“It will make a nice memento for you—sort of a reminder of the time you were involved in national intrigue,” Tony said.
She looked up at him, controlling the shiver as she sensed his withdrawal from her. “Yes, it will make a nice memento,” she echoed vaguely. It was over. Whatever they had shared was gone now.
“Well, let’s get out of here. We have some debriefing to put you all through,” the tall man explained. He turned and yelled orders to his men concerning the prisoners they had arrested, then turned back to Tony and Libby. “Ma’am, I’ll be glad to give you a ride back to Kansas City. I’ll debrief you on the way and you can get back to your normal life.” He eyed Tony. “Mr. Pandolinni, I’ll be glad to give you a ride, also.”
“No, that’s all right. I have my own car. Cliff can ride back with me and he’ll debrief me.” Tony’s gaze refused to meet Libby’s eyes.
“Well, let’s hit the road,” the tall man instructed, courteously leading Libby toward his car. She slid into the passenger seat, turning to look back to where Cliff and Tony stood.
Her gaze met Tony’s, and the dark, shuttered look in his eyes told her it was over. Not only the danger, and the intrigue, but the love, as well.
For a moment she couldn’t breathe and it was like being underwater all over again. She wanted to jump out of the car, run back to where he stood and throw her arms around him, hold him until he admitted that he loved her…that he couldn’t live without her. But she couldn’t do that. She couldn’t fight his demons for him. He would have to do that for himself.
She broke the gaze, unable to withstand it any longer. Mechanically, she fastened her seat belt. As the car pulled away from Walker’s Grocery, she looked back once again, needing one last, lingering look at the man she loved, the man she knew she would never see again.
