"It's over, Lizzy," Daniel said as if he'd read her thoughts. He pulled her into a full embrace and she clung to him. He might have killed a man … a friend, for her. He might have been killed himself in trying to rescue her.
"I'll see you two at the office in a few minutes," Cameron said as he left the cabin.
Lizzy didn't move from Daniel's arms. She had never needed anyone in her life as she needed him then, just to hold her, to assure her with the strength of his arms, the solid beat of his heart, that everything was fine.
"When you didn't come back to the table after going to the bathroom, I sent Mary in to see what was taking so long. When she came back and told me you weren't in there, I panicked." His words whispered against her neck with the heat of emotion. "I was so afraid I'd lost you. I thought I'd made you mad and made you run to danger, just like the night of Janice's death."
She raised her head to look up at him and saw the deep torment in his beautiful gray eyes. "Oh, Daniel, you didn't make me mad. I didn't run out of here angry. I was forced out. I had every intention of coming back to the table to argue with you if I needed to."
His gaze held hers for a long moment. "I don't want to argue with you, Lizzy. I've showed you my hand, my heart, and now the next play is yours." He dropped his arms from around her. "And now we better get down to the sheriff's office and put this terrible night and craziness behind us."
As he led her to his truck, she was vaguely aware of a crowd gathered at the back of the café. But, all she could focus on was what he'd said, that he'd shown her all his cards and now it was her turn to play.
Chapter 13
Lizzy awoke with the late-afternoon sun drifting in through the guest bedroom window at Daniel's place. They hadn't gotten home until just after dawn. It had taken forever at the sheriff's office to finally wrap things up.
Sam had gone through surgery for the gunshot wound to his thigh. Before going in he'd made a full confession to Cameron about the attacks on Lizzy, but he had remained adamant that he'd had nothing to do with Candy's death.
It would take months before a trial, and in the meantime Cameron believed what Sam needed most was some psychological work. Still, he would remain in jail and eventually stand trial for his crimes against Lizzy, the most serious charge one of attempted murder.
She turned over in the bed and stared at the sunbeams dancing across the bottom of the pink comforter, her mind drifting back to the night before. By the time she and Daniel had driven home there had been nothing left to say between them. Both were exhausted, and he'd gone to his room to sleep, and she'd undressed and fallen into bed in this room and slept without dreams.
Daniel had been devastated by Sam's betrayal. Cameron had been upset that he hadn't been able to clear up Candy's murder, and Adam had been distraught to realize how mentally ill his brother had become. Lizzy had felt as if she were on an emotional roller coaster.
It had been a night of high emotions, and by the time it was all over everyone had been wrung dry. Lizzy still felt wrung dry … numb by everything that had happened both before and after Sam had taken her into the cabin.
The conversation she and Daniel had been having before she'd gone to the restroom had been both wonderful and troubling. He loved her. He'd not only said the words out loud, but he'd also shown her through his actions not just last night but also during the past week that they'd spent together.
He'd been a terrific nursemaid while she'd been healing from her beating. He'd anticipated her every need and had been by her side for comfort and support.
Still, she didn't believe his assessment of her, that it was somehow fear that had kept her out of relationships in the past and fear that would take her away from him.
It was just the wrong time in her life for love. She had things to do, places to see and a promise to keep. She got out of bed and headed next door to the bathroom for a hot shower, hoping some clarity would make itself known as she stood beneath a hot spray of water.
By the time she left the bathroom dressed and ready to face the day, she knew the card she was going to play. It took her only fifteen minutes or so to pack her suitcases. She carried them down the stairs and placed them by the front door and then went in search of Daniel.
She found him seated at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee in front of him. Her heart swelled at the sight of him, and she consciously tamped down any emotion that might try to take hold of her.
"You look almost as tired this afternoon as you did this morning when we went to bed," she said to him as she walked over to the coffeepot to pour herself a cup of the fragrant brew.
"Yeah, it took me forever to get to sleep when we got home." He offered her a tired smile as she sat across from him at the table.
"I still can't believe it was Sam who attacked you," he said, his eyes sad as he spoke of the man who had once been his friend. "I never sensed the rage inside him. I never had a clue that he harbored so much resentment against me." He took a sip of his coffee and then smiled at her once again. "But, you look well rested."
"I guess there's nothing quite so good for sleep as knowing the psycho who attacked you is finally behind bars. I slept like a baby."
"Cameron still has his hands full with the investigation into Candy's death."
"He's a smart man. I'm sure he'll have it figured out. Everyone still thinks it's Kevin, and I believe like Cameron does that it's just a matter of time before Kevin tells somebody and the case against him blows wide open."
"I hope so. Somebody needs to pay for that young woman's death." He turned his gaze out the window, and for several long moments an awkward silence prevailed.
She studied his face as he continued to look out the window. She loved the strength that radiated in his features and the softer edge of sensuality that clung to the curve of his mouth.
She loved the way his eyes lit when he smiled, transforming them from a battleship gray to a lighter shade. He had the heart of a warrior, proud and strong, yet protective of the people he loved.
And he loved her.
Her chest tightened as emotion rose up inside her. But, was what he felt for her real love? Could she really depend on that love? Or was it that she'd been the first woman after his tragedy with Janice to come along and he was mistaking his feelings for her?
Maybe he was right about her. Maybe she was just too afraid to trust in any man enough to bind her heart to his. All she really knew was that she needed to leave … and she needed to leave now.
He turned his head and his gaze captured hers, and the sadness in his eyes ached inside her heart, inside her soul. "I heard you carry your suitcases downstairs. I guess that means you've made up your mind to move on."
"Don't look so sad, Daniel," she said, surprised to feel the press of tears at her eyes.
"I am sad, but I think maybe I'm more sad for you than I am for myself," he replied. "You've opened up my eyes to life again, Lizzy. You've touched my life in such a positive way." His eyes grew darker. "Don't get me wrong. I love you and I don't want you to go. I can't tell you how much it's going to hurt not to have you in my life, but I'm not going to beg you to stay."
Each and every word he spoke cut a gash in her heart that she knew would take a long time to heal. "It's just that I … "
"I know, you have this bucket list thing," he said, interrupting her. "I just hope that when you've finished your bucket list and many adventures and are ready to settle down, you'll find a man who will love you as deeply, as completely as I love you now."
Run. The word flew through her head as tears tumbled from her lashes. "This wasn't supposed to happen," she said, her voice thick with suppressed tears.
"I guess it just proves that you can't dictate when love will enter your life." His gaze held hers for another achingly long moment, and then he abruptly rose from the table and walked over to the sink, where he placed his cup.
She didn't look at him. Run. The word whispered in her head once again. She downed the coffee, the hot liquid burning the back of her throat. She set down her cup and finally got the courage to meet his gaze once again.
"I figured if I left right away I'd be able to get to Kansas City before nightfall."