Page 93 of The Last Girl

“You do realize how immature that sounds?”

“I do, but I stand by the demand.”

“Yes.” He stared into her eyes. “I want you to live here with me. I want you to be with me for the rest of our lives. I love you, Vera Mae Boyett. I have loved you since I was sixteen years old and saw you for the first time at the store with your daddy.”

She laughed. “You have not.”

“Yes, I have. But I knew you were out of my league. Then when I was helping your mother, I was finished. I understood there would never be anyone else.”

“I won’t remind you that you left me after that.”

“I did, and it was the only thing I could give you at the time. Your freedom to become the amazing crime analyst you are so you could come back here all these years later and help me keep the people in this county safe.”

She laughed, and he laughed with her. God, he loved this woman so much.

“You’re getting sappy, you know.”

“If that’s what it takes to get the point across, I’ll be sappy.”

“Well.” She sniffed. “Just so we’re clear, I love you, too, Sheriff. Now let’s get some sleep so we can get the bad guys in the morning.”

“So you’re moving in?” He held his breath.

“Damn straight, and you’re stuck with me even if you regret it.”

He sat up and reached for his phone on the bedside table.

“What’re you doing?”

“I have to call Eve. She made me swear to call if you said yes.”

“You two are awful.” Vera started to laugh, and Bent was pretty sure he would never be happier than he was at that moment.

38

Saturday, September 6

Benton Ranch

Old Molino Road, 7:30 a.m.

“It’s Eric.” Vera set her coffee mug down and picked up her cell from the countertop. “Good morning.”

Bent joined her at the kitchen island, propped a hip against it and continued drinking his coffee.

“I’m putting you on speaker so Bent can hear,” she said, tapping the screen.

“Morning, Bent. I think I might have found what you need to close your case.”

“That would be the best news I’ve heard this week.” Bent held up crossed fingers for Vera.

He was certainly in a good mood this morning. Vera was glad. Getting past major decisions could do that. Vera was feeling loads lighter herself. Between the decision to move in with him and clarifying that hardware store receipt, Vera felt immensely relieved. She smiled to herself. The whole truth was that she had been in love with Bent since she was seventeen. She could not imagine her life with anyone else, and God knew she’d tried. But this—she studied his profile as he and Eric chatted—was the man she would spend the rest of her days with. She almost laughed out loud at the memory of Bent giving Eve the news. Itwarmed her heart to know how happy Eve was for her. Luna would be as well. Vera didn’t have to wonder.

But what she did have to do was help Bent solve this damned case. The thing with Jackie was basically behind her, but this one was glaring at her face-to-face.

“This Quantum Leap organization,” Eric was saying, “is currently under investigation by the FBI.”

Vera shared a surprised look with Bent. “So it’s a scam.”