But he had to admit she was right. His head was as hard as the concrete step under him. Instead of approaching Tim Carpenter as someone who could help him find the answers he sought, Sly had accused, tried, and found the man guilty. In jumping to conclusions, he’d created a world of trouble.
Tuesday night he’d done the same thing with Lana, brushing off her suggestion that they talk. He’d been suffering mightily ever since, and guessed she had been, too.
But even hurting, she was here, fighting for him because she loved him. She loved him.
Sly thought he might love her, too. No, he knew—he did love her.
Accepting and admitting this blew him away. He should’ve been scared but wasn’t. The truth was, he didn’t feel half bad—except when he realized he’d almost lost out on a lifetime with her.
What a damn fool he’d been.
He stood, brushed off his butt and grabbed the beers. Making no effort to be quiet, he strode up the steps. Neither Lana nor Tim was speaking, and he figured they’d heard his footsteps.
He knocked, then without waiting for an answer, stepped inside. The shock on Lana’s face was comical, but this was no time for laughter.
“I was starting to wonder if you’d ever show up,” Tim said.
“I’ve been here for a while now. Hold these, will you?” Sly handed him the beers, then turned to Lana. “Did you mean what you said? Do you really love me?”
“You were eavesdropping?”
Unashamed, he nodded. “I didn’t expect to find you here tonight, but I spotted your car next to Tim’s truck. He left the door open, and I wanted to hear what you were saying.”
“You heard it all?” she asked, looking wary.
“I heard what matters—that you believe in me.” Needing to touch her, Sly clasped both her hands and pulled her to her feet. “That’s awesome—you’re awesome.”
Holding back none of his feelings, he kissed her thoroughly.
When he pulled back, she wore a dazed expression. “I love you, Sly.”
Smiling, he gently brushed the hair out of her eyes.
“Don’t fall over when I say it, but I love you, too.”
Tim growled. “If you two don’t quit with the mushy stuff, I swear, I’ll bring the hose in here and spray you down.”
Sly and Lana laughed.
Not about to let go of his woman, he sat down in the armchair and pulled her onto his lap.
“I can’t believe you’re sitting in my cousin’s living room,” she said. “What are you doing here—with two beers each?”
“Sly’s here because I invited him to come back,” Tim said.
“Come back?” she echoed, confused.
Sly nodded. “I was here this afternoon, when Tim and I patched up our differences.”
“Hold on a darned minute.” Lana slanted her cousin a look. “You let me go through my whole spiel about how stubborn youand Sly both are without once mentioning that you’d already settled things?”
“I wanted to hear what you had to say,” Tim said. “And it wasn’t quite settled, but it is now.”
“Will one of you please explain what’s going on?” she asked.
Sly caught her up on what he knew, then turned to Tim. “I’m guessing Sheriff Dean called.”
“About an hour ago. It took a while for him to find Pitch and get him to talk, but he finally confessed. It’s just as I figured—he set us both up. I talked to my lawyer. First thing in the morning, he’ll contact yours. He doubts either of us is likely to get any restitution from Pitch. He’s broke—he’s always broke. But he’ll probably spend a few years in jail.”
