Allison Brennan - The Hunt

“We’re your co-maids of honor,” Liv explained with a wide smile.

“I can’t believe it.”

Rowan shrugged. “I didn’t think Quinn had a romantic streak, but it was all his idea.”

Rowan slowly rose from the chair. “We’d better get changed, Liv.”

Miranda was about to follow them into her bedroom when her cabin door opened and the love of her life stood on the threshold.

She smiled and said, “Isn’t there some sort of rule that you’re not supposed to see the bride before the wedding?”

Quinn crossed the room and pulled her into his arms. “You look beautiful. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you in a dress.”

“Don’t get used to it.”

She kissed him and his hands trailed down her neck to her shoulder, making her shiver with anticipation.

“I love you, Miranda.”

“I know,” she teased, then realized he wasn’t smiling. “What’s wrong?”

“I almost lost you. It’s not something I’m going to forget anytime soon.”

“I’m okay.”

“Are you? Really? Because I’m not.” He ran a hand through his hair, fidgeting.

“I am really okay. For the first time since the attack, I feel free. I faced David Larsen and didn’t panic, didn’t run. I did the best I could with what I had.”

“You sure did. But I’m also thinking about what happened ten years ago.”

“I told you, the past is the past.” Why did he keep bringing it up? What did he hope to accomplish?

“What happened then kept us apart.”

“It’s more my fault than yours.” She truly believed that. “I could have returned. And maybe under different circumstances, I would have.” She paused, trying to figure out how to explain her feelings, ideas that had just started forming over the last two weeks since David Larsen and Delilah Parker died.

“I’ll never understand fate. Why Sharon died. But I do believe there was a reason I didn’t go back to Quantico. At the time, it was easy to blame you and the shrink and my own fears. But looking back on my decision not to return to the Academy, I realize it was the right choice. Maybe I didn’t think it through like that, but in hindsight if I wasn’t here, maybe Ashley and Nick wouldn’t have been found until it was too late.

“I can’t discount my contribution to this investigation, just like I know if you hadn’t returned to help things might have ended a lot differently. So I think everything happened the way it did because it was supposed to. And I’m not going to regret my choices, even if I made them for the wrong reasons.”

Quinn wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her. Long, slow, warm. This was exactly where she was supposed to be.

“And you’re okay about having to postpone the honeymoon?”

“Oh, please.” For some reason, Quinn felt bad that they couldn’t go on their honeymoon until September. He’d taken the last two weeks off to put together the wedding. “We had the honeymoon before the wedding,” she said and laughed.

He grinned. “We sure did.”

“I love you, Quincy Peterson. And now you’re stuck with me, warts and all.”

“What warts?” He smiled and kissed her ear, sucking on her lobe.

“Stop that or we’ll be late for our own wedding.”

“So?” he murmured. “They can’t have a wedding without the bride and groom.”

She laughed. She’d laughed more during the last two weeks than she had in the previous ten years. She looked forward to many years of joy with the man she loved.

The ceremony was peaceful and small, just their closest friends at the Lodge. Quinn’s parents had flown in for the day, joining Miranda’s father, Gray, Nick, a couple of the deputies, and her Search and Rescue team.

“Good afternoon, Mrs. Peterson.”

Quinn smiled as he kissed her lightly.

She arched her eyebrows. “Mrs. Peterson? I thought I’d keep my maiden name.”

“Whatever you want, Ms. Moore.”

She laughed and threw her arms around him. “I think Mrs. Peterson sounds perfect.”

He spun her around and she laughed again. When was the last time she’d felt so free?

Out of the corner of her eye she saw Nick approach. She squeezed Quinn’s shoulder, and he released her.

“Nick, I’m so glad you came. How are you doing?”

He nodded without emotion. Her heart twisted for her friend. His eyesight still hadn’t fully returned and glasses didn’t completely correct his problem. The infection had run its course, leaving him thin and hollow-looking. Though he didn’t talk about it, Miranda knew the decision he made to go down to Richard Parker’s cabin alone haunted him.

She hugged Nick tightly. He’d been a solid friend when she’d needed one. “It’s finally over, Nick. We got him.”

“It was my life for years.” He looked at her pointedly. “Your life, too.” He glanced at Quinn. “I’m glad you’ve been able to get beyond it. Really I am.”

“If you want to talk about anything, call me. You know I’d do anything for you.”

“I know, but you’re moving to Seattle.”

“They have phones in Seattle.”

“True.” He smiled wanly. “I’ll be fine.”

Miranda nodded, though she still worried about Nick. He hadn’t bounced back as quickly as she’d thought he would, and had been talking about not running for reelection. She hoped he would change his mind, especially since he’d decided not to remove Sam Harris from his position as undersherriff.

“Take care of her,” Nick said to Quinn with a look that meant business.

“I will.” Quinn wrapped his left arm around Miranda and squeezed while extending his right to Nick. They shook hands and Nick left.

“I’m worried about him,” Miranda said, pulling her eyes from Nick’s retreating back and looking into Quinn’s chocolate-brown depths.

“I know. He’ll be okay. He just needs to do a little soul-searching.” Quinn kissed his wife. “You know I love you.”

She smiled and nodded. “I love you too.”

“Do you think we can sneak back to your place?” He whispered in her ear. Shivers ran through her body as he lightly kissed her neck.

“Ummm. Don’t tempt me.”

“Why not?” He kissed her ear.

“Your mother is watching.”

“So?”

“Quinn!”

He laughed and hugged her. “One hour, max. Then I’m taking you to bed.”

“I don’t know if I can wait an hour.” There was nothing more she wanted to do than take Quinn to bed. Now.

He smiled. “I think we can sneak off in ten minutes.”

“I’m holding you to that.”

And she did.

Football coach Ara Parseghian said: “A good coach will make his players see what they can be rather than what they are.” I would be remiss if I did not first thank my editor, Charlotte Herscher, who not only showed me the potential of this story but let me find my own path to The End .

Kevin Brennan, associate wildlife biologist for the California Department of Fish and Game, provided me with a wealth of information about and practical experience with peregrine falcons and the responsibilities of wildlife biologists. And he called his birds by their radio frequency, not by a nickname.

Once again, Wally Lind at Crime Scene Writers was instrumental in providing facts about forensic investigations, particularly firearms and how biological evidence becomes corrupted. If I got anything wrong, it is certainly not because of him.

In addition to being understanding about my bizarre working hours, my husband, Dan, also explained (multiple times) just how a car engine works and how to clog the fuel filter. If I misunderstood the process, it’s due to my own mental block regarding anything mechanical.