Kade had no more strolled out the door than Allie’s mother called. She answered, “Hi, Mom.”

“Oh, sweetie, I saw you on the news. Are you okay?”

“Fine, fine.” She lifted a hand to her bruised neck. No need to bring that up now.

“They’re saying you’re a hero. Saving a cop who was being assaulted by an art thief. My goodness, I didn’t know your profession was so dangerous.”

Allie grinned. Ah, so this was where she got her naivety. “It’s not, Mom. This was a fluke occurrence.”

“But art thieves are a real threat.”

“Not really. I can take care of myself.”

“Yes, but maybe you should go back to school, get a safer career.”

It dawned on her that the reason her mother was so overprotective wasn’t because she feared Allie couldn’t take care of herself, but that she would no longer have a purpose if her daughter didn’t need her.

“I’ll always need you, Mom,” she said gently. “Just not for every little thing.”

“You call tussling with a criminal little?”

“I did what I had to do, and I came out ahead.”

Her mother sighed softly. “You really are all grown up, aren’t you?”

“Yes, but that’s how it should be. Remember when I was first diagnosed with cancer and you were scared you’d never get to see me grow up?”

“Those were horrible days.”

“We got through them.”

“Your belief in healing made your cancer disappear.”

“I wouldn’t say that. I just got lucky that I was the one in a hundred thousand that went into spontaneous remission.”

“We got a miracle, and I still couldn’t trust it…but you did. Here I was, thinking I was protecting you from the world, when all along you were instinctively taking care of yourself.” Her mother’s voice held an incredulous note, as if she’d just had a big epiphany. “I don’t have to worry about you anymore.”

“You’re my mom, you’ll always worry.”

Her mother laughed, a sound of joy and relief. “That’s true, but I can stop smothering you.”

“I know you were always coming from a place of love.”

“My bright little daughter,” she whispered. “My shining star.”

“Love you, Mom.”

“Love you, too, sweetheart. Can you come to Sunday dinner now that the whole popup museum thing is kaput?”

“Absolutely.”

“See you then, darling.”

Allie switched off her phone, and for the first time in her life, felt like a fledging eagle flying free from the nest. This whole experience, taxing as it might have been, had changed her for life. She was a brand-new person, and she could handle anything and still keep her heart open.

In the span of a week, Kade had taught her so many life lessons, and she was grateful for that, but she still didn’t know if she could find her way back to trusting him.

But she wanted to try.

* * *

“Damn fine police work, Richmond,” Kade’s boss, Captain Finn, told him a week after Thorn’s arrest.

One week, seven long days, without seeing or hearing from Allie. It was killing Kade to stay away from her, but she’d made it clear that she didn’t trust her feelings because of his lie, and he had to respect her wishes.

“The Feds are happy, I’m happy. You’re getting kicked upstairs if you still want the promotion.”

Except Kade wasn’t happy. Yes, he wanted the promotion, but in the pursuit of it, he’d lost Allie.

Finn eyed him speculatively. “You sure you want to leave Vice? You’re our best undercover detective.”

“Yeah,” Kade said, thinking of Allie. “And that’s the problem. Undercover changes you. I’ve lost myself in the deception. It’s time to reclaim my identity.”

Finn nodded, understanding. “That thing with the stripper really got to you.”

“Angi,” Kade murmured. “Her name was Angi.”

“You weren’t responsible for her death.”

“Logically, I know that…but in here…” He tapped his heart with a fist. “I’m guilty. I need a fresh start.”

“I get it.” Captain Finn thrust out his palm. “We’re going to miss your ugly mug.”

Kade shook his hand. “I’ll drop by now and again, just to annoy you.”

“I’m counting on it.” Finn grinned. “Now get the hell out of my office.”

Kade walked out of the police station feeling lighter, freer, released from the prison that his undercover assignment had become. Thorn was going to pay for his crimes, Kade had gotten his promotion, the only thing missing was Allie.

He’d blown it. So what if he was so crazy about her that he couldn’t think straight? She didn’t trust him, and without trust, how could they ever have a functional relationship?

