Ethan spent the rest of his day processing out of his assignment, going over John Pace’s suicide and final letter with the sheriff and Hank, then headed to Ruby’s Bed and Breakfast to rent a room until he could find something permanent.

He tossed his duffel into the closet, then grabbed the remote and turned on the television to hunt for a mindless show to take his mind off Delaney. A movie, one of hers, flashed on the screen. Fuck. He shut down the power, stood, and paced the room.

Escape. He had to get out of this piss shit sorry excuse of a room. He had to do something, anything, to escape the constant craving hollowing out his heart, making him crazy. Everything in him wanted to get back in his SUV and return to her.

Which would be a massive mistake. He’d done the right thing by moving on, not making demands. He’d learned the hard way not to make them. No point in starting now.

His stomach grumbled. Clenched. Food. That’s what he wanted, not Delaney. He didn’t need more than a greasy cheeseburger and a boatload of fries. Once he chowed down, he’d be cool again.

Yes. Food was the ticket. No way was he going to moon around like some lovesick teenager. Nope. He grabbed his coat and left the room.

Main Street had its usual Saturday night crew of kids cruising in their beat-up trucks, gas guzzling muscle cars, and prepped up modern SUVs. He’d never really fit into that world. He’d been too busy scraping himself up and moving on to the next place.

His hip ached. The Marines had been his family. He’d returned to Montana to regain a measure of that kind of purpose with the Brotherhood Protectors. And he had. With Delaney.

A strange pricking pushed behind his eyes. Fuck. Your purpose with Delaney was temporary. A job. That’s all. He pushed down the weird sensation of a ball lodging in his throat with that knowledge.

After crossing the street, he entered Al’s Diner. The regulars, single men in cowboy hats sat at the counter, and families, couples out on a simple date filled the booths. Swede and Allie were tucked in one, drinking floats and holding hands across the table.

Allie waved when she saw him. “Wanna join us?”

“No thanks,” he said. The last thing he wanted was to be a third wheel in Swede and Allie’s lovefest. “Enjoy your night.”

“We’re heading to the Blue Moose Tavern later,” Swede said. “Got a new talent playing instead of the usual jukebox shit. You should come. Blow off some steam.”

“Maybe another time.” Never a drinker, Ethan also had no desire to return to hang out and shoot the shit. Not even with his friend—someone he owed for giving him the opportunity to work with the Brotherhood Protectors. They’d given him a measure of what he’d lost after his medical discharge, but even they couldn’t fill the growing void he’d created the minute he’d walked away from Delaney.

Delaney was everywhere. She’d grown up in Eagle Rock. He’d probably see her whenever she came here to visit in-between movie productions. Hell. He’d probably see her on the big screen too.

Stifling a sigh, he joined the other men sitting at the counter, greeted the few he’d gotten to know, then ordered his dinner. Eating his meal after it arrived, he scanned the photos of bygone years that hung on the wall above the food delivery opening.

Cheerleaders, band members, football players, theater production. And again, Delaney’s sweet smiling face met his gaze. She might have grown up poor, but the girl had tons of friends and he could see the happiness in her sparkling green eyes even in the faded eight-by-ten photographs.

His chest hollowed out. He’d been kidding himself that a plateful of carbs and protein would fill the empty feeling he’d had from the moment he realized he’d have to move on.

Around him, the clatter of cutlery on stoneware and the murmur of voices hummed. His cheeseburger turned to sawdust in his mouth, making it hard to swallow. He’d been alone most of his life. Nothing new here. Yet, ever since he’d left Delaney standing in her bedroom, he couldn’t shake the longing inside him. He ached, literally ached everywhere. Even the pain in his hip had intensified.

She’d said she cared. But she hadn’t gone chasing after him.

Why would she? He’d pushed her away and she let him go without a fight.

He glanced at the sunny face smiling in the photo. She’d had tough times in high school, but no one would know it by looking at this picture. Of course, she’d used acting as her escape. Her way of coping and hiding her unhappiness.

Fuck. He swiped his mouth with a napkin, crumpled it, then dropped it on his half-eaten burger. She’d been putting on a hell of an act after he’d tried to explain his decision. He’d meant to give her an easy way to let him go. That was how he always played it as a kid. Never let them see you sweat. Ever. Never let them see you lose your shit. Just keep marching forward.

And she’d just played the same card on him.

Damn. He’d screwed up royally. And if he didn’t do something quick, he’d lose any chance of convincing her to give him a second chance. He stood, jerked out his wallet and popped a twenty on the counter.

The hell with rules. The hell with his idiotic male ego getting in the way of making up for being a shithead. He’d given Delaney a ‘sorry, it’s not you it’s me fucking send off.’ He didn’t know how the hell he’d make up for his dumb ass attitude, but he’d damn well try.

