one look at her face and wrapped her in his arms. "What's wrong, baby?"

She squirmed. "At least put the groceries down before comforting me, something's poking me."

He laughed, then put the offending bananas in the bowl. Who knew he needed a banana bowl? He made quick work of putting all the groceries in their place before returning to her. "No more stalling. What's wrong?"

"Kyle and Nichole are getting married. She's pregnant." She pulled him closer, loving his strength, hoping he could share some with her. "She's trapped him."

He rested his chin on her head. "You don't know that. They might love each other and this was just an unplanned baby."

She shook her head, "I asked him if he loved her. He didn't answer, he was just offended I could ask such a question." She paused, sighing. "It wouldn't matter anyway, he wouldn't allow his baby to be born without marrying the mother first. It would look bad."

"At the risk of what? Plenty of children are born to unmarried parents. Hell, it'd be better to be friends with the mother and raise a child together than to marry just to divorce later if you're not in love." He pulled back then so he could look at her. "Although, if you are in love, a baby could just hurry things along."

"I hope he loves her. He doesn't believe in divorce either. Again, that looks bad."

"Are you kidding?"

"No." She cocked her head before asking, "do you believe in divorce?"

"I'd better. I am divorced."

Her jaw dropped. "How did I not know that?" And why was she suddenly intensely jealous of woman she'd never met?

"I didn't tell you. Even when you asked on our first date."

"You said you hadn't found the right woman yet." She wasn't sure whether she was angry, hurt or curious, so she waited to hear his answer.

He stepped away from her, "I hadn't." He wasn't exactly proud of the story he was about to tell. He blew out a breath before giving the condensed version . "Amy was my high school sweetheart. She was, as cliché as it sounds, the head cheerleader and I was the quarterback. We had plans, and dreams and all those things you have when you're seventeen." He waited for her to nod before he went on, "I was so in love with her my teeth hurt, and as soon as we turned eighteen, we ran to Sheridan and got married."

"You were eighteen? What happened?"

"We came back here. I went to the Police Academy and she stayed and taught dance at Jamieson Studio."

"No college?"

He shook his head. "Her family cut her off when we got married. I skipped straight to the Academy."

It hadn't occurred to her that Reid hadn't been to college. Funny, that. "Go on."

"About five months into our marriage, we found out Amy was pregnant."

Oh, shit. Now he was going to tell her he had an eleven year old and an ex-wife and her world was going to fall apart. Instead of saying anything, she gasped.

His blue eyes went as hard as steel as he continued, "Turned out Amy wasn't sure who the father was. While I was at the Academy, she was sleeping with someone else. Multiple someone elses."

She flew from her stool and wrapped her arms around him to soothe the old hurt she saw in his eyes. She couldn't fathom cheating on the man you loved, much less were married to, especially if that man was Reid. He was gorgeous, thoughtful and protective, not to mention amazing in bed. And she was head over heels in love with him. What a fine time to figure that out, Kendall. "What happened?"

"There was no way I was staying with an unfaithful wife, baby or no baby. We got divorced, and the baby was born."

She wasn't sure she wanted to know the answer, but she asked anyway, "was the baby yours?"

He made a strangled sound. "No." 

She pulled from the embrace and tilted her head up to look him dead in the eye. "Know this, Reid Caufield. I will never, never cheat on you." As she made the declaration, she pulled his mouth to hers for a kiss.

What started as a comforting kiss soon became heated. Winding his hands in her hair, Reid held her in place as he ravaged her mouth. He picked her up, setting her on the counter without breaking the kiss. "Need you...Please," she managed to whisper as she pulled at his shirt. He removed his belt, placing it on the floor before opening his pants. He pushed her skirt up, moved her thong to one side and slid home in one practiced motion. He always wanted her with an intensity that blew his mind and now was no exception. It didn't take long until she was moaning his name, milking his cock. Those intense spasms and her mindless moans always got to him and he followed with his own climax.

A little while later, she looked up at him and asked, "Any other relationship revelations we should flush out now?"

"I haven't been in a relationship for a long time. Never wanted to be."

"So, you've been single all this time?" 

He smiled then, "I didn't say I was a monk or anything, just nothing serious."

"Until me?"

"Until you."

~*~

The wedding of Kyle Jacob Mathison and Nichole Grace McClaren was surprisingly beautiful considering the time frame in which it was planned. The bride wore white, and honestly looked amazing. Kendall supposed Nichole hadn't meant to be ironic, just traditional with the choice. She also had to admit Kyle looked quite handsome in his tux.

Reid stood by her through the wedding, squeezing her hand. He knew she wasn't happy with the situation, and he supported her however he could. After the epiphanies of a few weeks ago, their relationship was stronger. Of course, she loved him, so that probably had something to do with it. She was fairly certain he loved her too, but neither had declared anything to the other, and she was content. They'd rushed everything in their relationship, condensing months into weeks, yet that was something she had no intention of rushing.

She hugged her brother. "I'm happy if you're happy, Kyle."

"What kind of congratulatory declaration is that?"

"The truth. If you're happy, then I'm happy for you."

He grinned. A real, shit-eating, happier than ever grin. "I'm happy, Kendall."

Damn. The bitch made him happy. Well, good then. "Good. I love you."

"You too."

She was left standing alone when Kyle was swept up by other well-wishers. She stared at her brother's retreating back, wondering how her life had changed so much in such a short time. Three months ago she had just moved back in with Kyle, was supposed to work at his firm and was single. Now, Kyle was married and expecting a baby, she had a job she loved at Taylored Jewels, and she was living with Reid and thinking about forever. Twelve weeks. How had everything changed in just twelve weeks?

Her mind was still swirling when Reid wrapped his arms around her. "Are you okay?" he whispered in her ear.

"Overwhelmed. My life is completely different than it was three months ago."

He understood the sentiment, his life was irrevocably changed as well. "Are you happy?"

And there it was. The reason she wasn't running into the hills. "Yes. More than I thought possible."

He kissed her, soft and sweet. "Me too."

"I-" She broke off when her elbow was grabbed. She turned around to find Taylor at the end of the offending hand.

"It's time for the bouquet toss. C'mon, Ken." Taylor's eyes were bright, the same color as her satin dress. "Sorry, Reid, but I have to steal her."

Reluctantly, Kendall trailed behind Taylor. Part of her wanted to catch the bouquet because she liked the idea of being the next one married, but what would catching Nichole's bouquet mean? That she'd trap Reid like Nichole had trapped Kyle? She shook her head, smoothing her blue silk sheath. She was going to have to accept Nichole as a sister. Well, she would... just not today.

The bouquet went flying and Kendall caught it in self-defense. It was either catch it or let it hit her in the eye. She stared at the white roses and greenery for a long moment, then shoved it at Taylor.

"Ken, you're the one living with someone," Taylor whispered.

"But it's Nichole's bouquet."

"And?"

Right, she hadn't told Taylor about the baby or the trapping or that Nichole was a horrid bitch. Great. "Nothing, I just don't want to scare Reid." There, that was a good answer.

"Pshaw. That man is in love with you."

That wasn't the point. "Just take it. Besides, didn't you see the guy who caught the garter?"

Shrugging, Taylor complied. If Kendall didn't want to let Kevin Trenton slide his hand up her thigh to put the garter on, she'd take one for the team. 

Once again, Reid wrapped her in his arms from behind. "I saw that."

"What?" she asked, feigning innocence.

"So, did you make her take it because it was Nichole's, you're not ready to get married, or to hook her up with Kevin?"

She couldn't help it, she laughed long and loud. "Um... All of the above?"

He turned her in his arms, giving her a long, languid kiss. "Let's get out of here," he said when they finally came up for air.

She surely wasn't going to argue.

A little while later they were in his truck, having said their goodbyes to those that mattered. "Would you ever get married again?" Kendall asked.

"Yes."

She said nothing for a long time, then nodded. "Good." Abruptly changing the subject, she told him, "Do you know how delicious you look in that suit?"

Playing along, he answered, "Why don't you tell me?"

Reaching beneath her dress, she pulled her silky thong off, dropping it in his lap. "That's how."

She was going to make him crash. Part of him knew she was choosing sex to gloss over the deeper feelings, but he didn't much care. His girlfriend had just dropped her drenched underwear in his lap and was now naked beneath her dress. Yeah, he knew she was avoiding talking about emotions, but that was all right with him.

They made it into the house. Barely. As soon as the door was completely shut, Kendall was pinned to it, her dress shoved up to her waist. One day he was going to wait until they were totally naked to drive into her, but today was not that day. He loved that she was always so ready, so willing and he especially loved shoving her against a wall. He dropped his pants and slammed home, loving the groan she gave him as he did. He took her hard and fast, driving into her as his mouth mated with hers, loving that she had slid a hand between them to toy with her clit. She came hard, screaming into his mouth and he couldn't help but let loose too. They slid to the floor panting.

"We made it one inch into the house," she remarked as soon as she caught her breath.

"Be happy we were inside."

"Oh, I was," she answered with a smirk.

"You don't know what you do to me. I have never lost control with a woman the way I do with you." And continue to do. He kept expecting it to normalize, that his lust for her would die down, or even out, but it had been months, and he still burned just by looking at her.

"I think I understand all to well. I begged you to fuck me against a truck after knowing you for a just a few hours. Until you, I was not such a whore."

His eyes hardened at the statement. "You are not a whore."

"Okay, a slut then. For you."

"And only me," he finished before crushing his mouth to hers once more.

~*~

"Caufield," Reid answered his phone while sitting in a speed trap. 

"Caufield back at ya," came the saucy reply from his sister.

"Hey Maddy-May. What's up?"

"Ryder is turning thirty next month, and we were hoping you could come down to Ashford the weekend of the twenty-fourth. Your parents are already here- they decided to stay for the entire month- and Reece and Cass are coming up. It'll be a regular reunion."

"I'll have to ask Kendall what her schedule looks like, but I'm sure we can come."

Her squeal made him pull the phone from his ear. "Lord, woman."

"Oh, I'm just so excited to meet Kendall. She's caught you but good."

"Says the woman who took ten years to see what was in front of her."

"Ah, ah, ah. Your brother was just as blind as I was. We wasted a lot of time." She laughed. "I hear you wasted no time."

"For being six hours away, you sure hear a lot of things."

"I sure do," she acknowledged. "Like how you can't keep your hands off her no matter where you are."

"Mad-"

"And how no one has ever seen you look at a woman the way you look at her. Ever."

"Who the hell have you been talking to?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?" she taunted.

Nearly growling into the phone, he told her, "Stop, just stop." Gentling his tone, he told her, "Kendall is different, and yes, I think she's it for me. Now, leave it. Please."

Wow. Caufield men were not known for use of the word please. Relenting, Madelyn moved on. "So, you and Kendall, Friday evening through Sunday morning?"

"Count us in."

~*~

"Why are you so nervous?" As Reid watched her pace, she was starting to make him nervous, and this was his family.

She threw up her hands. "Oh, I don't know. Maybe because I'm meeting your whole family at the same time? Maybe because I've been living with you for three months and I'm just now meeting them? Maybe because I was raised for a good chunk of my childhood by a rigid brother who hasn't even called me once since his wedding?"

Damn. Kyle hadn't talked to her for over a month? "They'll love you."

Uh-huh. Or maybe they wouldn't. "What if they don't?"

"They will. Have you met you? You're fun, and smart and honest," he moved to her, wrapped her in his arms, "and beautiful, and sexy," he kissed her then, "and mine."

"Ah, so they have to like me."

He chuckled. "It's in the Caufield bylaws. All Significant Others- that's capital S, capital O- will be accepted."

"Caufield bylaws? What are you, a family, or a club?"

She got a smile for her smart-ass comment. "We wrote a charter like we were a club a long time ago."

"Ryder's idea?"

"Who else? Anyway, we wrote rules to how we wanted to conduct ourselves. One of them was that no matter who we put in that Significant Other role she would always be respected and accepted." He shook his head, "God, Ryder had some crazy chicks, too."

"You said he's always loved Madelyn."

"He has. He didn't know it for a long time, though."

"Didn't know, or wasn't ready to accept?" She wondered aloud, thinking more of herself and Reid than Ryder.

"If it was the latter, neither one of them moved out of friend-land until apparently Mad seduced him."

"That's one way to get through to a man." She advanced on Reid, "would you like me to seduce you?"

"Have I ever turned you down?" he asked before pulling her to him. He kissed her thoroughly, exploring the recesses of her mouth. God, he could kiss her forever. When she broke the kiss, she dropped to her knees. Dear lord.

She wasted no time releasing him from his jeans. She wanted him in her mouth. She swallowed him, teasing him with her tongue before sliding up and down his cock again. She added a hand to the rhythm and soon had him gritting his teeth. She was relentless, one hand sliding along his hard cock following her mouth, the other snaking around to play with his ass. She pushed on his entrance as she sucked and he exploded down her throat.

When he caught his breath, he told her, "God, you can suck cock." He stripped her then, pulling her to the floor as he pushed her thighs apart with his broad shoulders. He ran his tongue around her clit, causing her to whimper until he finally added two fingers deep in her channel, bringing her to the edge of climax again and again. When he finally sucked her clit in his mouth, she bowed off the floor, spasming around his fingers and covering him with her juices.

"Make love to me."

With no further preamble, he sealed his mouth to hers as he drove home. Her legs wrapped tightly around him, pulling him deeper as he tunneled in and out of her. He felt her muscles flutter around him and tossed her legs over his shoulders, driving deep and hard over and over again. She screamed her release as he poured into her.

Spent, they stayed entwined on the floor a long while until Kendall caught a look at the DVR a few feet from her head. "Damn! We'd better leave soon or we'll never make it."

She shifted in her seat as she stifled a giggle. "Bylaws? Really?"

Reid glanced over at her and saw she was about to burst with laughter. "Yeah. Ryder thought we should write them up, said we would always be brothers and should always be friends."

Nice thought. "So.... What laws did you write?"

"Well, I already told you the Significant Other part. The others were that we'd always have each other's backs, if we moved, we'd have to touch base each month, and if one of us died leaving dependents, they'd be taken care of."




Speeding Ch. 02



Basic brother stuff, she figured, then her blood ran cold as she contemplated the last part. "Reece was an FBI Agent and you're a cop. No chance of leaving anyone behind there, huh?" She tried to make light of it, but found herself worrying about something happening to Reid.

He shook his head. "Baby, I'm a detective who just spent another day writing tickets. The chances of a crime spree in Aylesford are slim to none."

"Still." Wow, great argument, Kendall.

He tapped his thumbs on the steering wheel. "You don't have to worry about me." At her pained expression, he added, "Really."

"I might not have to, but I will." Because I love you.

~*~

Helen and Roger Caufield waited anxiously for Reid and Kendall. He'd been alone for so long, they'd been worried Amy had destroyed him forever. From what Madelyn had learned from Joanne Armstrong, their son was completely enraptured by his girlfriend, and far from destroyed, but they wanted to see for themselves.

Reece and Cassandra had arrived the night before, filling them in on the last few months of their lives. The wedding was coming up in December, and Cass had designed her own gown, the bridesmaid's gowns and Helen's dress. She was thoroughly enjoying her position with Scott Mardsen, and had already had one of her designs featured in Bridal Today. Reece was still with his soon to be father's company, running security for DeMille Enterprises and liking the fact that after protecting Cassandra last year, there wasn't anything out of the ordinary happening. 

Helen sat across from Reece and Cass, loving how they were so in-tune with one another. She may have been surprised when he'd announced his engagement, but to watch the two interact, it was apparent there was deep love along with the chemistry.

"Reece, dear, have you spoken to Reid? Does he know to meet us here instead of Ryder and Madelyn's?"

Reece nodded, a smile tugging his lips. "Yes, Mom."

Roger squeezed his wife's hand. "Sorry, son. Your Mama is just anxious."

"Were you this nervous when you first met Cass?" Reece asked through a laugh.

"Oh, honey, I'm always worried when I meet a new daughter."

Holding up a hand, Reece said, "Mom, don't you think you're jumping to conclusions here? It's only been a few months."

"Oh, like that's ever mattered," Cass put in, smacking her fiance on the shoulder. "We went from meeting to getting engaged in less than six months ourselves, and you know we were in love virtually from the start."

Ryder walked out of the kitchen just in time to hear Reece get dressed down by his beloved, and had to throw his own two cents in. "It took Mad and me years to declare our love and days to get married."

"My point exactly," Cass agreed with a nod, "Caufields don't waste time once they decide on a woman."

"And you're saying my brother, my cheated-on, divorced, never-had-a-woman-last-beyond-a-week-for-more-than-ten-years brother, is in love enough to join the rest of us in wedded bliss?" Reece made no attempt to hide his disbelief.

"Yes," came the reply from not only Cassandra, but Ryder, Roger and Helen as well.

"I'll believe it when I see it," Reece muttered to the room at large. 



Speeding Ch. 03



"You have to actually get out of the truck." Reid bit back a smile as he stood outside her open door. 

Don't wanna. His family was pouring out the restaurant, and she wasn't sure this was such a good idea. "Joanne will need me at the store. We should just go back."

He shook his head. "Not working, baby. Jo is fine, Taylor is fine, and the store is closed Sunday. You're missing a whole two days. Oh no," he teased. Letting his smile break free, he gentled his tone, "No one will bite you, I promise."

Her feet had just touched down when she looked up into the faces of the Caufield clan. Damn. Genetics were undeniable as she swung her gaze from face to face. Helen Caufield was pretty and blonde with Reid's sapphire blue eyes while Roger and Ryder shared pale blue eyes. All the brothers had the same dark hair, Reece with a nicely trimmed goatee, and Reece and Ryder were just as amazing looking as Reid. 

Of course, their partners would be gorgeous. Madelyn Caufield was built like a centerfold, with shoulder length auburn hair and sea green eyes. Cassandra DeMille was equally beautiful, but darker complected with bittersweet chocolate eyes and long, dark hair to match. She couldn't help but think how incredible looking the children from these marriages would be. She shook her head to clear it and keep herself from thinking about having children with Reid.

Helen was the first to speak. "We're so glad you made it. Come inside for dinner."

On the drive to Ashford, Reid had told her Mimosa was an upscale restaurant specializing in brunch, open only from six in the morning till four in the afternoon. It was nearing seven and they had the place to themselves. A big, empty restaurant full of Reid's family. Who thought this was a great idea, again? Oh, right, she had until ten minutes ago. Blowing out a bracing breath, she grabbed Reid's outstretched hand, holding onto him like a lifeline. 

Over a fabulous dinner- evidently Ryder and Madelyn didn't own a restaurant for nothing- Kendall found herself enamored by the Caufields. She had never had the easy banter and relentless teasing in her family, even when her parents were alive. As she watched the interplay, she had to admit- if only to herself- she was unexpectedly envious of Madelyn's relationship with Reid. She knew he named Madelyn a close friend of more than ten years, and although it was stupid, she couldn't stop the green-eyed monster from clawing at her every time he called her Maddy-May. 

Helen noticed Kendall's discomfort and stifled a laugh. Distracting her son's girlfriend from the close friendship he had with his sister, she asked, "What do you do, Kendall?" She knew the answer, but it seemed as good a question as any.

"Well, my degree is in journalism and I minored in theater; neither of which I use on a day-to-day basis." She laughed before she continued, "I'm at Taylored Jewels as a full-time sales associate, and whatever else Taylor needs me to be. There's just the three of us, Taylor in the shop and Joanne and me on the floor, so I'm not just selling but helping with inventory, the books and whatnot. I'd like to take some courses to add to what Taylor and Jo have taught me, but that's not in the budget right now." She smiled, her face lighting up as she continued, "I think my favorite part is that we're always involved in the happy moments. Engagements, anniversaries, the birth of babies..." She trailed off, "And I'm probably boring the heck out of you right now."

It was Helen's turn to laugh. "No, dear, I'm not bored at all." She lightly elbowed her husband, "Did you hear that, Roger? Kendall is in jewelry, and not just any jewelry, Taylor Jamieson's jewelry."

Roger grunted. "What are you hinting at, hon?"

"Thirty-five years of putting up with you should earn me something!" Helen exclaimed through a fit of giggles. Before long the entire table had joined in.

"My ring's a Taylored Jewel," Cass announced as she scooted her chair closer to Kendall, holding her left hand out for inspection.

Kendall's heart sped up as she took Cass's hand in hers, she so loved diamonds. The ring winking at her had to be a three carat radiant cut in an intricate platinum setting with micro-pave and antique detailing. "That's spectacular," she breathed. She turned to Reece, "Great job, my friend."

Reece flashed his version of the devastating Caufield grin. "Taylor's great. We go way back, like sandbox back. I was afraid of designing something for Little Miss Fashion Designer here, but I had help."

Cass shot Reece a look before sticking her tongue out at him. "Like I would've said no."

"Nah, I wasn't worried about you saying no, but I did want you to like it," Reece said earnestly.

Kendall truly appreciated that Reece had come to Taylor even though he and Cass lived in Atlanta, not to mention Cass's father was, well, rich. "I couldn't imagine anyone not liking Taylor's designs, but I have to admit I've helped some nervous men," she paused, made a face. "I mean, really, if you're to the point where you're seeing us, you should know the answer."