Head down, he took the steps two at a time, headed for the curb where he’d parallel parked. He reached the last step, glanced up, and that’s when he saw her standing by his truck.

His Allie.

Their eyes met. She smiled that unicorn smile of hers. His heart softened, melted at the explosion of rainbows.

What was she doing here?

* * *

That smile was all Allie needed to see to know she’d made the right choice in hanging around the police station to wait for him.

Kade sauntered toward, his grin growing bigger the closer he got, genuine happiness on that endearing face that was still healing from Thorn’s beating. Kade stopped a few feet away as if wanting to make sure she wasn’t pulling some kind of “gotcha” trick on him before coming closer.

“Hi,” he said, his eyes searching hers.

“Hey.”

“Why are you here?” he asked.

She waved a hand in the direction of the building. “Follow up on the Thorn thing. They’re dotting their I’s and crossing their T’s. He’s going down.”

“Oh,” he said, the light dimming in his eyes.

“But that interview was over half an hour ago. I stayed because I wanted to see you.”

His helpless smile was back, joyful, infectious, and Allie returned it with an I’m-all-in-grin.

“I haven’t seen you around the apartment complex,” he said.

“I’ve been staying with my parents.”

“To avoid me?”

“Partially,” she admitted. “I needed some time to think things through.”

“Are you moving back in with them permanently?”

“No.”

“Did you find another job?” he asked.

She shook her head, enjoying the suspense of keeping him on tenterhooks. “No.”

“Found another roommate?” He came closer until they were standing toe-to-toe.

She peered up at him, feeling the hot sun on her skin, loving it. Loving this moment. “That depends.”

“On what?”

“If he’s available to move in with me.”

Kade’s eyes widened and his mouth thinned. “You’re moving in with another guy?”

“No,” she laughed. “Silly man, I’m asking you to be my roommate.”

“You mean…” His voice caught. “You want me to move in with you?”

She nodded, suddenly unable to find her voice.

“I can’t believe you’re actually suggesting we live together. I’m floored, I thought you didn’t trust me.”

Allie giggled, an effervescent giddiness rising like bubbles into her throat. “My feelings were hurt,” she admitted. “I tried not to trust you, but my inner voice told me you were The One.”

“Your inner voice,” he murmured, wrapping his arms around her waist and drawing her closer to him. “The one that never steers you wrong?”

“That’d be the one,” she whispered.

“I’ll need a little time to think about it,” he drawled.

“How little?” she teased. She could tell from the way he was holding her and looking at her that he was joking.

“With you,” he said, “no time at all.”

“There’re a few things we need to iron out first. Leaving underwear on the bathroom floor could be a deal breaker.”

“Aww,” he said. “I was looking forward to stripping off your skimpy panties and throwing them on the bathroom floor.”

“Okay,” she amended. “One-hour rule. Underwear can stay on the floor for up to an hour in the case of panty stripping.”

“One hour?” he said. “What if our playtime goes longer?”

She giggled, melded against him. “All right, two hours.”

“Honey, the time that we were together, we were at it for hours and hours.”

“Oh, hell,” she said. “Leave our underwear wherever you want.”

“Going along to get along?” he asked.

“No,” she said. “I’m just anxious to get you back in bed.”

“Well, why didn’t you say so, sweetheart? I can make that happen right now.” He cupped her chin between his palms, tipped her face up to meet his. His dark eyes peering into her as if he were jumping into a bottomless well and happy for the fall. “This is going to be magical.”

“How can you be so sure? There are lots of ups and downs living with someone else.”

“Because it’s you, Allie Grainger. Sure, there are lots of bumps in the road, but you’re what makes it worth the ride.”

“So says the rodeo cowboy.”

“And that means I ought to know.”

“Ride ’em, cowboy.”

He ducked his head, his mouth inches from hers. His hands on her cheeks. “That’s exactly what I intend on doing.”

With that, he kissed her, and all doubts vanished in the heat of his sizzling hot kiss.