By Request Collection April-June 2016. Оливия Гейтс

      “Okay, maybe there were mistakes, but Annie, you didn’t do anything illegal. That’s what matters. You didn’t steal a single penny. You’re not a thief.”

      “Just a coward and a dope.”

      “You’re not, though. You’re one of the strongest people I know. Tucker seems like a smart man. Every question he asked about the foundation was astute and reasoned, and so was every question he asked about you. Give him the benefit of the doubt.”

      “I believed that about my associate in New York.” She led Shea out of the stable. “If it was only my feelings at stake, I would talk to him. But he’s basically told me he’s going to champion Safe Haven with his foundation. We have so much to lose. You know as well as I do that people can forgive a lot, but being duped, being manipulated and lied to, goes straight to their pride. Believe me. I know. Tucker’s a lot of things and one of them is proud.”

      Stopping at the doors, she looked around, made sure no one was nearby. “He said it himself. When he handed me the check. He believes in me. After that, how can I tell him?”

      Shea sighed. She looked sad and worried. “Where does that leave the two of you?”

      “Nowhere. He’s going home tonight or tomorrow morning. I won’t encourage him to come back.”

      “But—”

      “That’s the way it is. I’ll be fine.” Annie didn’t quite believe that, but she hoped Shea did. “Especially now that I can talk to you. Although I promise, I won’t make a pest out of myself.”

      “You aren’t a pest. You’re my friend.”

      Those few words meant the world to Annie, and she had to take a moment to collect herself. She’d never expected another friend, not ever. No, she couldn’t have the man she wanted, but she wasn’t in jail, she wasn’t actively on the run and she was making a difference at Safe Haven. All in all, it was more than she deserved.

      “Let’s go to the barn,” Shea said.

      Annie sighed. “What’s Pinocchio done now?”

      “You were only gone overnight. No one had time to do anything too terrible.”

      “Ha. I’ve been at this long enough to know that all it takes is two minutes for everything to go crazy.”

      “Can I just finish with one thing?” Shea asked.

      “Sure.”

      “Actually, two things. First, I wouldn’t rule out telling Tucker, because I don’t think he’d renege on his promises. Second, your hair looks really pretty.”

      Annie wanted to believe her. The fantasy of Tucker being all forgiving and magnanimous had been floating around at the periphery of her thoughts. But every time those thoughts became too vivid, she’d shut them down. Despite the way she and Tucker clicked, they hadn’t had enough time together for a deep relationship to form, even though it felt as if it had.

      Things that sounded too good to be true, were. Not remembering that basic premise had gotten her into this mess in the first place. “Thanks,” she said. “I like my hair, too.”

      “I MEANT FOR YOU TO MICROWAVE soup for yourself, as well,” Annie said. “Why don’t you have this bowl, and I’ll get some more out.”

      “I’m fine,” Tucker said. “I can have a sandwich. Or a frozen burrito.”

      She smiled at him as she crossed the very short distance between them. “It was nice that Shea and Jesse were able to help out. But I’m glad they’re gone.”

      The moment she was close enough, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her. It felt risky here, as if at any moment someone from town could walk in and find them. But who would come, and why would anyone care? She supposed paranoia was her natural state now.

      Regardless, it felt wonderful to press up against him, to taste him, to have another opportunity to memorize all she could before he left.

      The thought that this might be the very last kiss made her desperate, and with her lips and her tongue and her breath, she selfishly took all she could, but she didn’t care. It terrified her to think of him fading away in her memory. Even if she took the shirt he was wearing, kept it with her always, in time the scent would go, and she’d be left with a plain white Oxford that would torment her for the rest of her days.

      Her frenzy must have been catching, because he became just as ruthless, running rough hands down her back, moving his muscled thigh between her legs. The pressure made her squirm. She leaned away, looked at the stairs.

      “I made arrangements to fly out at eight.”

      “It’s only a quarter to six,” she said. “We have time. If you don’t mind taking your sandwich with you.”

      His smile did things it shouldn’t have been possible to do. “I’d never eat again if it gave me more time with you.”

      “Oh, that is such a horrible lie. But I’ll take it.”

      “An exaggeration, perhaps,” he said, turning her around and pointing her at the staircase. “Not by much, though.”

      “Eight o’clock, tonight?”

      “Sadly, yes. I know that doesn’t give us much time, but I’d like to…”

      She ran halfway up to the loft before she laughed and said, “What? What would you like to do?” She scrambled the rest of the way up when he lunged for her. “Just know you’ll have to deal with the miniature shower. Say goodbye to washing anything that requires bending over.”

      He reached her in record time, ducking his head just enough not to get a concussion. “Speaking of bending over.”

      “Hmm. Normally, innuendos don’t get me hot.”

      He paused briefly before pulling out his wallet. “I’m supposed to say something clever now, but I can’t think of anything but being inside you.”

      She sighed, retrieved the condom packet from his fingers and tossed it on the bed. “That was better than clever. Now, kiss me and make me forget about later.”

      Tucker kissed her the whole time he took off her clothes, except for the removal of her shirt and her boots. Everything fell where she stood, could have disappeared from the planet for all she cared. Besides, he had more buttons to undo, which she stumbled over, before he broke down and pulled the shirt out of his jeans.

      She’d finally gotten everything undone, when he stepped back. “What?”

      His scowl was fierce, but he wasn’t looking at her. “What the hell is it with the boots? Why don’t we wear sensible shoes that we can toe off while we’re walking?”

      “Loafers on horseback? I don’t know, I think there’d be complaints.”

      “Only from people who don’t have a beautiful woman who is currently naked and inches from the bed.”

      She giggled. God, what was wrong with her? She never giggled.

      He paid attention to the task at hand, while she fussed with her comforter. She remembered the fantasies she’d had about having him between these very sheets. It hadn’t dawned on her that it could be something real.

      She decided to appreciate the gift, and let any other expectations go. He was here. Now. And now that his frustrating boots were off, he kicked his pants so far they caught on the railing.

      He swept her up, then. Onto the bed, where they touched each other with trembling fingers and eager lips. Nothing fancy happened, and that was fine with her. Great, in fact, because she wanted him inside. Deep. She wanted to squeeze his arousal, make him remember what it felt like. Not just the wet heat, but what she sounded like when she moaned, and how her hand felt in his hair as she pulled him down to kiss her.

      They rattled