"No kidding. Don't spend the money if you're not sure!" Cass agreed wholeheartedly.

They were sipping coffee and eating strawberry shortcake when Madelyn slid into Reid's recently vacated seat across from Kendall. "So... How ya holding up?"

What a strange question. "I'm good. Y'all are an interesting bunch." She cocked her head as she asked, "Does the teasing ever stop?"

"It doesn't. Ever." Lowering her voice, she changed the subject, "I've been a part of this family a long time, and you are the first woman Reid has ever brought home."

"Really?" she asked, although she wasn't surprised.

"You sure are," Madelyn acknowledged with a tip of her mug. "You gonna keep him?"

Wow. What a question. "You don't mince words, do you?"

"Nope," she agreed with a shake of her head. "Reid is a brother to me, and I don't want to see him hurt."

"The last thing I'd ever do is hurt Reid." She leaned closer to Madelyn. "Look, I'm not going to cheat, I'm not going to lie, I'm not going to leave. I am in this for as long as he'll have me, and I'm not going to be intimidated by his sister."

A small smile tugged Madelyn's lips. "You'll do," she said before standing and returning to her husband, leaving Kendall befuddled.

A few minutes later Reid returned from wherever he had been during her strange conversation. "Ready to go?" he asked. At her raised eyebrow, he explained, "I got us a room at Ashford Hills."

She did an internal happy dance. She wasn't sure whether or not she'd passed Madelyn's test, but she didn't want to explore it further by sleeping at her house. "Sounds good."

~*~

Reid was happy with the visit. It hadn't taken long for Kendall to overcome her nerves and open up. He could tell his mother was ready to adopt her, Madelyn had something up her sleeve, and she and Cass were kindred spirits. His brothers were harder to read, although Ryder seemed to accept their relationship more easily than Reece. He gave a mental shrug. So Reece didn't have faith in his ability to hang on to a good woman. It wasn't that long ago he felt the same way about his younger brother, and even more recently about himself. He stifled a chuckle. Life really did move on while you were making other plans.

"They loved you, baby," he told her on the short drive to Ashford's only bed and breakfast. Mad had given him hell when he'd chosen to stay there, stomping her foot and living up to the redhead stereotype. The old owner had passed away last year, leaving it to niece Skylar Hart. According to Ryder, Skylar had been fixing the place up and business had nearly doubled in the last six months. Mad had bitched about competition, saying Ashford was too small a town for a B&B and a breakfast-brunch-lunch restaurant, but Reid had heard no evidence to back up the claim. He was sure her problem was with Skylar herself, but that wasn't something he was going to ask an angry woman. No matter the tantrum Mad had thrown, and as much as he loved his family, he needed to have Kendall to himself. 

She wasn't sure they loved her, but the reception had been warm. "I enjoyed your family. Your parents are great. Your mom and are going to lunch one day when they're back in town." She snickered before adding, "and to make a wish-list at the store." She was frustrated by the petty jealousy that had eaten at her and puzzled by Madelyn in general, but pushed it aside. "I wish Cass and Reece were closer to us, I think she and Taylor would make an amazing team."

"Engagement rings and wedding dresses do go together." He turned to look at her after pulling into a parking space, "You and Cass seemed to get along well."

"Like I said, I wish they were closer," she agreed as she slid from the truck.

He noticed her omission of Ryder and Madelyn from her geographical wishes, but made no mention of it. Madelyn could be difficult. He'd let it ride for now.

~*~

Skylar Hart was younger and more beautiful than Kendall had expected, barely five feet tall, with a lush body, almost black hair to her shoulder blades, and striking violet eyes. She guessed her to be in her late twenties, and suspected those eyes were enhanced in some way. Who had violet eyes without help? 

Skylar showed them the ins and outs of the sprawling colonial house as she took them to their room. Breakfast was served at eight, but finger foods would be available from six to ten in the kitchen along with fresh coffee, or if they preferred brunch, there was a great restaurant in town she recommended.

"Mimosa, of course," Kendall supplied before Skylar did.

Surprise showed on her delicate features, "Yes. I have to admit it's a wonderful spot."

Reid felt no animosity from Skylar in the least. "You don't worry about competition?"

Skylar laughed. "Of course not. Ashford Hills is an inn. We thrive on visitors, tourists, weddings, what have you. Mimosa is a spot for locals. I'm surprised they haven't added a dinner menu. I think they'd do well."

"I do too," Kendall chimed in. "We just had the most wonderful dinner there. Granted, it was for family, but it was still amazing."

Recognition dawned. "Oh! You're Ryder's brother."

"Guilty."

"How is he? I mean, he and his wife? Your family, I mean?" Skylar tumbled over her words.

Madelyn's fury made sense to him now. She was jealous of this tiny brunette. "Great. Everyone's great," Reid answered.

"You're here for his birthday, then?"

"We are, yes."

The conversation, awkward as it was, ended at the door to their room. "Here you are. Let me know if you need anything," she told them before quickly scurrying away. Reid made a mental note to ask about Skylar Hart tomorrow. 

As soon as they were settled into their room, Kendall sauntered over to Reid, sliding her hands up his chest. "So, now that we're finally alone, whatever shall we do?"

"God, I'm so glad we're alone," he whispered into her hair before pulling back. "As much as I love my family, I don't like sharing."

She ran her fingers through his hair, pulling his head towards hers as she did. "I like your family." She drew him in for a soft kiss before adding, "I like you more." 

He took her lips in a fierce kiss then, needing to claim her. His brothers be damned. This was his woman. He might not have told her in words how he felt, but he could show her. He devoured her mouth, his hands roaming her body as he did, loving that he could make her whimper. Without taking his mouth from hers, he swept her into his arms and deposited her on the bed.

"You are so beautiful," he told her after he'd stripped her out of her dress. Lying there against a mound of pillows in just a black lacy bra and tiny matching panties, mouth wet from his kisses, breasts heaving with each panting breath, she was the most gorgeous creature he'd ever seen. He quickly tossed his own clothes before joining her.

Her hands traveled along the hard planes of his chest, down his washboard abs. She knew his body as well as she knew her own now, but it never failed to take her breath. "Make love to me," she whispered.

"Always." He covered her with his body, bracing himself on his forearms as he took her lips again, taking the time to work to her to a fever with his lips and tongue. He slowly cruised her body with his mouth, sucking and nipping his way down her torso and back up again. He drew the lacy cups of her bra down before continuing his exploration, sucking, lapping and nipping at each breast before drawing it into the warm, wet recesses of his mouth.

He was killing her. She was going to die a slow death from his mouth alone. "Reid," she panted, "put your mouth on me."

He grinned against her breast before answering. "Baby, my mouth is on you."

He was going to make her ask for it. "Take me."

"Tell me what you want, Kendall."

"Put your mouth on my pussy." He'd never stopped his ministrations to her breasts and he was driving her to the brink of insanity. "God, please, Reid. Please hurry."

"There's no hurry, baby. I want to savor you."

She bucked beneath him. He might want to savor her, but she wanted him now. Finally he relented, skimming his mouth down her belly before blowing his breath over her slick pussy, taking in her scent. He never took time with her. She was explosive and never lacked for release, but he hadn't made slow love to her before. He ran his tongue everywhere but where she wanted him most, teasing her relentlessly as he held her to the bed. He smiled against her before running his tongue around her engorged clit, drawing it into his mouth. He sucked it gently, then as he released it, gave it a nip as he drove two fingers into her channel. Her orgasm was almost instantaneous, her muscles gripping his fingers tightly as she screamed.

"Reid, I need you inside me. Now." She was fighting for breath as she demanded his cock.

Obliging her, he made his way up her body, driving home as he took her mouth in another searing kiss, sharing her essence with her. He kissed her harder, thrusting his tongue in her mouth to quell the words that wanted to fall from his own. He couldn't give her the words. 

He tunneled in and out of her rhythmically, never releasing her mouth. If she hadn't already been in love with him, she would've fallen tonight. Passion didn't begin to describe it. He had taken her, ravaged her, possessed her, but he had never... owned her before. He completely owned her heart, body and soul. As she felt her climax build, she tightened her arms and legs around him, wanting to become a part of him as he had become a part of her. Admitting that to herself, she broke around him, tears in her eyes and his name on her lips as he burst within her.

~*~

Saturday dawned bright, and earlier than Reid had meant. Unfortunately, his body clock didn't care he was off duty. Quietly extricating himself from Kendall's arms and the leg she'd thrown over him, he padded to the shower. Today was jam packed with functions. Evidently Ryder had become important to Ashford and everyone wanted to wish him happy birthday. Two years ago he had turned thirty and it had barely been acknowledged at the department, let alone the whole of Aylesford. Oddly, he was jealous. Not of the parties, really, but the hoopla. He shook his head at himself. Hoopla?

He wrapped himself in a fluffy white towel and stepped out into the plush room. He hadn't appreciated the room last night, but this morning he could see the work that had gone into restoring the place. Madelyn might be up at arms about Ashford Hills, but the creamy walls were set off with mahogany furniture that looked handmade. He didn't know a lot about interior design, but he'd bet the drapes were custom and he could testify the bed was comfortable. Giving a mental shrug, he turned toward the bed, or rather, the gorgeous lump in the middle of it.

She was sound asleep, clutching his discarded pillow. She looked peaceful, innocent and edible. Instead of sliding back into bed, he brushed a kiss across her cheek. "Rise and shine, baby."

Those amazing aquamarine eyes opened. "Party time?"

He chuckled. "Almost. Get your delectable ass out of bed and get ready for another full day of my family."

"Oooh. I can't wait." The sarcasm lost its intended effect as a wide grin split her face. She was looking forward to today. Parties were supposed to be fun. Besides, they'd driven hours and hours for this.

In deference to the heat, she chose a light summer dress in pale yellow paired with strappy sandals. She left her mass of dark curls loose and expertly applied her makeup. As she was brushing her teeth, Reid appeared behind her, dressed in chinos and a blue polo shirt. It threw her a little, she was used to uniforms or jeans. Or, her favorite, nothing at all. He always looked yummy, this just seemed forced. Her face must have telegraphed her thoughts as she rinsed because he asked, "What?"

"You don't look like my Reid. You look..."

"Dressed up?"

"Like you should be yachting or golfing or something."

He shook his head. "I'll always be your Reid." He kissed her cheek. "Besides, no one will be looking at me with you on my arm."

"Flattery will get you everywhere."



Birthday brunch at Mimosa was packed. Evidently half the town had received and invite and they had all shown up to celebrate Ryder's day. Good lord, his brother had more friends than Reid had when he'd been high school quarterback, and that was saying something. You'd think he'd won something or done something with the turn out. He was born. He didn't even accomplish that- their mother had! Reid had to stop this. He was getting mad at his brother for having friends that appreciated him. When had he become a jealous asshole?

The birthday boy appeared in front of him, a pretty brunette at his side. "Lara McGuinness, I'd like you to meet my brother Reid and his girlfriend, Kendall. Lara has founded a halfway house of sorts here in Ashford with her friends Madison and Kiley." As he introduced the woman at their table, he gestured to a blonde and a redhead with the additional names.

Lara smiled at Ryder. "We wouldn't have made it this year without your generous donation."

As the morning progressed, Reid was introduced to myriad people he was sure he wouldn't remember, all with kind words about his brother. Ryder had earned the love and respect of his community with donations, service and plain being friendly. That revelation made Reid wonder if he had respect or resentment in his own community. Why did he suddenly care so much?

He watched Kendall talk with Cass and a blonde he thought might be the gestured-to Madison and realized whether or not anyone else in the world loved and respected him, if she did, he'd be fine. It staggered him. She could destroy him, or make him whole.

Madelyn appeared beside him as he lowered himself into a chair. "Are you okay?" She had watched him go from composed to ashen and rushed over to his side.

"Yeah, sure, of course."

"Okay, tough guy, what's the deal?" If it was one thing Madelyn was known for it was not taking crap. 

"She could kill me."

"I don't want to know about your sex life, dear brother." At his puzzled expression she changed her tune. "She won't kill you. She's in love with you."

"For how long?" He didn't have the fawning public Ryder did, he was merely a detective in a small town. "Have you looked at her? She could have anyone."

"And she chose you. Of all the men she's ever met, she's in love with you. She's not Amy, Reid. Don't punish her for Amy's mistakes."

"What did you ask her last night?"

She didn't answer him directly, but said, "Look, I know this is a big change for you, to go from confirmed bachelor to being in love with a woman, but I've been watching the two of you, and I've been talking to my friends in Aylesford. She's not going anywhere and she's not afraid of me."




Speeding Ch. 03



That got his attention. "She's not afraid of you?"

"Not even a little. And I'm scary." She squeezed his shoulder. "Don't be an idiot and push her away because you love her. Believe me, I know these things."

"If she walked away from me, if something happened to her, I don't know what I'd do."

"None of us know what will happen from one day to the next. The old cliché, 'I could get his by a bus tomorrow' is a cliché for a reason, Reid. Here's the question, the important question: If you knew she was going to disappear tomorrow, would you rather go back and never meet her to avoid the pain, or embrace the last day you have together because you can't imagine not knowing her even for a short time?"

He lowered his head to his hands. "I'm completely in love with her."

"You bet your ass you are." She squeezed his shoulder again before turning to leave. Over her own shoulder, she grinned and told him, "Tell your brother he owes me fifty bucks."

"Which brother?"

"Both of 'em." With a wicked grin, she disappeared into the crowd.



Speeding Ch. 04



After brunch, the family hung around Ryder and Madelyn's house until the actual party. Run by Donovan Patterson and his sister Kiley, Donovan's Dell was an Ashford institution. Reid leaned against the bar nursing a beer as he watched Cass and Kendall make the rounds, charming the entire town as they did. He was still at loose ends after accepting he was truly in love with Kendall, unsure of the next step. When he was a teenager, he had been in love and rushed to the alter. Rushing seemed the speed at which he and Kendall did everything, but he wasn't about to rush into marriage again. As he let the thought roll around in his brain, Kendall caught him with her aquamarine eyes from across the room. Damn, she was beautiful. Holding her gaze, he let himself think about how easy it was to show her how he felt. 

Kendall felt like Reid had her in a tractor beam. He looked like he wanted to eat her alive and her temperature went up almost instantly. She felt her body prepare for him and nearly moaned. A look across a room full of over a hundred people, and she was ready to jump him. For a moment she wondered if that would ever change, then quickly decided it wouldn't. She couldn't imagine not wanting to strip him down and eat him up.

"Looks like someone's having eye sex," Cass laughed as she poked Kendall in the ribs.

Tearing her focus from Reid, Kendall addressed her new friend. She felt like she should pat down her dress to insure it wasn't on fire. "Um, yeah."

"It's okay, Reece pulled me into the bathroom earlier," Cass confessed with a conspiratorial smile. "God, I love a good fuck against a wall," she added in a breathy whisper.

"You're not the only one." She wished Reid would sweep her away to anywhere dark and quiet. Her panties were sopping wet and there were at least two or three hours left of festivities. Consigning herself to the torture, she continued to mingle.



Sidling up to his middle brother, Reid asked, "So, what's the story with Skylar Hart?"

Taken aback, Ryder glared at him. "Why do you ask?"

"Just that your wife nearly tore my spine out when I told her we were staying at Ashford Hills, and the fact that the pretty little brunette nearly tripped on her tongue when she asked about you last night."

"It's nothing."

"Not buying it. What'd you do?"

"Fine. I dated her in college."

"Still don't see the spine-tearing."

Resigned, Ryder explained, "Sky was hot and liked things...a little kinky. Our relationship was purely a physical one." At Reid's knowing look, he continued, "She was experimenting with pretty much everything. Senior year, she talked me into a three-way with one of her friends."

"Wow."

Ryder nodded. "Yeah. She brought her friend Leslie with her, a stacked little blonde. It was incredible to watch them together." He paused, staring into space for a moment. "It was the hottest thing I'd ever seen."

"Wow." It seemed that was the only word in his vocabulary at the moment. He gestured with his beer bottle for his brother to continue.

"I have to admit it was amazing. I was fucking Sky as she was eating Leslie when Mad showed up unannounced."

"Oh shit." 

Ryder looked at the floor. "Yeah. She stood in the doorway a long time, then walked away."

"What did she expect you to do?"

"At the time I didn't care." He paused, brushing imaginary lint from his jeans. "She didn't talk to me for almost a month. When she finally answered my calls, she acted like nothing had happened and I let her."

"For how long?"

"When we finally talked about it, oh, after we were married, she told me she had just broken up with her boyfriend and needed me." He made a face. "I was otherwise occupied."

"But why hold it against Skylar? It's been seven years."

Ryder grimaced. "Sky came back to town about a year ago when her uncle died. She'd been in New York and didn't know Mad and I had opened a restaurant after college." He paused. "Mad and I weren't involved yet."

A lightbulb went off. "And you slept with her."

"Just because I was in love with Madelyn didn't mean I thought we'd ever make it work. She was dating a guy pretty seriously at the time too," Ryder defended.

"Scott?"

"Right. So, when Sky showed up on my doorstep, I didn't turn her down."

"You weren't dating Skylar when Madelyn finally made her move, were you?" Reid asked, not sure he wanted the answer.

Ryder was quiet for a moment. "Technically?"

He shrugged. "Whatever."

"We were never serious."

"But you had slept with her recently." It wasn't a question.

"About a week before."

"Geez, Ryder."

"Right, like I was going to forgo Madelyn, my Madelyn, because I was casually fucking someone else?"

"How did you explain that to the beautiful, kinky Skylar?" No wonder the woman was awkward last night.

"I didn't have to." At Reid's look of disbelief he explained, "she came to me. Told me she was happy for me and Mad, that we belonged together."

"But why does Maddy-May feel threatened?"

"I don't know. I would never turn my back on her."

"But?"

"I think she's afraid I want someone more on the edge." He shook his head, "It's not a competition. I don't want anyone else. She's perfect."

"I don't think it's me that needs to hear that. She gave me absolute hell and all I'm doing is staying at the inn." He laughed. "Oh, yeah, and happy birthday."

"Thanks." He stared at his brother for a moment. "She knows I love her more than anything in the world, right? I married her because I can't imagine my life without her, even for a minute."

"Old age has made you sappy, bro."

"Like you don't feel the same way about Kendall."

"You've got me there," he admitted with a salute of his bottle.

~*~

The trip home was thankfully uneventful and Kendall found that although Jo missed her at work for those couple days, nothing had happened to bring business to a screeching halt. She settled back into her routine, working with Arthur Finnigan to find something for Lois and Ernie Brunswick for his new girlfriend. 

Two weeks after the trip to Ashford, she was alone in the store. Joanne had to cut out early to attend her daughter's play at the elementary school and Taylor had a date with Kevin Trenton. Aylesford was a small town and the police station was less than a block away, so she wasn't worried about being alone for the last part of the day.

She was counting the cash drawer when a jittery late customer walked in, heading straight to the bridal case.

"So, what's the occasion?" Kendall asked the nervous looking man. 

"It's time to declare my love. So, here I am." 

Smiling, Kendall prodded for more information. "How long have you two been together?"

He still looked nervous as hell, and she really wanted to set him at ease. "I'm Kendall, I've been with my boyfriend about six months myself. We actually live together."

"Oh, I've seen you with your boyfriend," the nervous client remarked, making Kendall's head spin. He pointed to a handmade platinum ring featuring a large round diamond, "How much is this one?"

Still reeling from his comment, Kendall reached into the case. "This is handmade in platinum by Taylor herself. The center stone is a three point oh five carat round brilliant cut, E in color and SI1 in clarity." At his blank stare, she explained, "Diamonds are graded on a color scale beginning at D, so this diamond is as "white" as they get. The clarity grade is Slightly Included- it will show inclusions beneath the microscope, but not to the eye. The mounting also features another three-quarters of a carat of pave' set diamonds."

"How much?" He was twitching, and she was afraid he'd fall over at any minute.

"This particular ring is $57,000."

"Fuck."

Now she was really knocked for a loop. She could curse with the best of them, but geez. "If you like this style, we can always find or make something that is better suited to your budget."

"Do you like it, scrumptious?" he asked as he leaned across the counter.

"Kendall," she corrected as she took a step back. "I love all of Taylor's designs."

"I think I'd like something else," he replied, a predatory gleam in his eye as he rounded the end of the case.

Oh, shit. Oh, shitty, shit, shit. She froze in sheer panic before her mind clicked in gear. The silent alarm! She started across the sales floor to hit it when she was tackled.

Kendall's head hit the hardwood floor with a thud, causing her eyes to water. Her wrists were pinned on either side of her head, her pelvis trapped between his thighs. She struggled fiercely, causing her skirt to shimmy up as her shirt came untucked and slid up her belly. Dammit if she'd make this any easier for him. He was heavy and holding her down while pulling her shirt open and pushing her skirt up. Oh God. Thrashing in earnest, all she managed to do was lose a shoe and rip her skirt. She screamed at the top her lungs, hoping there was a client headed in, or Ernie would be outside his bakery next door. 

