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  It’s during this time, when my mind drifts to Rowe. I have to do whatever I can to disassociate myself with him. He deserves better. A woman who has no past as a thief. Who has a steady, honest job and a promising future. For the first time in my life, things I wish I had.

  Once I’m home, I’ll pack my shit for an extended time away. I decide to travel far. As far as I can get. I’m going to finally use the money that was left for me and not blow it. I’m going to start over somewhere else. Where people don’t know me and I can’t be tracked. I have a new cell phone at home, in a box, with a new identification. One I’ve never used. The only people I need to check in with are those who help keep up my houses. That’s as easy as a phone call and giving them my new number.

  Being with Rowe has taught me that I need to grow up and stop acting like the same teenager I was when I started to steal. I need to start the life my parents would have wanted me to have. Every minute of being with Rowe made me want to be a better person. No matter how much I change or how much I do, nothing will ever make me good enough for him. That’s why I’m altering everything. I don’t want him to search for me. He needs to find a nice woman who deserves his affections. Although, I can’t say the thought of another woman touching him doesn’t make me jealous.

  When I finally reach my home, I don’t bother stopping to sleep. I move as fast as possible to collect everything I’ll need. Several boxes are packed and not neatly. Any suitcase, duffel bag, hell I even use a garbage bag to stuff clothes in. I meant it when I said I don’t want to come back here anytime soon, not even for the holidays. That will be hard, but it’s necessary.

  With my Honda safely tucked in the garage, I back out a maroon Ford Explorer and load it up before hooking it up to a small, enclosed trailer. The Explorer can’t pull too much, but a motorcycle inside a trailer isn’t an issue.

  I make sure to lock the house up tight before I start my journey. When I bought this SUV, I did it all under the other name—the one I’ve never used. The escape plan has been in place for years. The only difference was I didn’t plan on bringing as much stuff as I am now. I thought I’d have to run with the cops close by. Knowing Rowe is probably still asleep gives me enough time to get everything done.

  Now I need to slip onto the highway and live a new life where no one knows me. I’m moving to an area where I’ve never stolen anything from anyone. Hell, I’ve never even been to this state. When I get there, I’ll find a hotel until I can secure a home to rent. If there’s anything I know how to do, it’s live a life as someone else, and hopefully, far under the radar.

  Chapter Twelve

  Rowe

  Two months later

  “Still no leads on the case?” the chief asks, while we sit in his office.

  I shake my head. “Nothing. There have been no more reports of theft in a fifty-mile radius. I keep my eyes open for some new cases popping up elsewhere. She’s disappeared. The case is cold.”

  “And what am I to tell the mayor’s stepson?”

  “The truth?”

  He leans back in his chair and scrubs a hand over his greying beard. “Is there something you’re not telling me?”

  “Well, since you brought it up…” I lean forward and slide a paper across his desk.

  “What’s this?”

  “My resignation.”

  “Your what?” he bellows.

  “I have some stuff to take care of.”

  “What the hell’s that supposed to mean? This is your job.”

  “Correction, it was my job.”

  “For fuck’s sake. What about this case?”

  “Rider’s been briefed.” I bite my tongue, wanting to say more but it’s for the best. Anything that comes out of my mouth during this could look suspicious if I word it wrong.

  “I don’t get it. Why now? You’ve lived here your whole life. You’ve worked for me since you graduated from the academy.”

  “I’ve reached a point in my life where I want to travel. There’s a whole world out there I want to see. I’ve been saving my money so I can finally do it.”

  “Fine, take an extended vacation.”

  “I don’t know when I’m coming back. It could be a year from now or longer.”

  His hard eyes meet mine, trying to read if I’m lying. “You’re serious, aren’t you?”

  “Yes. It’s not a spur of the moment decision. My stuff is already in my truck, and the Harley is strapped down in the bed.”

  “Son of a bitch. I can’t believe you’re leaving.”

  I smile. “It’s a good thing. Time to move on and do something else.” I place my gun, badge, and phone down in front of him. “Everything else is in my desk.” I’m not leaving my new number. No one has it. I bought the phone two weeks ago. I want a fresh start.

  I talk with the chief a while longer. He calls Rider in and everyone gets on the same page with the case. I shake their hands and walk out of the building without once looking back. Sure, I could have given more of a notice, but doing so meant giving him time to convince me to stay. I needed to remain steadfast in my decision. I’ve come this far, I need to follow it through.

  The smile on my face appears the second my truck leaves the parking lot, and I begin to put my small hometown in my rearview.