He owed them both that much.

* * *

“You were behind John’s actions?” Delaney fought to calm her racing heart. “But you helped me get rid of him and his asinine accusations.”

“John always did what I asked. I’ve had him wrapped around my little finger since high school. He even set you up with that bogus promposal for me. God, that was so hilarious.”

Delaney rubbed her forehead, trying to remember if she’d ever seen the two of them together. A big ‘no’ clanged inside her brain. “You didn’t even give him the time of day.” John had been a poor kid from the wrong side of town whose only claim to glory was as a quarterback for a bedraggled football team. “You were going steady with Eddie Blaine.” One of the most popular guys in school.

“Eddie was great, but he couldn’t give me what I wanted—John could. The sex we had was fantastic. Amazing,” Kerry Ann said with a shrug as she gazed at Delaney with cold eyes. “Too bad he let himself go. So glad he didn’t toss me under the proverbial bus last night. Made my life a whole lot easier.”

Poor John. Still, he’d tried to scar her. And he’d allowed himself to be manipulated and used.

“You could have been killed during the accident he caused,” Delaney said. “Why risk your life to hurt me?”

“I wasn’t supposed to ride with you that day,” Kerry Ann said. “Remember?”

“Your car wouldn’t start and I . . .”

“You offered to take me home and as usual, you wouldn’t take no for an answer. So, I took a calculated risk. If it didn’t work out the way I’d hoped, then at least you’d be gone too.”

“But why?” Delaney asked, her heart pounding in her ears. “What did I ever do to make you hate me so much?”

“You stole my life.” Kerry Ann waved the gun. “I was the star, not you. I brought you to Los Angeles so I could have help running my lines. I didn’t bring you along to have you steal my roles.”

Despite the gun pointing at Delaney, heat flashed through her body. “I busted my ass to get those roles. You never rehearsed even when I wanted to go over scripts with you. That’s on you.”

Kerry Ann’s lips flattened and a small vein in her temple bulged out. “I always got the lead in high school. Acting came naturally to me.”

“Your mother was on the theater booster committee. She paid for everything,” Delaney said, shaking her head. “Did it ever occur to you that maybe you didn’t earn those parts all those years ago?” Still, Delaney had never questioned the drama teacher’s casting back then. Luck of the draw. She’d just work harder next time, she’d told herself. And she had worked harder.

“Liar.” Kerry Ann jerked the gun toward a chair in the kitchen. “Sit down, bitch. I’m going to give you a fucking history lesson. One I want you to remember every time you see me on the big screen. By the time I’m through with you, no one will hire you.”

Every inch of Delaney’s skin tingled, adrenaline fired into her heart, coursed through her veins. “Why don’t you just shoot me and get it over with?” she asked, watching her so-called friend’s face and reading only hatred in her mottled skin, narrowed eyes, and the spit forming in the corner of her mouth.

“That’d be too easy.” Kerry Ann laughed and motioned toward the chair. “I want you to suffer. Pay for what you did to me.”

“Is that why you asked John to cut my face?”

“Damn straight. But he screwed up,” she said. “Now that he’s in jail, it’s up to me to finish the job.”

Delaney held her ground and lifted her chin. “He committed suicide last night.” She counted a few beats, trying to find some semblance of remorse or sorrow in Kerry Ann’s face. And failed. “He claimed he acted alone in the note he left behind.”

“He promised he’d protect me when he called me yesterday. I put on quite the Oscar-winning show for him—he believed every word about how sorry I was about him getting caught. About how terrified I was about going to jail,” she said, accentuating her voice with a sad, pleading tone laced with sarcasm. “I begged him to trust me. I told him I’d fix this once and for all. One day, in this life or the next, we’d be together.”

“He’s dead because of you.”

“What can I say?” Kerry Ann shrugged. “He was loyal to the end, unlike your sexy bodyguard. Now quit stalling and sit down before I shoot you in the kneecap.”

Every muscle in Delaney’s body tensed, and sweat dampened the base of her neck. She wasn’t about to let Kerry Ann Long destroy her life just because of a twisted jealousy. Still, Delaney was no fool. She complied and sat only to buy a little time to figure out how to get out of this insane situation.

“You know, I don’t think it was fair of me to say your mother bought your parts,” Delaney said, holding Kerry Ann’s bloodshot gaze. “I mean. You’re really good. I looked up to you. Heck, I wanted to be you back in high school.”

“Of course, you did. Everyone did.” Kerry Ann smiled. “I had it all.”

“Yes. You did.” Delaney scoped the kitchen for something she could grab and use if she moved fast enough. “The nicest clothes, the prettiest hair, and the best parties.” Parties she’d attended. Parties where everyone had to give Kerry Ann their unwavering attention. Why hadn’t she seen this before now? Maybe she’d been so busy trying to fit in that she ignored all the negative signs.

