“I knew I’d end up like Elizabeth the minute I signed those papers. I stalled as long as I could, keeping him talking, trying to make him explain why he’d killed Steven. He said horrible things about him, lies that I’ll never believe.”
“Your husband was a good man, and you shouldn’t allow the ravings of a lunatic to make you doubt for one second the way you felt—feel—about him.”
“I wonder if Jansen will think this is enough to exonerate me. I still don’t have evidence that I didn’t kill Steven, nothing except Donald’s ramblings, and I’m sure he’ll deny everything.”
Gage brushed the strands of hair off her cheek, liking the feel of her head against his shoulder. “I got the evidence to clear you. Jansen has it now, so you’re off the hook. Everyone knows you didn’t kill Steven. You’re free.”
Lifting her head, she looked at him, her brown eyes filled with tears. “Really?”
“I promise.”
His heartbeat stuttered when she leaned back against him. “I guess that means your favor to Brandon is done. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you for everything you’ve done for me. You’ve saved me twice now…”
“Three times if you count being run off the road by that SUV,” he teased.
“Oops, three times.”
“Let’s not worry about anything now. We’ll talk to Jansen, give our formal statements, and head back to Shiloh Springs. Take a couple of days to let everything settle, and they I think we should talk.”
“Talk? Aren’t we talking now?”
He grinned. “Smart aleck. I mean talk about us. About the future, unless you—”
“Yes.” Her smile was almost as big as his. “Here’s to the future.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Three Days Later
Suzanna walked towardthe paddock, seeing Otto and a couple of the horses loose inside. She loved the freedom of the ranch, being able to simply breathe. Away from the press, the paparazzi. Dodging the television reporters, the numerous calls from all the major networks wanting her to come on their morning shows to talk about her husband and Donald Blackthorn. At least here on the Boudreau ranch, she knew she could hide away from them. Douglas and Destiny had made sure nobody got onto the property without severe consequences, which meant dealing with Rafe. She’d developed a fond appreciation for the good sheriff.
Gage had called earlier, said he wanted to talk. Following what happened in Dallas, he’d been so sweet. He’d given her time to wrap her head around everything, though it seemed like a waking dream. More like a nightmare, but she was trying to look at things realistically, without embellishing them or giving them more relevance than they deserved.
Except Gage. It seemed like he was the only thing she could think about. She’d spent hours talking with Ms. Patti. The woman was a godsend, helping her understand things from a perspective other than her own. She’d opened up to the older woman, telling her about her marriage to Steven. Talked about how she’d loved him, but it had been the love for a best friend, somebody you cared about but not in a passionate sense.
Not like what she felt for Gage.
How had it happened so fast? She’d heard about instalove, read about it in the books she’d secretly hoarded, yet she’d never imagined she could fall so fast and so far. But she had. There’d been something there from the moment she’d met him, and it had grown and blossomed.
Yet she felt guilty. Steven had only been gone for six months. She was a widow, grieving her lost husband. Falling in love seemed almost a betrayal of his memory. But when she’d talked with Ms. Patti, she’d helped Suzanna understand that Steven wouldn’t have wanted her to be mired down in guilt. He’d loved her the best he could, and he’d want her to be happy. If that happiness came from falling in love with Gage, it was meant to be.
The sudden braying from Otto had her turning toward the house, and she spotted Gage heading out the kitchen door and making his way toward her. Automatically, her hands went to fussing with her clothes. She’d taken extra care when she’d dressed that morning, knowing Gage was coming.
“Hello, Suzanna.” Leaning forward, he brushed a soft kiss against her cheek. Heat rushed into her face, and she lowered her eyes, afraid he’d read all her longing in her gaze.
“Hi.”
“I just talked with Detective Jansen. Your part in the investigation into Steven’s death has been closed. You have been cleared of any suspicion. The prosecutors are having a field day with all the evidence against Blackthorn. They’ve got more than enough, between his sabotage at Dawkins, Inc., the hiring of a hit man to kill Steven, plus your witnessing him shoot his wife, the district attorney expects a plea deal to keep the death penalty off the table. Any way you look at it, Blackthorn is going away for the rest of his life.”
Shaking her head, she grabbed hold of the paddock fence, before reaching up to scratch Otto’s nose. She got a soft snuffleagainst her hand, with him lipping her fingers. It made her smile, thinking something so simple could bring joy.
“It’s all so senseless. I would have given him the company. I didn’t want it. I have money of my own. When my father passed, he left me a trust fund that I’ve barely touched. That money will take care of me for the rest of my life. I didn’t care about the money when I married Steven. I loved him and he loved me.”
“I’m glad you had him. Glad you found happiness with somebody you loved. Sorry that you lost him far too soon.” Gage moved to stand beside her, draping his arm over the top rail. “What are you going to do now that you’re free? You can go anywhere, do anything you want.”
“I haven’t really thought that far ahead. I might spend a little more time in Shiloh Springs. Ms. Patti offered to let me stay as long as I like. Unless you’d rather I didn’t.”
He was silent for so long, she wondered if he really did want her to leave. Shiloh Springs was his place, his town, and she’d never do anything to make him uncomfortable. The Boudreaus were his family, and they considered him their son.