  Multiple states are crossed. Hours are spent behind the wheel, and I’ve lost track of how many miles I’ve driven. I visit a country I’ve never been to before. Throughout all of this, I keep glancing at the small piece of paper, which I wedged next to my speedometer. It only says two words—I’m sorry.

  That scrap of paper is what drove me to keep pushing myself over the past two months. Every day was a step closer to my goal of locating Hope. I had a lot of things to take care of. The house needed to be looked after. Someone to mow the lawn, a neighbor to keep watch of anything suspicious. I purged the closet of all my father’s clothes. It was a task I should have done a long time ago. I also boxed up things I no longer needed or used. The more I packed up and donated, the lighter I felt. I couldn’t sell the house, though. Not yet, and especially not with my future being uncertain.

  I’ve never taken a leap of faith like this before. I could find her and she could turn her back on me. She could have a new man in her life. I honestly don’t know what I’ll see when I finally lay my eyes on her again. But if I don’t try, every day I’ll wonder what could have been.

  So here I finally am. Ten miles outside the town I think she lives in. I honestly don’t know. I’ve called in favors from friends who have nothing to do with the police department. Men and women I’ve met in my years working, but ones who do things a little outside the law. Things I turned my back on because they were for the good of everyone. I’m not saying there is corruption in the department I left, but in others, there is. Things aren’t always so black and white. These people have come through, and I can only hope their tips are accurate.

  I’m tired. I’ve only slept when needed and driven with very few breaks. I didn’t lie when I said I wanted to travel. This is me, traveling. I didn’t say I’d stop and take in all the sights. I only said travel. I’ve driven by a lot of places that would be great to visit one day, and maybe I will. Maybe Hope will be by my side when I do. So much is up in the air, but one thing is certain—I’m in love with her.

  It wasn’t something that took me a while to realize. I had strong feelings for her before she fled, but when I saw that little piece of paper on my kitchen counter, I realized I loved her. I never thought I’d fall in love—given my phobia of commitment. But here I am. Driving across the damn country, crossing borders, all in search of the woman who holds my heart and doesn’t even realize it.

  I stop at a gas station on the outskirts of town. I figure it’s best to fill the tank now than have to deal with it later. Who knows what’s going to happen, and the last thing I want to worry about is gas in my truck.

  Pulling up behind a maroon Ford Explorer, I withdraw my credit card from my wallet. After popping the lid on
the gas tank, I step out and round the hood. Years of working on the police force has taught me always to be aware of my surroundings. It’s ingrained in me and something I do without much thought. I notice the woman on the other side of the pump has two kids in her car who are fighting with one another. The Explorer in front of me has no one inside it, but the nozzle is sitting in the tank, which tells me they are inside purchasing something.

  I don’t hear anyone approach, but the sound of the handle on the pump clicking alerts me that they’ve started putting gas into their SUV. When I turn, air leaves my lungs. It’s like I’ve been punched straight in the chest. It’s Hope. Her hair is cut short, just above her shoulders. The piercing under her eye is gone. She’s wearing a pair of tight, black leggings that show off those legs I know intimately. Her long-sleeved t-shirt hits just below her ass. I can’t believe I found her. I didn’t think it was going to be this easy. And yet, I can’t move. There’s so much at stake. She could tell me I need to leave and that it was a mistake coming here. She could have moved on and found someone else. Fuck, every awful scenario is running rapid-fire through my head.

  Then she lifts her eyes, those gorgeous eyes which haunt my dreams. She gasps and releases the handle she’s holding to put gas in her SUV. The shock at seeing me turns to something else. Her bottom lip begins to tremble, and a single tear cascades down her cheek.

  I stop what I’m doing and am a breath away from her in three long strides. It’s when I’m this close I notice her body trembling, as a quiet sob drifts past her lips. She begins to speak, but I lean in and press my lips to hers. I don’t care if she has a boyfriend. At this moment, she’s mine, and I’m going to show her how much I’ve missed her.

  It’s been too long. An eternity since I’ve felt the heat of her body against mine. Since my tongue has tasted hers. My arms wrap around her on instinct and roam over her back. I need to touch her; need to know that she’s here in front of me. To my relief, she returns the kiss and fists my shirt in her hands to hold me close.

  She pulls back and starts peppering my face with tiny kisses. “You’re really here,” she softly says in between kisses.

  I gently take her wrists in my hands and weave our fingers together. “I am.”

  Her eyes narrow ever so slightly. “Did you come to arrest me?” God, I love this woman. Even in her stunned state, she thinks I’m here for some other reason than wanting to be with her.

  “I left my cuffs at home. I never want to see them on you.” And I mean it.

