Page 36 of The Two Last Moments

“So this is it,” he says when Kathy is gone.

“Yeah.”

“I’d hoped we would have more time working on the ’71 Charger together. I could use the help.” He smiles, but I can tell it’s forced. I know him well enough to see the signs.

“Maybe the next time I’m here.” Whenever that is.

“Hope so.” His fake smile slips. Danny’s fingertips touch my cheek, and the contact makes my nerve endings sing like he’s the conductor of my own personal orchestra. I close my eyes and bask in the feeling. It might be the last time. We were just talking about seeing each other again, but when? We live hundreds of miles apart. It’s probably not going to happen.

When I open my eyes, Danny is staring at me intently.

“What?” I whisper.

“This is happening too fast. I don’t think you should do it.”

At first, those words don’t compute. “What? What do you mean?”

“Come back to West Oaks with me.”

I gawk at him. He waits untilnowto drop that bomb? “I… I can’t…”

“There’s too much we don’t know. Let’s put the brakes on. It would give us more time to look into Kathy and the rest of your family. And find Cam.”

More time for him to be my hero, he means. More time for me to get attached.

Danny Bradley goes around saving women’s lives, making them feel safe when they’re scared. Asking them to move in with him like those are normal things to do. Being so sexy and kind andperfect, all the while asking for nothing in return. Except maybe for some help hanging out with his awesome grandma or working on his gorgeous classic car.

That’snot my life. It never was, and it never will be.

The longer I stick around and pretend I belong in Danny’s world, the more it’s going to hurt when I inevitably have to leave.

“I have to go home. And you know it.”

He takes my chin in his hand. His eyes move over my face, lingering. Like he’s trying to memorize me. Like he’s trying to convey all the words he doesn’t know how to voice. Takes a step closer. I feel his exhale on my forehead.

“You gonna forget me?” he asks.

“That’s not possible.” I go onto my tiptoes to kiss him on the cheek. Just to say goodbye. But at the last moment, I change direction.

Without letting myself think about it, I press my lips to his.

Our mouths are closed, and it’s barely even a kiss, yet my heart is pounding. My tongue sneaks out and swipes over his lower lip. I just want one taste of this man I can never have.

Then I pull away from him, and Danny looks stunned. The hand that was holding my chin is still raised in the air. “Lark,” he whispers, his voice rough.

I’m already backing away toward the glass door. “Goodbye, Danny. Thank you for saving my life. And for everything else too. I’ll miss you.”

I spin around and go inside, fighting back tears.

13

Ican’t believe I’m driving away from her. But I can’t believe I asked her to ditch her aunt, either.

Come back to West Oaks with me?When her aunt had driven four-plus hours and was standing just inside, waiting for her?

Fuck, I’m a mess.

I drive one-handed, my fingers twisting my necklace into a tight spiral. The radio’s off, so I switch it on. But the music grates on me, so I switch it off. The leather squeaks as I adjust my weight in the seat, unable to get comfortable.

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