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Chapter Twenty She was quiet for so long that Pete's heart just about stopped beating. Then, suddenly, she sniffed and a tear slipped down her cheek, dampening his hand. "A part of my life?" she whispered unsteadily. "You've always been the best part, Pete. I've never met anyone who can compare to you. Not a day has gone by that I didn't think of you. Miss you. Regret what I'd done to you. But what about Sophy? " Tenderly he wiped the tear's track dry. " Sophy and I aren't actually dating. We were going to dinner, but just as friends. There was never anyone but you. I wish you had told me what you were going through back then. You could have called me anytime, Lib. You could have come home." She shook her head. "You wouldn't have been happy to see me. You weren't happy to see me." "You can't blame a guy for holding a bit of a grudge." He grinned ruefully. "But there's nothing like having a .45 caliber pistol pointed right between your eyes to make you realize what's worth holding on to and what you should let go. And you, Libby, you are definitely worth holding on to." He kissed her again and she tasted sweet, familiar, hot, perfect. Like home. On the street nearby a patrol car eased to a stop and DeLong, Pete's occasional partner, called, "Hey, Pete, the lieutenant would like to wrap this statement up so he can go home to his wife. You think you two could save the smooching for later?" Despite his partner, Pete took his time ending the kiss, then replied without looking at her. "We'll be there in a couple minutes." Wrapping his fingers around Libby's, he started walking back the way they'd come. "Just how attached are you to your job and Tulsa?" "The job's just a job, and Tulsa's a nice place to live, but it's not home. Copper Lake is. You are." "Good, because I don't want a long-distance marriage." She smiled, and together they walked forward.



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