They were getting ready to leave Alex’s small private airport. Chase Garrett, Lissa’s boss at Maximum Security, had gotten word of what had happened to Timmy and was sending the Garrett company jet to pick him up. Tim and Lissa would be flying home in style, but Colt wouldn’t be joining them.
His chest felt tight. The jet would be arriving at Laredo International Airport any minute. He was dropping them off then heading on to Denver. At the moment, Timmy was with Alex, getting a last-minute helo-flying lesson. The boy was recovering from his ordeal far better than Colt had expected. He was a strong kid. No matter what happened to his father, Tim was going to be all right.
It was time to for them to leave, but first he wanted to speak to Lissa, hadn’t had a moment alone with her since they had climbed aboard the helo.
He glanced away from the chopper, spotted her, and started walking. There were things he needed to say, things he had never said to a woman before. Lissa saw him coming and met him halfway across the tarmac, in the shade of a building out of the sun.
This was it. They wouldn’t be alone again once they left for the airport.
Lissa stood right in front of him, looked up at him with her beautiful dark brown eyes. “I came to say good-bye.”
He nodded. His throat felt tight. “Me too.”
“I wanted you to know that the time we spent together meant something to me. I’ll never forget you, Colt.”
He glanced away. He’d never forget her, either. He looked back at her, memorizing her face. “You were great out there. I’ve never worked with a better partner.”
She smiled but her bottom lip trembled. “Thank you for saying that.”
“I mean it. I couldn’t have done it without you.”
She looked down then back into his face. “Maybe our paths will cross again someday.”
His chest ached. Unless something changed, it would probably never happen. After today, he might never see her again. The thought sent an arrow of despair straight into his heart.
She leaned up and pressed a soft kiss on his lips. When she started to back away, Colt pulled her in and kissed her the way he wanted to, with all the feelings he had for her he’d never said. When he let her go, tears shimmered in her eyes.
“We better get going,” she said. “We don’t want to keep the jet waiting.”
Colt just shook his head. He didn’t care if the damn plane waited forever. He wasn’t ready to let her go. It occurred to him he never would be. He wanted to tell her the way he felt but he couldn’t seem to find the words.
Then he opened his mouth and they just spilled out. “I don’t want you to go. I don’t want to see you at some nebulous time in the future. Or maybe never. I don’t want us to be over, Liss. I don’t care what it takes, I want us to be together.”
She looked at him as if he’d lost his mind. Maybe he had.
“You know it wouldn’t work. Long distance relationships never work.”
“Then we won’t make it long distance. We’ll figure something out. We’re both single. Neither of us is too old to change the path we’re traveling.” He set his hands at her waist and drew her closer. “You know we’re perfect for each other. Everything about us fits. At least admit that much. If you don’t believe it, tell me I’m wrong.”
The tears were back in her eyes and they spilled over onto her cheeks. She wiped them away with the tip of her finger.
“You aren’t wrong. I’ve never met a man who suits me the way you do. It doesn’t change anything.”
A warm feeling slipped through him. He recognized it as hope. “It changes everything, sweetheart.” Colt leaned down and kissed her, softly at first, then more deeply. By the time he’d finished, she was clinging to him as if she’d never let him go.
“Tell me you’re willing to try,” he said. “At least give me that much.”
She looked at him and something moved across her features. Resolve, he thought, or some kind of decision.
“I know it’s too soon to say this, but I don’t want to leave without telling you. I’m in love with you, Colt. It wasn’t what I wanted. It just happened.”
The warmth in his chest expanded. “I don’t think time is a factor when it comes to love. I’ve never said the L-word to a woman before, but that’s the way I feel about you.” He gathered her close, her elegant dancer’s body melding perfectly with his larger frame. “I love you, Lissa.”
She reached up and touched his cheek. “Colt...”
“Say you’ll give us a chance.”
Fresh tears surfaced. “I can’t believe this is happening, but...yes. Let’s find a way to make it work.”