Now they culminated in a blaring, clanging recognition. The subtle taunts about her clothes. The little sarcastic comments whenever Delaney didn’t get the lead in the school play. The constant bragging about Kerry Ann’s amazing boyfriend.

Things clicked into place as quickly as the magazine of bullets Kerry Ann had loaded into her gun.

Kerry Ann sneered. “Your dad mucked stalls for mine. And your mom cleaned my mother’s house. Now you think you’re better than me because you got that big break. And it was supposed to be mine. Not yours. Never yours.”

The memory of her first supporting actress Oscar role flashed. One that Kerry Ann had failed to audition for due to an all-night party with a bunch of A-list wannabes and posers. “You’re right. I’m sorry.” She lied, but Delaney didn’t dare argue with a nut job holding a gun.

A movement outside her living room windows caught her eye. Her stomach clenched. Ethan. He’d come back for her. Don’t give him away. He’s your only chance. She flicked her gaze back to Kerry Ann.

“Not as sorry as you’ll be once I’m through with you.” Kerry Ann closed the distance between them and pulled a coiled cable out of her purse with her free hand. “Put your arms behind your back.”

“Like hell.” Delaney kicked her foot out and tripped Kerry Ann. “I never stole your life. I made my own.”

She tried to scramble to her feet, but Delaney tackled her. The gun clattered to the ground, both went for it. Wrestling Kerry Ann, she heard glass shattering and lost her grip on the handle.

Kerry Ann caught Delaney in a chokehold, brought them to their feet, then put the barrel against her temple. “Drop your weapon, or she’s dead.”

* * *

Ethan’s heart went cold. One wrong move and this crazy ass bitch would make good on her threat. “Whatever you say,” he said, lowering his gun midway while holding Delaney’s gaze.

He’d have to take the risk, chance everything on only one shot. No vantage point. No camouflage. No top cover.

He knelt, acting like he’d put the gun on the floor, then rolled to the left, aimed and fired. The bitch holding Delaney screamed, then buckled over and crumpled to the ground, taking Delaney with her.

“Big mistake, tough guy.” Bleeding from the stomach, she scrambled for the gun that had clattered to the ground.

“No, stop, Kerry Ann. It’s over.” Delaney jumped on top of her and pinned her down.

Ethan kicked the gun out of reach, then reached Delaney. “Get a towel. I’ve got her.” Kerry Ann stopped struggling to get free, moaning as more blood oozed out of her side.

Delaney’s lips trembled and her eyes shimmered. “You came back.”

“I shouldn’t have left,” he said, binding Kerry Ann’s wrists behind her back.

“Because of Kerry Ann.”

“No. Because I can’t stand being without you.” He kissed her mouth hard, then pulled away. “Though it’s a good thing I came to my senses when I did.” If he hadn’t, God only knew where Delaney would be now.

She glanced at Kerry Ann who groaned beneath him. “Me too,” Delaney said quietly.

Within an hour, Kerry Ann had been taken into custody.

“Now this nightmare really is over,” Delaney said, holding her waist as they watched the ambulance and cruiser leave her property.

“Yes, you’re really free this time.”

“I am. What will you do now that this case is officially closed?”

He hated hearing the lack of emotion in her voice, but he didn’t blame her one bit. “The case is closed, but there’s one thing that’s still open,” he said, gently turning her to face him. Had he really come to his senses on time, or had he showed up too late to save his ass?

“What’s that?” she asked.

He cleared his throat. “Last time I checked the sexiest actress in Hollywood didn’t have a boyfriend,” he said. “I thought maybe I’d apply for the position. If you’ll have me, that is.”

“So, you’re not confused anymore? You sure about that?”

“No. Everything I feel about you is crystal clear.” He caressed her cheeks and, thank God, she dropped her arms and stepped closer. “You’ve got a heart of gold, and you gave me a piece of yourself, trusted me with who you are deep down. I like that person a lot. And I want to spend more time with you, learn more about you and give you everything I have to give. It’s not much—but it’s real.”

“I don’t need much.” She turned her cheek into his hand and kissed his palm. “Just someone to snuggle with when I watch my favorite shows, someone to hold onto in the middle of the night, someone to share my ups and my downs with, that’s all.”

“So, you’ll take my boyfriend application into consideration?” he asked, hope and something much stronger bubbling in his chest.

“Absolutely,” she said. “Do you think we should seal the deal with a kiss?”

He laughed. “Sweetheart, you’ll be getting a hell of a lot more than a kiss tonight,” he said, then anchored her neck and lowered his mouth to hers, bringing himself to the one place he didn’t ever want to leave.