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A month later, Jo stood on the beach during low tide and looked up at a calm night sky.

Next time she might drag Pop’s telescope out here, and she hoped he could join her when he returned from the congressional hearings.

In this low-light place on the wilderness coast, she could see the stars so clearly. Even the Milky Way.

A rarity, really, but they were fast approaching the end of the rainy season, and tonight she wanted to walk the beach and look up at the stars.

Space.

Pop had been involved in space travel in the early years.

She blinked back the sudden tears. He was busy answering questions back in DC, and this whole situation reminded her of Cole, when he left to answer questions.

But the difference was her father was emailing and texting and talking to her daily to let her know how it was going.

He was staying in touch. She’d forgiven him for his disappearing act.

She thought she might also have forgiven Cole for his disappearing act because he’d come back and given her an explanation.

He’d come back so he could end her reason for hiding.

So, now that she’d hired a company to clean up what remained of Spruce Hollow, Jo had a decision to make. Was she staying here, in the place she’d chosen to hide? Or, with her newfound freedom, did she want to travel or move somewhere else? She didn’t have to look over her shoulder anymore.

And maybe she could even return to forensic art and work to put bad guys behind bars. All the decisions that came with finally being truly free. One thing for certain, one thing she knew—no matter where she landed, she wanted Cole by her side.

A flashlight in the distance drew her gaze around.

“Jo?” Cole called out.

“Turn that light off. I’m looking at the stars.” He never came onto the beach with her, so his appearance surprised her.

He approached and flicked off the light. “I’m glad I found you. Why’d you leave?”

“You seemed to be having such a good time talking to Brad about some fishing trip to Canada.”

He waved his hand. “I’m not going to Canada. I wanted to get to know him. He seems like a nice guy.”

“I know what you were doing. You wanted to find out if he was interested in me.”

“And he is.”

“What?” She swung her face around. “He is not.”

“Well, maybe not anymore.”

“What did you say? What did you tell him?”

“I didn’t have to say anything. He likes you but said he realizes now that I’m into you, and he told me that he could tell you were into me . Did you think he was making your favorite dishes just for the fun of it?”

She turned her gaze back to the stars. “Well, yeah, I guess I hadn’t thought of it. But as for you being into me, is that true?”

“You know it is.” He wrapped his arm around her waist. She laid her head on his shoulder.

He kissed the top of her head. “It’s a beautiful night, isn’t it?”

“The best.” Jo couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt so much at peace. The last several years, fear had always been just one glance over her shoulder.

And now, she only had one minor fear ... but the smallest details could have the biggest impact.

“What are you going to do now, Cole?” He’d never said anything more than that he loved her. And she believed him. But what did that look like coming from this guy who could blend in and disappear?

Cole turned her to face him, and a rogue wave rushed up and around their ankles, but she barely felt it.

When he leaned in, he brushed the hair from her cheek, then captured her lips in a kiss that was anything but hesitant.

Jo let him sweep her away until she was floating, weightless and untethered.

Then he slowly ended the kiss much too soon.

“Well?” she asked. “What are you going to do now?”

“Oh, I thought I answered you. I’m going to kiss you and keep kissing you. That’s all I have planned. Is that okay with you? What are you going to do now, Jo? Are you going to stay with me, you know, like maybe for a lifetime?”

Her heart jumped. “What do you mean?”

“Let me be clear. Here, under the stars, under the Milky Way, even though I don’t have a ring, I’m asking you to marry me.

If it’s too much too soon, I understand.

But for my part, I knew you were the one for me the first time I saw you on the beach.

This beach. Why do you think I’m out here?

I’m going to learn to love this place as much as you do because I love you. I’d do anything for you.”

A shooting star streaked across the sky and then it was gone. A small detail, but it had an impact, kind of like a sign. She didn’t need a sign to know she would say yes. “Did you see that?” she asked.

“I only see you, Jo. I’m still waiting on your answer.”

Jo stood on her toes and kissed him until he didn’t need words to know her answer.