He pawed her blouse while he tore at her panties as she screamed until she was hoarse. No one was coming to her rescue and she couldn't break free. "Let me go!" she yelled as she felt his grip loosen on her wrists. He was twisting to unzip his pants. Seeing an opening, she jerked as hard as she could to the left, rolling to her side and scrambling from his grasp. She kicked out, hitting him in the knee and slowing him down. If she could just get to the panic button behind the center case. It was the longest ten feet she'd ever seen.

He wasn't going to let her get away, but she had to try. Half crawling, she felt his hand clamp around her ankle. Five more feet. She only needed five more feet. Kicking hard, she crawled as fast as she could. Just as she reached out for the button, she was tackled again, his arm coming down on her elbow, sending a sharp pain shooting to her shoulder and causing nausea to rise. She didn't know if she'd managed to engage the silent alarm, but as her head was once again knocked into the hardwood, she knew she'd done all she could before the world went dark.

~*~

She blinked, then blinked again. Oh, God. She was dead. No, she couldn't be dead. Her head wouldn't be throbbing if she were dead. 

"Baby?" His voice was scratchy and quiet, but it was Reid.

"Reid? I can't see."

"You have a concussion and a large gash on your temple. They had to stitch you up and dress the wound." He paused a long moment, his hand ghosting over her chin. "I should have protected you."

"I want to see you. Move this bandage."

He did as she asked. When he finally came into view, his uniform was rumpled and he looked like he'd been awake for days. "I hit the button," she whispered.

He nodded. "Thank God."

"Did he?"

"No," he rasped. "He didn't get the chance." He stepped away before he crushed her to him. "I... When we responded to the call, I was so afraid something had happened to you. When we came in and he was on top of you..." He ran his hand through his hair, "God, I thought you were dead, baby." He blew out a breath, shook his head. "I snapped. Chris and Jason had to pull me off of him." He took another step away, raked his hand through his hair again. "I broke his jaw." He made a disgusted sound. "It wasn't enough. To see you like that. God."

"I knew if I could just hit that button, you would come for me." She tossed her good hand toward him, trying to grab him. "You saved me. I knew you would."

He made another self-deprecating sound as he came back to her, taking her good hand in both of his, "I shouldn't have let you go to work. We knew you'd be by yourself. I should have kept you safe."

She shook her head, wincing against the pain as she did. "Aylesford is a safe town. There was no reason to think I'd be jumped at work. Don't most people try and rob a jewelry store, not assault the help?"

He pulled away, pacing the tiny room. "How can you joke about this? I'm supposed to keep you safe. How are you supposed to love me if I can't keep you safe?"

"I don't love you because you keep me safe, Reid. I love you because I love you."

What should have been a beautiful moment of telling Reid how she really felt was interrupted by her brother coming through the door.

Kyle ran to her side, perching on the edge of the bedside chair as he placed his hand on her shoulder. "Kendall, how do you get yourself in these situations?"

Before she could respond, Reid broke in, "She was assaulted, and you're blaming her?" He stalked over to Kyle, tossing the hand from Kendall's shoulder. "I thought she was dead when I got there and nearly went crazy," he stepped away to keep himself from hitting Kyle before continuing, "and the first words out of your mouth are to ask how she got into this situation?"

Kyle stood and faced Reid. "She wouldn't have been there if she'd worked for me. I haven't seen her in almost two months, and then I hear she's in the hospital. What was I supposed to think?"

"You were supposed to act like you care," Kendall answered. "You were supposed to act like you were worried about me. You were not supposed to assume I got myself into a bad situation."

"You were in a bad situation." He pointed at Reid. "He should have protected you."

Damn, her head hurt. "Look, Kyle. Reid is a cop, a good one at that, but he's not psychic. How the hell was he supposed to know what was going to happen?"

Surprised to agree with the her pompous asshole of a brother, Reid answered her, "I should have protected you. I could've lost you."

"You should quit working with Taylor and come work for me," Kyle told her, completely ignoring Reid.

"What the hell would that accomplish? Then there would only be the two of them at the store again and Taylor wouldn't be able to create nearly as much as she had before." She shook her head, instantly regretting the movement. "I love my job with Taylor."

"Baby, are you sure you can go back?" Reid asked.

"At this exact moment, no." Seeing the concerned look on his face, she asked, "You breaking his jaw isn't going to let him go free, is it?"

Ever the lawyer, Kyle jumped in, "You broke his jaw?"

Fists balled in his pockets, Reid spoke through clenched teeth, "I thought he'd killed Kendall. I should've killed him." Would've killed him if cooler heads hadn't prevailed. If Chris and Jason hadn't pulled him off the perp when they did, he'd be sitting in his own cell right now.

~*~

"Are you sure about this, baby?" Reid and Kendall were sitting in his truck at 8:50am. Kendall had decided to go back to work, and he wasn't happy about it. 

She nodded her head as she answered, "No."

"You don't have to go in." He had another two weeks of administrative leave, so he had nowhere he needed to be.

She was resolute. "Yes I do. Just because something bad happened here doesn't mean I can't go back. Aylesford is a good community. They'll rally around us and come in to buy, I'm sure of it."

He hoped she was right- Taylor had only opened the store a little over two years ago after finishing her schooling. He'd hate to see her have to close up shop so soon after being recognized as an up and coming designer. Still, he didn't want to Kendall to leave his sight. "Why don't I come with you? I've got nothing else to do and it might make us both feel better."

She smiled. "Why don't you? That's perfect."



Reid accompanied Kendall to work for the next couple weeks as he finished his forced vacation. Chief Lindstrom understood Reid's need to break the perp- Jud Kitteridge- into tiny pieces, but couldn't condone the behavior. Even without coming in, he'd kept abreast of the case. Chris and Jason told him Kitteridge had been at Rosalita's the night of his and Kendall's first date. In the confession, he told the two officers that he had watched Reid and Kendall make out in the restaurant and had followed them to the parking lot and watched their frenzied coupling. Kitteridge had fixated on Kendall, watching her all these months from Mick's hardware store across the street. Her being alone that night had spurred him into action, and it scared the shit out of Reid. Kendall had been in danger their entire relationship and he hadn't had the first clue. If he couldn't keep her safe for six months, what business did he have thinking about forever? 

Kendall looked over at Reid sitting at the point of sale computer and looking thoroughly bored. No, not bored. Perplexed, maybe?

"What's eating you?" It was just the two of them on the floor as Joanne had run over to Ernie's for lunch and Taylor was at a designer's meet and greet in New York. She had been reluctant to go until Reid assured her he would stay with Kendall.

"What? Oh, nothing," came Reid's overly nonchalant reply.

She didn't believe him for a second. "No. Something's got you upset and I want to know what it is," she demanded.

He stood up, crossed to her. Sliding his hand into her hair, he tilted her head up and placed a soft kiss on her lips. "I love you, Kendall. I love you and I don't know how to keep you safe."

She pinned him with a glare. "Cut the Alpha male crap right now, Reid Dalton Caufield. I love you, too. You're sitting there worried about keeping me safe when you're the one who could be shot at or run over or any number of things. So I had a crazy man decide he wanted me. And what happened? I fought like a wildcat and you saved me. You threw him across a room and beat the shit out of the guy. Have you ever thought about what I could do if something happened to you?" She poked him in the chest as his eyes widened. "That's right. Absolutely nothing. If I'm lucky, Chief Lindstrom would call me when you're in the hospital. So, stop. I worry about you, you worry about me. That's love, Reid."

He hadn't thought about it that way. "You feel safe with me?"

"Of course I do, you stupid idiot. You'll never let anything happen to me. I know that."

"Not if I can help it, baby," he assured her as she stepped into his open arms.

~*~

There wasn't a trial. Kitteridge had been caught in the act and confessed and the ADA, James Easton, hadn't pushed for charges against Reid. Easton felt Reid hadn't used unnecessary force, or so he said. Reid knew he had, and didn't care. Kitteridge's jaw would be wired shut for six weeks and he'd be locked up for at least two years. If you asked Reid, Kitteridge should be dead. Too bad they didn't ask him.

"Missed you, boy." Chief Lindstrom welcomed Reid back to work with a one-armed hug.

"Good to be back, sir." Reid meant it, too. If Kitteridge had gone unnoticed, how many others were out there?

He was welcomed back by Chris and Jason as well as the other four officers in the department. Aylesford was a relatively small town and he had never before felt they were understaffed. Now he wondered if the eight of them were enough. He nearly laughed at his thought. Eight is enough. Ha.



"Just call her, bro." Jason Monroe said as he slid into the chair on the other side of Reid's desk. "You know you want to."

"You're thoroughly pussy-whipped. Never thought I'd see the day," added Chris Delmonico.

"Just wait. One day it'll be you two staring at your phone, too. I know she's fine, but I never thought she wouldn't be that day either." He grimaced. "I didn't know she was in danger. It never even occurred to me for one second. What kind of detective does that make me?"

"Geez, man. Don't be so hard on yourself. Kitteridge didn't even have a parking ticket until he jumped your girl," Chris answered.

"Besides, there was no evidence of stalking. He worked at Mick's Hardware and watched her through the window. No notes, no phone calls, nothing," Jason assured him.

"So, I'm not just an idiot who took his town and his woman for granted?"

"No doubt you're an idiot. You're in love with a woman." Chris had nothing but bad luck with women and didn't try and pretend otherwise.




Speeding Ch. 04



"Nah, there was nothing to miss. This was one of those things you couldn't guard against and couldn't anticipate. And, for the record, I don't think you're an idiot for being in love. I mean, she actually loves you back," Jason contradicted his best friend. "You gonna marry her?"

"Yes," came unbidden from his mouth. He hadn't really planned to say it.

Chris clapped him on the shoulder. "Another one bites the dust."

Jason just grinned. "Didn't mean to say that, didja?"

"Not at all, brother. Not at all."

~*~

The town did just as Kendall had anticipated and rallied around her and Taylored Jewels. People who had never before been clients came pouring in-so many that Taylor had to come off the bench and help on the floor.

"Don't hit me when I say this, but this has been good for business," Taylor said. "I mean, I would never, never ask for something like that to happen to you," she rushed to add.

Kendall laughed. "Well, I'm glad something good came of it."

"Not just one something. You and Reid finally acknowledged you were madly in love with one another too, didn't you?"

"We would've gotten there without...." she searched for a word, couldn't find one, "it."

"Uh-huh." Taylor wasn't convinced. She wouldn't wish attempted rape on her worst enemy, but it had pushed Reid and Kendall into telling each other how they felt. She was working right now on an engagement ring for them, even if Reid hadn't made it over yet. She knew he would, it was just a matter of time. She wanted to be ready for him when he showed up. 

"Ya know, I've been thinking," Kendall began.

"Uh-oh," Taylor interrupted with a smirk on her pretty face.

"Yeah, I know," she answered with a smile. "I think you ought to cross-promote other businesses. Set something up so when they buy an engagement ring with us, they get a percentage off on their wedding cake or flowers or something...." she trailed off, "no, better. We should set something up with Cass!"

"Cass?"

"My sister. She's a wedding gown designer in Atlanta. We should have a show with her for our brides. We should run a report of all the engagement rings we've sold in the last year and invite the brides for a showing. It'd be perfect. You'll love her."

"Your sister?" Taylor had to call her on it. It was the best kind of slip.

"Yes," she answered automatically before realizing what she'd said. "I mean, Reid's sister. Well, almost. She's marrying Reece in December."

Taylor laughed, long and loud at her friend. "Some day I hope to be as in love as you are."

"I hope so, too."



The next day Kendall was emailing Cass when the last person she expected to see walked through the door. "Kyle? Why are you here?"

"Why else would I be here? I need something for my wife. She said something about a push present."

"She's not due for another couple months." She glared at her brother. "Why are you really here?"

"I couldn't come see you at your house."

"You're scared of Reid?"

"He almost pummeled me the last time he saw me."

"You accused me of putting myself in danger when all I did was go to work."

"I know. I do. It's just... Kendall, I took care of you for years and then in one day you went from being my little sister to moving in with a man you'd just met. How did you expect me to take that?"

She thought about telling him the truth. That Nichole was the reason she moved out so abruptly, but she couldn't. He loved the woman for one reason or another, and she didn't want to mess it up for him. "I don't know, Kyle. Maybe you could've called me a few times to see how I was. Hell, you could have sent someone from your office or one of your friends to look in on me. Instead you leave me alone for three months and then demand I come to your wedding, then show up in my hospital room and demand I work for you."

"But you're happy?"

Wow, he actually cared? "I am. Better than happy."

"Really?"

"What? I can't be happy?"

He shook his sandy head. "No, I just didn't expect that."

"Why not? It's been more than six months. Don't you think if I didn't I love it here I would've moved on by now?" At his raised eyebrow, she told him, "I love Reid."

"Really?"

Did he really just ask that? "Dammit, Kyle. Yes, I love him. I want to marry him. Hell, I want to have his children."

He held his hands up like she was holding a gun on him. "You do?"

She scrunched her face up at him. "Why wouldn't I?" She really didn't understand.

"He's a cop, Kendall."

"And?"

"Never mind."

"No, no never mind. What? What did you mean there? You think I'm above a cop? That I should've fallen in love with a lawyer or a doctor or something? Newsflash, counselor Mathison- no one is beneath you. You are just another person on this planet. You just happened to go to school longer and acquire more debt."

His lips tightened into a thin line. "Fine. Just fine. Do whatever the hell you want," he said as he turned to leave. 

"I finally can," she said quietly.

He whipped around at her comment. "I didn't control you."

"The hell you didn't. You tried to control my every move. You didn't pick Reid for me and that rankles you. You wanted to pair me up with someone who would advance your career- my guess would be Carter Jamieson."

His eyes widened at her accusation. "You should be with someone who can support you."

"What?!" she nearly roared. "Is that the best you've got? I don't need to be supported, you asshole. I have a job and Reid does fine."

"I always wanted you to find someone who could treat you like you deserve."

She slammed her hands on the counter. "What I deserve, dear brother, is love and I get that in spades. At least, I get it from Reid. From you- my only family- I don't know."

He ran his hand down his face. "I love you, Kendall, you have to know that."

"I have always been a responsibility to you. You've taken care of me, sure, but you haven't exactly been loving."

"What did you want me to do? Coddle you? That wouldn't have created much of an independent woman."

"Ah, but you didn't really want me to be independent, did you? You wanted me to do whatever you told me to do."

"Kendall." He said her name in the censuring tone he'd perfected over the course of her life.

"No, don't 'Kendall' me," she threw back at him with a stomp of her foot. "You know damn well I was an inconvenience to you and a responsibility for you to fulfill." She looked at him for a long moment. "I believe you love me in your own way, but please don't treat your baby like that."

"Dammit, Kendall," his tone was cold. "Just do whatever it is you're doing here. I'll stay out of your life."

She fought the urge to roll her eyes. "God, Kyle! That's so not what I want. I want to be a part of your life, I just don't want to listen to you insult me and my choices. I want to know my niece or nephew."

"Nephew," he supplied.

"Congratulations!" She was genuinely happy for him, even if she was angry.

He shifted uncomfortably on his feet. "Thank you," he answered stiffly. A moment later he spoke again in a much softer tone, "Kendall, I know our lives weren't perfect, but we did the best we could. This baby will have the best life we can give him, and we love him already."

It was still hard to picture perpetually perfect Nichole as a mommy much less stick in the mud Kyle as daddy, and but she hoped they would make it work. "I know you do," she told him with a small smile. "Have you chosen a name yet?"

He nodded as the tension he had been harboring appeared to melt from his body. "Jacob Nicholas."

Self-important much? Jacob was Kyle's middle name and Nicholas was just the masculine version of Nichole. Instead of letting the snark pop out of her mouth, she said, "I love family names." She cocked her head, really studying her brother knowing they could fight forever and always come to a stalemate and hoping he'd agree before she asked him, "Do you think we can just make the decision to be okay? I mean, I want to know baby Jacob, I want to talk to you more than once every eight weeks, and I want to know you will let me be a grown up. Can we just stop the passive-aggressive shit and acknowledge that while we might not always agree, we are still brother and sister and need each other?"

He opened his mouth to answer her, but nothing came out for a long time. Finally, he said, "I think we can do that."

"Good. So, are you still looking for that push present?"



Speeding Ch. 05



She stared at her reflection in the full length mirror. Staring back at her was a bride with her chocolate hair piled on her head save for a few tendrils, a strapless satin gown hugging her curves perfectly. The small tiara in her hair sparkled with rhinestones, the diamonds in her ears were beautiful, and the necklace at her throat dripped with both diamonds and pearls. Pasting a smile on her face, she walked out of the office onto the sales floor.

She was met with a collective gasp and a few muttered words of exclamation. "You should've been a model, Kendall," Cassandra whispered as she took her place by her side.

She stood before the group of brides in the store as Cass explained about the gown and Taylor about the jewels. Kendall didn't remember agreeing to this modeling deal, but she was trying to enjoy it. As the only one of the five models who wasn't a model by trade, she was a tad self-conscious. Sure, she looked pretty damn good today, but runway ready she was not. 

She smiled at the transformation of the store. Candles and tulle, flowers and food. They had convinced Ernie to bring some wedding cakes over from Delight, Carl Templeton was here with a mouthwatering array of appetizers and finger foods from Templeton's, Claire Baxter had beautiful arrangements from her florist shop, What in Carnation!, and Claire's sister Belle brought a selection of pieces from her lingerie shop, Seduction. It hadn't been difficult to convince Cass to do the show. In fact, it had been just the excuse Cass had needed to come out to Aylesford. The entire Jamieson clan had been invited to the wedding and she'd wanted to meet and personally thank Taylor before then. The added benefit of placing orders for her newly launched line was just icing on the cake.

The line, simply named Cassandra for Scott Marsden, was a hit with the Aylesford brides. Well, they weren't technically Aylesford brides. Traveling from as far as Baltimore and Washington, DC, the majority were from the neighboring cities of Tyler and Sheridan. Thirty-eight brides in total through the course of the day, the store was perpetually packed and Taylor and Cass were beside themselves. Kendall gave herself a mental pat on the back. This was her idea and she was proud if it. 

After the soiree- Kendall stifled a giggle every time Taylor used the word- she changed out of the amazing dress and jewels and joined Taylor, Cass, Claire and Belle at Templeton's to celebrate a successful day. Taylor had sold so much more than wedding bands, and the earrings that Kendall had worn had ended up in a bidding war between two women who just had to have them- no, not a copy- that exact pair. It had been almost comical watching the two fight over a pair of earrings that could be so easily duplicated. Cassandra had written seven gown orders. Kendall had been disappointed, thinking seven out of thirty-eight was a small percentage, but Cass was giddy. Seven dresses at an average of six thousand dollars a piece was huge. 

"Did you say six thousand dollars? For a dress you'll wear once and then put away?" Kendall didn't mean to insult Cass, but damn.

"You need to watch more television, Ken," Claire put in.

"No kidding. I just wish my gowns were at Kleinfelds," Cass agreed.

"TV? Kleinfeld's? What are you talking about?" Kendall was more than a little lost.

"'Say Yes to the Dress' on TLC," Belle offered.

"Still. Six thousand bucks..."

"The dress you wore today was over ten."

And it had been gorgeous. So much so that she almost thought about asking Cass about it, hoping she might need it someday. "Holy shit. I mean, that gown was... breathtaking, but that's an awful lot of money."

"My point exactly. Your idea was perfect. The women who wear Taylor's designs are the same women who would wear a gown that's ten thousand dollars. It was a brilliant idea." Cass was animated. "I sold seven gowns for a total just north of forty-thousand thousand dollars."

"Holy fucking shit!" Claire exclaimed quietly.

"I know!" agreed Belle.

"No, not that. I mean, that's amazing, but look," she said pointing toward the bar, "Owen's here."

"And this is a problem, why? He's hot." Belle had a puzzled look on her face.

"He comes in the shop every day," Claire argued.

"Ok...." Taylor had to jump in. "You do realize he's a piece of eye-candy, right?"

"He's buying flowers for a different woman everyday. Doesn't that say something about him? He's a player," Claire argued.

"So, play!" Kendall suggested before taking another sip of her wine. "You never know what's going on there, maybe he's just buying flowers to see you."

"Right," Claire scoffed. Then she sputtered with laughter as she said, "If I married him, I'd be Claire Sinclair!"

"I like how you jumped from saying he's a player to thinking of your married name," Belle remarked, her tone as dry as toast. 

Claire drained her glass and eyed her companions. "Fine, then. I'm going over there." As she made the declaration, she stood up, adjusted her dress to show her curvy figure to its best potential, tossed her long, dark hair over shoulder, and sauntered toward the bar.

Kendall, Taylor, Cass and Belle watched as Claire presented her admittedly tipsy self to the sexy cabinet-maker, meeting absolutely no resistance when she touched and talked to him. Deciding she could take care of herself, they turned their attention to one another, relishing the girl talk. Kendall loved having girlfriends. She'd lost touch with her high school friends when she went to school, and when she'd returned to Aylesford, most were elsewhere. Taylor had readily added her to her social circle, and having friends like Claire and Belle was never dull.

