Page 18 of Rio's Release

“Shelby.”

“When’s your birthday?” I ask suddenly, and he frowns, thrown by the change in topic.

“Why?”

“Just tell me. It’s not like I can’t find out. Your arrest info is probably public knowledge.”

“August 29th.”

“Fine, if you don’t want me to visit all the time, I get that. But I’m visiting you on your birthday.”

He blows out a breath and actually looks relieved. Hedoeswant me to come, no matter how much he claims otherwise.

“Just on my birthday.”

“And Christmas.”

“And Christmas.”

The whistle blows, and all too soon, our time is over.

The inmates stand and hug their loved ones goodbye. My heart pounds. I don’t want our time together to be over. Dalton rises to his feet.

“Gotta go, sweetheart.”

I spring up and hug him tight, burying my head against his chest, holding on like I’ll never let him go.

“Hey,” he whispers against my head. “I’m glad you came.”

I nod, suddenly too choked up to speak.

The whistle blows again, and he pulls back, but tips my chin and presses his lips to mine. It’s our first kiss, and as brief as it is, it leaves a lasting impression on me. I know I’ll never forget it. When he pulls away, there’s heat in his green eyes. Then he presses his forehead to mine.

“Goodbye, Shelby.”

All too soon, he’s walking away from me, his broad shoulders rolling with his easy gait.

I stay standing, and when he gets to the lineup, his gaze sweeps over me one last time before they’re led out.

I drop to the bench seat; my heart pounds and my fingertips raise to my lips. He kissed me. He really kissed me. I can still feel the sensation of his lips on mine.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Year Eight

Rio—

The guard leads me down a hall and into a room I’ve never been in before.

My suck-ass attorney is waiting, sitting at a table. I haven’t seen him since the trial, so this is surprising.

The guard unlocks my cuffs.

“You’ve got twenty minutes,” he says, then steps out of the room, locking us in.

I take the seat opposite.

“Rio,” the man says, like it’s just an ordinary Tuesday.

---