His eyes soften, that rare vulnerable expression that makes my heart skip. "I love you too. More than I knew was possible."
For a moment, we just look at each other, the weight of those words settling around us. Three weeks ago, I was a stranger breaking down in his garage. Now, I can't imagine my life without him.
"So," I say, reluctantly breaking the moment. "Let's talk about Vanessa."
Diesel sighs, fingers tightening around mine. "I've been thinking about it. There's no way to reason with her. She wants what she wants, and she doesn't care who she hurts to get it."
"What about going to Vancouver? Speaking to this Officer Reid you mentioned? Surely if she's threatening you, that violates some kind of condition for her brother's parole hearing."
He shakes his head. "Reid retired two years ago. And even if he hadn't, it would be my word against hers. No proof."
"The car that hit you?—"
"Stolen, according to Parker. Found abandoned outside town limits. Wiped clean."
I chew my lip, frustration building. "So we just what, wait for her to make another move? Hope it's not worse next time?"
"No." Diesel's voice hardens. "We set a trap."
"What kind of trap?" I ask, not entirely sure I like where this is heading.
"We give her what she wants. Or let her think we are." His eyes take on that focused gleam I've seen when he's solving a particularly tricky mechanical problem. "I'll tell her I'm willing to recant my testimony, but I want money. Enough to disappear, start over somewhere new."
"You'd do that? Lie to help her brother get out of prison?" The thought makes me uneasy.
"No," he says firmly. "I'll record everything. Get her on tape admitting to the hit and run, the blackmail, all of it. Then takeit to the Vancouver PD. Even if her brother still gets his parole hearing, she'll be facing charges of her own."
It's not a bad plan, but the risks are obvious. "What if she suspects a trap? She already tried to kill you once, Diesel."
"She won't meet alone," he admits. "She'll have muscle with her. But that's where you come in."
"Me?" I sit up straighter. "What do I do?"
"You'll be nearby with Sheriff Parker on speed dial, recording everything as backup. If things go south, you call him immediately."
I don't like the idea of him facing Vanessa and her thugs alone, but it's better than doing nothing. "When?"
"Tomorrow night. I'll text her in the morning, set it up." He shifts, grimacing at the movement. "Neutral location. Public enough to discourage violence, private enough for our conversation."
"The Velvet Antler back room," I suggest. "Silas knows you, and there's that private area in the back for wine tastings."
Diesel nods slowly. "That could work. Silas is discreet, and he's got security cameras."
"And I can be at the bar, close enough to hear but not obviously with you." The plan starts taking shape in my mind, each detail falling into place. "We might actually pull this off."
"We will," Diesel says with quiet confidence. "And then Vanessa will be out of our lives for good."
Our lives. The casual way he links our futures sends warmth through me. "I like the sound of that."
His expression softens again. "Me too."
We spend the next hour refining the plan, considering every angle, every potential problem. The pain medication eventually kicks in, and Diesel's eyelids grow heavy, his responses slower.
"You need rest," I tell him, helping him to his feet. "Bed, now."
"Bossy," he mumbles, but lets me guide him to the bedroom. "You staying?"
"Try to get rid of me." I help him undress, careful of his bandages and bruises. "I'm not letting you out of my sight until Vanessa is behind bars or back in Vancouver."