Much later, the four of them called it a night, leaving Claire to her own devices. Leaving a friend with a man she'd been panting over for months was never a bad idea. Besides, as Belle had pointed out, Claire was a big girl and none of them- especially Belle- was her keeper. Taylor was quick to note Owen was her brother Walker's best friend and wasn't necessarily the man-whore Claire made him out to be.

"You have fun with the girls?" Reid asked as Kendall crawled into bed in the wee hours of the morning.

He felt her grin against his neck as she snuggled into him. "It was fun. I was the most gorgeous bride too. You should've seen me."

The image of him waiting for her as she walked down the aisle popped into his head. He made the conscious decision not to follow that train of thought with a delightfully half-drunk, naked woman in his bed. "I'm sure you looked amazing. You always look amazing," he told her as he rolled over, trapping her beneath him as he did. "You are the most beautiful woman in the world."

"Am not," she argued as she kissed him. "There were four real models there. I swear one could've been Scarlett Johansson's sister." She kissed him again, longer and more forcefully this time, sweeping her tongue into his mouth.

"You liked that pretty blonde, huh, baby?" he asked as he kissed his way down her body. "Did you think naughty thoughts when you were changing together in the back room?" He was kissing and licking between words, ending right above where she wanted him. "Are you wet?" he asked as she slid a finger into her, finding her more than ready. "Do you want my mouth?" At her approving moan, he teased her by lapping all around her clit, but never touching it. Before long she was thrashing and begging for him to take her. "You want cock, baby? Your blonde got you hot, but you want cock?'

"Oh, god, Reid. I always want you," she panted.

Getting the answer he wanted, he finally sucked her clit into his mouth, setting off an intense orgasm. He slid up her body and thrust into her as she was still shaking. "Take my cock, baby. Take it all." He slammed into her, finding himself almost as jealous as he was turned on by her noticing a model. "Look all you want, baby, but you're mine." He punctuated his words with powerful thrusts, moving her up the bed and knocking the headboard against the wall. 

"Always," she breathlessly agreed as he took her over the edge again.

~*~

Kendall flicked a glance up from her computer screen to greet the newcomer to the store. "Good morning, welcome to Taylored Jewels."

"Really? That's how you're gonna greet me?"

At the brittle tone, Kendall turned to face her client, ready to fall all over herself. As she looked up, she stifled a shudder as she pasted on a smile. "Nichole. How are you doing?"

"How do you think? I am over being pregnant."

Why did everyone keep coming to the store to find her? "What can I do for you?"

"It's your brother. I need your help."

"You... Need my help?" Why would her conniving sister need her help? Nothing good could come of this.

"I'm worried about Kyle."

"Why?" Kendall asked, brows drawn together.

"He's working all the time and I never see him. Carter reassigned me when he found out about our relationship, so I almost never see him at work anymore and now I barely see him at home. I'm worried."

Um, you're having a baby, Nic. "Do you think he might be working extra because he's worried about supporting your family?"

"No," she replied with a vigorous shake of her blonde head, "I just assumed."

"Assumed, what, exactly?"

"Now that I was fat, he didn't want me."

Nichole McClaren was insecure. She almost, almost felt sorry for her. "You know I wasn't happy when you forced him into marrying you, but for some reason he loves you. Talk to him."

"I didn't force him," Nichole spat, turned-up nose high in the air.

"Fine. Trapped him. Whatever. The term is immaterial, what's done is done. You and I have to live with each other forever, and if the only time you bother speaking to me is to insult me or ask idiotic questions, I think we'll have a problem."

"Idiotic questions? Well, I never-"

"Look, Nichole, if you have a problem with your marriage to my brother, take it up with him. I barely speak to him as it is, and we have a tenuous truce with one another. He agreed to treat me as an adult and I agreed to let him live his life. Apparently, you are important to him, and he loves you. So, oh, I don't know, why don't you ask him what's up? I mean, he's your husband and all." 

"You've known him your whole life, yet you have no advice for me?"

"My advice is to talk." At Nichole's uplifted eyebrows, she shook her head and added, "Talk to your damn husband. Now, unless you need a piece of jewelry, I suggest you waddle on home."

The tears were completely unexpected. Why was Nichole weeping at the counter? "Um... Nichole?"

"Waddle? See, I am horribly fat." 

Her mascara was running down her face, melting the perfect mask of makeup Kendall had never seen her without. "You're due in three weeks. Waddling is expected at this time."

The weeping just kept on. Well, shit. Instead of laughing like she really wanted to, Kendall picked up her phone and called her brother. Kyle agreed to pick his mess of a bride up and take her home. He arrived barely ten minutes later, bundling his wife into what had been Kendall's car a little more than six months ago. 

When the cut glass door finally closed, she let herself laugh for ten full minutes. Perhaps she should've pushed for family dinners. She wanted ringside seats to Little Miss Perfect's demise. It might be a touch evil, but considering the circumstances, she thought she deserved a pass. It wasn't that long ago she was being dressed down for her antics and kicked out of her own home. Watching Nichole turn into a hot mess was just plain funny.

~*~

Kendall was roused from a deep sleep by the "Jaws" theme. She had chosen the familiar tune for Kyle after absentmindedly answering his call the day he announced his marriage and Nichole's pregnancy. Having it wake her up at 2:27 meant only one thing- baby Jacob was making his way into the world. 

Jostling Reid awake, they made it to Aylesford Memorial Hospital in twenty minutes. 

"So, you woke me up in the middle of the night and made me drive to the hospital so we could sit in uncomfortable chairs and wait for hours?" Reid was stretched across three of those chairs and none too comfortable. "Why couldn't Kyle just call once Jacob was born?"

"I'm trying to be supportive, here," Kendall replied softly. "I want to know my nephew, and I want you to know him too."

"About that," Reid began just to be cut off by Kyle bounding into the waiting room.

"He's here!" Kyle looked worn out but ecstatic. "Eight pounds, four ounces, twenty-one inches long and a full head of blond hair."

"How did such a small woman carry such a big baby?" Kendall wondered aloud.

"Beats me. But he's perfect." 

"Of course he is," Kendall returned with a smile. "Can we see him?"

Kyle led the way, filing into Nichole's private room at the birthing center. Inside, an exhausted Nichole was holding her new son, a look of awe etched in her attractive features. Kyle scooped him up and deposited the precious cargo into Kendall's waiting arms.

She hadn't even realized she'd been holding her arms out, but when Kyle placed the surprisingly heavy bundle of her nephew in her arms, she snuggled him close. No matter the animosity between herself and his parents, she vowed to Jacob to always be there for him. She would be his only aunt and she would always treat him with love.

Reid watched as Kendall held Jacob, and his chest tightened. He had been about to propose in the waiting room at just after dawn. Seeing her with a newborn, he knew he wanted her to be holding their child one day and he didn't want to half-ass it. She deserved the fluff of a romantic proposal, and she would get one.

~*~

"I can't believe how small he is," Kendall gushed. "I know Belle said babies look like old men, but Jacob is beautiful."

Taylor giggled at Kendall's obsession. "Um, Ken, do you want to have a baby?"

"Of course I do. I mean, not this minute or anything, but yeah. I'd like to get married first though, and not because I was preggers." She made a face with that declaration.

"What does Reid think of all this?" 

"I think he had a harder time sharing space with Kyle and Nichole than the baby, actually. He looked so cute, all big and tough holding a tiny baby." She sighed dreamily. "I don't want to have a baby for a while, though."

"With Reid."

Kendall blushed. "I've thought about it more than I'd like to admit. I love him, Taylor. Till death do us part love him." She looked at the floor then. "It's scary."

"He won't get hurt in Aylesford."

"Right, and no one would try to rape me on the floor over there either." Her lips compressed in hard line. "I know Aylesford isn't New York or LA, but I still worry. I guess I'll always worry."

Taylor nodded. "I have a feeling you will." She stood, pacing the shop. "What do you think of Kevin?"

Kendall blinked. "That was abrupt."

Taylor shrugged. "Whatever. So, what do you think?"

She tilted her head for a second. "He's good-looking, rich. I'd assume he's smart since he's an attorney." At Taylor's questioning look, she asked, "what was the right answer?"

"He wants me to go away with him this weekend."

"O...kay... I'm not sure why this is a problem."

Taylor shrugged again. "Going away for the weekend seems so... Oh, I don't know, girlfriend-ish."

"Um, haven't you been dating him since Kyle's wedding?"

"Kinda. Yeah." The pretty redhead looked deflated.

"Six months?"

"Has it been that long?"

"Baby was just born, so yeah." She took her best friend's hands in hers. "What's the problem?"

"Casual. It was supposed to be casual. Light, ya know? Sex, friendship, that's all."

"And now?"

"I think he's gonna propose."

Kendall's mouth dropped open. "Wh...What?"

"His parents like me, but absolutely love who I am." She pulled her hands free of Kendall's and began to pace again. "The sex is good. Not blow my socks off good, but good. And necessary- it had been so long. But, if anyone should be getting engaged it's you. You are in love with Reid and he would die for you. Me, well, I don't love Kevin."

"Shit. Does he love you?"

"No. He might love who I am, or the idea of me, but nah, he doesn't love me."

"Are you sure?"

"Dammit. How did I get myself into this?"

"You're just too gorgeous for your own good. He can't help it," Kendall said with a giggle. Sobering, she asked, "what are you going to do?"

"Make him break up with me."

Kendall made a face. "No. I see the wheels turning in that red head of yours. You are not going to cheat on him to make him break up with you. You are going to call him right now and tell him you want to see other people."

"You know me a little too well."

"Call him. Tell him you want to see other people and he should too. Then go out and find someone else to sleep with if you need to, but do not cheat. Just....Don't."

"All righty then, Miss Vehement-pants."

"You know me."

"I do. And I love you."

"I love you too. Now, go break up."



Speeding Ch. 06



Kendall stared at her phone, willing it to ring. "You haven't heard from her either?" she asked Joanne.

The older woman shook her head. "Sure haven't. Where could she be? It's nearly eleven."

"I'm calling her again," Kendall announced as she snatched her phone from the counter. Voicemail, of course. "Taylor, are you okay? We're worried, and if we don't hear back ASAP, I'm calling your mom." 

"That's low. The woman's an hour and a half late and you threaten her with her mother. Remind me not to piss you off," she said with a chuckle.

Kendall paced the small floor behind the register. "I'm worried. She was supposed to break-up with Kevin this weekend, and now we haven't heard from her."

Joanne pulled a face. "Kevin wouldn't hurt her, hon."

"I know, but I still have a bad feeling about this."

"So, what, you're a Jedi now?"

"Something like that," Kendall muttered.

She was still pacing when the door opened. A distraught and disheveled Taylor stood in the doorway, her red hair is disarray, her face pale and drawn. Before she even realized she was moving, Kendall had wrapped her in a hug.

Taylor buried her face in Kendall's hair. "He's dying, Ken. I couldn't say no."

Kendall drew back to look her best friend in the eye. "Who's dying? What's going on?"

"Kevin," she replied before dissolving into sobs.

Joanne had been standing silent on the floor, but chose then to ask, "Kevin's dying?"

Wiping her eyes with her sleeve, Taylor sniffled as she attempted to explain. "Brain tumor," she gasped and sniffled before continuing, "an inoperable tumor." 

"Wow. You must love him if you're this broken-up about it," Joanne remarked.

Taylor's sobbing worsened then. "No. I don't. That's the problem."

"So, you broke up with him anyway?" Kendall asked, smoothing a hand through her friend's hair.

"No!" she wailed. "What I did was so much worse." 

"Whatever it is, it can't be that bad, Tay." Then a terrible thought flitted through her mind. "Shit. You didn't cheat on him, did you?" 

The sobbing was nearly uncontrollable now. "I... I... Married him!"

"You WHAT?"

"He said," she paused for what sounded disturbingly like a hiccup, "he said he wanted to marry the love of his life before he died." 

Kendall continued to smooth her friend's hair. "How long does he have?"

"Less than six months." She said something else that was unintelligible due to the crying and then, "I couldn't say no. He was so sincere. He loves me, Ken, and I am the most horrible bitch in the world."

"You're not." At Taylor's snort, she said more vehemently, "You're not!"

"Oh, but I am. I like him, really I do, and I'm sad he's dying, but I'm so upset for me. Me, Ken. I'm a selfish bitch."

"That's exactly what you are. You married a man who was dying so he could have his wish. You will be with him through treatments and the end of his life. That sounds selfish to me. Doesn't it sound horribly selfish to you, Jo?"

"Surely." Joanne walked to the pair, her brows knitted together. "Taylor, just how much is Kevin worth?"

"He deserves a woman who loves him," Taylor answered through a new wave of sobs.

"No, monetarily."

Taylor's answer was a shake of her head against Kendall's shoulder. She didn't know.

Joanne held up a finger as she nodded. "Just what I thought. You're far from selfish, Taylor Jamieson. You'll get through this, I'm sure of it." She patted her boss on the back before heading behind the counter to answer the phone.

Kendall murmured agreement as she rocked the sobbing redhead in her arms.

~*~

"Why does it seem like everyone around us is getting married for the wrong reasons?" Kendall asked Reid that night over dinner.

"The wrong reasons?"

"Kyle married Nichole because of Jacob, now Taylor married Kevin because he's dying." She sighed. "Doesn't anyone get married just because they love each other anymore?"

"Are you fishing, baby?"

Her eyes widened as her brows shot up. "Of course not!"

He gave her a questioning look as he cut his chicken.

"Really, I'm not fishing. I'm just commenting on the sad state of affairs."

"Uh-huh." He took his time chewing and swallowing, then told her, "I wanted it to be romantic."

She didn't follow. "Wanted it... she started before it dawned on her what he meant. "Oh my God."

He crossed the room to pull a Taylored Jewels box from the freezer. "It might be a little cold," he warned.

Right, like she cared about that. "It'll warm up. Nice hiding place by the way."

"Shush, I'm trying to propose here."

"Have at it," she told him before clapping a hand over her mouth.

He dropped to one knee right there in the kitchen floor as she sat at the table. This wasn't how he planned it, but things never seemed to work as planned with Kendall. Why would this be any different? "I wanted to make a big, romantic gesture, but I never found the right time. So, here I am, in the middle of dinner with a frozen ring." He opened the box, pulled out the hand-engraved platinum solitaire Taylor had created just for Kendall. "Marry me, Kendall. I love you, baby and want you by my side forever."

She liked romantic in the middle of dinner and the kitchen floor. She offered her left hand. "Of course I'll marry you. I love you so much."

Reid slid the ring on her finger, then tugged her down to him. "I believe we have to seal it with a kiss," he whispered before covering her lips with his own. She opened beneath him, sucking on his tongue as she writhed on his lap. Dinner forgotten, he pushed the straps of her dress down to expose the creamy tops of her breasts. "God, I love you," he murmured against her mouth as he peeled the pale blue fabric away. She twined her arms around his neck after he freed her from the confines of her dress, clinging to him when he picked her up. "We have a bed, baby," he reminded her between kisses as he carried her to the bedroom.

Gently, he lowered her to the middle of the neatly made bed. He stepped away to discard his own clothing, drinking in the sight of Kendall sprawled across the navy quilt in nothing but scraps of white lace. She was his. Forever. The need to possess her was almost overwhelming, but he forced himself to savor her.

"Come here to me," she beckoned as she sat up. "I need you, Reid."

"Oh, baby, you have me," he murmured as he crossed to her. He took her mouth again, softly at first. "You have me, you'll always have me," he told her before fusing his lips to hers, sweeping his tongue into her mouth. Her hands went into his hair, her short nails scraping his scalp as he settled over her. He trailed kisses down her neck, her collarbone, nibbling at the lacy edge of her bra. He took her right nipple into his mouth, lace and all and Kendall let out a gasp. Leaving her breasts, he continued down her body, dropping kisses over her torso, running the tip of his tongue around her belly button before nipping at the edge of her thong.

"Stop teasing," Kendall panted. He slid his hands up her thighs, sending a shiver down her spine. "Evil, evil, man," she breathed as he slowly pulled the panties from her body, his warm breath caressing her bare pussy.

Lowering his head between her splayed legs, he continued to tease with slow swipes of his tongue. He feasted on her, her taste bursting in his mouth. At her chants of, "Please, please, please," he relented, sliding two fingers into her core as he gently nipped her clit. That was all it took. She arched off the bed with a scream as her inner muscles clamped on his fingers. Quickly he pulled his fingers free and made his way up her body, burying his cock in her as she spasmed wildly, claiming her mouth as he did. 

She loved the taste of herself on Reid's mouth, the feel of his body over her, filling her. She devoured his mouth, her hands once again in his hair, her legs locked around his waist. He tunneled in and out at a fevered pace, the restraint he showed earlier melting away. He pulled almost all the way out before plunging back in, over and over, the speed increasing as he slammed into her body, brushing her clit with every stroke.

Her short nails dug into his scalp as she shattered beneath him, a declaration of love falling from her lips between moans. He crushed her to him, angling her hips to take him impossibly deeper, powering into her for a few more strokes before finally bursting within her with a roar.

"Wow," she breathed as she melted into the bed.

He dropped a light kiss on her lips before rolling them both to the side to avoid crushing her. "I love you, baby," he whispered as he held her close.

~*~

The middle of the night phone call was Reid's this time. Kendall listened to the half conversation and gathered the news was far from good. "Work?" she asked, her voice raspy from sleep.

"Dead body found," he answered as he pulled on his clothes.

She watched him quietly for a moment. "Promise you'll be careful," she finally said.

"Of course, baby," he promised as he crossed to her. "I love you."

"You sure?" she teased before kissing him goodbye. At his grin, she told him, "I love you, too. Stay safe."

*

The dump site- definitely not the crime scene- was a shallow grave in the park on the south side of town. The body was a woman, wrapped in a sheet and lying on her stomach. 

Jason Monroe was already down with the body when Reid arrived. "Uh, Caufield, I think you can give us a positive ID on the vic," Jason said, forgoing any pleasantries at four in the morning.

Me? He thought. "Headed to ya, Jase," he answered as he made his way across the field. The ME rolled the body over when Reid came to a stop beside Jason.

Holy shit. Amy? "Whoa."

"Yeah, I know," Jason agreed.

Reid quickly pulled himself together. "What have we here?"

"Looks like an overdose. There are track marks in both arms. We'll run a tox screen to confirm," Adrienne Marquette, the Ayles County Medical Examiner answered.

Reid hadn't noticed Adrienne's arrival, he was too stunned. "A? Did you just say Amy shot heroin?"

She shook her head. "Reid, you know what I said. I said there were track marks in both arms. Nothing is conclusive yet." She stared for a moment at Amy's body. "She's our age, Reid. Damn," she murmured with another shake of sandy head.

"She didn't even drink when we were married," Reid argued. "Drugs, A?" He couldn't reconcile the dead, apparently drug-addicted woman to the girl he once loved.

"You know as well as I do, I haven't seen her since you left her. I didn't even know she was in the area..." she trailed off. "Holy mother. Where is her kid?" she asked, amber eyes wide.

Jason had been quietly working the area around the dump site scouring to evidence, but stood to answer Adrienne. "O'Halloran and Delmonico are checking residences now, although we might have to yield jurisdiction to Sheridan PD if she was killed there."

Reid held up a hand. "Wait, A just said she thought it was an overdose."

"That she did. We can't rule anything out yet, though, can we?"

"True," he agreed. Swallowing hard, he asked, "So, I suppose you'll want me to talk to the Reverend and Mrs. Shaw?"

"What a way to see thes," Jason remarked with a half smile.

*

Reverend Shaw answered the door before Reid had a chance to ring the bell. "Reid Caufield. What brings you here at," he checked his watch, "seven in the morning?"

Instead of dancing around it, Reid answered truthfully, "There's no easy way to say this, sir. Amy was found dead this morning." He stopped for a moment. "I need to ask you some questions, if I may?"

Reverend Shaw stood aside, gesturing for Reid to come in. "We haven't seen Amy in years, son. She lost her way and cut us out of her life."

He hadn't expected that. "You've had no contact?"

The Reverend nodded. "Very little. Annie lives with us. Amy couldn't take care of her, she said." Frowning, he went on, "I think she was into drugs, running with the wrong crowd in Sheridan."

Reid made a face. "Annie?"

"Her daughter. You remember."

Did he ever. "Has Annie had contact with her mother?"

"Here and there." He shook his head. "Poor girl feels unwanted half the time. We do what we can, but that kind of damage isn't easy to repair."

"What about her father?" Reid forced himself to ask.

"Amy never did identify him." The Reverend pinned Reid with a look. "Coulda been you."

"Should have," Reid agreed. "Paternity test said otherwise," he elaborated, his voice strained.

"I know, son. I just wish my granddaughter had more than just her Gran and me."

Just when he thought things were on-track, Amy was dead and he was talking to his ex father about the daughter who should have been his. God, that was a lifetime ago. He pushed it all aside, focusing on the task at hand instead. "I was hoping you could help me piece together Amy's life, but it doesn't sound as if you can shed much light there." He blew out a breath. "I'm sorry for your loss, sir."

"Thank you, son. Let me tell you something about Amy. Remember that she was good, too good, at making up stories. Girl could make anyone believe anything, sometimes I thought she should have gone into the CIA."

Reid was all too familiar with Amy's brand of story-telling. "I'll remember that, sir."

