Alexa looked up when the hospital door opened later that afternoon. She’d been ready to leave for hours. Her injuries hadn’t necessitated even one night in the hospital, much less two. But she’d needed the pretext.

She’d known Tillman would come.

Ethan walked into the room, stopping short when he saw her. A slow smile crossed his face. “It’s like you’re in a hurry to get out of here or something.”

“It’s bad enough to be in one of these places when you’re actually sick.” Far different, she thought with an inward shudder, to lie in one, hour after hour, expecting a madman to try and kill her at any moment. “It’s finally over.”

Ethan nodded, coming closer to take the seat beside her. “He’s behind bars. He’ll be transported to a federal holding facility until trial.”

The enormity of the past few hours swamped her. “He took the bait so easily. Maybe I was wrong, and he did suffer a psychotic break. He was driven by his compulsion. This final plan of his was far more reckless than even I had expected.”

“Yeah, well, I’m not sure I’m up for another two days like this, myself.” Ethan picked up one of her hands. Played with the fingers. “We didn’t get a ping on his phone since yesterday. He was gone again by the time we reached him then.”

“Where was he?” Ethan had been stingy with the details while they’d been waiting for Tillman to make a move.

“A coffee shop down the street where he could watch the people coming and going into the front doors. You were never in any danger.” He seemed anxious to reassure her again, even now that it was all over. “We had plainclothes officers near every entrance, elevator, and stairwell. The task force members were spread all over this floor.”

“But only one was camped out for a day and a half in my hospital room bathroom,” she teased.” He’d refused to leave her alone. And in truth, she hadn’t tried very hard to convince him to do so. Every officer on the task force was supremely competent. But she’d felt secure with him when she was a girl. And two decades later there was still no one she trusted more to keep her safe.

The knowledge that he was close by had been a quiet comfort throughout the nerve-wracking hours of waiting.

“He was spotted as soon as he entered the hospital.” Ethan repositioned himself in the hard chair. “His progress was relayed every dozen feet. I was ready for him.”

“And so was I.” When he skated his thumb over the back of her hand, Alexa turned her palm in his to capture his fingers. Squeezed them. “I’m glad it’s over.”

The look in his eyes had the blood in her veins slowing. Turning molten. “So am I. Losing you once was hard enough. Watching you put yourself in danger, twice…you gave me some bad moments there, Lexie.”

“There were one or two.” The memory of crawling through those caves was going to haunt her for a long time to come. And she just might develop a walloping case of claustrophobia as a result. But she had no regrets, given the outcome. “Patrick doing okay?”

“Nothing keeps that kid down for long.”

She smiled wistfully. They failed to get to Lawler in time. But Patrick and Logan had been returned to their families. Tillman would die behind bars. That would have to be enough.

“So.” Ethan dropped her hand and stood up then, jamming his fists in his trouser pockets. “I guess you’re planning to fly back to…where do you live?” He crossed to the window. Then to the end of the bed.

“Falls Church. Near DC.” Alexa regarded him carefully. She could almost see the nervous energy coursing through him. Wondered at the source of it.

He nodded jerkily. “Got another case lined up?”

The tension that started to build in her began to dissipate. “Nope. I was thinking of taking a few days off. Sticking around for a little while. I’d like to visit Olivia’s grave while I’m in the country.” It’d been her last stop before she’d left Canada for good all those years ago. All she’d had for comfort in the time since was a picture of their baby’s marker.

“I think that’s a good idea. To take a few days’ break, I mean, after all that’s gone down.”

She eyed him knowingly. “Is that what you’re going to do?”

His answer surprised her. “I don’t know.” His light-blue gaze was intense, fixed on her with laser focus. “I didn’t have the words to keep you from leaving last time. And I’m having a helluva time finding them now. You and I…we both got on with our lives. And there didn’t seem to be anything missing in mine until you walked back into it. And now…shit, Alexa. There’s no smooth way of saying it. I’m not letting you go again without a fight.”

Her heart did a slow dizzying turn in her chest. “I’m not going to put up much of a struggle.” His expression stilled. “Our circumstances couldn’t be more different now. Leaving you was the hardest thing I ever did. I don’t think I have the strength to do it twice.”

He was by her side in two quick steps, taking her hand and tugging her into his embrace. And when his arms closed around her, it felt like coming home. Her voice unsteady, she said, “I’ve loved you since I was a girl, but it’s the woman standing here telling you that no matter what happened between us, you were the best thing that ever happened to me.” His kiss stole the rest of her words. After a moment, she leaned against him and savored the feel of his lips on hers. Little bursts of heat sang through her veins.

When he lifted his head, his voice was husky. “I want the whole nine yards. House, babies, goofy-looking dog. If that’s not what you want, too, better tell me now.”

“Because you’d change your mind?”

“Hell, no.” His grin was more than a little wicked. “Because I’ll get busy changing yours.”

“Lucky for you then, that I want the same thing.” Alexa brushed his lips with hers before rearing back to survey him critically. “That whole baby thing, though. You are a year older than me. And you aren’t getting any younger.”

He nodded, although the glint in his eye didn’t resemble agreement. “You’re right. So, in the interest of time, I say…” his mouth lowered to hers again… “we’d better get started.”