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He shook his head. “I meant with Tony in the wind. I should have known something would happen. I could have?—”

She put her fingers on his lips. “I’m safe, and Tony is in jail. They are keeping him in there.”

Rider nodded as he studied her face. She seemed calm and happy. “I never want to lose you. I know you are your own person, and I love it. I love you.”

“I love you.”

“I want you with me, and I want you to come home with me. I’ll help you pack tomorrow, but I have to head back the day after. I want you to come back with me. We’ll figure out how to get your car and everything else south.”

“Okay.”

“Wait, you aren’t putting up a fight?”

She shook her head and laughed. “I don’t want to stay here if you aren’t here. Most of this stuff, I just need to get rid of. The furniture won’t fit in your place, and I don’t really have much stuff. I think we can get most of it packed up and delivered to the company I arranged to ship it. Like you said, my car can be shipped.”

He pulled her close and held her, knowing if he’d lost her, his life would be over. She made him a better person, and he only hoped he did the same for her.

30

Somehow, they’d finished packing away everything she wanted to keep, arranged for the furniture to be sold or donated, booked her car on a transport south so it would arrive in two weeks, and cleaned her apartment. They were done, and they still had a few hours before their flight took off.

Rider had slowly made love to her, not wanting to hurt her bruised body. She’d thought him so sweet and careful that she fell even more in love with him.

She slept on the flight home, waking just before they landed. Rider squeezed her hand and brushed her hair out of her face.

“Remi is picking us up.”

“Oh good, I need to give her extra hugs.”

“They did so much.”

“It’s funny how your friends have quickly come into my life and become friends. In Portland, there just wasn’t anyone who was like that.”

He nodded. “Yeah, our group is special. Not everyone is as nice as they are.”

“I don’t know how I will ever repay them, but maybe hosting a cookout will help.”

“They’ll like that. Spending time with each other makes life go around.”

“It does. I never expected someone like you in my life.”

“And I never expected you.”

She held his gaze, seeing so much love it made her throat close. Rider really cared for her. The shock of having someone love her hit her afresh, and she couldn’t hold back the kiss, though they were still on the plane. She felt like she would do anything for this man.

When she saw Remi, the tears came again. They clung to each other as Rider gathered the bags.

“Thank you so much,” she squeaked out as emotions spilled out.

“Of course. I’m glad you are safe. I was so glad the police found you.”

A shudder ripped through her. “Yeah. That was a scary night, and I never want to relive it.”

Remi laughed and hugged her closer. “Never.”

After a bunch more hugs when Remi dropped them off at home, she stepped into Rider’s house and let go a huge sigh. “I’m glad to be home.”

“I’m glad you think of this as home.”