The Eligible Suspect

by Jennifer Morey

  “You didn’t know?”

  “No.”

  Fallon wiped her eyes, her tears stopping. “I don’t know how to feel about you.”

  “You don’t have to feel anything.”

  “I’m afraid that...every time I see you, I’m going to be reminded of how my mother was gunned down like a gangster.”

  “It might be that way for a while. But I’d like a chance to build a new relationship with you. To eventually change that perception. I may have done my share of crimes, but I never meant to hurt anyone. I loved your mother. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do to have her back. If only...” He could see her walking beside him, smiling, the breeze in her hair, loving him. “She was just walking too close to Damen.” She’d been walking too close. The gunman had missed and hit her.

  “Why did she have to fall in love with you?”

  That was a painful thing to ask. But all of her awful thoughts had to be aired.

  “If it would mean she’d still be alive, then I wish she never had.” Unfortunately, no one got a second take in this life. The film was made, a real horror.

  “I miss her so much.”

  Korbin said nothing. There was nothing he could say. He had loved Niya with all his heart, but she was gone.

  “Tell you what,” he said. “In about a month or so, let’s get together for lunch. We’ll talk some more. Take it slow and go from there. If you decide you don’t want me in your life, if it’s too hard for you, then I’ll understand. But I’ll always be here for you, no matter what.”

  A tiny smile poked the corners of her mouth and she nodded. “Okay.”

  The car stopped and he realized it was to drop Fallon off.

  She leaned over and hugged him. “Thank you.”

  For saving her? For understanding? It didn’t matter.

  “I’ll call you,” he said.

  And she was gone. Korbin watched her go inside her apartment building, feeling his life begin to take a turn in the right direction for a change. There was, however, one more thing he had to do.

  When they reached a busy street where he was sure to catch a taxi, he said, “Stop the car.”

  Savanna swung her head back to look at him.

  The driver pulled over and Korbin got out. He opened the passenger door and extended his hand. Savanna took it and got out, bewildered and leery. As he looked at her beautiful face, her striking blue eyes, all of the chaos he’d experienced in the last year came to a head.

  He had so many mixed-up emotions running through him right now he didn’t know which one to address first. It wasn’t a very manly feeling. He needed to be straight. True. Grounded. Sure. And he was none of those things. He was a criminal who’d gotten his wife killed. He was aimless. Drifting. Somehow he had to find his anchor, and while he was pretty sure she stood before him right now, he had to get out of these stormy waters so that he could see land.

  “Savanna...”

  Resignation lurked in her eyes. She lifted her finger to shush him.

  He took her finger and lowered it. “No. Hear me out.”

  “Why? So you can tell me you’re leaving? No, thanks.” She turned to get back into the car.

  Korbin took hold of her arm and swung her back around, meaning to bring her against him. With her lips forming an O, she flattened her hands on his chest as he adjusted her comfortably into his arms.

  “A lot has happened over the last few days.” Murders. Shoot-outs. Chases. Falling in love...

  “You have a life where I don’t fit,” she said. “I get it.” She started to push his chest to get away.

  He held her firm. She wasn’t going anywhere. “With Fallon?”

  “Yes. If I’d seen that coming, I’d...” She didn’t finish, but her rapid breathing revealed how hurt she felt. She was fighting tears.

  Tenderness rose up in him and he wished he could spare her that.

  “What?” he asked gently. “What would you have done? Stop what happened? There was no stopping that.”

  Her brows scrunched together. There was no stopping them.

  “As I was saying...” He waited for her breathing to calm and for her to look into his eyes, really look. When she began to melt into him, something he loved to see, he said, “A lot has happened in the last few days.”

  “Yes. One of which is that I fell in love with you. I’m an idiot. Why do I fall for the wrong guys all the time? The ones who never stick around?”

  He raised his brow in silent admonishment. “Will you listen to me for two minutes?”

  She patted his chest, anxious and fretful.

  Korbin lowered his head and kissed her. She tensed at first, but as he moved over her mouth and finally got her to relax and enjoy it, he eased away, finding and locking her gaze again.

  “I don’t know where I’m at in my grieving process,” he said, softening that with another kiss. “I don’t know what I’m going to do with my future.” He kissed her again. “I’m confused. And the reason I’m so confused is I think I’ve fallen in love with you.”

  Savanna’s eyes stared up at him unblinking, her mouth wide again. “I don’t understand. Are you leaving me?”

  “For now, yes.”

  She started pushing again.

  “When I come for you, there will be nothing between us, Savanna. Are you listening?” He kissed her again, a few short pecks that turned into one long and slow one. “You deserve all of me. Not pieces at a time. I thought I was making progress grieving for Niya, but I wasn’t. Not until I met you. I’m making progress now. But I need to know without a doubt that I’m over her, and most importantly, that I don’t blame myself for her death. That has to be all the way behind me before I can come to you as a whole man, one who will belong to you and only you.”

