Page 96 of Return of the Bad Girl (Rock Canyon, Idaho 4)

tting into her business?

No, Ellie wouldn’t be that cruel. Couldn’t be.

“Can I see him? Please?”

Sam hesitated, and she repeated, “Please, Sam, I’m begging you.”

After a moment or two, he grumbled. “Fine. Come on back.”

She almost passed Sam in her eagerness to get to Gabe, and when she saw him sitting on one of the cots, even though his eyes were closed and a dark shadow marred his jawline, he was the most beautiful thing she’s ever seen.

“Gabe!” she cried, racing to the bars.

His eyes flew open, and he looked furious. “What the hell are you doing here, Caroline?”

“I’m going to get you out of here. I know you didn’t do this.”

“Yeah, well, you and Chase are about the only ones,” he said, bitterness clouding his tone. “I have it covered. Got my court-appointed attorney and everything.”

“But you don’t have to do this alone. I want to help,” she said, reaching out for him. “I don’t know why she’s doing this, but I’ll talk to Ellie. We can figure this out.”

Then she realized he hadn’t moved toward her or even tried to hold her hand. All she wanted to do was touch him, to make sure he was really okay, but he was holding back from her. “Gabe . . . please . . . I’m sorry for the way I left. I just got scared and needed a minute to put everything in perspective. Then, when Chase texted—”

“You what? Thought you’d run back to town and save the day? Maybe pull some strings with your dad or, like you said, convince your sister to drop the charges?” Gabe snarled. “The damage is done, princess. Word’s out that I’m an ex-con who likes to beat up on women. It didn’t take long for people to start digging once the cuffs came out, so my fresh start? The thing I wanted more than anything? It’s over with.”

“We’ll explain,” Caroline said, gripping the bars hard. “We can work this out—”

“No, there’s no we,” Gabe said harshly. “You wanna help? Then go home. Whatever you thought, just get it out of your head, because I don’t need you.”

“Gabe . . .” she said, shaking with the pain of his words. He couldn’t mean it.

He ignored her as he leaned his head back again and closed his eyes.

“Gabe, please look at me,” she said, hanging on to the bars as her knees weakened.

“At least you finally got what you always wanted,” he said without looking at her. “The apartment is yours.”

“I don’t want that! I haven’t asked for my own space, and I don’t want to lose you, so will you stop acting so defeated? You. Did. Not. Do. This. And I’ll prove it,” she said vehemently.

“Hey, no worries, princess. We both knew that living arrangement was only temporary. At least we got to have some fun along the way.”

Part of her knew he was just saying that because he was hurt and angry, but the other, insecure part asked, “Fun? Is that all it was to you?”

“Well, hell, what else was it supposed to be?”

“I thought maybe you had actually turned into a human being, that you might actually be more than just—”

“Just what? An ex-con? A loser?” He opened his eyes to stare right at her. The blank expression in them broke her heart.

“Stop it! I didn’t say any of that. I just meant that I know you try so hard to keep people at bay and for a while there, I felt like you were letting me in.”

Gabe shook his head. “Just go, Caroline, okay? I’ll be fine. We had a good run, but honestly? I’d be happy if I never saw you or your sisters again.”

Caroline thought her chest was going to break open, the pain was so intense. Before she could plead or say anything else, Sam put his hand on her arm. “Come on, Caroline, it’s time to go.”

She started to follow Sam but stopped and said, “I know you think I gave up on you, but you’re wrong. I had a weak moment, but I came home. To you. And I am not going to give up this easily.”

She didn’t wait for him to respond. As she passed through the front doors of the police station, she saw that Grady had shut all her doors and left a ticket on her windshield.