He left the Shaw's with more questions than he had when he'd arrived. So far this morning was turning out to be awesome.



Speeding Ch. 07



"So?" Jason asked as Reid slid into the car.

"No help," he answered with a shake of his head. "Her parents haven't seen or talked to her in years, and they raise the daughter."

"You talk to the kid?"

"Not yet. Figure we'll let her grandparents break the news and we'll talk to her later." He didn't envy his formers that task. 

"Works for me," Jason agreed with a slight nod. Turning more fully towards Reid he asked, "How well do you know Dr. Marquette?"

Reid's brows shot up. "You interested?"

Jason didn't answer directly, instead continuing his original line of questioning, "You're friends?"

"We went to high school together. She went to Tech, came back a doctor and ended up becoming an ME around the time I made Detective." At Jason's "tell me more" gesture, he went on, "I don't think she's seeing anyone." He chuckled at Jason's pleased expression. "You do like her."

"And if I did?"

"Be careful mixing work and play, bro," Reid cautioned.

"Don't shit where you eat and all that. She's hot."

Reid thought about that for a moment before replying, "If you like fresh-scrubbed women twice as smart as you who cut up dead people for a living, sure."

"Maybe I do."

"More power to ya, Jase," Reid answered with a laugh.

~*~

Kendall knew today was not a good day despite the diamond glinting on her left hand and Reid's assurances otherwise. Being Sunday, she had nowhere she needed to be, so after calling to check on Taylor, she shimmied into her gear and went for a run. Stress always made her run or clean, and she figured marrying Reid would keep her body trim and her house spotless with worry. This morning was proving that already. After her two miles became four, she made her way back to the house, her worry in no way allayed, but her legs burning.

Kendall turned the music up louder as she cleaned the kitchen. Sure, it was pretty much spotless when she started, but it was either clean or panic. She had a terrible feeling in the pit of her stomach when Reid left this morning. Dead bodies were not something normally found in Aylesford. 

A sharp rap on the door pulled her from reorganizing the pantry. Muttering to herself, she stalked to the door, curious as to who would show up a Sunday afternoon. Didn't they know she was busy freaking out? She brushed off a shudder. No, it wouldn't be someone with news of Reid. She peeked out the sidelight and didn't know what to make of what she saw. A little girl?

"Hello," she greeted the thin, blonde girl at the door. "I don't want to buy anything," she said before the girl could open her mouth.

"I'm not here to sell you something," she answered, twisting a curl between her fingers. "I'm here to see my father."

Her father? "You must have the wrong house, sweetie," Kendall answered, her heart beating double-time.

"My name is Rhiannon Shaw," she shifted on her feet before adding, "everyone calls me Annie."

Okay. Playing along, she asked, "Who is your mother?"

"Amy Shaw, and she seriously screwed up." She shifted on her feet again. "She told my father I wasn't his, and told someone else I was." Annie let out a long sigh. "Now she's dead."

The porch seemed to spin. Forcing herself to focus, Kendall gripped the doorjamb tightly. "What? Your mother is dead, and you're here looking for Reid?"

"He came to see Grandpa this morning. He told him she was dead."

There were a lot of pronouns in that sentence. Sorting through them, Kendall realized the dead body this morning must have been Amy. "Wow. Well. Do you want to come in?"

Annie followed Kendall into the house. "Are you married to Reid?"

Kendall smiled despite everything. "Not yet." Gesturing to the brown leather sofa she asked, "Do we need to call your grandparents? Surely they're worried about you."

The question earned a vigorous shake of blonde curls. "They think I'm at Amanda's."

"You want to wait for Reid to get home, don't you?" She hated to be the bearer of bad news, but she knew Reid had asked for a paternity test when Amy's baby was born, proving he wasn't the father. If he had been, he would have done right by her. 

It didn't take long until the man in question walked through the door. "Baby, I'm home," he announced.

Kendall came out of the kitchen, Annie trailing behind her. Kendall greeted him with a kiss before introducing the girl. "Reid, this is Annie. Her full name is Rhiannon Shaw. She overheard you talking to her grandfather this morning." She winced at his pained expression, but trudged on, "She thinks you're her father."

"She told me you were," Annie chimed in. "She said I had too much Caufield in me for my own good." A tear slid down her cheek. "And then she left."

Kendall turned to face the girl. "Your mother didn't deserve you," she soothed. Annie had shared some of her childhood with her today, and between the pain inflicted on Reid and walking away from Annie, Kendall was almost glad Amy was dead. She shuddered at her terrible thought.

"So you came to me?" His mind swirled as he looked at her. She looked so much like Amy, but her eyes were dark blue. Very much like his. He watched her intently, taking in this newest turn.

She nodded as she twisted a curl between her fingers. "I didn't know where you were, but I thought...." Fat tears rolled down her cheeks. "You don't want me either."

How wrong she was. "I thought you were mine at first," swallowing the lump in his throat, he forced himself to continue, "the blood test proved you weren't mine. I left your mother then." He shook his head. "I didn't know she would leave you with your grandparents and run to Sheridan."

"To do drugs," Annie spat. "Drugs were more important than her own daughter."

Kendall hated to ask this question, "Reid, could Amy have lied about the test results?"

He shrugged. "Why would she, baby? If the baby..." he stopped, corrected himself, "if Annie had been mine, I wouldn't have divorced her, or at least, I would have been there for my child." His former father's words came back to him, reminding him Amy was a professional story-teller. He sighed. "Look, I don't know, but maybe we should make a trip to Doctor Oakes in the morning."

Doc Oakes was Aylesford's doctor of choice for paternity and other genetic testing. In fact, he'd probably done the original test. Thinking about that, Kendall asked, "Maybe we should try a doctor out of town?"

He thought about it for a moment, understanding her logic. "Maybe we can get A to do it?"

"The Medical Examiner?" Kendall asked.

"Why not?" he asked with a shrug in return.

"I don't care what test needs to be done, just do it," Annie interrupted.

"I'm sorry, sweetheart. I'll call now and set it up." He smiled before adding, "I'm calling your grandparents, too."

Her shoulders slumped. "Okay."

"Hey, they love you."

"I don't know about that," she murmured, head down.

"Of course they do," Kendall assured the dejected girl.

"Whatever," was the only reply.

A few minutes later, Reid returned from the bedroom where he'd retreated to make his calls. "A will see us tomorrow after school, and your Grandma is coming to get you in a few minutes."

"Okay," Annie answered, her tone flat.

"I have to know, Annie," he said apologetically. "Your mother, well, she said a lot of things that weren't true."

"I know."

Beverly Shaw arrived then, her face pale. Reid met her at the door, inviting her in. "Annie's a good girl," she said by way of greeting. "I don't know why she just came to your door."

"She overheard my conversation with your husband this morning. Evidently her mother told her I was her father."

Beverly's eyes rounded in shock. "Why would she say such a thing?" she asked.

"I don't know, but I'd like to have a new test run. If she's mine-"

"You can't take her from me!" Beverly cut him off, her hazel eyes flashing. "I lost my daughter years ago, and I won't let you take Annie from me, too." 

Reid held up both hands. "Mrs. Shaw, I'm not saying I would take her. I understand you and the Reverend have taken care of her since she was a baby. But if she's my daughter, I have a right to know her." He lowered his hands, ran the right one through his hair. "Look, the chances she's mine aren't good. The last test proved she wasn't, and this one might not change that result, but I need to know, and Annie needs to know." His tone was gentle. "Please, let me take her for the test- no, you should meet me there- so she'll know. Do it for Annie, not for me."

His entreaty took some of the fire out of the older woman. "We'll meet you there. Doctor Oakes?" 

Of course she would assume that. "No. I just need you to meet me at the station. Doctor Marquette will do it."

Beverly made a face at the mention of the Medical Examiner. "Fine. What time?"

"Four."

She nodded once, then turned to Annie. "Come now, dear. You have school tomorrow."

Kendall watched the almost teen reluctantly follow her grandmother. "Bye, Annie. It was so nice to meet you."

Annie gave Kendall a small wave. "You, too." She turned to Reid, gifting him with a smile. "See you tomorrow."

After the door closed, Kendall wrapped her arms around Reid. "What a day."

He blew out a breath as he held her close. "Long and full of turmoil. Just how I like my days," he quipped.

"Do you think she's yours?"

He kissed her hair before answering. "I don't know, baby." He paused, holding her tighter. "If she is, we'll do everything we can for her."

"Of course we will," she agreed. She let out a short bark of laughter. "We've been engaged for a day, and look what happens."

"We'll figure it out, baby. We always do."

~*~

"Hi Annie. I'm Doctor Marquette. Today, I just need you to open your mouth and I'll stick this long, q-tip looking thing in your mouth, swirl it around your cheek and be done."

Annie twisted her hair between her fingers as she assessed the doctor. She had imagined a doctor who worked on dead people to be old, but this one seemed to be the same age as her parents. She bit her lip. Correction, her father. Her mother was dead. "No blood?"

The pretty doctor smiled. "Nope."

Annie opened her mouth as instructed and let the doctor do her thing. It didn't take long, and then she was done. "How soon until you know?" she asked. "I mean, until you can prove he's my father?"

Her grandmother took great offense to that. "We don't know he's your father, dear. Your mother told him he wasn't, and the test when you were born said he wasn't. This is just to make you happy."

She would be happy when she had a Dad. She looked back to the doctor. "So?"

"It shouldn't take too long. We'll know in a week or so."

Reid walked into Dr. Marquette's office just then. "What'd I miss?" he asked.

"Not a lot," was the answer from the doctor before she produced another swab. "Open," she commanded. 

Annie watched as Reid's mouth was probed. She hoped this time, this one time, her mother was telling the truth. She knew it was a long shot. Knew her mother never said the same thing twice, but this time... She squashed the glimmer of hope she'd felt when she saw his eyes were the same color as hers. There was no use in hoping. It never amounted to anything before, why would it be different now?

"We going private?" Reid asked when his mouth was free.

"Best way to get a quick result," Adrienne answered. "We're using a lab run by a friend of mine from Tech. Very fast, very accurate. We'll know soon." She looked from man to girl and back again. "For what it's worth, I think it's possible."

Reid clenched his fists. If he'd had any idea all these years, he'd have done everything so differently. "It seems anything is possible right now," he conceded. 

"Yeah, but now you've got Kendall," she shook her head, "talk about trading up."

"Whoa, watch it. Her mother and daughter are in the room."

Adrienne chuckled. "See why I don't work with living patients? I have zero bedside manner." She looked over Reid's shoulder at Mrs. Shaw. "I'm sorry for your loss, and for my comment," she apologized. "I didn't mean any offense."

"Amy washed her hands of us years ago. At least she gave me Annie."

Adrienne mouthed, "Wow" to Reid before replying, "she's a great young lady."

"She's all I have."

Adrienne mouthed, "Good luck," to Reid before turning to head back to her examining room. "I'm all done. I'll send these to Charlie and let you know the results."

"Sounds like we've been dismissed, folks." Reid ushered them out of the building and to the car. "I'm here if you need me."

"We done fine on our own for almost twelve years. I think we can manage a week," Beverly told him.

Reid tried not to be hurt by that statement, true as it was. "Okay, then. As soon as we have the results, I'll call."

Instead of answering, Beverly nodded and started the car. Dismissed for the second time in less than five minutes, he made his way to his own vehicle. Easing in, he wondered just what the hell he would do if Annie turned out to be his. He'd learned today Amy had named her Rhiannon Danielle, the name they had chosen for a daughter, following his family's tradition of naming with the initials R.D. He didn't know whether that was Amy's idea of a joke, or if she was trying to honor him as Annie's father in spite of keeping him from her. He rested his head on the steering wheel. Just when he thought his life was perfect, it had to get fucked up. Just what the hell was wrong with his karma?



Speeding Ch. 08



"So, do you want her to be yours?" Jason asked Reid as they sat at the cafe at In The Stacks. Sure, it was a bookstore, but Beth and Macy made some kickass sandwiches.

Reid raked his fingers through his hair for what seemed like the millionth time that day. "I don't know. If she is, we'll do right by her, but, God," he broke off with a shake of his head, "I just asked Kendall to marry me two days ago."

A grin broke Jason's face. "Yeah? Congrats, man."

"Thanks. She's... Perfect."

"For you," he agreed with a laugh. Sobering, he asked, "How is she with the Annie situation?"

"She's surprisingly okay."

"She's a strong one," Jason commented with a nod. He gestured with his habitual roast beef on rye as he eyed Reid, "What's your plan?"

Reid shrugged. Jason knew him too well. "What plan?"

"The plan I know you started working out the minute you thought that girl could be yours," Jason explained, knowing it was unnecessary. He knew Reid knew exactly what he was asking.

"Her grandparents seem competent enough," Reid began, stopping at Jason's snort. He lifted a shoulder. "What? She's a good kid."

"Fine. Right. Go on," Jason prompted with his sandwich.

"I figure we'll see her, get to know her, but she can stay with them."

"Play it by ear?"

Reid nodded at that. "Exactly." He frowned. "A kid. Almost a teenager." He raked a hand through his hair again. "What the hell do I know about teenage girls?"

Jason chuckled at Reid's question. "Not a thing." He took another bite, taking time to chew and swallow before he said, "Kendall does though."

He nodded his agreement to Jason's assessment, but wanted to think about something else. Switching gears, Reid asked, "Any news on Amy?"

"Adrienne can't tell for certain if the overdose was accidental or forced."

"What do you think?"

"From what I can tell, she led something far less than a pristine life, but she doesn't look like a regular user."

"She said there were track marks." He blew out a breath.

Jason polished off his sandwich, nodding as he chewed. "I'm just telling you what she told me. She thinks it could be intentional."

"Murder, then?"

"Looking like a possibility. Detective Chloe Davenport from Sheridan is coming to meet with us tomorrow morning."

"One Detective?" Reid asked.

"A chick at that," Jason answered, his displeasure evident.

"Jesus, Jase. Grow up."

"What? I'll bet she never pulls traffic duty."

Deciding not to follow Jason down that train of thought, given he was grateful for at least one day of traffic duty, he stood and tossed his trash. "Time to pay another visit to Sheridan ourselves."

"Chris'll meet us there," Jason said as he fell into step.

~*~

Kendall looked up from merchandising the newest designer silver line, expecting to see a client. Instead, it was Annie. "Hi sweetheart. Are you here by yourself?"

Annie shifted on her feet as she twisted a curl between her fingers, but didn't say anything. Noting the girl's clearly agitated state, Kendall came around the case to pull her into a hug. "What's wrong?"

"What if..." she began. "What if he's not my Dad?" she asked in a whisper.

"What if he is?" Kendall countered. She didn't want to get Annie's hopes up, but the chances were decent, not to mention the shared eye-color. She hugged the slight girl closer. "We'll know soon."

"Can I stay with you?"

Kendall checked her watch. "I'm here for a few more hours." She looked down at the curly blonde head against her chest. "Does your grandmother know where you are?"

"No," Annie answered quietly.

"You have to call your grandparents, but I don't think Taylor and Jo would mind you hanging around with us." She laughed. "Maybe I'll teach you to merchandise jewelry while you're here."

Annie pulled away from Kendall. "Do I have to call them?"

"They'll worry if they don't know where you are, sweetie." Kendall stepped back behind the open case. "Go ahead and use my phone there on the counter," she instructed, waving her hand at the purple phone next to the register.

Annie made her call and peered into the case Kendall was arranging. "What are you doing?" she asked, her interest evident.

"We just expanded into carrying lines Taylor didn't make herself. Now I have to display all this," she gestured to a tray full of jewelry, "in here," she explained, sweeping her hand toward the glass case.

Eyes wide, Annie's mouth opened into an O of delight. She picked up a woven cuff bracelet, tracing the bright silver wires with gentle fingers as she watched Kendall work.

"The trick," Kendall elaborated with a conspiratorial smile, "is to put things together that match and not overcrowd the case."

"Things that match should be together," Annie agreed quietly. 

Kendall wondered whether she was talking about jewelry or something else entirely, but didn't push. Annie was quite possibly less than a year away from being her stepdaughter, and she wanted to be friends. They worked together in companionable silence for a long while until Taylor emerged from her shop. She'd been away from the store for ten days, and had spent the entire day on the bench creating. Her eyes rounded when she she saw Annie.

Catching Taylor's gasp of shock, Kendall turned Annie around and handled the introductions, trying all the while to stay cool, calm and collected. "Taylor Jamieson, meet Annie Shaw."

"She has Reid's eyes," Taylor blurted before blushing. "Oh, I..." she started before clamping her mouth shut. She took a breath before starting over again. "Obviously, we missed quite a bit during our Johns Hopkins trip."

"I didn't want to bother you with our problems when you and Kevin are dealing with life and death," Kendall replied, not noticing Annie's expression fall.

"So, is she Reid's?" Taylor whispered.

Kendall shook her head as she tucked Annie close to her side. "We don't know. If she is, we're going to treat her right." And maybe if she's not.

Annie loved that Kendall held her tightly, even if she'd called her a problem. Her mother had abandoned her to her grandparents, and although she knew she should be grateful to them for taking care of her, she knew she was just a problem for them to fix. She hoped Kendall meant what she said, and prayed Reid Caufield was her father.

"Okay, then. It's just about time to close up, so I came out to help," Taylor said as she brushed her hands on her jeans clad thighs and tried to act like she hadn't embarrassed the hell out of a twelve year old girl.

Soon the four of them were working together to lock up the high-dollar goods in the safe, clean up the hospitality area and close the drawer. It had been a slow day, but jewelry season was around the corner, and new inventory was coming in daily. Kendall was happy on that front, since Taylor was going to be away from the store more often than not with Kevin's illness. It still shook her that her best friend had married her dying boyfriend, but then she had things to worry about in her world too. She glanced at Annie cleaning cases and sighed. This was Reid's daughter. The more time she spent with her, the more she was sure of it. Standing there with the vacuum in hand, she vowed she would be the best damn stepmother the world had ever seen.

~*~

Reid was frustrated. What shouldn't have even been a case was turning out to be complicated as hell. It should have been a simple accidental overdose, but it was shaping up to be something else. He just wasn't sure what yet. Jason was convinced Amy was murdered, and while Reid had to agree things didn't add up, he wasn't sure. After interviewing her neighbors again, he was certain Amy had fled Aylesford to become a hooker and a junkie. He cringed at the thought. What kind of life had she led for the past decade? He was damned glad she'd been smart enough to leave Annie with her parents. 

He walked through the door, happy to set everything aside. It would all be there tomorrow. A smile tipped his lips as he saw Kendall making dinner, singing so loudly to the radio she hadn't noticed him come home. Stifling a chuckle, he quietly stalked her, wrapping her in his arms from behind. "Hey, baby," he greeted before capturing her lips. He plundered her mouth, loving the whimpers that came from her throat.

Reluctantly, Kendall pulled from his arms. Breathless, she chided, "the Alfredo sauce will boil over if you keep doing that." 

Pulling her back into his embrace with one arm, he turned off the stove off with the other. "Food can wait," he told her before claiming her lips again. Effortlessly, he swung her into his arms, never relinquishing her mouth as he made his way to the bedroom. He set her down gently and stepped away. "Strip for me, baby," he commanded, his voice ragged.

Accepting that he needed control, Kendall threw herself into the role. She unbuttoned her lavender blouse slowly, leaving it open as she tugged down the zipper of her chocolate brown skirt. With a little shimmy, the skirt was around her ankles, leaving her in a pale pink satin thong, the matching demi-bra, her open blouse, and knee-high brown suede boots. Reveling in the fire in his eyes, she played it up, shrugging out of her shirt as she stepped from the skirt pooled at her feet, treating Reid to a twirl and roll of her hips.

Hard as concrete, Reid watched her as she wrapped a hand around the bedpost and gyrated against it. "Enough," he grated when she released her bra, putting her exquisite breasts on display. At that moment, something made him catch her hands around the post and tie them securely with the scrap of satin she called a bra. Kendall's eyes widened a fraction before she smiled at him. "Take me," she whispered.

Her boots put her at the perfect height to take just like this. He grabbed both sides of her tiny panties and tore them from her body before sliding two fingers into her pussy. She was so hot, wet, and ready for him, he wasted no time releasing his cock and ramming home. 

She was naked and lashed to the bedpost while Reid had all of his clothes on. She rocked back against his thrusting cock, loving the primal, possessive way he fucked her. Oh, she loved him and he loved her, but this wasn't slow, seductive lovemaking, this was controlling, possessive fucking. And she loved it.

He gripped her hips and pistoned into her, riding her hard as she cried for him to take her harder and faster. When her muscles gripped him, milking him, he let go with a roar.

~*~

"You're sure?" Reid asked Adrienne the following morning.

"DNA doesn't lie, my friend," she answered with a pat on his back. "You knocked up your wife all those years ago."

He thought he'd prepared himself for this. Was halfway sure this would be the outcome, but his head was still spinning. "Why?" he asked aloud.

"Why what?" came the slightly distracted reply.

"Why lie? Why keep her from me? Why leave Annie with her parents and run off to Sheridan?" 

"Hell if I know. I mean, why cheat on your hot self in the first place?"

"A..." he admonished.

