Free Resurrection River: Men of Mercy, Book 2 by Lindsay Cross Page A

nursery door. "Amy, honey. It's Ranger. Are you okay?” Ranger put his hand on the lever style doorknob.
    "Ranger?" Her voice was weak, faint.
    "Yes. Open the door." He held his breath, waited what seem like an eternity before he heard the soft snick of a lock. She pulled open the door. Amy stood there, a huge shotgun clutched at her chest, pale, shaken. Her eyes wide with fright.
    Ranger tucked his pistol in his pants, and then he gently cupped her face between his palms. “Are you okay?" Tears streaming down her lovely cheeks.
    Ranger forced his chest to unlock and take in a breath. Another breath. She was okay. He was holding her in his arms right now.
    "Chloe?"
    Amy nodded and relief crushed him. He pulled Amy into his arms, unable to think beyond just holding her. She shook in his arms, her entire body dissolving into tremors and sobs. The soft heartbreaking noises stabbing him repeatedly like a knife in the chest.
    "Hush. Hush baby. I'm here. I’m not going to let anything happen to you." Careful as his shaking hand would allow, he removed the shotgun from Amy's grip and leaned it against the wall. Then, unable to hold himself back a minute longer, he yanked her into his arms.
    Her heart raced against his chest, her hands clenched and twisted his shirt. She cried harder. "Oh God. What if, what if something happened to Chloe. It's all I could think about."
    Ranger soothed a hand down her hair and rubbed her back with his other. “Nothing did happen. You protected her."
    He should be the one protecting both of them.
    No, not his family. Not his wife. Not his baby.
    But dammit, he wanted them so bad. He wanted Amy. Chloe. He wanted to protect. To love them both.
    Ranger shuttered and ducked his head, nestling his nose against her neck, savoring the sweet smell special only to Amy.
    If something had happened to her, to Amy or Chloe... He couldn't even finish that thought. Nothing was going to happen to them.
    Because he would protect them. Whether he had the right or not, this aching driving need controlled him. Possessed him. Amy was in his every thought. The only way Ranger would get a future out of this life would be with her.
    He knew he didn't deserve her, and he never would. And he knew he'd always have to deal with the memory of his best friend. But right now he didn't care. He wanted her too much, too deeply. All-consuming desire ripped through him.
    Her sobs quieted to soft hiccups. Gently, he sifted his fingers into her hair and tilted her head back. Her tear-reddened eyes tore at his already raw emotions. Unable to wait, to fight the desire, Ranger lowered his head, pausing just above her lips.
    "Tell me to stop." Ranger didn't even recognize the ragged whisper from his own lips.
    He felt her tremble. A soft low moan tore from her lips a split second before she lifted on her toes and closed the distance between them. Her breath mingled with his.
    Ranger’s resistance evaporated. He groaned into her mouth, deepening the kiss, taking possession, slanting his head taking more. Her soft sounds of pleasure filled his ears like sweet heaven. Never had anything tasted this good, felt this right. This woman. His woman. Her fingers were on his cheeks, soothing down to his shoulders and then gripping his biceps. Ranger plunged deeper into her mouth and she met him head on. Not just taking but giving.
    He cupped her ass and lifted her against him. Her soft breasts smashed against his chest and he nearly came undone. She fit against him so perfectly.
    His conscience whispered somewhere in the far distant back of his mind, not yours.
    Ranger crushed it into dust. Shane was dead. He wasn't coming back.
    Ranger would make her his.
    A soft cry interrupted his thoughts. He lifted his head, panting, out of breath, shaking with need. He tried to get his emotions under control. Amy’s eyes met his and he realized she was just as affected as him.
    Chloe cried out again from the crib and Amy rushed over, scooping her up into her