Say Goodbye (Romantic Suspense #25) - Karen Rose Page 0,43

me home. She didn’t want to be trapped in a car with him right now, not after watching Rafe and Mercy together. It hurt enough knowing she’d never have that. Not with Tom, anyway. “Just Earl Grey, then,” she amended.

Irina glanced from her to Tom, then shrugged. “As you wish. Liza, if you want to stay here tonight, you’re welcome.”

“Thanks, but no,” Liza told her. “It’s my turn to walk Pebbles.”

The young Great Dane was the only decision Liza had known Tom to make on impulse. The pup had needed a home, having grown too big for the family who’d originally adopted her.

Tom had taken one look at the Dane’s big brown eyes and was a goner, but he’d worried that he might not be home enough to care for a dog. Liza had pledged her help and now their schedules were synchronized around Pebbles’s meals and walks. The dog was a big slobbery pain in the butt with whom Liza had fallen into insta-love.

Also, Pebbles was the perfect excuse to flee.

Tom frowned at her, then turned to Irina. “Have you met Agent Croft?”

Irina held out her hand to the other woman. “Welcome, Agent Croft.”

“Call me Ricki,” Croft said with an easy smile. She looked at Liza, her smile not faltering. “Miss Barkley, it’s always a pleasure to see you. I understand you had a busy morning.”

Liza could feel all eyes on her now and, to her dismay, felt her own eyes begin to burn. I need to get out of here. “Just a bit.” She stood up, leaning over to kiss Abigail’s forehead. “I’ll see you tomorrow, okay, Shrimpkin?”

Abigail seemed disappointed. “You’re leaving?”

“Gotta go. Pebbles needs to be walked.” And I’m about to cry. Not here.

“But why can’t you bring her here?” Abigail asked, a whine edging into her tone.

“Because she’ll tear up Irina’s pretty house, not to mention stomping on poor Sally.” Sally was Abigail’s Maltese puppy, named for astronaut Sally Ride, over whom the little girl obsessed. Denied in Eden, the idea of space travel had quickly caught—and held—Abigail’s attention.

“Oh yeah,” Abigail grumbled. “I remember now.”

Amos chuckled. “I think someone has earned a nap.”

“Don’t wanna nap.” Abigail’s whine was at full power.

“Sugar crash,” Liza said. “These bars pack a powerful punch. I’m feeling tired myself.” Which was no lie. Her sleepless nights had abruptly caught up to her. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Abs. And then we can finish the book we started reading last week.”

“Thank you,” Amos murmured when Liza began gathering her things. “You spend so much time with her.”

“She’s a good kid,” Liza said, ruffling Abigail’s bangs. “She did all the right things today. I’m proud of her.”

Abigail grinned. “ ’Cause I’m awesome.”

Amos winced. “And humble. Come on, Abi-girl. You have a nap with your name on it.”

“That doesn’t make sense, Papa,” Abigail said as Amos started to lead her from the room.

“Um, can we talk to Abigail, Amos?” Tom asked, gesturing to his partner. “Before she goes down for a nap?”

Amos narrowed his eyes. “Why?”

Right. The tattoo. How quickly Liza had forgotten. She leaned in to whisper in Amos’s ear. “Abigail may have seen DJ Belmont’s tattoo. The one he didn’t get in Eden,” she added when the older man frowned, clearly confused.

“All right. But make it quick, okay? She’s fading fast,” Amos told Tom.

Amos, Tom, and Agent Croft were gone for only a few minutes, during which Rafe got a rundown from Mercy and Irina set the table for afternoon tea.

When they returned, Croft and Amos sat down with Abigail and a sketchpad, and Tom approached Liza the way a zoo handler might approach a wounded animal.

It was fair, Liza decided. Being in the same room with Tom Hunter left her feeling wounded.

“Can we talk for a moment?” Tom asked quietly.

“I really need to go,” she said, trying not to sound as whiny as Abigail had. “Pebbles has probably eaten your sofa again.”

“Liza,” Tom said urgently. “Please.”

There was something in his tone that gave her pause. “Fine. But just for a minute.”

I need to get out of here. Now.

Tom pointed to the laundry room, then followed her in and closed the door. It wasn’t a small room, but Tom filled it like no other man could. It wasn’t just that he was big, because he was. Six-six and solid muscle. Or that he was handsome, because he was that, too. He had a presence that filled her mind, and she couldn’t look anywhere else. He was her true north and she’d been in love