"What? It's true," she told him with a shrug. "Look, I don't know why Amy went all whore on you, but you've got a daughter now. I know it won't be easy, but just do what you do. You're charming, and Kendall is a natural." She looked up from the report she'd been perusing to flash him a smile. "You've got this."

He raked a hand through his hair. "Easy enough for you to say." Unfolding from the chair he'd sunk into a few minutes before, he pushed Annie from his mind to focus on her mother. "So, what do we know about Amy's death?"

Adrienne shuffled through photos to place one on her desk. "Look at this bruising. It look a couple days to show up on the body, but," she pointed to the photo of Amy's wrists, "see here?"

"Ligature marks?" he questioned. Why the hell were there ligature marks?

She shuffled through more photos to place a different one between them. "See this?" she asked as she indicated the ankles in the newest photo.

"She was bound. Intentionally overdosed." Dammit, this was murder.

"Sure appears that way."

"Well, shit."

"Indeed."



Speeding Ch. 09



"So, what do we know?" Reid asked, marker poised above the white board, his back to Chris, Jason and Sheridan Detective, Chloe Davenport.

"We know she was overdosed, we know she was bound," Jason answered.

"We know she was a hoo... working girl," Chris continued, catching himself before labeling his friend's ex-wife a hooker.

As Reid was writing on the board, Chloe asked, "Are we sure she wasn't perhaps bound for fun and later accidentally overdosed?" The Sheridan Detective had been quiet since arriving, but asked a very valid question.

"Adrienne explained that the track marks were healing, indicating she hadn't used in a while. She does not feel the death is accidental," Jason answered.

"Can she prove it?" Chris jumped in, springing from his chair. "Even if this is murder, and we figure out who did it, can we prove it?"

"The evidence is shaky," Chloe agreed.

"Adrienne isn't wrong," Jason growled in defense. 

Fire in his chocolate gaze, Chris challenged, "Prove it."

"Prove it isn't," Jason threw back.

Reid's shrill whistle stopped the two detectives from coming to blows. "Children!" He knew Jason was defending Adrienne more than the evidence itself, and Chris was siding with the striking Sheridan detective. What he didn't know was who was right, and working together was far more productive than taking sides. "Look, we've never had a murder in Aylesford, so we have to do this right. Maybe it was two separate incidents, and the binding isn't related to the overdose, but until we know," he stopped with a grimace. "Until we can prove something- anything- we're treating it like a homicide."

"Well, said Detective," Chloe approved with a nod, brushing her caramel colored hair away from her face.

Jason glared at the green eyed woman before returning his attention to Reid. "Plan of action?"

"Yeah, how are we going to find this evidence? We've been to her apartment, spoken with her neighbors..." Chris trailed off.

"Talk to her pimp," Chloe suggested.

"Of course! I'll just look him up in the phone book," Jason joked.

Chloe shook her head at the cocky detective. "Big Ben owns that part of town. Vice will know how to find him."

"Do it," Reid instructed before his attention was drawn to a cloud of curly blonde hair nearing his desk. His daughter. His heart broke for the time they'd lost. Bolting from the chair he'd dropped into moments before, he made his way to Annie.

When he reached her, he suddenly felt very awkward. "Hi," was all he managed to say. He almost lost his footing when he caught the small body that crashed into him. "Guess you know."

"Hi, Dad!" she squealed.

Momentarily speechless, Reid held her tight. Annie was far too excited to have him for a father. Aware of her mother's case on the board behind them, he walked her to the front of the station before finally finding words. "Annie, why are you here?" 

"I want to live with you and Kendall," she answered, her words so rushed they all ran together.

Thrown, he opened his mouth to speak, but quickly closed it again. He didn't want to tell her no, but this was something he would have to discuss with Kendall. He mentally laughed at that thought. Who was he kidding? He knew Kendall's answer. The Reverend and Mrs. Shaw would be the problem. They would oppose any bid he and Kendall made for custody. Sighing, he settled for an age old parental stand by. "We'll see," he answered as he hugged his daughter to his chest. "Your grandparents want to keep you." Hit with the proverbial ton of bricks, he repeated, "Grandparents."

"Dad?" Annie looked at her father with wide blue eyes. How she loved that word. Dad.

"You haven't met my parents yet, or your uncles and aunts," Reid told her, shock on his face. How had he overlooked something so fundamental?

Silently cursing her selfish bitch of a mother, Annie asked, "I have more family?"

"You sure do." He grinned. "Whether or not you live with Kendall and me, you're coming to your Uncle Reece's wedding in a few weeks and Sunday dinner at my parents in a couple days." He'd missed so much of her life, and so had his parents. 

He'd never seen Annie look so excited. "You want me?" She bounced in her sneakers.

"Of course I do, sweetheart. I just wish..."

"You wish my mother had told the truth," Annie finished. Her eyes turned sad before she told him, "Get used to it. She never told the truth. Ever."

What kind of life had his child led? She already seemed far wiser than her years, but as excited as she seemed to have him for a father, it was obvious she was starved for affection. Smoothing a hand over her curly blonde head, he decided he would petition for custody. He knew Kendall would be on-board, and if they had to see a judge to be married to better their chances, he was fine with that.

Annie wondered what her dad was thinking as he held her. She knew it had to be something important with the way his eyes were narrowed. God, she hoped he wanted her. She sighed. She'd probably used up all her prayers just to get him for a father. What were the chances he'd want a thirteen- correction, almost thirteen- year old girl horning in on his life with Kendall? She knew about men and women, and she knew Kendall was amazingly pretty. No man would want to give up his privacy and let a kid live with them.

Pulling away slightly so he could look at his daughter, Reid promised, "I want you and I know Kendall does, too."

"Seriously?" She goggled at him, her jaw slack.

He flashed a grin at her shocked expression before he placed his hands on her shoulders, bending down to look her in the eye. "I would never, never have let you go had I known. I promise we'll figure everything out, and I promise I will never leave you again."

She flung herself back into his arms, sobbing like a baby and not caring a bit. "Thank you, Dad."

Arms full of crying girl, Reid pulled out his phone and called the only person who could help him. Ten minutes later, Kendall scooped his daughter up and took her to the store with her. Dazed, he made his way back to the other detectives.

"I take it she's yours," Jason greeted.

"Yes," Reid answered succinctly before turning to the board. "Now, let's figure out what happened to her horrible excuse for a mother."

"Yes, let's," Jason agreed.

~*~

"Dad said I could live with you," Annie informed Kendall on their walk between the station and the store.

Missing a step at that revelation, Kendall almost fell flat on her face. Regaining her balance, she asked, "He did?"

"Well, he said, 'We'll see,' at first, but then he said we wanted me, and you do too."

Wow. What he said was so very different than extending an invitation to live with them. "We do want you, sweetie, but your grandparents will fight us." Beverly had promised that on the day of Amy's death.

"I know it won't be tomorrow," Annie admitted, her slender shoulders slumping. She stopped then, bending to pluck a fluffy dandelion stem from a sidewalk crack. Face solemn, she said, "But you want me." She blew the seeds free of the stem, watched them float a moment before reiterating, "You want me."

Kendall watched this little girl, a girl who had far more in common with her than she knew, cope so much better than she had and swallowed the large lump in her throat. "Did you know my parents died when I was your age?"

Annie gaped at Kendall. "Really?"

She gave a jerky nod in answer. "They were pilots. Their plane went down over the Atlantic."

"What happened to you? Who took care of you?" Annie asked, concern etched into her delicate features.

"My brother, Kyle, came home from college."

"He didn't want you!" 

"He was eighteen. He wanted to go to college, not raise his sister," Kendall automatically defended.

Annie looked at the ground, her fingers twisting a curl. "My grandparents don't want me."

Oh, her grandmother wanted her all right, and said as much ten days ago. "Of course they do."

Annie shook her head, sending her cloud of curls flying. "No. I'm a problem my mother left them."

"Surely you don't think that."

"It's the truth." Stiffening her spine, Annie marched toward the store, leaving Kendall rooted to her spot on the sidewalk for almost a minute.

As she ran to catch up, Kendall's mind was reeling. Did the Reverend and Mrs. Shaw really not want Annie? And why, if they didn't, did Beverly issue that salvo indicating war should Reid try and take her from them? Something just didn't add up.

~*~

"Know any good lawyers?" Kendall asked as soon as Kyle answered his phone. She knew her brother wouldn't understand the situation, but he'd be able to help. Legally, at least.

"What kind of question is that, Kendall?" Kyle made a guttural sound. "Why do you need an attorney?"

An attorney. Of course. "Reid just discovered he has a daughter and we want to-"

"Did the bastard cheat on you? I told you he wasn't good en-"

"Don't even finish that thought, or so help me, Kyle, I will kick your teeth in."

"Oh," came the startled reply.

"If you would have let me explain before cutting me off, I'd have told you that Annie's mother was married to Reid, but she cheated on him. She told Reid Annie wasn't his daughter and somehow had the paternity test back her up. Dr. Marquette had new tests run and viola, now I'm gonna be a stepmom."

Kyle made some sort of choked sound on his side of the phone. "So, you need an attorney for what?"

"We want to petition for custody."

"What? Why?"

Kendall frowned at the question, forgetting the expression was lost on her brother. She'd known he wouldn't understand, but had hoped she was wrong. "Because she's Reid's daughter," she answered simply.

Kyle let out a long sigh laced with disappointment before finally answering the question. "Talk to Marjorie Statham. She'll be able to help."

"Thanks, Kyle."

"Thank you for calling," he replied stiffly before disconnecting the call.

~*~

"You wanna talk about it?" Kendall asked when she walked into the shop. Taylor had been so quiet the past few days, and hadn't even made a comment about Annie's presence in the store. Worried about her friend, Kendall had left Annie with Jo and made her way back to Taylor's bench.

"What's there to say?" She placed the ring she'd been finishing on her bench-pin and turned her chair to face her best friend. "He's dying. Faster than we thought."

"Oh Tay, I've been so preoccupied with Reid and Annie, I haven't been there for you."

A rueful smile turned Taylor's pink lips. "What could you have done? You can't make his cancer go away," she took a shallow breath, "and you can't make me love him like he deserves."

"You are what he wanted," Kendall reasoned. "He couldn't ask for anything more."

Taylor shook her head, causing her red ponytail to beat at her shoulders. "You are so wrong. He asked for me to love him."

"You don't not love him," Kendall argued.

"You are such a good friend." Taylor hung her head. "I said the vows, even when I knew I was lying. I care about him, and God, I don't want him to die..." she trailed off, tears in her eyes, "but when he does die, I will be able to move on."

Kendall's face scrunched up at that. "So, if you were madly in love with him, you wouldn't be able to move on?"

"I'd be consumed with grief, unable to love again."

"You'd... Huh?"

"If Reid died, you'd fall apart."

She blew out a breath. "As true as that is, he wouldn't want me to grieve forever." She shuddered. "I worry about something happening to him all the time, but it's the risk I take loving a cop. We worry about each other, but at the end of the day, we never know what could happen."

"We get one great love in our lives, Kendall. You've found yours. Kevin is not mine." She sighed. "I married him anyway."

"And he's better off for it." She laid a hand on Taylor's shoulder. "Look, I know you feel guilty about marrying him, but you haven't done anything to hurt him. You're taking care of him, you're seeing him through this illness and you will potentially have to bury him. You have to get out of this funk. Feeling guilty and acting like a recluse isn't going to help anyone."

Taylor grimaced. "You're right, I know you are. It's just so unfair."

"A great looking, highly successful man, dying in the prime of his life is tragic."

"Way to be concise," Taylor joked with a watery smile.

"I try." Changing to a safer subject, she asked, "What are you working on?"

Taylor's smile was genuine when she turned her attention to the ring on her bench. "This is a special piece. The center stone is a morganite and I've copied an Edwardian period mounting to wrap around it."

It was beautiful. It looked like an antique engagement ring, but the center stone was petal pink. "Who is this one for?"

"I promised I wouldn't tell," Taylor answered with a smirk.

"Well, it's beautiful." She looked at her own specially designed engagement ring as she continued, "The woman that will get that is a lucky one."

Taylor let out a long sigh before very quietly muttering, "She has no idea how lucky."

Leaving that alone, Kendall gave Taylor a squeeze before she left her to her work again. "I'd better go check on Annie."

Taylor was immersed in her work when Kendall turned to leave. Her friend was troubled, and had a very skewed outlook on love. Letting that play in her head, she went to check on her nearly-teenaged almost-stepdaughter. She was chuckling at her own description when she made her way onto the sales floor.

~*~

Reid paced the hall in the Sheridan precinct. He and Jason had come down here with Chloe to meet with Amy's pimp, Big Ben. Chloe had promised two of her Vice guys would bring him in, but so far he and Jase had been cooling their heels for hours with nothing to show for it. Maybe the female detective had been onto something when she'd suggested talking to this guy. If Vice couldn't find him, it was possible he had something to do with Amy's death. 

"Something doesn't feel right, here," Jason said as Reid made what seemed like his fortieth pass down the hall. "Why are we still just standing around?"

"Who's standing?" Reid quipped.

Rolling his eyes, Jason started with the rundown of what they knew yet again. "Adrienne believes the overdose was purposeful, we know Amy was tied up, we know she had a pimp. What does that tell you?"

"She was still selling her body, but she was trying to kick the heroin?"

"Right. Why was she trying to kick the heroin?"

"Why did she do anything?" Reid tossed out without thinking. He winced when he caught Jason's far from amused face. "Okay, I'll bite. Why do you think she was off the drugs?"

"I think maybe she wanted to go straight. Maybe she wanted to come home."

Reid held up his hands. "That's quite a jump there, Detective."

"Think about it."

Reid made a show of tapping his finger on his cheek and stroking a non-existent beard. "Nope, still don't make the jump. The woman left her kid- my kid- with her parents without a backwards glance ten years ago."

"Says her mother."

"Right. Why would her mother lie?"

Jason shook his head, his lips compressed in a thin line. "I don't know, but something about that woman rubs me the wrong way."

Reid laughed at that. "It's because she's a church lady, and you're not even close to a churchy person."

"Well, it might be that," he agreed with a short flash of his lady-killer smile, "but I think there's something she's not telling us."

"You thought there was something up with them that day at lunch, didn't you? That's why you didn't like the idea of leaving Annie with them."

"I hear you're petitioning for custody," Jason sidestepped.

"We are." He raked a hand through his hair. "I can't believe the Shaws had anything to do with Amy's death."

"No?" Jason asked, his irritation with Reid evident.

Reid blew out a breath as he stopped pacing. "What's your theory, Jase?"

"I don't really have a theory, but things just aren't making any sense." He threw is hands up in frustration. "You said Mrs. Shaw told you you couldn't take your daughter."

"Right," Reid agreed, not at all sure where Jason was going with this.

"What if," Jason jumped from his chair, pacing himself now. "What if Amy wanted to get clean and come home and Beverly didn't want her to?"

His handsome face a mask of confusion, Reid asked, "So, to keep her granddaughter, she killed her daughter?"

On a roll, Jason ignored his partner's incredulousness and went on. "Let's say, Amy called mommy dearest and told her she wanted to come back. Maybe the overdose was accidental. Maybe she just wanted to get Amy hooked on it again so she couldn't come home."

"Geez, Jase. With all that conclusion-jumping, I'm surprised you haven't broken a leg," Reid said sarcastically. 

"I know it's a stretch, but let's look at the facts."

"Let's," Reid prompted.

"Bear with me, here," Jason warned. At Reid's 'get on with it' expression, he did. "Her pimp is nowhere to be found, we haven't turned up a drug dealer, an unhappy john, nothing. Her behavior for the last decade is consistent, but then, sometime in the last few months, she gives up the smack. Something changed."

"I'll give you that, but cleaning up her act to return home?"

"Why else would she get clean?"

"Let's say that's the reason, fine. Why wouldn't her pimp or her dealer take her out?"

"They may have. I think her parents- at least her mother- know something, that's all."

"Because she rubs you the wrong way?"

"Don't get your nose outta joint. I could be wrong."

"You are," Reid said more firmly than he felt. His daughter was with the Shaws, and if even a little bit of what Jason was thinking was on-target, he shuddered at the thought of something happening to her now that he'd found her.

"You sure about that?" Jason asked, not really wanting to be right, but sure he was onto something.

"No," Reid admitted. "I don't know what to believe, but we're not ruling anything out just yet."

"That's all I ask."

~*~



Speeding Ch. 10



"So what did I miss?" Chris asked the minute Reid and Jason walked through the station door.

"Big Ben wasn't her pimp," Reid answered at the same time Jason said, "A lot of nothing."

"You two were up there for hours and you got nothing?"

"Well, Jason here thinks Beverly Shaw knows something she's not telling us," Reid elaborated with an elbow to Jason's middle.

"Why?" Chris asked before saying, "I'm with Chloe. I think this was an accident and somebody freaked out and dumped her to cover it up. Maybe she was tied up for fun and profit, shot up, and—"

"No," Jason interrupted sharply.

"The more evidence we gather," Reid replied to Chris while ignoring Jason's growl, "the more I think this was far from accidental." He noted the muscle twitching in Chris's jaw, but soldiered on. "There were no fingerprints anywhere in that apartment. None. Sheridan CSU went over every flat surface, and there was nothing."

Chris shrugged. "I didn't say whoever was with her was an idiot," he defended.

"Let's say she was shooting up with someone, and let's say she died and her buddy spazzed," Jason began, his pale blue eyes icy. "She dies in front of them, yet they wipe every surface clean, wrap her in a sheet, drive the forty minutes from Sheridan, and dump her in our park?"

"That place was spotless," Reid added. "Nothing on the countertops, walls, doors, windows—nothing at all. How many women do you know who keep a spotless house?"

Chris rocked back on his heels as he rubbed a hand over the back of his neck. "True enough, but even if your theory holds water," he held up a finger, "and I'm only agreeing it's possible someone purposely overdosed her. How do you A) prove it, and B) solve it?"

"We go back through it," Reid answered.

"We need to talk to her parents again," Jason put in.

"Didn't you say they hadn't had contact with her?" Chris asked.

"The Reverend said they'd had very little contact over the last decade."

Turning to face Reid, Jason said, "You need to talk to Annie." 

"What?" He shook his head. "No."

"Yes, you do," Chris agreed. "Maybe she knows something she doesn't even know she knows."

"Sure, that wasn't confusing at all," Reid muttered before replying, "I don't want to traumatize her. She's been through enough as it is."

"Have Kendall talk to her then," Jason suggested. "She was a reporter, right?"

"A journalist could easily interview a kid," Chris interjected.

Holding up his hands in surrender, Reid acquiesced, "Fine, but don't count on anything."

"I never do," Jason answered as he turned toward his desk. "It's late. Caufield, go home to your woman. I'll write up the non-report."

Not one to pass up an opportunity to avoid paperwork, Reid left Jason and Chris there, his thoughts heavy. There was no question in his mind Amy was murdered. It was the who and why that were elusive. Maybe Chris and Jason were right and he—or Kendall, rather—needed to talk to Annie. He couldn't discount Jason's gut feeling about Beverly, but he just couldn't believe she would have killed her only daughter, junkie or not. Trying desperately to push it all from his head, he headed home.

~*~

"So, are you and Reid just planning to get married at the courthouse?" Claire asked.

"We might. It would probably help with custody."

"Do you want sole custody?" 

Kendall took a long sip of her vodka cranberry as she contemplated. "I don't think so," she finally said with a slight shake of her head. "She's spent her entire life with them, and we don't want to uproot her completely. We want to be part of her life, but we don't want to turn it upside down."

"What does Annie want?"

"She says she wants to live with us," Kendall began. Shrugging, she went on, "She seems to think her grandparents don't want her, that she is a problem, a burden to them."

"What do you think?"

"I don't know what I think. It's unbelievable to me that they wouldn't want her, especially with the way Beverly treated Reid. But there's something that's not sitting right with me." She sighed. "I understand what's she's feeling. Kyle certainly didn't want to raise me any more than I wanted to be raised by him."

Fingers steepled, Claire leaned forward to ask, "You're an investigator, aren't you?"

"Technically," Kendall answered. "I majored in journalism, sure, and thought I wanted to be an investigative reporter." She bit her lip. "Thought I wanted to write hard-hitting pieces uncovering big stories."

"What stopped you?"

She took in a fortifying breath. "Kyle."

"How?" 

"He wanted me to investigate for him, for his firm. He wanted to control... Hey, that's it!"

"What, Ken?"

"Beverly doesn't want Annie, she wants a child she can control. She couldn't control Amy, and look what happened." 

"And?"

"And we need custody of Annie." She reached across the table to take her friend's hand. "Thank you, Claire. You need to finish those classes, you'll make a helluva counselor."

"Who needs med school anyway, right?" Claire joked. 

"You helped the hell outta me, psychiatrist, psychologist or counselor."

"There's an endorsement," she remarked with a wry smile.

"It's true." She slid off her stool then. "I need to go home."

"I think I can find some way to amuse myself," Claire said, her amber gaze touching on three men throwing darts.

"I'll just bet you can."

"Believe it, sister."

