“Good-bye.”

He picked up his bag and walked out.

THIRTY-SIX

DEPUTY LANCE BOOKER WALKED with Nick slowly across the bullpen.

“You did it. You manipulated Sam Harris out of the race.”

“Manipulate is such a strong word, Deputy,” Nick said, shuffling on his crutches. Today was his first full day back in the office after his knee surgery; he already felt the change in his body. The doctor said the surgery had been a miracle.

Maybe it was the change in attitude that made all the difference.

“All I did was play hardball. Just like he did to me before I left for San Diego last month.” They stood outside Nick’s office.

“I want to thank you for putting in a good word for me with Charlie Daniels. I promise, I won’t let you down.”

Nick nodded soberly. “You’ve never let me down, Lance. You’re a good cop. You’ll serve Sheriff Daniels well.”

Nick had convinced Charlie Daniels, the former deputy now in charge of Search and Rescue, to run for sheriff. His family had practically founded Bozeman, and his name kept Sam Harris out of the race. He had a clear field, and had agreed to keep Nick’s team in place.

“And you?”

Nick took a deep breath. “I’m going to get back into shape. And I’m moving to San Diego.”

“To be closer to your brother?”

“That, and other things. You know that song ‘I Left My Heart in San Francisco’?”

Booker tilted his head. “You left yours in San Diego?”

Nick grinned. “Now get back to work. For now, I’m still in charge.”

Booker left and Nick swung himself back on his crutches across the rest of the large headquarters. Slowly, reminding himself not to overdo it. He needed to be in prime condition next weekend when he surprised Carina with a visit-to properly propose to her.

He was going to miss Montana; he missed Carina a whole lot more. The one thing he’d longed for his entire life was unconditional love, and when he’d finally found it, he’d walked away.

He was going to rectify that mistake.

“Hello, cowboy.”

As if he’d conjured her from his thoughts, Carina sat in his chair, boots on his desk, faded jeans and black T-shirt. She wore his hat on her head and had left her thick hair down.

She was the most beautiful thing he’d laid eyes on since he left San Diego three weeks ago.

It hit him then that Carina had come to him. He wanted to pull her into his arms and hold her, devour her mouth with his, take her home to his bed. She wanted him, even though juggling their careers over the next few months wasn’t going to be easy. She wanted him and she loved him, he could see it all in her expressive eyes.

“Hello,” he said, unable to keep the lopsided grin off his face.

She eyed his crutches, pride and love radiating from her face. “You had your surgery.”

“Incredible powers of observation, Detective Kincaid.” He leaned the crutches against his desk and sat in the guest chair. “I’ll admit I’m surprised to see you.”

“I missed you.” She was smiling, but her voice cracked. This was difficult for her, making the first move.

Nick’s heart swelled. “I’m glad.”

“You’re going to make this hard on me, aren’t you?”

“No, I’m not. Come here.”

Carina beamed. For weeks she’d debated giving up what she had-her career, her family, her home-and following Nick. One minute, the thought of seeing her family only on holidays and a week in the summer terrified her. The next minute, knowing if she didn’t follow Nick she’d lose something precious and rare. True love.

The choice wasn’t easy, but in the end, coming to Nick was the only decision she could have made. She was following her heart for the first time in her life, and she didn’t doubt her decision.

She sat on the edge of his desk, right in front of him, leaned over and touched his face. He pulled her into his lap.

“I don’t want to hurt you,” she said, mindful of his knees.

“Kiss me.”

She touched her lips to his, but the sweet kiss quickly turned hot. His hands grabbed her head, held her to him, as if he were drowning.

“God, I love you, Carina. You don’t know what this means to me, finding you here.”

“I couldn’t lose you.” She feathered kisses on his face.

“You were never going to lose me, Carina.”

He was right about that. Her heart was his, no matter where they were in the world. But she wasn’t so naive as to think a long-distance relationship would work. She in San Diego constantly pressuring him to move to California; he in Montana unable to leave because of duty and honor.

The same duty and honor that had attracted her in the first place.

Tears slipped out and Nick ran his thumbs under her eyes. “Don’t cry, sweetheart.”

“I would have lost you. I’m stubborn. And arrogant. I couldn’t imagine that you could walk away. I’m always the one who walks away. I weigh the pros and cons and cut my losses. But when I started running through the checklist, the bottom line was that no matter where I am in the world, it means nothing if you’re not in my life.”

“Will you marry me?” Nick asked.

“God, yes. I was afraid you wouldn’t ask me again!” She kissed him.

“Reach into my pocket.”

“Here?” She looked around. They’d already drawn several curious onlookers from the squad room beyond the glass-enclosed sheriff’s office. She didn’t mind experimenting in bed, but she wasn’t an exhibitionist.

Nick laughed, moved her over a bit, and pulled something from his pocket. A box. A small box.

“For you.”

She blinked, frowned. Uncertain.

“You don’t like jewelry?” Nick asked, uncertain.

She took the box, cautiously opened it. A solitary round diamond sparkled. Her heart thudded so loud she could hear her rushing blood. “You…this…I…”

“Can I quote you on that?”

“You planned this? How did you know? Did Dillon tell you I was coming?” She’d told her family two nights ago that she was going to Montana to live with Nick. It had been bittersweet, but in the end, everyone supported her, particularly Dillon.

“No one told me anything. I have a flight booked to San Diego tomorrow morning.”

“You were going to come to San Diego?”

Nick lifted Carina off his lap and put her on his desk. He took her hands and stared into her eyes. “I’m not running for reelection.”

“But you said you had to. That idiot who’s running against you-”

“I fixed it. I found my replacement, a good man who is going to run in my place. Harris has resigned, and my duty is done here. Almost done,” he conceded. “My term doesn’t expire for eight months.”

“Eight months.”

“And then I hoped we could get married and move into your house. Of course, we have to do something about your obsession with white frills and pink.” His face was stern but his blue eyes were laughing.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a loud, wet kiss on the mouth. “Redecorate to your heart’s content,” she said. “Except the bedroom.”

“You mean I have to sleep on pink sheets for the rest of my life?” He looked to the ceiling as if weighing his choices.

She gave a loud, exaggerated sigh. “I might concede on the sheets, but the pillows stay.”

He kissed her and said, “Deal.”

She smiled, relieved and happier than she had ever imagined. There had been that tickle of fear that she’d come here and he’d tell her to take a hike.

“I’ll take my house off the market.”

Nick sobered up, stared at her in disbelief. “You were going to move here? Seriously?”

She nodded, touched his cheeks with her thumbs. “I couldn’t let you walk out of my life. I gave two weeks’ notice this morning as well.”

“You can call your boss, right? Get your job back?”

“Yes.”

“Eight months, two states isn’t going to be easy.”

“Nothing worth having is easily attained.”