Into the Fading Twilight (Starlight Grove, #2) (106)

“I fell in love with her.”

“Well, shit,” Sherri said, letting out a sigh. “I knew there might be a personal connection, but I didn’t go to love. Kol, I don’t think I’ve ever even known you to go on a date.”

I barked out a laugh. “I don’t think I have since high school.”

“Jesus, go big or go home, huh?”

“I guess so.”

Sherri drummed her fingers against her knees. “You’re the best I’ve got.”

“That means something coming from an investigator I admire so much.”

She sent me a perturbed look. “Don’t think that gets you out of me being pissed at you.”

I held up both hands. “Never.”

“How’s Pete doing on the case?”

I stayed silent.

“Damn it, Kol. All my other senior officers have other big cases.”

“Pete’s not ready. Maybe he will be one day. Maybe he won’t. But he needs a senior agent who’s going to respect the case as more than some exciting new adventure.”

“Bloodthirsty,” Sherri mumbled.

“That would be accurate.”

She sighed again. “Can you give me a few more days to shuffle some things? Just make sure you have a second with you on all investigative stuff. Just in case anyone ever calls anything into question. These two cases are at the very least tied together.”

I knew what she meant. I needed to have someone who could back me should this ever go to trial. Because someone was still out there hurting women. Killing them. “Not a problem. Roger’s got his department running better now, and he’s been on top of the Heidi Ingram case.”

“Good,” Sherri said. “We may even be able to let them take over as local primary on Travis Moore with us as support.”

“That works for me.”

Roger was a good investigator and an even better man. He’d take the case seriously and put in his best work.

Sherri leaned back on her palms. “In love, huh?”

I chuckled. “I’m afraid so.”

She whistled. “Last thing I was expecting.”

“You and me both.”

Her lips twitched. “When do I get to meet her?”

“How about now?” I asked. “We’re having afternoon ice cream sundaes.”

Sherri straightened. “I like ice cream.”

I grinned, pushing to my feet and offering her a hand. “Let’s do this.”

As we walked into the chaos of the kitchen, with its mess of chocolate sauce, sprinkles, and whipped cream, I took it all in and really let it land. This was what life was about. Finding happiness amid the heartache and holding tight.

But as I let that land, fear made a home in my chest, too. Because when you had this much good, you had so much more to lose.





CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT


Nova




SUPERNOVA, CAN WE EAT OUTSIDE TOGETHER, JUST YOU and me?”

Skylar asked the question the second my foot hit the bottom stair. I froze. Was I in trouble? She bounced up and down on the balls of her feet. She seemed … excited. So that had to mean no trouble, right?

“I’d love to eat with you.” I glanced into the kitchen, where Kol was pouring a cup of coffee. “But don’t you think we should ask your dad, too? He might feel left out.”

Sky shook her head. “We need girl time. He gets it.”

I struggled not to laugh. Wise beyond her years. “Well, I think we’ll also need blankets. It’s cold outside.”

It had been a week since Heidi Ingram had been found, and the temperature had dropped significantly since then. It had also been a week since I’d had my breakthrough. And I hadn’t fallen back on my promise.

I’d seen my new therapist almost every single day. Marly Cooper wasn’t anything like I’d expected. She always came to our sessions in jeans, work boots, and a barn jacket. And she never pushed. While she had a take-no-shit attitude, she was as gentle as could be with the horses and with me.

It wasn’t a magic bullet, but more was coming back to me. I wouldn’t lie, the remembering hurt. Even the patchwork of tiny flickers was agonizing. But I knew it was the path through. It didn’t matter that each session zapped every last ounce of energy I had. It was worth it.

“I got those, too. Come oooooon, Supernova. We’ve got granola sundaes, too,” she urged.

“Well, I can never say no to you and sundaes.”

That had her beaming and rushing for the back door. I followed but paused by Kol as he handed me a cup of coffee and brushed a kiss to my temple.

“Tell me the truth, Boss. Am I about to get grounded?” I asked.

He chuckled. “I think she just wants some time for the two of you. I’ve been cramping her style lately.”

I gave him a quick kiss and grinned. “I like being the favorite.”

“Hey,” he protested.

But I just grabbed the two blankets and hurried outside with my coffee. Skylar was already settling in on the back steps. I wrapped a blanket around her and then sat down next to her, our display of breakfast sundaes between us.

“These look delicious,” I said, picking mine up.

“Don’t worry. I gave you extra chocolate chips.”