~*~

Kendall was rounding the corner from Templeton's as Reid drove past. Chuckling, he pulled over and rolled down the passenger side window. Affecting a strong accent, he asked, "Hey there, sugar. Wanna ride?"

Whipping her head around, Kendall harshly answered, "No!" When she saw Reid's truck, her scowl broke into a wide grin. Her tone seductive, she changed her answer, "As long as you don't tell my fiance. He might get jealous."

"What he doesn't know won't hurt him," Reid replied through a laugh. Pulling her into the truck, he leaned over and captured her mouth. When he broke the kiss, he cupped her face in is hand for a moment as he stared into her aquamarine eyes. "I love you, baby," he whispered.

Reid was always loving, but something was eating him. "I love you, too. Now, tell me, what's wrong?"

He let out a soft chuckle. "Am I really that easy to read?"

"For me? Yeah, you are. Want to talk about it?"

"Not really, but I will." He took in then blew out a long breath. "The guys think we need to talk to Annie. More specifically, they think you need to talk to Annie."

"I love Annie."

He smiled. "I know you do, baby, and that's why this is hard to ask. We need to ask her about her mother. They think she might know something helpful."

"Claire said the same thing today."

"Really?"

"We were talking about Annie and her grandparents and it hit me that Beverly wants a child to control. Amy was a good girl until she married you against her parents wishes, then went off the deep end by cheating, having a baby she wasn't sure who the father was, and then becoming a drug addict and whore."

Well, that about summed it up. "Where are you going with this?"

"I think she'll be fine until Annie won't be controlled anymore." She winced. "I think we've made her harder to control now since she wants to come live with us." 

"What do you think Beverly will do?"

"I don't know, but I know we need custody."

"We've got an appointment with Marjorie in two days."

"I know." They arrived at the house just then. "Promise me we'll take her."

He parked into the driveway as he answered, "She's mine, baby."

Sliding out of her seat, she shook her head. "No, she's not. She's ours."

He came around the truck to wrap her in his arms. "God, I love you," he told her before covering her mouth with his own. 

She looped her arms around his neck as she jumped to wrap her legs around his waist. "Show me," she demanded breathlessly between kisses. 

He carried her easily, much as he did that first night, unlocking the door and pressing her against it once they were inside. "Right here, right now," he told her before taking her mouth again. "I want you all the damn time. I think about you when I should be doing something else. I can't believe you promised to be mine forever, and you'll be an amazing mother."

She anchored her hands in his hair, staring into his deep blue eyes as she said, "We will be amazing parents to Annie and anybody else we're blessed with." She kissed him sweetly then, before pulling away to give him a wicked smile. "Until then, why don't we practice?"

Laughing, he carried her to the bedroom. "If we're going to practice baby-making, we should do it in bed."

"But I like when you shove me against a wall," she protested with a feigned pout. She liked making love to him anytime, anywhere. She really wasn't picky.

Taking her words to heart, he backed her into the pale blue wall of their bedroom. Fusing his mouth to hers, he slid his hand under her skirt to find her hot and wet beneath her tiny panties. He filled her with two fingers as he ate at her mouth, loving the whimpers she made. Knowing it was almost, but not enough to push her over the edge, he added a third finger, brushing his thumb over her clit and increased the pace. When she was on the precipice, he stopped.

"Need you. NOW," she demanded. 

Smiling against her mouth, he dropped his pants and boxer briefs before moving her thong to the side and thrusting home. She was so tight, so hot, and hanging by a thread, her muscles fluttered as soon as he began to move. She clutched his shoulders as he pounded into her, her head thrown back against the wall, her heels digging into his back. Her orgasm came fast and furious, her muscles milking him hard as she screamed her release. He had no resistance against her and followed her over. 

Panting, she said, "We won't be able to do that with kids in the house."

He laughed as he gently released her to let her stand. "We'll just have to be more inventive." He looked pointedly at the open bedroom door, giving her a half-smile. "And, we'll have to get locks for our door." 

She pushed on her toes to kiss him. "Ya think?"

He picked her up and tossed her on the bed. "You better believe it."

~*~

"You cannot live with Reid and Kendall," Beverly told her for what seemed like the millionth time.

Stomping her foot, Annie yelled, "He's my father. My father! I can live with him if he wants me to!"

She grabbed her screaming granddaughter by the arm, tossing her into a wooden kitchen chair. "You will not leave me." When she turned to pull something from a shelf, Annie popped back out of the chair. 

"You are not the boss of me! You can't tell me what to do! He's my fucking father!"

Spinning around, Beverly slapped the girl across her petulant face. "WHAT did you just say?"

She covered her cheek with her left hand. Her grandmother had slapped her! Shaken, she refused to back down. Instead of answering, she ran for the door. She threw it open and bolted down the street. 

She watched the girl run down the block, turning left at the corner. She knew where she was headed, and would deal with it later. For now, she had more important things to attend to. Reid Caufield didn't have time for a teenage girl. He was too busy trying to solve a murder. Her horrible daughter's murder. She turned back to the stove and stirred the beans she had simmering. The Reverend would want dinner when he came home.

Breathing hard, Annie bent over, bracing her hands on her thighs. She had run as fast as she could clear across town. She stared at the brick house. There were no cars in the driveway. How long would she have to wait until her dad or Kendall came home? How long did she have until her grandmother came after her? Her breathing settled, she climbed the stairs to the porch. Hopefully it wouldn't be too long until she could go inside. Kendall would believe her. She knew she would. She hoped.

It was pitch dark when Kendall made her way up the porch steps to the house. The end of daylight savings time meant it was fully dark before they closed the store, and she hated that the dark, cold November evening had her spooked. Their house was secure, but something had the hairs on the back of her neck standing at attention. She jumped when she caught movement in the rocking chair.

"Kendall?" came the quiet voice from the shadows, as the figure unfolded from the chair and came toward her.

She sighed in relief. It was Annie. She wrapped the girl's shivering form in a hug. "How long have you been out here?"

She hugged Kendall tightly. "I don't know. I ran away. She said I couldn't live with you, she said she wouldn't let me. I... I yelled at her and ran away."

"It's okay, sweetheart. We'll all be okay."

"When's my dad coming home?"

"Soon. He'll know what to do."

"I can't go back there. I'll..." She shifted her feet as she thought about what she'd do. "I'll run away again if you make me go back there."

"What did she do to you?" Kendall asked, alarm in her voice. "Did she hurt you?" She flipped on the light in the kitchen. The angry, red hand print on Annie's cheek spoke volumes. "She hit you?"

Annie gave a very small nod as she sank down onto the couch. "I cursed at her."

"That doesn't give her the right to slap you across the face."

"I said the F word," Annie whispered. "I've never said it before."

"I don't care. You're staying with us." She knew she was right about Beverly Shaw, and hated that fact. Annie wasn't controllable any longer, and she'd already been hit. They had to get custody. Idly she wondered if the Reverend had any idea what kind of woman his wife was, or if he lived in a pious little bubble. Surely if Beverly would resort to slapping her granddaughter, she had done the same to Amy. 

Changing gears, Kendall smiled at her fiance's daughter. "So, what should we make for dinner?"

"Pizza," Annie answered decisively. 

"Pizza it is. Come in the kitchen and help me."

~*~

Reid contemplated punching the wall. This case was going nowhere and it was pissing him off. Nothing was adding up, there was no clear motive, no real evidence, and all he had was Jason's gut feeling. He was starting to believe Jason was onto something, especially with Kendall's affirmations last night. He threw his pen down and rose from his chair, rolling his shoulders as he did. What did he know? He knew Amy was killed by a heroin overdose. He knew that overdose could be accidental or purposeful. He knew it appeared Amy had not shot up for at least a month before her death. He knew she was bound by wrist and ankle within twenty-four hours of her death. He knew she died in Sheridan, but was dumped in Aylesford. Dammit! He knew all that, yet he knew nothing. He didn't know whether or not the overdose was accidental, he didn't know if the binding was for fun or murder, and he had no evidence connecting anyone to dumping her body. It was enough to make a man question his chosen profession.

He paced the small space between his and Jason's desks, turning everything over and over again in his mind. He had to be missing something, he had to be overlooking a piece of the puzzle that made it all fit. Annie. He didn't know if she would be able to help, but he'd heard over and over again how she needed to be questioned. Her grandparents said she hadn't had much contact with her mother, but there was a chance she held information that could prove helpful. Lord knew he needed someone to give him more to work with. He cast a woeful glace at his desk. Piled with reports and handwritten notes, it offered him no help. He had to go home. No, first he had to talk to his daughter.

He arrived at the Shaw's seven minutes after he left the station. The Reverend and Beverly had just sat down to dinner, but Annie was nowhere in sight. Cautiously, Reid stepped into the house. "Where's Annie?"

"She's staying at a friend's house tonight," Beverly answered.

Sensing something was off, Reid played along. "Which friend?"

"Amanda Reynolds. They have a project due in a few days, and they wanted to finish it."

He nodded. It was plausible enough, but he didn't buy it. Excusing himself, he asked for directions to the Reynolds' house. He watched his former mother hesitate before answering him, giving him an address on Lichen Lane. Accepting that answer, he left, more questions buzzing around his head. Lichen Lane was across town, and if he wanted to drop by the Reynolds residence, he needed to let Kendall know how late he'd be. On the third ring, her phone picked up, but he was surprised by the voice on the other end.

"Annie?" 

"Hi Dad," she greeted. "I'm gonna stay with you and Kendall for a while."

Forever. She would stay forever. "What happened?"

There was a long pause before Annie offered, "Um.... I'll tell you later."

He flipped a U-turn in the middle of Ash Street. "I'll be home in ten minutes."

"Thanks, Dad."

He was seething on the way home. Beverly Shaw either didn't know where Annie was, or Annie had lied to her grandmother, or... he didn't want to think about the or right now. He knew that wasn't the most cop-like, but dammit, he was sure it was an or he didn't want to face until he had to. In ten minutes.

~*~



Speeding Ch. 11



Reid walked through the front door nine minutes after disconnecting the call. Vaguely registering the great time he'd made driving all over town, he took one look at Annie's face and nearly lost it. 

"Who?" he demanded, eyes hot with fury. 

Shaken by the anger on her father's face, Annie half-hid herself behind Kendall before answering. "I said the F word," she explained. "She's never hit me before."

"I don't care." He moved toward the most important women in his life, desperately trying to keep his voice in check. "Annie, sweetheart, I don't care what you said, that doesn't give her the right to slap you." He grabbed his daughter's hand, closing it inside his own. "You are mine—ours, as was pointed out to me just yesterday—and you're not going back."

"I... We were arguing about you." Blonde curls flying, Annie elaborated, "I told her I wanted to live with you. I yelled at her, saying you were my father, and I could live here if I wanted and then she slapped me." She twisted a curl in her fingers. "I know I shouldn't have said the F word, but she made me so mad!"

Kendall spoke, sensing Reid needed a moment to compose himself. "Honey, there's no good excuse for her to hit you." 

"Is that really the first time?" Reid asked.

Annie nodded. "Yes."

"Did she ever hit your Mom?" Kendall asked.

"My Mom?" Annie scowled. "I don't know." She shrugged. "Maybe. We didn't really talk much."

"I'm so sorry, sweetheart."

"After a while, I didn't even listen when she did talk—all she did was lie."

Setting aside the seething anger directed at his former mother, Reid saw an opening. "When did you last talk to your mom?"

Her slight shoulders lifted in another shrug before she answered. "Right before school started."

"What'd she say?"

"The same old stuff. She loved me and would come home and take me back." She shook her head. "She always told me that kind of crap. I stopped believing her before I stopped believing in Santa." Fat tears rolled down her narrow face. "She was never coming back. She didn't care."

Kendall pulled the girl close. "She promised a lot of things that weren't true, but she was telling the truth about Reid."

That brought a small smile. "A cop for a dad and a junkie for a mom."

Thankful she didn't name her mother a hooker, Reid pressed on. "She told you she was coming home back in September?"

"I guess, yeah."

"And your grandparents were okay with that?" Kendall asked.

"I dunno. She never told the truth. Why would they think she meant it? She never meant it. She never meant anything. How could she mean she loved us if she was in Sheridan getting high? How could she mean she loved me if she didn't tell you about me? I'm glad she's dead." Sobbing at the end of her tirade, Annie pressed her face into Kendall's side. "I'm sorry."

Kendall smoothed her hand over Annie's curls. "It's okay. We're here, and we love you."

"You do?"

"You bet we do. You're ours, little girl. Forever," Reid reassured his daughter. As much as he wanted to push for more information about Amy, he new Annie was shaky at best. Tomorrow they would see Marjorie Statham about custody. He hadn't planned on taking Annie with them, but she wasn't leaving his sight until he had things straightened out with the Shaws. There was no way she was going back to that house after being slapped in the face.

~*~

"Shouldn't I go to school?" Annie asked Reid the following morning.

"While I think school is important, you're not going today," Reid answered without turning away from the coffee pot.

"But—wait, why am I arguing about going to school?" Annie cut off her own protests. Instead, she sat down at the table, cereal bowl in hand. "What are we doing today?"

"Keeping you," Kendall answered as she turned the corner from the hallway into the kitchen. "We're going to see a lawyer, then we're going to your grandparent's house."

At Annie's gasp, Reid chuckled. "My parents, sweetheart."

"Do you think they'll like me?"

"Of course they will!" Kendall assured.

"No school and more grandparents. I'm not sure if I should be happy or not."

"You'll love them. Now, eat your breakfast—we have to leave in ten minutes," Reid directed. He almost laughed at the cozy domestic picture they made, but thought better of it. He would laugh when it was permanent. Until then, he would guard his family as fiercely as he could.

~*~

"You're Annie's father, but just found out a few weeks ago?" Marjorie asked reading from her notes.

Kendall nodded, and Reid answered, "Yes. When her mother and I divorced, I believed Annie was the product of an affair." He paused. "We even had DNA testing once she was born proving I wasn't her father."

The attorney's eyes widened. "What changed? How was it determined that test twelve years ago was incorrect?"

"My mother lied about everything. Everything," Annie interjected. "She told me he was my father, and although I shouldn't have, I believed her." She twisted a curl between her fingers as she told her story. "When he came to tell my grandfather my mother was dead, I went to find him."

Kendall laid a hand on Annie's knee. "You were right."

"I wish I'd known all that time. I wish—" Reid cut himself off. "It doesn't matter now. What matters is we know now, and we're going to keep you."

"Well, this is complicated," Marjorie started.

"Not that complicated," Reid said as he scrolled through pictures on his phone. "Yesterday Beverly Shaw slapped my daughter across the face." He slid the phone across the desk, the hand-print on Annie's face evident even on the small screen.

Marjorie's dark eyes widened again, her cocoa skin losing a little bit of color. "Sole custody, then?"

"Yes." Have gave Kendall a look full of promise. "Kendall and I want full custody."

"You realize judges prefer awarding custody to married couples," she began, stopping when Kendall held up her left hand, her diamond flashing in the morning light. "Okay, then. When are you two marrying?"

Kendall answered before Reid could open his mouth. "As soon as possible."

Swallowing, Reid turned to Kendall. "I want to give you the wedding you deserve, baby."

"The wedding isn't nearly as important as the marriage." She squeezed Annie's knee. "And the family we will be."

"When I asked you to marry me, I didn't know—"

She smiled at her fiance and his daughter. "I know you didn't, and it doesn't matter. I love you both."

Marjorie had been quiet during the entire exchange, her hand flying as she scribbled notes on her yellow pad. "Just because judges tend to prefer married couples, you don't have to rush anything. You are in a committed relationship, with a biological parent, and two incomes." She looked up from her notes. "I assume you are both psychologically stable?"

"Whatever testing you need, we'll be there," Reid assured.

"I'll file the paperwork for formal custody. Until then, I will put in for emergency custody hearing and emergency interim custody."

~*~

After a quick stop at the station to check in with Jason, they made their way to Roger and Helen Caufield's cottage in Tyler.

"I'm not ready for this," Annie whispered.

"Sure you are," Kendall promised with a smile. "Your grandparents are wonderful."

She made a face. "It's just weird. I mean, I knew I wanted a Dad. But I didn't think about more grandparents or," she faltered, "or, you."

"C'mon, ladies, let's go inside before Mom comes looking for us," Reid said as he opened Kendall's door. Chuckling he added, "Will I have to pull you out this time, too?"

Kendall laughed at his question. "No, I like your parents. It's Annie who's worried this time."

"They'll love you, kiddo. Mom cooked a feast, so if we don't go in soon, she'll come out and drag us in."

"They'll love you, and then next month we have to go to Atlanta for your uncle's wedding. Tons of family will be running around there." Kendall flashed a grin at Reid. "Maybe we'll be married before then, too, and I'll be your stepmom."

Annie's mouth opened but nothing came out.

"Are you okay with that?" Reid asked.

Finally finding her voice, Annie marveled, "A real family."

"I wish you'd known us from the beginning, but since I can't go back in time, we'll have to take what we can get." He gestured to the house. "Now, get in there before your grandmother sends out a search party."

~*~

"I'm so sorry we didn't know we had a grandbaby out there, Annie. I wish we had known." Helen couldn't help but stare at her granddaughter. She looked so much like Amy had at that age, although she had the Caufield eyes. "You are such a pretty girl."

This was a grandmother who acted like she thought grandmother's should act. "Thank you."

"I hope y'all brought your appetites," Roger said as he walked to the table with a steaming pot, "your Mom made stew."

Helen followed behind her husband with a basket. "And biscuits."

A broad smile broke Reid's face. "My favorite of all time, beef stew and biscuits."

"Your brother and Madelyn might be the chefs in the family, but I can still make a mean stew."

"And pie. She made apple pie, too."

"I wanna live here," Annie exclaimed at the mention of her absolute favorite thing in the world.

Kendall was smiling when she said, "Nope. You're living with us, and that's final."

"Your cooking is okay, too," she replied with a laugh.

"Get used to it," Reid said with a chuckle. "I can do a lot of things, but cooking isn't one of them."

"Pish posh, boy. I taught you how to cook," Helen chided.

"Yeah, well.... It worked better on Ryder than me."

"Good thing you found yourself a pretty girl, then," Roger told him.

"A very good thing, indeed."

The meal went well, Roger and Helen asking Annie about school, and boys, and everything except the elephant in the room. No one was touching the subject of her mother's death, nor the treatment she'd received under the care of the Shaws. Instead, they focused on the good, and the future. 

"This is the best apple pie in the whole world!" Annie exclaimed.

"I think this is the best thing I have ever had in my mouth," Kendall agreed with a wink at Reid. Maybe it wasn't the best thing ever in her mouth, but a close second. "Please explain why we're not here all the time?"

"Now, that's a question for your man, there," Roger answered. "He's always busy," he began, realizing too late what it meant for Reid to be busy. "But, now that you know the secret of Helen's pie, can we count on you and Annie to come over for Sunday dinners, even without the boy?"

"You better believe it," Kendall answered. "We'll be here so often, you'll get sick of us."

"Never gonna happen," Helen promised.

Annie was thrown for a loop by this family of hers. Her grandparents really seemed to like her father and Kendall, and didn't order them around, or yell at them. They treated them like, well, like adults. And they were so... Warm. And friendly, and loving to her, yet they'd known her for a few hours. She liked it.

They had settled into a lively game of Pictionary—girls vs boys—when a loud banging on the door pulled their attention. Banging and yelling. Reid jumped from the couch, his face instantly changing from relaxed to alert.

"Give her back, Caufield!" Beverly Shaw screamed, her face red and blotchy through the sidelight. Reid let her rant and instead of opening the door, he pulled out his phone.

"Jase? Beverly Shaw is screaming and pounding on my parent's door."

"Your parents live in Tyler. What do you want me to do?"

Shit, he'd forgotten he was out of jurisdiction. Why'd his parents have to leave Aylesford? "It's a small town bordering us, surely we have a contact."

Jason contemplated for a second. "Call Chatham Cavendish."

Who? "What kind of name is that?" The screaming was getting louder and he expected Tyler PD to roll up anytime now no matter who he called. "Whatever, give me his number."

The phone was ringing through to Cavendish when Beverly went from screaming to throwing things. He shot a look over his shoulder at his family and found them all huddled together. 

"She wants to take me back," Annie whispered. "I don't want to go back."

"She's not getting you, honey," Kendall promised.

Roger hugged them tighter. "Let the woman go psycho out there. No one will question custody then."

A rock came crashing through the front window, "You can't take her!" following in it's wake.

"Don't make me pull my gun, Beverly," Reid warned. "She's my daughter, and this is my parent's house. You need to leave."

"No. I need to take Annie home. She has to be home when the Reverend gets there." Calmer now, Beverly dropped to the stoop. "I promised I would put everything back as it should be."

Not ready to leave the relative safety of the house, and hoping Tyler PD would show up any minute, he strove to keep her talking. "You don't like having things out of place?" He hadn't noticed an OCD tendency, but he wasn't a psychologist. 

"She belongs at home. You stole her."

"She's a child, not a laptop. I didn't steal her—you hit her and drove her away."

"You stole Amy!" She was back to screaming now, the momentary calm gone. "You took her away, made her change!"

"I didn't make her change, Beverly. If anything I didn't want her to change. You cut her off when we married. She wanted to go to school and you wouldn't let her use her college fund."

