Epilogue
Two Weeks Later
Jesse stood at the end of the pathway that led to the lake behind Noah’s house.
The past days had gone by in a blur. Dealing with the FBI, who continued to question her about Tegan and Parker, along with Bea’s confession.
The older woman was whisked to the hospital quick enough to save her life, but she remained unconscious.
Jesse privately thought she was trying to will herself to die.
It was the only way she could be with the man she’d loved to the point of madness.
And then there’d been the small ceremony she’d arranged to lay her father’s bones to rest in a grave next to his beloved wife.
Now, she stood staring at the lake, not sure what had brought her to this spot. Her bags were packed and stowed in her pickup, and she’d already dropped off the keys to the Tap Room with her lawyer to hold on to until she decided what she intended to do with the place.
There was nothing keeping her here.
But even as she headed out of Noah’s house, she’d found her footsteps leading her to this spot.
Maybe she needed a few minutes to gather her courage. Or maybe she was waiting.
The sound of approaching footsteps brought a smile to her lips. Yes, she’d been waiting.
Slowly turning, she watched Noah appear around the curve of the pathway, wearing the T-shirt with the lumberyard logo that was stretched deliciously tight over his chest and faded jeans. His hair was wet from a shower and he smelled of warm cedar.
Her heart fluttered, her hands itching to smooth over his rippling muscles. Only the knowledge she wasn’t ready for what a man like Noah would demand kept her from doing something silly.
And of course, there was the fact that he was dealing with his own grief. Kelly might have been his ex-wife, but he’d loved her. It would take time for him to come to terms with her death.
“I heard you packing your bags when I was in the shower.” He reached out to run a finger along the tattoos on her bare arm, sending a delicious shiver through her. “Running again?”
“Not running,” she denied. “This time I’m searching.”
“Searching for what?”
“Me.” She sighed. “She’s been lost a long time.”
He studied her with an expression of sadness. As if he was disappointed by her answer.
“Do you think you’re going to find her in Chicago?”
Jesse shuddered. That was the last place on her list. “No, although that’s another past I’m going to have to clean up eventually.” She shrugged. “Right now I just want to drive with no destination in mind.”
“It sounds like a dream.”
She chuckled. “It would be your nightmare.”
“True.” He shook his head. “I’m an old stick-in-the-mud who can’t imagine living anywhere but Canton. Will you ever return?”
“Eventually. I have stuff I’ll have to deal with, and people I want to visit again.
” Giving in to her impulse, Jesse stepped forward and placed her palms flat on his chest. Then, going up onto her tiptoes, she swept a soft kiss over his lips.
“You know, there’s no reason you couldn’t come find me.
If you ever get the urge. A few weeks away from Canton wouldn’t hurt. ”
“Maybe.” He deepened the kiss, searing her with the promise of an explosive passion before reluctantly stepping back. “Until then, take care of yourself.”
“I’m going to.” She glanced over her shoulder toward the tree that marked the spot where Victoria’s body was discovered.
“I didn’t find the closure I was hoping for, but I did remind myself that you can never take life for granted.
The past can wait, along with the future.
” She turned back to Noah, brushing her fingers down his cheek.
“I’m off to enjoy the right here, right now, and hopefully meet the real Jesse Hudson along the way.
” With a smile, she headed up the pathway. “See ya later, Noah Allen.”
“That’s a promise.”