Free Renegade by Rochelle Alers Page A

Virginia and had at one time worked for the CIA.
    Taking her hand, Gabriel led Alexandra back to the love seat, sitting and pulling her down next to him. “Talk to me, Alex.”
    “I met him for the first time at Michael’s wedding. We shared a few dances, and he asked for my number. I gave him my cell phone number because of my chaotic traveling schedule. Whenever I returned to D.C. we would meet for dinner or drinks. I must confess that I felt uncomfortable around him for a long time, then one day it disappeared and I saw him in a whole new light. At first I was impressed with his intelligence,but once I got past that I saw him as a lonely, misunderstood man.”
    “You’re marrying him because you feel sorry for him?”
    “Of course not. I’m marrying Merrick because I love him. I also want to tell you that I’m…”
    “You’re what?” Gabriel asked when she did not complete her statement.
    “I’m pregnant.”
    His shock and surprise fading, Gabriel’s face split into a wide grin. “Hot damn! I’m going to be an uncle.”
    Alexandra threw her arms around his neck. “Thank you for being happy for me.”
    He kissed her forehead. “How can I not be happy for you? When’s the wedding?”
    Pulling back, her eyes sparkling like multifaceted citrines, Alexandra blinked through happy tears. “Soon.”
    “Does Grayslake know he’s going to be a father?”
    “Yes. I told him last night.” She sobered. “We hadn’t planned on a baby, it happened despite our taking precautions.”
    “How far along are you?”
    “Not quite two months. You’re the first one to know—other than Merrick of course.”
    “Why didn’t you tell anyone you were dating him?”
    “I didn’t want to say anything until I was certain he was the
one
. Our relationship changed after he called, asking that I join him in Europe last year. Of course I’d been there many times when I was an art student, but I saw it differently because I realized then that I had fallen in love with Merrick.”
    Gabriel’s smile was tender. His sister was in love. “You’re really happy, aren’t you?”
    She nodded. “So much so that I’m frightened.”
    “Have you guys set a date?”
    “No. But I don’t want to wait too long. Looking like someone who swallowed a melon isn’t too cool for a bride. I know you’re teaching now, but when are you off?”
    “We’re off for Columbus Day, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving, and of course the Winter Recess.”
    Alexandra shook her head. “That’s too far away. It looks as if you’re going to have to fly down for a weekend. You have to sing at my wedding.”
    “Let me know and I’ll be there.” He angled his head. “What about your job with the Trust?”
    “If there’s an opening in the Southern region, then I’ll request a transfer.”
    “And if there isn’t?”
    “Then I’ll sit home knitting booties and piecing quilts until the baby comes.”
    “What do you want? Boy? Girl?”
    “I don’t care as long as it’s healthy.”
    “Will I be able to find you in the West Virginia hills?”
    “We plan to use the house in West Virginia for our vacation getaway. Merrick and I have talked about buying property in a D.C. suburb. The Central Intelligence Agency has been after him for years to come back, so he’s returning as an intelligence research training specialist.”
    “That sounds good. You, Michael and Jolene can raised your kids together.”
    “What’s nice is that our children will get to see one another more than we saw Michael and Emily.”
    “You’re right,” Gabriel agreed. Michael and Emily Kirkland had grown up in Santa Fe, New Mexico, andthey usually saw them at family gatherings once or twice a year. Emily still lived in New Mexico with her husband and three children, but her brother had moved to the D.C. area after having been assigned to the Pentagon as a captain in the U.S. Army. Michael had met his future wife, Jolene in Georgetown. She had given birth to her second