“I am. If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have ended up in that cabin. You wouldn’t have – ”
“That’s not true,” she said, interrupting his rambling. “You know that, Mike. I talked to the investigators. My kidnapping had nothing to do with you. No one even knew who you really were.”
“I don’t know if I believe that…” he said, voice trailing off. He’d been running over the details of the week before the kidnapping, trying to figure out where he went wrong. He was sure he must’ve slipped up somehow.
“It’s the truth,” she said. “Jared wanted to use my paintings to launder money, but after he looked into me, he saw that I was former FBI. And they decided to get rid of me.”
Mike flinched.Get rid of her. That’s how these guys operated. It was all about money – they had no reservations about ending a beautiful life.
“If they’d hurt you…”
“But they didn’t. I’m fine,” she said firmly. “I’m alive. And so are you.”
He pulled back at her raised voice. “I know that.”
“Do you? I know that your job was important to you, Mike, but you have to move on. You can’t live like this. Yes, one life ended, but another life can begin. You have to at least try to keep living.”
He let out a sigh. “Do you think that’s what this is about? I don’t care about my job. I regret ever doing this case and putting you at risk.”
“You didn’t put me at risk!” she said, her tone high again. “Stop saying that. It's just an excuse you’re telling yourself. What are you trying to avoid?”
“I’m not avoiding anything. I planned to tell you that I’m leaving San Juan Island. I never want to put you in jeopardy again.”
She scoffed. “You don’t get it, do you? I don’t want you to leave. I still love you, you idiot.”
He froze.
Now that wasn’t something he expected – not at all. Was Lynn experiencing some form of Stockholm syndrome?
No, that didn’t make sense. Lynn looked perfectly well; much better than he looked.
“If you leave,” she said slowly, “I’ll never forgive you.”
“I have to,” he said. “What if someone else recognizes me? What if – ”
“Fine. Then take me with you.”
He laughed. “Lynn, this is – ”
“I’m serious. Why not? We could start a new life together. I mean, if you haveanyinterest in that. Any interest in…me.”
He reached across the table to grab her hand. “Of course I do. Lynn – I…”
“Yes?” she leaned forward, a smile dancing on her lips.
“Why do you think I couldn’t stay away from you, even though I knew it was dangerous? I’ve never been able to stay away from you.”
She raised an eyebrow. “The feeling is mutual.”
This was too much. Lynn was a dream, but how could she ever have been in love with him?
“I never thought that you would want anything to do with an old, washed up dud like me. But I would do anything for you.” He squeezed her hand. “Anything.”
A smile flashed across her face. “Then kiss me.”
He stood up, getting to her side of the table just as she rose from her seat. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her in and kissing her for a blissful moment. It was dizzying. A joy overcame him that he hadn’t felt in years.
A joy that he hadn’t felt, perhaps, ever.
She broke the kiss, pulling back to look at him. “And stop talking about leaving me behind. No more of that, okay?”
He looked down at her. “You have my word.”
“Good.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him in for a tight hug.
Somehow, there was still goodness left in this life of his. And Lynn, ever the artist, had found it.
