Page 57 of Unforgotten

Yeah. Sorry. I couldn’t say no.

Of course you couldn’t. I’ll be there in 30.

You sure?

Yep. Don’t worry. I’ll be there.

Thanks.

Ryan didn’t bother replying because he didn’t need her thanks. He was simply glad she was reaching out to him. He didn’t want anyone else looking out for her or keeping her safe. As far as he was concerned, he wanted to take on that job.

He knew his heart was in danger, but what could he do?

It was yet another thing in his life that seemed out of his control.

19

It was so late. Candace was exhausted, and she was pretty sure that Ryan felt the same way. After visiting the sweet little girl in the hospital, she’d gone to a retirement home and then two libraries and talked about literacy. Each appearance had been fulfilling and once again surpassed her expectations of what she’d imagined her life would be as Miss Crittenden County.

To her shame, she originally hadn’t thought she’d have to do much but wear her crown for a couple of hours during the fair and enter the Miss Kentucky pageant—which she was sure she wouldn’t have a chance at winning. She’d only thought about the scholarship and maybe using the experience to secure a future internship in social work, but never had she imagined that she’d find so much joy in serving others and meeting the people who came to the events.

So, the afternoon’s and evening’s visits had gone well. It was too bad that everything seemed to go downhill after that. From practically the moment Ryan had pulled out of the library parking lot, they’d encountered one problem after the other. First had been a traffic jam on 91. Then, just when they got through that, a couple had been in trouble at theconvenience store they’d stopped at. They’d had a blowout and didn’t have a spare tire. While Candace had stood to the side, Ryan had helped them find a tow truck service for their vehicle. And when they got back into his Blazer, a storm rushed in, bringing with it a freak smattering of hail.

They reached Marion two hours after they’d planned. When she’d called home for the third time to fill in her parents on the latest, her father had been so grateful, he’d called the diner where they were eating and asked to cover their bill. Ryan had hemmed and hawed, but in the end agreed to accept the free meal, especially after he’d admitted that he wasn’t going to count most of their time together on the clock.

Candace had been surprised but also more than a little giddy about what his words had signified. She was no longer just a job to him. If that was the case, Candace was grateful for that. Her crush on Ryan had moved into something deeper and far more meaningful.

Even better, she knew he felt something for her too. They wouldn’t have so much to talk about, so much of a connection, if her feelings for him were completely one-sided.

“I think we need to do something to commemorate this occasion,” Candace said as they left the diner.

Walking to the passenger side of his Blazer to open her door, he didn’t even try to hide his amusement. “And what occasion is that?”

“This, Officer Mulaney, marks the twelfth place we’ve visited together.”

He looked amused. “You’ve been counting?”

She waited until he walked around to the driver’s side, got in, and buckled his seat belt. “Maybe.”

“Hmm. Well, I guess this moment should be noted. Accompanying you around this whole county has been a lot of work.”

His tone was light enough for her to realize that he was teasing. There was a thread of truth to his words, though. She had taken up a lot of his time, especially since only about half of the appearances went off without a hitch. “What do you think we should do to mark the occasion?” she asked. And yes, she was kind of, sort of flirting.

Maybe more than that.

He pulled out of the parking spot. “I have no idea. Besides, you’re the one who decided that we needed to do something.”

“So it’s my choice.” She smiled.

“Yes, but within reason.” He looked wary.

“Well, we did just go out to eat together.”

“That’s true, but your parents bought the meal.” He frowned. “Which was unnecessary, by the way.”

“Don’t try to pretend you weren’t hungry.”

“I won’t, but I would’ve felt better if I paid.”

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