“I can’t believe Grimaldi’s dead.”
“Dandridge claims it was a heart attack. I’ve gotta say, I’m not surprised. He had trouble breathing when I confronted him. Pale and sweaty. Still, I’m not feeling overly sympathetic a crazed serial killer got his just desserts.”
Camilla laid the pizza box in the middle of the table and grabbed a couple of bottles of water from the fridge. Since there wasn’t any food in the house, Heath called for a pizza delivery, insisting she eat. He refused to leave, even for a second, though half a dozen police officers were right next door, going over the crime scene with a fine-toothed comb.
Reaching overhead into the cupboard, Camilla pulled down a bowl and poured some water for Oscar. When the authorities told her the dog would likely end up at the pound, it nearly broke her heart. Besides, he deserved a lot of the credit. Without him, Grimaldi might never have been caught. Bending down, she scratched him behind the ears, giving him a little extra loving. He was a cute little thing, barely two pounds, but a little ball of energy.
“I can’t believe it’s finally over. No more looking over my shoulder or running for my life. Grimaldi dropping dead of a heart attack seems a bit anticlimactic.”
Heath snorted. “I doubt the Feds or the cops feel that way. More like closure of multiple years of seeking justice for the families of the people Grimaldi killed. Their biggest question right now is what he did with the millions in diamonds he absconded with when he first disappeared. They haven’t got a clue where he hid them.”
“Really?” Camilla chuckled and took a bite of her pizza, closing her eyes as the tomato and cheese flavors burst across her tongue. She hadn’t realized how hungry she was. “Tell them to check his cane.”
“His cane?” Heath tilted his head, studying her intently.
“Uh-huh. Think about it. Guy never let it out of his sight, carried it everywhere. It is the perfect hiding place, and he had a legitimate excuse for carrying it, because of the leg injury. Bet it’s hollow, and the diamonds are inside. As an added bonus, if he had to hit the road unexpectedly, he had the stones available instantly. It’s actually kind of brilliant.”
Heath laid his slice down, pulled out his phone and quickly dialed. “Hey, Dandridge, Camilla said to check Grimaldi’s cane. She thinks that’s where he kept the diamonds. Yeah, I’ll hold.” Heath winked at her, and Camilla bit back her chuckle. She loved how he could make her laugh without even trying.
“He’s looking?”
Heath nodded and grabbed his water, taking a long swallow, the phone still to his ear. “Yeah, I’m here. Really? That’s good news. I’ll let her know. Absolutely, I’ll call you,” he added and hung up.
“Was I right?”
“Yep. Dandridge says you get a gold star and can work with him anytime.”
“I think I’ll stick with writing about suspense. Living it isn’t nearly as much fun.”
They ate in companionable silence, and Camilla tossed a piece of crust onto her plate and rolled her neck, giving a contented sigh. This was nice. Being able to take a relaxing break, and not worry about anything except simply being with Heath. Only now the danger was past, he’d probably head back to D.C.
“Ready to talk?”
“I guess.”
Heath held out his hand and helped her stand, leading her to the living room. She sank down onto the sofa, curling her legs beneath her, dreading the upcoming conversation. Things had to go back to normal, and he’d be heading back to his job with the ATF. She’d return to her lonely life, isolated from everybody and everything, alone with her computer and her stories. But she loved him enough to let him go. She’d always remember he’d said he loved her, but that confession had been in the heat of the moment.
“I have to head back to D.C. in the morning, sweetheart.” He slid onto the sofa beside her and rested his arm along its back. “I’ve used up pretty much all the vacation time I’ve got on the books, and they’re expecting me.”
“I understand, I really do. You’ll never know how much I appreciate everything you’ve done for me. I’m not sure I could have handled things without you. You—you saved my life.” She gave him a watery smile, fighting the tears threatening to spill. “I will never forget what you’ve done. If you ever—”
His brow scrunched, lips curved into a frown. “What are you talking about? You’re acting like we’ll never see each other again.”
“We won’t. I mean, we might run into each other at the Big House if you’re there when I visit Beth and Jamie, but—”
“Cam, did you mean it when you said you love me?”
Her heart seized in her chest. How could he ask her that? She’d all but laid herself bare, admitting her feelings. Taking a deep breath, she confessed, “Of course I meant it. Every word. I love you with my whole heart and soul, and it’s breaking me to say goodbye.”
“I love you, Cam. You are my heart, my soul. I have no intention of saying a permanent goodbye, ever.” When his hand cupped her cheek, the tears she’d been fighting spilled over, trailing down her cheeks. He gently wiped them away, the warmth in his eyes causing her breath to catch in her throat.
“Really? But…I thought…how are we going to make this work? I know D.C. isn’t an insurmountable distance, but long-distance relationships aren’t easy. Most of the time they don’t work. I don’t want us to fail.”
“And we won’t. I wanted to ask, how do you feel about living in Texas?”
Something broken inside her blossomed with hope. The most lovely feeling of warmth swept through her, unlike anything she’d ever felt before.
“I like Texas, especially if you’re talking Shiloh Springs. Why?”
The corners of his lips kicked up, his smile accentuating the twinkle in his blue eyes. “I’m going to request a transfer as soon as I get back to work. No guarantees it’ll happen, and I’d have to work out of Austin, because there’s no ATF office in Shiloh Springs. I’d have to live there, but it’s close enough we could visit everyone all the time. What do you think?”
“I don’t—are you asking me to move to Texas?”
“No.”
“I…oh, okay. Sorry, I jumped to the wrong—”
“Camilla Stewart, I love you. You love me. I don’t want to spend a single minute without you in my life. No, I’m not asking you to move to Texas. Well, yes, I am, but not in the way you’re thinking. I want you to live with me and love me until eternity and beyond. I want you to be my friend, my lover, and my everything. Marry me?”
“Yes! Oh, Heath, yes!”
His lips crashed against hers, and she poured all her love into the kiss, telling him without further words how she adored him, and wanted to spend the rest of her life with him. The man who’d teased and tormented her from the day they’d met, the man she loved, and would love until her last breath pulled her close against him, deepening their kiss.
Heath Boudreau was the man of her dreams, and she couldn’t wait to spend the rest of her life on the wild and crazy ride of her lifetime with the man who’d stolen her heart.
Laissez le bon temps rouler!