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The cell phone rang a second time, and he yanked the wires from the C-4.

Max held his breath.

After the third ring, it stopped. Adrenaline surged through him. They were alive.

He released the breath and pressed his palm against his chest. Thank you, God.

He hopped off Mark’s back on wobbly legs and sagged against the wall.

“You did it!”

“ We did it,” Max said.

A couple of hours later, he joined Jenna at the park, and they drove to the dam. Darkness had fallen and the fireworks display was going ahead as planned. Max spread two beach towels on the grass, and he sat next to Jenna as she wrapped her arms around her knees.

“I’m glad both ordeals are over,” she said.

“Yeah.” They were both quiet a minute, then Max said, “I understand Donelson is under suicide watch.”

“Yeah. He completely lost it.”

“And I missed Harrison Carter’s speech. Did he say anything important?”

“He made the announcement that an auto parts manufacturing company was locating in Pearl Springs.”

“That’ll mean jobs for the area,” he said. “So, Carter has done some good.”

“But at what price? And if he’s elected, how honest is he going to be?”

Max leaned back on his elbow. “He might not get elected. I got a call earlier from the lead FBI investigator who’s looking into TerraQuest. The state appraiser involved in the land purchases for the dam and reservoir is asking for a deal—he’ll name names in exchange for no prison time. Not sure if the DA will meet those terms, but the very offer indicates there’s something there. It might be enough to derail Carter’s campaign.”

“How about Earl Donelson’s and my grandfather’s deaths?” Jenna asked.

“Short of Carter confessing, I don’t think we can build a case—everyone but the former mayor and Eric Darby are dead, and I’m not sure if the DA can build a case on what Darby overheard. I’m sorry.”

“Me too. Even so, you did a good job today, TBI Agent Maxwell Anderson.”

“On disarming the bomb or this?” He nodded toward the beach towels they were sitting side by side on.

“Both.” She turned and grinned at him. “You’re a handy man to have around—always prepared.”

He laughed. “I was a Boy Scout. But you’ll have to thank my niece for the beach towels—she left them in the truck the last time I took her and my nephew water-skiing.”

“You water-ski?” Her eyes widened. “I love water-skiing. And rock climbing. And riding horses ...”

Max held her gaze, his heart beating against his ribs. He’d never felt this way about a woman before. Jenna had totally captured his heart. “I think it’s going to be fun learning about each other ... don’t you?”

He held his breath, waiting for her answer.

She leaned close and kissed him lightly on the lips before she pulled away. “It’s going to be interesting for sure.”

“That was a teasing kiss.”

“There’re too many people around for a real one.”

“There’s no moon and no one even close by.” Max pulled her back into his arms. She slid her arms around his neck as his lips claimed hers, tentatively at first, then his world narrowed to everything but the way she responded.

They broke apart just as a whistle split the air. He looked up at the night sky as an aerial exploded in glowing embers that flickered as they fell back to earth, followed by a rocket exploding in a star pattern.

The fireworks had started.