John made her leave the IV in, and as the afternoon waned, and she was forced to stay in bed, Emily found herself ready to pretty much scream. He’d gone out for something else. To check on their status? To drink a beer? What the fuck was he doing?

When her phone rang and Callie’s name appeared on the screen, she answered—perhaps too exuberantly.

“Emily.” Callie’s bright young voice made her smile.

“How are you?”

“Oh my God. Are you okay? Where are you? Your friend John called and said I should talk to you. But he couldn’t say where you are. You guys really are spies, aren’t you?”

Emily chuckled. “No.” She’d been thinking that might have been easier. “How are things in Harbor View? Is Bobby treating you well?”

Callie lowered her voice. “Emily, he is hot.”

“Don’t let your dad hear you say that.” Emily rolled her eyes, knowing how protective Eric was of his daughter. “But you’re okay?”

“Yes. The town has been in an uproar since you left. Sheriff Tagler has your shop cordoned off still, but there’s been no leads. Of course. And Bobby, he hovers like a shadow. He’s all broody, like an angry bear.”

“Should I be alarmed?” Emily asked.

“No!”

She almost laughed.

“He’s the sweetest thing.” Callie sighed.

“You know you sound ridiculous, right?”

“I know. But this guy is…well, he’s different.”

“Be careful, Callie. You hear me?”

“I know. It’s not like I’m planning on marrying the guy, you know?”

“Don’t even say that word, Callie. Your dad is going to kill me.” Marriage plans or not, Callie was only sixteen. John came through the door then, holding a to-go bag, and he looked at her with that worried look that was starting to get a little smothery.

“I should go. John said not to talk too long—which, by the way, does not bode well for thinking that you are fine, Miss Emily.”

“Well, have fun…I think.”

“Talk to you later!”

The call ended, and Emily glanced at John.

“What?” he asked.

“I’m going to have to kick Bobby’s ass.” Her stomach twisted a little, thinking about Bobby and Callie. “He’ll be good, right?”

John sat down in the chair in the corner, reminding her that he’d been keeping his distance. “We don’t hire degenerates.”

“I don’t mean ‘is he a pedophile.’” She scowled. “I mean…he won’t lead her on, will he?”

“He’s a good guy. And he wouldn’t work for Hawk if he couldn’t get the job done.”

“Not exactly high praise.”

“No,” John said, shrugging. “But I’m serious when I tell you Hawk would have his ass on a platter if he hooked up with a client like Callie.”

Emily tucked her feet under her and turned to him. “What are you doing, John?”

He couldn’t quite look her in the eye. “I don’t know. Thinking?”

She rose from her place on the bed and walked over to him. “Take it out, please?” She held out her hand to him.

Her heart went out to him when his hands shook. He picked up the first-aid kit on the table next to him and opened it. Gauze sat on top, and when he hesitated, she nudged him with her knee. “Come on. I’m sore, but fine.”

He surprised her, pulling her close, kneeing her legs apart and sitting her on top of his legs. He laid her hand flat on the table next to them. Like a crushing ninny, she went a little lightheaded being so close to him. But she took complete advantage and breathed. One long breath of everything that was John, and her world righted.

First he clipped the tubing and then he gently tugged on the tape that held the cannula in her vein. With the gauze, he applied pressure and pulled. He clipped the end and set it aside. He grabbed the roll of tape and secured the gauze to her hand. Then he lifted the hand and kissed it.

There was something about seeing him in his element—nursing, nursing her—something that filled her. “I love seeing you do your thing. It makes everything I know about you real.”

“I’ve never been fake.”

“No, you haven’t. I can’t explain it. But I love it.”

“You love it?”

She almost laughed. He seemed unassuming and kind. But he was totally calling her on her cowardice. Emily scooted closer to him and rested her arms on his shoulders. “I love you.”

“But?”

“You heard that, did you?”

He shrugged and placed his hands at her waist and massaged her. God, he was turning her on, and she had a feeling he knew it. “Talk to me,” he said.

“I’m quitting.”

His gaze sharpened on her.

She kissed him, because she had to. “I don’t know what that means right now. I know Hawk will let me go, but it’s not Hawk Elite I can’t do anymore. I can’t shoot. I’m done with field work.”

John brushed a strand of her hair back without a word.

“Say something,” she said.

“Will you marry me, Emily?”

Her mouth fell open.

“You aren’t surprised, are you?”

She shook her head. “No.”

“And?”

“And I’ve been alone almost my whole life.”

“You’ve separated yourself,” he corrected her, and she laughed.

“Who’s talking here?”

He grinned, shyly. “Sorry. But you have people—Eddie, Harbor View, and now Hawk Elite. And you have me, and through me, you have my family.”

“Very large family.” She hesitated. “You don’t expect me to have nine children, do you?”

“Is that a yes?” He held his breath.

“I think I’d be crazy not to, John Vega.”

His grin lit his face. He squeezed her hips. Then his mouth took hers, and oh. Oh, sweet kisses. Warmth filled her, dispelling the uncertainty and the cold from moments before. She hadn’t been sure of her future, and though she still had no idea what she was going to do next.

She’d spent long enough hiding from her past.

And now, she could be sure that whatever she did would be with a man who wanted to invest in her future despite her past.