Page 448 of Cold Case, Warm Hearts

“Honestly?” She moved to the beside. “Yeah, it doesn’t look good.”

“Maybe you should kiss it better?”

“Are you on medication?”

“Yes.” His eyes fluttered open, and she saw the effects in his gaze. “A lot of that medical…stuff.”

Addie leaned down so slowly. She touched her forehead to his and closed her eye. “I love you.” She whispered the words on his skin. “You probably won’t remember this tomorrow, but I need you to know.”

“Love you, too.”

She smiled, shifted her face, and touched her lips to one corner of his mouth. Then the other. “I’m going to let you sleep now.”

“Don’t…go.”

Addie touched his cheek with her fingertips. “I’m not going anywhere.”

She’d been determined Benson would only be a short-term assignment. Even if Hank had orchestrated the whole thing, the fact was that Addie belonged here. If Kyle and Stella stayed, or not. If she was assigned to the Seattle office and had to commute, then fine.

Addie was going to do what it took to make a life here. With Jacob.

After fifteen years apart, they had the chance to make up for lost time and get to know each other again. Explore this big town trying to be a small city. Fall in love again, every day. See where things went.

Addie was going to go to church with Russ. Figure out her faith and the place it had in her life now.

Finally take hold of the life she was always supposed to have had.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

Three weeks later

“Are you sure?—”

Jacob cut her off. “If you ask me that one more time…”

“You’re going to what?” Addie glanced over. One brow raised. “Because I just might want to see where that threat leads.”

“No brownies.”

Addie gasped. “How dare you!” The mock ire lasted half a second, then she dissolved into laughter that rang through the predawn valley.

“You’ll scare the deer.”

“Good. They should steer clear of people.”

Neither of them mentioned Hank or his “hunting.” In the last three weeks, and since he’d been released from the hospital, his whole Bible study group had shown up to help Jacob clear up his apartment and set everything back to rights.

Hank had left evidence that pointed to Jacob being the culprit for Austin’s murder, which Hank had committed. Jacobhadn’t enjoyed hearing how the guy shoved Addie and ran from the scene.

Or any of the rest of it.

Let alone telling any of them what happened with Hank in the cabin—seeing Addie’s face.

Russ was alive and home, along with Mona.

Hank was dead.

Jacob had Addie’s hand in his, and they were here.

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