  For the second time today, he watched tears well in a woman’s eyes.

  “I’m going to go stay with my parents for a while.”

  She sniffled. “I’m going to see you again?”

  “Yes, Savanna. I just don’t know when. Can you wait for me?”

  She took longer than he liked to answer. “Yes.”

  “Are you sure? You don’t seem sure.”

  “I’m sure. I love you.”

  I love you, too almost came out of his mouth unbidden, but he stopped it. Telling her that now, with his past such a jumble in his head and heart, wouldn’t be fair or honest.

  “I think I love you, too,” he said. “I want to be able to come back here and tell you that for real.”

  “Oh, Korbin.” She flung her arms around him and kissed him with all she had.

  He kissed her for several more minutes. If he kissed her any longer, he wouldn’t be going anywhere but the nearest hotel.

  Easing back, he took her face between his hands and kissed her once more before stepping back.

  She was breathing fast and tears still shone in her eyes as he turned and walked up the street to flag down a taxi.

  * * *

  Savanna sat in the turret window, book on her lap, staring out at the falling snow. It had been a week since Korbin left her standing on the sidewalk, watching him get into a taxi and disappear from her life. Such a flutter of torn emotions had churned through her that she could barely get back into the sedan. As the days rolled by, her heartache only intensified. But it was different from the other times. This was bittersweet. She felt such strong love for him she could hardly contain it. Like now, staring out the window, yearning for a love that had promised to come back but hadn’t yet. Yearning so much that it hurt.

  Her entire family was in Evergreen right now. She’d locked the door to this library. It adjoined the room where she was sleeping. She’d locked that door, too. She had to be alone with this lonely love consuming her.

  Pounding on the
door interrupted her quasi-peace.

  “Savanna? Open up.” It was Macon.

  “Leave me alone.”

  “Let me in.” He pounded again. “Mom’s about to send everybody up here to break down the door.”

  She’d do it, too. With a hard sigh, she left her perch and unlocked the door. Macon leaned with his forearm on the door frame, looking disheveled and rakish.

  Savanna moved out of the way so he could enter. When he did, she closed and locked the door.

  “How long are you going to stay up here?”

  “I don’t know. I was thinking about going home.” For once, being alone hadn’t appealed to her, which was why she’d come here. And also the press. They were relentless. But now the sanctuary of her home was calling to her.

  “You aren’t going anywhere unless you can convince Mom you’re okay.” Macon sat down on a wing-backed chair and put his feet up on an ottoman.

  Savanna sat in the other chair beside him.

  “So, he’s not coming back, huh?”

  “He said he was.”

  “Did he?”

  Thinking back to what Korbin had said, she wasn’t so sure. “Yes, but...”

  “You don’t trust him.”

  No. Yes. She realized she did trust him. He’d meant what he’d said. He’d be back. Some day. She might suffer from a broken heart for the third time in her life, but she wouldn’t fault him. He would be the most honest and faithful man to have broken her heart.

  “Well, then stop watching for him.”

  “I’m not watching for him.”

  “You sit in that window pretending to read a book when all you do is stare at the road.”

  “How...”

  “I see you sometimes.”

  “Spying on me?”

  “You’re my sister. I hate to see you hurting. Makes me want to go find him and beat him up for you.”

  She smiled. “Stop it.”

  “Modern Citizen Magazine wants to do a feature on the two of you.”

  She gaped at him. Citizen was the most venerable entertainment magazine out there. “What?”

  “Yeah. You saved the country.” He grinned. “And there’s the other matter of a budding romance everybody is dying to hear about.”

  Savanna rolled her eyes. “How do you know they want to do a feature?”

  “Their chief editor called Dad. Asked him to talk to you. Apparently they’ve tried to get a hold of both you and Korbin, but neither of you is answering your phone.”

  “I’ll come downstairs, just, please, stop talking about that.”

  He chuckled. “At least you don’t have someone claiming you left them in Aspen.”

  Macon’s ex-girlfriend had gone public with their breakup. She said that when he’d gone to help Savanna, he abandoned her in a hotel without a word.

  “She was an airhead anyway. You can do better.”

  “No actresses, I’ve decided.”

  She stood up. “Come on. Help me show Mom I’m okay so I can go home.”

  * * *

  Korbin had just dropped Fallon off at the airport. She’d spent the weekend at his parents’ house. She had no living grandparents and had never met his mom and dad. They’d all gotten along great. Fallon had no family other than him. She seemed to be warming to the idea of having one with them. And as always, his next thought was of Savanna. Family. It was a new life. He still couldn’t make the transition. It all felt so surreal. His life was close to settling. When would he go for her? Now? It felt right...and then not. He still shied away from it.

  Dropping his rental car keys into the doorman’s palm, he nodded his thanks and went to find his mother. She was in one of the living rooms, the less formal one. She smiled when she saw him. He’d made progress earning his parents’ forgiveness. His dad was much calmer now. Not completely trusting, but on the way there.

