Page 73 of Fatal Deception

He laughed at that, for so many reasons. He shook his head. “Audra, you are something else. I’m just glad you’re safe, and we got to the bottom of it, no matter how accidentally. I wish I could have done more, sooner, but we’re okay. And… Hopefully Karly can get the help she needs.”

Audra’s mouth turned down. “But…she tried to kill you. She was going to. You don’t have some sort of…revenge feeling about that?”

“Normally I would, but… I don’t know. She just seemed so damn sad. It was impossible not to feel sorry for her.”

Audra swallowed, her eyes swimming again. She got up out of the chair just enough to brush a light kiss across his mouth. “I thought so too.” She offered him a trembling smile.

And he just…said it, because it was there, and it should be said. She should hear it. Know it. Always. He didn’t even use the wordthink.

“I’m in love with you, Audra, and believe me, that wasnotthe plan.”

She kind of plunked back into her seat, shock etched across her face. She opened her mouth, but nothing came out. So he figured he’d just press and press and press while he could.

She was stubborn. He’d have to get through to her.

“Guess I’ll be laid up for a few weeks, but I make a pretty good ranch hand.”

She swallowed. “You do. Cheap too.”

“Audra.”

She sighed, gaze lifting from his cast to his face. Her blue eyes were tired, soft. “I always wanted… I wanted to fall in love. To find someone who felt like a partner. I chased that feeling, and it only ever broke my heart. So I wasn’t looking for you either. I was done chasing. Done…believing.” She took a long, careful inhale. “But you’re worth believing in, Copeland. And I love you.”

For a few moments they just stared at each other, like the moment was nebulous, fragile, breakable.

Then Audra laughed, got up again, and pressed a firmer kiss to his mouth.

He held her there with his good arm before she could sit back down. “You’re going to have a hell of a hard time getting rid of me, I hope you know that.”

She smiled, pretty and bright, just like she was, all the way through. “Good.”