Page 130 of Second Chance Savior

“I’m good,” I said. “How aboutIgo in andyouwait out here? Bet I can carry more than you.”

River laughed. “Okay, sweetheart. You don’t have to make a competition out of it.”

“You sure about that?” I hip-checked him, beating him through the door into the garage.

River and I had sorted out more of the wrinkles from our fugitive days. We’d returned the stolen 4Runner to its original owner with only a few minor scratches, which River had paid to repair. The owner had been upset at first, but I’d smoothed things over further when I invited the man to aswanky, black-tie event in Denver to commend Agent Torres for his exceptional bravery in the line of duty.

The ceremony had been one of the few occasions I’d posed for as many pictures as the media wanted. Aside from that interview with Genevieve, I’d persistently refused most requests for comment on Stillwater or the pending investigation. And I never talked about my personal life. My relationship with River was my business, and I intended to keep it that way.

But as far as I could tell, Agent Torres was extremely happy withhislove life, and didn’t mind anyone knowing it. He’d been all smiles at the commendation ceremony, with a surgeon he’d met at the hospital on his arm. He deserved it.

“All set?” Dad asked.

“Yep,” I said, “we’re geared up.”

We followed Dad down the hill to the creek. The sky was a gorgeous blue, the sun glinting off the frozen surface of the water.

It was a great day. Sitting and laughing with my dad, sipping hot cocoa and my mom’s special Irish coffee. River and I had a bet over who could catch the most fish, and it drove him nuts when I beat him two to one. River shrugged it off like he didn’t care, but it bugged him when he wasn’t instantly amazing at something.

We got to arguing, which of course resulted in me tackling River into the snow like we were kids instead of in our thirties.

I don’t think my dad minded when we wandered off into the woods, hand-in-hand, to catch a few minutes alone.

“Seems like your mom and dad are handling this well,” River said.

“They are. I mean, they did put us in the room with the bunk beds, but they’re getting used to it.”

He laughed. “Your sisters will be another matter.”

“Are you kidding? They’ve always loved you. Megan and Cora will probably be annoyed at me for not figuring myself out sooner.”

He tugged on my hand, pulling me into his embrace. “Well, I can’t disagree with them there.”

The long distance thing wasn’t easy. When we were apart, I missed him every single day. My heart ached that I couldn’t come home to him at night. But we texted and video-called religiously. When I was busy with work, or vice versa, we gave each other the space we needed. And neither of us ever doubted that our love was just as strong.

Someday, we’d be together all the time. We would figure it out. But for now, this worked.

I’d thought I was bad at picking relationships before, but really, I’d been in denial about the one man who had always been perfect for me. It had taken a crisis for me to wise up. To bring him back into my life. But I believed we would’ve found our way together eventually.

Thank goodness River’s stubborn heart had never given up on me completely.

River dug into the pocket of his jacket. “I have something for you.”

“Is this an early Christmas present? I thought we weren’t getting each other anything.”

“Not Christmas. But I hate to break it to you, Charlie. I’ll buy you gifts whenever I feel like it. You can’t stop me.”

“Issue a challenge like that, and I just might accept it.”

“Except this is one contest I’ll always win. Remember? Guy with a trust fund.”

I guffawed. “It’s rude to throw your money around. I’m not that kind of girl.”

“Believe me, I know. That’s why this gift wasn’t expensive. But it made me think of you the minute I saw it.”

He held out a small packet of tissue paper. I unwrapped itcarefully. Inside sat a tiny ring. I lifted it and held it in the sunlight. It was translucent, with tiny flowers trapped inside.

“It’s made of resin. Those are real flowers.”

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