  His mother patted the cushion beside her. “I want to talk to you about something.”

  “Where’s Dad?” He went there and sat.

  She turned off the television. “Out in the garage working on his motorcycle. Getting ready for spring.”

  His dad owned a Harley. It was the one thing he didn’t hire someone to take care of.

  “Dad said the chief editor of Modern Citizen Magazine called him.”

  “They’ve left me messages.”

  “Aren’t you going to call them back?”

  “Do you think I should?”

  “It would be a joint interview. You and that woman, Savanna Ivy.”

  Excitement and reticence flopped in his stomach.

  “What happened with the two of you?” his mom asked.

  How could he explain that to his mom?

  “Why aren’t you with her right now?”

  “I’m here.”

  “Yes, and we appreciate that, but we’ll always be here, honey. If you wait too long, you’re going to lose her.”

  He stared at his mother. She was so insightful when it came to him. He’d forgotten that.

  “Why did you leave her behind? Why not bring her with you here?”

  “I had to set things right with you and Dad. And Fallon.”

  His mom angled her head, all-knowing. “Honey, it’s okay to let her go.”

  He sat back against the chair.

  “Even Fallon agrees.” When he shot a look at her, she said, “We talked just before she left. She asked why you weren’t with Savanna. She said she was a nice woman, and brave.”

  “She’s okay with it?”

  “She said you should go get her.”

  Fallon was okay with him moving on?

  “It’s been a year, Korbin. That’s enough time to show your respect and love. Fallon doesn’t doubt your love for her mother. And she doesn’t expect you to live alone the rest of your life.”

  While that helped, he still couldn’t take that leap.

  “Let her go, Korbin.” When he just looked at her, she said, “Just do it. Just go back to Colorado and tell Savanna that you love her. I can see that you do. You had the same look with Niya. It’s okay if you love again. A lot of people don’t get another chance at it. Don’t let it pass you by because you feel guilty. What is that saying? Feel the guilt and do it anyway.”

  “It’s not just that. What am I going to do with my future?” He was no longer a criminal. What would he do with his time? He needed direction.

  “Do you love her?” his mom asked.

  And the answer came into his eyes.

  “Then go get her. Make a future with her. You both can figure it out together.”

  It was the most sensible thing anyone had ever said to him. All at once everything became clear. Savanna. Him. Fallon. Family.

  Chapter 20

  Savanna’s mother came with her to Wolf Creek and they were baking cookies when someone rang the doorbell. Savanna wiped her hands and went to the door. It was Hurley.

  “Hi, Hurley.”

  He extended an envelope. “This is for you.”

  She eyed his grin as she took it. “What’s this?”

  It was thick, as though there was a card inside.

  “An invitation.” His grin was suspicious.

  There was a card inside, blank except for something handwritten.

  Meet me at Silver Plume. Be there before the storm.

  Korbin

  Sparks of excitement and shock inundated her. She looked up at Hurley.

  “He asked me to take you there.”

  “He did?” Behind him in the driveway, a snowmobile was running. She was so surprised and thrilled she was bursting inside. She threw a hug around Hurley and then jumped up and down. “I have to pack! Give me a second.” She kissed H
urley’s cheek and ran inside.

  “Mom!”

  “Who is it?”

  “Korbin! He came back!” She went still. “Oh my God, I have to get ready.”

  “What? Why?”

  She kissed her mom’s cheek. “Hurley’s taking me to him.”

  “Now? Savanna, what’s gotten into you?”

  “Korbin is meeting me at one of Hurley’s yurts.” Her mother could never guess the significance of that yurt. Savanna covered her mouth with her hand. He was here. He’d come back for her.

  Savanna trotted up the stairs with waving hands. In her room, she packed sexy lingerie and a few other articles of clothing into a backpack and then raced downstairs. In the closet off the front entry, she quickly dressed in winter clothes and then put the pack on her back.

  Her mother smiled, leaning against the wall where Korbin had once stood with a gun.

  “My daughter in love,” her mother said. “You tell that boy if he doesn’t treat you right he’ll have me to answer to.”

  Savanna walked over in her snow boots and kissed her mom on her cheek. “Sorry to leave you like this.”

  “It’s good. I can go home now. I always hated thinking of you all by yourself in this house.” She lifted her head to look around. “It’s so isolated. Don’t you ever worry about wild animals?”

  “No, Mother. I love it here.”

  “Is this where you and Korbin will live?”

  “Yes. At least I hope so.”

  “What about your motivational speaking?” her mother asked.

  “I don’t need it anymore.” Suddenly she realized that was true. Speaking positively helped her feel interesting, but she didn’t need that anymore. She was interesting without any convincing. Korbin made her feel that way. She fit him. They belonged together.

  “Do you have your phone with you?” Camille asked.

  “There’s no service where I’m going.” And she didn’t want any when she got there.

  Her mother kissed her cheek this time. “I love you. Call me when you get back home. And tell me when the wedding is.”