Кей Хупер - Out of the Shadows

Miranda, who knew, said, "Yes, but there's still my term as sheriff, and—"

"I bet Alex would love to be sheriff," Bishop said. "No slight intended — especially after recent events — but chasing down bad guys on a national scale is a much better use of your considerable talents. And I need you."

Miranda drew a breath, but whatever she intended to say was cut off when both she and Bishop suddenly paled, winced, and closed their eyes.

"What?" Alex demanded, alarmed.

"I think," Tony said, watching them with interest, "they're having a vision."

"Nobody told me they hurt," Alex said, looking from one to the other warily.

"Ouch," Bishop said distinctly after several moments.

"I guess they hurt," Tony said.

Miranda opened her eyes and lifted her hands to rub her temples. "I warned you," she said to Bishop. "They come out of nowhere."

Bishop smiled at her. "I don't think this one came out of nowhere, do you? I think fate just answered the question for you, love."

Unwilling to admit defeat, Miranda said, "Not necessarily. My visions aren't always accurate."

"This one will be."

She stared at him.

He crossed the space between them and kissed her, then repeated, "This one will be. You can't escape destiny, Miranda. Not this destiny. I won't let you." Without giving her a chance to answer — at least out loud — he turned and left the room.

"What destiny?" Tony demanded.

Miranda sat down at the table. "Never mind."

He grinned at her. "I can guess."

"Hell," Alex said, "even I can."

"You're both full of it," she told them.

Tony started laughing. "Miranda, I hate to tell you this, but back at the office we started taking bets ages ago concerning the questions of one, would Bishop ever find you, and two, when he found you, would he ultimately persuade you to join our team professionally — and him personally."

She almost smiled. Almost. "And?"

"And the odds always favored Bishop. By a wide margin." He grinned and shrugged. "What can I say? The man knows how to win."

Slowly, Miranda smiled. It was the first time Tony had ever gotten a true look at the warmth and vitality she normally kept hidden beneath professionalism, and for a moment or two he tried to remember what they were talking about.

All of a sudden, he totally understood why Bishop had asked how fast the jet could be warmed up the moment he learned of her whereabouts.

"Oh, hell," Miranda said, and there was sheer delight this time in giving in to destiny's plan for her. "Alex — you want to be sheriff?"