"She defied us! She was supposed to go to Julliard, she was supposed to dance on Broadway!" Beverly shouted. "Instead she married the likes of you."

Where the hell was the police? "The likes of me?" he echoed. "I'm not the one who cheated, I'm not the junkie, I'm not the one who hid a child from her father for almost thirteen years."

Another rock came hurtling through the front window, narrowly missing smashing the glass-topped coffee table to bits. "I hated her!"

This was new. Good lord, why wasn't he hearing sirens? Were there only two cops in this town? Time for a different tact. "She loved you despite herself," he replied as calmly as possible. "She wanted nothing more than to make you proud, even after you disowned her. She was lonely, and when I was away she filled her time with meaningless men."

"And drugs!" Beverly added, her voice rising to a possession-quality scream. "She was perfect until you! Annie was perfect until you! Give her back! Let me make her perfect again!"

"She's perfect the way she is. She's staying with me."

"No!" she wailed.

Finally, he heard sirens. It might be the longest response time in history, but he'd never heard a happier sound.

~*~

"Please tell me you booked her," Reid asked Lieutenant Chatham Cavindish after Beverly was ushered away and into a cruiser by two officers.

"We're booking her on destruction of property, but it's a misdemeanor. I don't expect her to stay," the older man replied. "She accused you of kidnapping."

"My own daughter? If you check with the courts, we have been granted emergency custody."

"Already done. I spoke with ACA Cassidy Everett who assured me all the paperwork was in order and Judge King signed off."

"Is your family okay?" Cavindish asked, concern etched into his features. "Jason said you were worried about your daughter."

"How do you know Jason, anyway?" He had never heard of a Chatham Cavindish, and surely his partner would have told him about someone with such a name. He sounded like he should be in a Sherlock Holmes book, not policing the streets of tiny Tyler.

A grimace alighted the older man's face. "He's my brother. I married his older sister, Genevieve almost ten years ago."

Reid tried to failed to cover his shock. "Ten years? He's never once mentioned he has a cop brother, let alone an older sister."

Cavindish shook his head. "We're not close. Never have been, really. Gen is twelve years older than Jason, and only his half-sister. She was out of the house before Jason was six, and they never spend any time together. I'm surprised he told you to call me."

"Desperate times and all that," Reid remarked.

"Glad I could help," Cavindish replied. He rubbed a hand over the back of his neck. "Tell him to call, or better yet, visit. Gen misses him."

"Why doesn't she call him?"

"Ignore is an easy button to hit when your estranged sister calls." Switching gears, he spoke of the problem at hand, "This incident was relayed to Ms. Everett. I don't anticipate there being a problem with your custody hearing now."

"I agree. I think I might have the missing pieces to my murder case as well."

"Murder? In Aylesford?"

He nodded. "My ex, Beverly's daughter, Annie's mother."

"You're thinking the batshit crazy Ms. Shaw did it." It wasn't a question.

"The more I hear, the more I agree with Jason. He had a hunch a while ago, knew we needed to focus on Beverly."

"That's Jason for you. Going with his gut."

"He was right."

"We'll see."

~*~ 



Speeding Ch. 12



"I'm sorry I haven't been home, sweetheart," Reid apologized to his daughter. Between the ongoing murder investigation and the recent kidnapping, he was logging more hours than he wanted, but in a department of eight, there was little he could do.

"'S'okay, Dad. Me and Kendall have been keeping busy," she told him, a giggle in her voice.

Why was she laughing? "Should I be worried?"

"Um... No." She laughed in earnest then, her soft girly chuckle making him want to see her face light up. "Just remember—it was all Kendall's idea."

He wondered what his beautiful fiancee had done to their house and shuddered. "Please tell me nothing is pink."

"Promise."

Jason and Chris strode toward him then, both their faces grim. "Gotta go, sweetheart. I love you."

He swore he could hear her smile against the phone. "Love you, too."

He couldn't believe how much he loved that little girl, no matter that he hadn't known about her a few short months ago. The smile on his lips faded when Chris and Jason reached his desk. "Bad news?"

"They're going Ayles County vs McClaren. We're just asked to provide testimony and hand our evidence to the prosecutor's office." Jason's words were clipped, his anger evident. "We did everything for this case. We were the ones on-scene, it was our collar."

Reid knew with the jurisdictional issues, a county prosecution was the only way to go. "They're not discontinuing our involvement. If anything, going county puts us and Tyler on equal footing."

"Theoretically," Chris spat.

Skipping over the shitstorm brewing in Jason's eyes and the tense muscle in Chris's jaw, Reid asked, "Easton trying her?"

"Everett can't."

Right. He felt like slapping his hand against his forehead. Of course Cassidy Everett couldn't prosecute this case. Eying the board behind Chris, Reid moved on, "If you're done with the pity party, let's get back to the murder investigation."

"Yes, let's," Jason practically growled. 

Reid didn't know what was up with his usual partner, but he didn't like it. "What the fuck is up your ass?"

Jason didn't answer, ignoring Reid's question altogether. "Beverly Shaw did it."

Reid narrowed his eyes. If Jason didn't want to tell him what was wrong, so be it. He had more important things to do. "Prove it."

"I will," Jason promised before walking away.

He might not have time to figure out what was eating Jason, but he sure as shit didn't have time to deal with him acting like an ass. Turning to Chris, he asked, "What the fuck was that?"

"Damned if I know," Chris answered with a shrug. "He was foul earlier today too. Just let him go."

Reid needed Jason to solve this murder, he didn't need him to run off and sulk about the McClaren case any more than he needed to ignore the Shaw case. The Commonwealth's Attorney had spoken, and they had to accept that.

~*~

"It's perfect!" Annie exclaimed.

Kendall appraised their handiwork and dusted her hands across her jean clad thighs. "What do you think your Dad will say?"

Deepening her voice to mimic Reid, she grumbled, "At least it's not pink," barely managing to get the words out before dissolving into a fit of giggles.

Kendall couldn't help but laugh along with with her. Reid's guest room had been turned into a purple haven for Annie, the walls a pretty grape color, the fabrics black and white floral, and the new bright white desk housed a sleek laptop. She felt it was the least they could do, and since Reid refused to take money from Kendall for the bills, she had plenty to make Annie's room truly hers. "He'll love that you have a room that's a reflection of you," she finally said.

"I hope so. We used three coats of paint. This place will be purple forever!"

Kendall couldn't help but grin. After all Annie had been through, she didn't expect her to smile and giggle so easily. "He loves us. He wouldn't care if we painted the whole house pink."

Annie shook her head, the curly tail of her braided hair hitting her in the chin. "He'd hate pink."

"Maybe, but if it made us happy, he'd live with it. That's just the way he is."

Annie's eyes widened with recognition. "I've never known anyone like that."

"Me either, sweetie." Kendall crossed to hug the girl close. "Me either."

~*~

Jason slammed his fist on his desk. Beverly Shaw had killed her daughter, proof or not. Given her explosion at the Caufield's house a few days before, and what Reid had reported she'd said, he was sure the key was the Reverend. Beverly was hellbent on putting things back in order, upset that things and people were out of place. He wondered what kind of punishment the good reverend dished out when things weren't correct in his house. If Amy had planned on coming back to Aylesford, if she was trying to straighten herself out and reclaim Annie, then Beverly's world was about to become disordered. Determined to keep things as they were, she killed Amy, and for some reason disposed of the body in Aylesford instead of using the anonymity of Sheridan to her advantage. Sentiment, perhaps? He knew he was right, but how to prove it? He looked at the notes he'd scribbled on his pad. Was the Reverend involved? Did he know what happened between his wife and his estranged daughter?

Chris and Reid may have accepted the loss of the McClaren case, and he knew he had to as well, but taking a backseat to Tyler, to the asshole Brandon Davis made him sick. Beverly might not be a seasoned criminal, but she hadn't left much of a trail to follow, and what they did have was circumstantial and shaky at best. The only way to make something stick would be to make the woman confess—not an easy feat.

He found himself staring into Adrienne's office, his feet having taken him there without his conscious knowledge. She was autopsying Gerald Potter and oblivious to his presence in the hallway, so he watched her work. He grimaced at himself. Only he would think a woman cutting apart a dead old man would be interesting. 

"I know you're there, Monroe," Adrienne said while making note of organ weight. "Since I know you're not here for this guy, I have to assume it's about Miss Shaw."

"How did you?" he asked, sure she hadn't seen him.

"Mirror," she answered. "Now, why are you here?"

Caught, he answered truthfully, "I'm not really sure."

"You just had to see me?" she asked as she finished the routine procedure. Gerald Potter was seventy four and although she was fairly certain he had died of a natural heart attack, she had to check—there was a considerable amount of money left to his children and grandchildren, and it was her job to insure he wasn't helped along to the great hereafter by one of his beneficiaries. Jason showing up threw her off her game; she was used to working alone and was not ready for a gorgeous, brooding man to appear. Focusing instead on the real reason he'd come to her and not the reasons she hoped he had, she asked, "Caufield know you're here?"

"He wouldn't care anyway."

She was sure he was wrong about that. Reid Caufield was fully engaged in the case, and if Jason had something for her, she knew he would be involved. "Yes he would, and you know it. So, really, why are you here?"

He strode across the room, ending up a few inches from her on the other side of the old, dead man. "Look, I don't know why I came here, but now I'm leaving."

Maybe she wasn't crazy. Or, he would hate her for what she was about to do. Grabbing his jacket, she pulled him to her. "You came for this," she whispered before capturing his lips with her own.

Maybe this was why he'd ended up with and not anywhere else. He leaned forward to take the kiss deeper, and smashed thigh into Mr. Potter's head. Reluctantly breaking the kiss, he asked, "Maybe we could take this somewhere more private?"

Eyes glassy with lust, she just stared for a second, finally blinking twice and making a startled sound. She'd gone all-in kissing him, and he hadn't just kissed her back, he had devoured her. Still, she had to be sure. "You mean?"

What the hell else could she have meant when she'd kissed him like that? "I do."

His pale blue eyes had gone hot, and all she could do was turn around and bite back the squeal that wanted to break free. Smiling, she turned to face him. "Help me finish up here and I'll go with you anywhere."

"Anywhere, huh?"

She shook her head. True as that might be, admitting it wasn't the smartest thing she'd said today. "Just help me."

"I'm yours to direct," he offered. "Do with me what you will."

~*~

"Just sit there and think about what you've done." He stood four feet from his wife, her soft sobs the only acknowledgment she'd heard him. "You told me you could fix this, you promised you would put everything in its place."

"I didn't mean to lose her."

He crossed to her, stopped a foot from her seat on a hard kitchen chair. "You didn't mean to do a lot of things, Beverly." He stared down at her, his eyes hard and his lips pursed. "How can we teach others if we cannot keep our own house in order? How can we be closer to God if our life is in disarray?"

She flinched. She knew chaos and disorder were of the devil while order and perfection were of God. Amy had not accepted that, and now Annie had turned her back on order as well. Reid Caufield had turned them both against her, against the Reverend, against God. "We need to kill him," she stated. "He is the reason Amy went down the wrong path, he is the reason Annie is no longer where she belongs."

He stared down at his wife for a long moment. She had promised to submit and obey nearly forty years ago, and had always done just that, her latest outburst resulting in fines from the Tyler police notwithstanding. "How do you suggest we do that?"

She swallowed as she thought. "He's a policeman. Surely that's a dangerous job."

"Indeed."

~*~

"Baby, I'm home," Reid announced as he walked through the front door. Nothing looked different just yet, the living room and kitchen spotlessly clean, but decorated as they had been. The sound of giggling pulled him down the hallway.

"Dad!" Annie exclaimed as she took a flying leap into his arms.

He caught her easily and dropped a kiss on top of her curly blonde head. "Hey kiddo. So, what was it I shouldn't be worried about but was all Kendall's idea?"

She giggled again and dragged him into what used to be the guest room. Now it was purple, with black and white curtains and bedding, new glossy white furniture and a laptop. "You love it?" he asked his daughter.

"Love it? It's perfect!" She sat on the bed, bouncing slightly and knocking a stuffed panda over. "Kendall let me pick everything, and she didn't care if it wasn't what she thought was right, or if things didn't match. She said I could make my room however I wanted as long as I promised not to let it become a pigsty."

He took in the huge grin across his daughter's face and the matching smile on Kendall's. They had enjoyed the weekend decorating this room, and while he hated that he hadn't been able to help, he loved that the two of them were becoming a unit. "Kendall won't abide anyone letting the house become a pigsty. You should've seen it when it was just me here."

Kendall pinched her nose. "He was a bachelor. They are not known for being clean."

"Pizza all the time?" Annie asked.

"Not all the time," Reid answered with a chuckle. "Sometimes I had drive-thru."

"And then you met me," Kendall put in.

He wrapped his fiancee in his arms. "I wouldn't change a thing."

"No?" Annie asked. She knew Kendall and her Dad wanted her, they told her all the time, but she still wondered if they really wanted a kid invading their house, taking their time. Her grandparents resented her, saw her as a problem and not a child. "Not a thing," he promised, and Annie let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.

"We went clothes shopping, too," Kendall said. "We found the perfect dresses for Reece and Cass's wedding, and some other stuff, too."

"We leave for the wedding on Friday after school," Reid said with a smile. We'll fly in, drive down and stay at Cass's house."

"I was wondering what the plan was—I'm kind of surprised you had time to set that up working both cases."

Reid dropped a kiss on Kendall's head. "I know, and I'm sorry I haven't been home." He winced. "Madelyn set everything up."

"So, everyone is staying there, huh?" Kendall asked, her voice a little squeaky.

He squeezed her, pulling Annie into his embrace as well. "They are, and it will be great. We'll only be there for the weekend."

"It's not that I don't want to be with your family," Kendall started, stopping with a sigh.

He kissed her quickly. "I know, and Mad really isn't as bad as you think. Besides, we'll be married soon."

"So, I'll have to get used to her?"

Annie laughed. "Sounds like." She paused, biting her lip as she thought. "She's married to uncle Ryder, right?"

Reid nodded. "Your aunt Madelyn and uncle Ryder will be there, along with your grandparents. It's a small wedding, so you won't have to worry about meeting all your cousins at once, though."

Annie's shoulders relaxed. "I still don't know what to say." She played with her ponytail. "I mean, 'Hi, you don't know me, but I'm Reid's daughter he never knew about,' isn't a great opening."

Kendall pulled from Reid's arm to wrap Annie in her own. "All the important people know the story, and the ones that don't aren't important."

"Still. It's weird."

"If anyone gives you a hard time, come get me," Reid asked her. He didn't anticipate there being a problem—his family knew, and were supportive. Anyone else didn't matter.

"We love you, sweetheart, and so do the rest of the Caufields. That's all that matters," Kendall assured.

Somehow, Annie didn't think it would be that easy, but kept it to herself. Her Dad had enough on his mind without worrying about how his brother's friends would react to her. So, she just said the most important thing she could. "I love you, too." 

~*~

Adrienne couldn't believe Jason was following her home. He had helped her with the remainder of the autopsy, worked beside her to clean up and put away her tools, and now he was coming to her apartment. She'd been lusting after him ever since her first day on the job, and despite that had built a friendship with him. To know he wanted her too was incredible. She wished she'd worn something sexy beneath her gray slacks and white blouse, but she wasn't a fancy woman. Come to think of it, she wasn't really a sexy woman, either. Sure, she was pretty enough when she put effort into it, but usually she was dressed for work and dealing with dead people. 

Jason Monroe, however, was sex personified. With his dark hair and ice blue eyes, he was movie star gorgeous, and she knew he was a boxer and a regular at the gym. Her hands itched to touch what she knew would be sculpted muscles, her mouth watered to taste what she was sure would be an impressive cock. She shook her head at herself. Jason was coming home with her, but he'd only kissed her once. Maybe he was just being polite, maybe he didn't want to sleep with her. She made the decision to let him take the lead, and hoped she wanted to go down whatever path he sent her.

Jason followed Adrienne's silver Pathfinder to her apartment complex, the things he wanted to do to her, needed to do with her flooding his mind. She was the smartest woman he knew, but she'd been completely unaware of his near obsession with her. She was the woman he thought of when he jacked off in the morning, sometimes making him thankful for the frigid temperature of the morgue when he had to go see her during the day. She was tall and curvy, and he wanted his hands on all those luscious curves.

Adrienne parked in her assigned spot, Jason pulling in to the visitor's parking to her right. The moment of truth. She turned to walk over to him and found herself pressed against her car door, his mouth fused to hers in a mind-bending kiss. One of his hands was on her ass, the other finding its way beneath her blouse to tease her right nipple. They had to stop. She broke from the kiss to say, "We need to get inside or we'll pull a Reid and Kendall."

He pulled away slightly to look at her. They were outside and he'd shoved her against a truck door. He was acting like Reid, and although that had had gotten his friend his perfect woman, it had also resulted in her stalker. "Race you to the door," he said and quickly walked away. Running was out of the question in his current state.

Adrienne watched him speed walk toward the door, his hands covering the significant bulge covered by his button fly jeans. She couldn't wait to reveal the thick shaft behind that fly, couldn't wait to feel it in her mouth, her hands, her pussy. She pushed off the door and followed him.

She unlocked the door and ran inside to the bathroom at top speed. She might know beyond a shadow Jason wanted her, but she still didn't want him to see her serviceable beige bra and white cotton panties. She stripped quickly, tossing her clothes in the hamper, and gave herself a cursory look in the mirror, making note of her flushed cheeks, bright eyes, and swollen lips. Her eye traveled lower, taking in her slightly larger than she'd like breasts and freshly shaven mound. She was ready for him, and didn't want to waste any more time alone in her tiny bathroom.

She had run down the hall as soon as they'd gotten in the door, so he made himself comfortable on her overstuffed couch. He hoped she wasn't having second thoughts. He was having second, third, and fourth thoughts about ravaging her, and prayed he would be allowed to bring his fantasies into reality. After being pulled from the McClaren case and getting nowhere on the Shaw case, he was more than ready to have something he wanted come to pass. Or just come. Hard. Many, many times.

He looked up to see her walk down the hallway fully nude and he wanted to jump up and pin her to the floor, but forced himself stay where he was. She had a plan and he was going to let her follow it through.

She sat on the floor between his spread knees, and laid her head on his left thigh. "Take off your shirt, Jason," she breathed before working the buttons free on his fly. She grinned when she was greeted with a long, thick cock just beneath the denim. "You mean to tell me you've been commando this whole time? If I had known..." she trailed off, choosing instead to engulf his length in her mouth. She loved the feel of him on her tongue, the taste of him in her mouth and couldn't help herself but to swallow as much of him as she could. Her gag reflex kicked in before she could take him all, but that didn't stop her from making her way up and down the wide shaft, running her tongue around the tip like an popsicle and taking him as deep as she could again and again.

He couldn't let her finish him. He wrapped his fingers in her thick caramel hair and pulled her face up despite her sounds of protest. "I need my mouth on you, Adrienne," he rasped.

Although she wanted to pout, she couldn't pass up Jason's mouth on her. She switched places with him and nearly screamed when he buried his face in her folds.

She tasted better than he'd dreamed, and he dove into her, moving his tongue in tight circles, finally suckling her clit into his mouth when he slid two fingers into her, reveling in her mindless scream when she came all over his face.

"Need you, Jason, I need you now," she panted.

"I don't have a—" he started.

"I've seen the reports, I know you're clean. Just put that beautiful cock in me before I die."

He scooped her into his arms and walked them down the narrow hallway to the single bedroom at the end. "The couch is not the place for what I have in mind," he whispered before taking her lips in a long, hungry kiss.

He laid her on the bed, following her down to brace himself on his forearms. "You don't know how many times I've thought about this," he said as he slid into her in one stroke.




Speeding Ch. 12



"Me too," she murmured, reaching up to pull his face to hers. "I have wanted you for so long."

He was finally making love to Adrienne, and he couldn't go slowly. She was tight, and hot, and exactly what he'd been missing. He stroked in and out of her tight channel hard, making his ownership plain. "You are mine now. When you're fucking me, you're not fucking anyone else." 

She came around his cock at his growled words of possession, her moan long and low. "I don't want anyone else. Just you." She tightened her arms and legs around him, pulling him even closer as he drove in and out of her body. He fused their mouths together, his tongue taking on his rhythm as he brought her to another climax when he reached his own.

She lay sprawled across her bed, utterly spent, Jason next to her. She had dreamed of Jason, masturbated to thoughts of making love with him, but nothing had prepared her for him. "Holy shit."

He couldn't help but smile. "Wanna do it again as soon as I catch my breath?"

Was the sky blue? "You have to ask?"

He rolled slightly to kiss her again. "No."

She leaned up on her elbow, taking in his strong profile and long lashes. "Did you mean it?"

"What did I say?"

"While we're sleeping together we're exclusive," she paraphrased.

"Oh hell yes, I meant that. Although, I'd bet I wasn't so eloquent," he agreed with a laugh. "I've wanted you for what seems like forever. This is not a one-and-done."

She moved to straddle him, leaning down to meld their lips once more. "Ready for round two?"

"Always."

~*~