  “Then why?”

  I’m about to tell her when a horn blares behind us. I turn around and see a guy all pissed off that we’re taking up two pumps. “Can we go somewhere to talk?” I ask. She chews her bottom lip. “I’m not here to arrest you, Hope, I promise. Nor am I a cop any longer. This visit is strictly personal.”

  Trepidation laces her tone, but she says, “Okay.”

  We both finish putting gas in our vehicles, and I follow her for about ten minutes. We leave the main road and go up a steep, rocky drive. When the driveway levels off at the top, a small log cabin appears with a grey roof that drops down over a long porch. I shut off my truck and step outside. The crisp mountain air infiltrates my lungs, and for the first time in months, I can finally breathe.

  “It’s not much, but it’s home,” she says with a small smile. “At least for now.” For now. Does that mean she has plans to run again?

  She unlocks the door and we step inside. I notice large, exposed wood beams, a very tidy living room and that’s it. Why? Because my eyes are back on Hope. Everything else falls away.

  “Do you live alone?”

  “Yes. I haven’t made many friends yet.”

  I step closer. She doesn’t back up, but she stiffens. I don’t ask her why she left. I know damn well why. Instead, I decide to lay everything out on the table. “I know it was you.”

  “You do?” I nod. She lets out a long breath. “I knew you’d figure it out. Once Jason recognized me, I had to leave.”

  “Why here?”

  “I’ve never been to Alaska and it’s the farthest I could get from where I was living. I’m surprised you found me. I changed my name, phone number, even my car. You’ve never seen my Explorer.”

  “Let’s just say I have friends all over the world.”

  “If you know what I did, then why haven’t you called the cops up here to arrest me? I’m a criminal.”

  “Are you still stealing?” She shakes her head. “Are you ever going to do it again?”

  “No,” she answers quickly, which tells me she’s honest.

  “Why not?”

  “Because I want to be a better person. I want a normal life.”

  “And having a fake identity is normal?”

  “It’s not completely fake. Darcy is my middle name.”

  “I meant it when I said what happened in your past stays there.”

  She ignores my statement. “How long are you staying in town?”

  “How long do you want me to?”

  She closes the remaining distance between us. “You’re not a detective anymore?”

  “No.”

  Her hands lift to touch my chest softly; her eyes focus on my shirt. “I’ve missed you,” she admits with a shaky voice. “I didn’t want to take you down with me if I got caught. I couldn’t do that to you, Rowe. You’re too good. My hands are dirty, and by you being here, yours are, too.”

  “My hands are clean, and they won’t be touching anyone but you from now on.” It will take a while to convince her I belong by her side. I have nothing but the best intentions where she’s concerned. Okay, maybe some of my intentions are very sexual, but still, all for the better.

  I hook my finger under her chin to bring her gaze up to mine. “I love you.”

  She inhales sharply. “You…you love me?”

  “Deep down in my soul.”

  Tears pool in her eyes and quickly run down her cheeks. “I love you, too.”

  My knees start to buckle, but I force myself to remain standing. Her words level me and have my heart racing in my chest that this beautiful woman would feel for me as I do for her. My lips press to hers. “I love you so fucking much,” I mutter between kisses.

  She breaks our kiss as she continues to cry. “You didn’t answer my question. How long are you staying?”

  My lips quirk up on one side. “Trying to get rid of me already, darlin’?”

  A small smile tugs at her lips. “Hell, no. Just wanted to know how long I get to have you in my bed.” I love her attitude. Fuck, I’ve missed her.

  “How does forever sound?”

  “Amazing.” Her arms wind around my neck, and my lips are on hers once again.

  Here we are. Two people with very different pasts, who both avoided commitment like the plague. But that is our past, too. Only the future matters now. I’m going to do whatever I have to so the woman I love is always protected.

  Books by Michelle

  The Salvation Series

  My Salvation

  My Redemption

  The Heiress Series

  Persuading Him

  Needing Him

  Adoring Her

  The Ray Point Series

  Floating

  The Iridescent Realm Series

  The Azure Kingdom

  The Pine Forest

  Standalone Books

  Her Forbidden Fantasy

  Daylight Follows

  The Unattainable Chief

  Pleasurable Business

  Where I End

  About the Author

  Michelle Dare is a romance author. Her stories range from sweet to sinful and from new adult to fantasy. There aren’t enough hours in the day for her to write all of the story ideas in her head. When not writing or reading, she’s a wife and mom living in eastern Pennsylvania. One day she hopes to be writing from a beach where she will never have to see snow or be cold again.

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