Page 27 of Exposed

Beth looked out the door too and spotted movement in the foliage. Her pulse tripled. It could be the Coast Guard. Or it could be Hart’s staff. The thick leaves made it hard to tell.

“No. I figure you’ll get life for fraud and attempted murder,” Eric said. “You two could end up as cellmates.”

“Oh, I’m not going to prison.” Hart stepped closer to them and cocked the trigger. “Now get down on your knees, both of you. Much cleaner that way.”

“What about the other guests?” Beth asked, stalling. Where was the Coast Guard? “What if they wander over here? What if they hear the shots?”

“They won’t. They’re back on the other side of the island again, doing more cliff climbing.” Hart grinned, all white teeth andmenace. “Handy how that worked out, huh? Of course, it would have been easier if you’d died there when you were supposed to, so we could make it look like an accident. But this will have to do. On your knees, please.”

The fact he was polite about it only made it scarier.

Beth dropped down, the cement floor icy through the terry cloth of her robe. Eric knelt beside her, his warmth a stark contrast to cold. His hand brushed hers and she twined her pinky finger around his, tears stinging the back of her eyes. She’d always imagined herself immortal, able to get out of any scrape, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound like some kind of freaking superhero. She wasn’t feeling so super now.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered to Eric, her gaze lowered. “I’m sorry I dragged you into this and I’m sorry I can’t get you out of it now. Mostly I’m sorry I never got to tell you that I’ve fallen in love with you.”

Eric squeezed her finger tight with his, his gaze trained on Hart. “I love you too, sweetheart. And don’t be sorry. I make my own decisions and I chose to be here, with you. Always. Even after we leave here, if you want me.”

Hart rolled his eyes. “Stop with the BS already. The gig is up. You don’t have to pretend anymore. I know who you both really are and why you came here.”

“It’s not pretend anymore,” she and Eric said in unison.

Joy blossomed within her despite the situation. He loved her and she loved him, and if they got out of this alive, she wasn’t going to let him out of her bed for a good week at least.

“Well, that’s unfortunate then because you’re both going to die. But perhaps you can find each other again in the afterlife. If you believe in all that happily ever after BS,” Hart said, his flat tone stating he clearly didn’t. A week ago, Beth would’ve agreed with him. But now, after spending days in paradise with Eric, she’d become a convert.

Time seemed to slow as Hart raised the gun and prepared to fire. Beth squeezed her eyes shut and held on to Eric for dear life. Suddenly, she was being shoved sideways. Her eyes flew open in time to see Eric charge at Hart and his raised gun. The deafening sound of a bullet filled the building.

“Eric,” she screamed.

He was on top of Hart, wrestling with him, and blood spilled out onto the concrete floor. The air smelled of coppery blood and gunpowder. Was Eric shot? She tried to struggle to her feet, but stopped when a booming voice commanded, “Freeze! U.S. Coast Guard.”

They’d arrived, but was it too late for Eric?Oh, God, please don’t let it be too late.

A Coast Guard officer, the same size and build as Eric, strode over to the fighting men just as Eric jumped to his feet. He was safe. He was okay. Hart was rolling around on the ground, holding his injured right arm, blood pooling on the ground beneath him from his bullet wound. The Coast Guard officer knelt over him, while another officer kicked Hart’s weapon away and secured the area.

Beth couldn’t seem to stop shaking. She’d come so close to losing Eric. Hart had nearly killed them both. He would have if Eric hadn’t saved them. Her brain was telling her that she wasn’ta woman who needed saving. But she had been. She’d needed Eric to be there. He was coming toward now, and she knew she needed him more than she needed her next breath. She flung her arms around him and held him tight. “You’re alive. I was so scared.”

“Me too, sweetheart. Me too.” Eric held her close and kissed the top of her hair. “But we’re good. We’re safe.” He gave a nod and wave to the Coast Guard officer who was hauling Hart off the floor and handing him over to another officer for processing. “Meet my friend Tig whoalmostsaved the day, before I ended up having to do it myself.”

“Sorry it took a bit longer than expected to get here.” Tig joined them and shook hands with Eric before being introduced to Beth. “I called in the FBI to help us round these guys up. Seems your friend Hart here is on everyone’s radar.”

“He’s not my friend,” Eric grunted, pulling Beth closer into his side. “And she’s going to break the story of what he’s been up to here and become famous for it.”

“Is she now?” Tig asked, cocking his head toward Beth.

“Damn right she is,” Beth answered, slipping her arm around Eric’s waist and grinning. “But first, I think a hot bath would be nice.”

“Agreed.” Eric winked at her. “Shall we?”

Rising on tiptoes, she kissed him then took his hand and tugged him toward the door. “We shall.”

18

Aweek later they were back in San Francisco and Beth was at her desk at theFrisco Times.

It was the same space she’d occupied before, but now it felt so different. Maybe it was because she’d nearly been killed. Maybe it was because she’d just returned from a week in the tropics. Maybe it was because she was in love.

For the first time, that word didn’t conjure any pain or regret or guilt.

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