Say Goodbye (Romantic Suspense #25) - Karen Rose Page 0,57

at the shout from somewhere toward the front of the cave system. “What the . . . ?”

Hayley struggled to stand, but Graham motioned for her to stay put. Worried, but unable to stand on her own, she complied.

“I’ll see what’s up,” he said, then disappeared around the curtain that provided all the privacy they were allowed.

A minute later he was back. “It’s Pastor. He fell down and he’s not getting up. The healer’s with him now. So’s most of the community.”

Hayley frowned at him. “Graham . . .” she warned.

“This is our diversion.” He grinned. “Ask me no questions, I’ll tell you no lies.” And then he was gone.

Hayley bit back the swear words that she wanted to shout at him. Don’t get caught. Please.

ROCKLIN, CALIFORNIA

WEDNESDAY, MAY 24, 5:05 P.M.

This is wrong.

Liza sat rigidly on her sofa, Mike at her side. He’d stretched his arm across the back of the sofa and was playing with her hair.

This is wrong. It was the thought that kept circling through her mind, drowning out the movie they’d been watching. She’d been thinking about Tom the entire time. And fighting the urge to run next door because she’d heard the garage door go up when he’d come home.

You’re hopeless. You’re just pathetic.

And then there was Mike. He was chuckling at the movie, having no idea about all the thoughts churning in her mind.

You’re using him. You just want to show yourself that you can walk away from Tom Hunter, but you’re being unfair to Mike. Just like you were to Fritz. Don’t make the same mistake again.

Liza despised herself for making this man think that there could be anything between them. Tell him the truth, then.

She drew a deep breath, turning to face him. “Mike?”

“Hm?”

“Can you pause the movie? I need to talk to you.”

He immediately hit the remote, and the movie stopped. “What’s wrong?”

She huffed a mirthless laugh. “So many things, I’m not sure where to start. But the biggest is that I don’t think I’m ready for a relationship.”

He froze. “Why not?” he asked cautiously.

Because I’m in love with a man who doesn’t want me and you’re second fiddle. She closed her eyes, unwilling to utter the truth aloud. “Um . . . I was married.”

Mike pulled away, his shock evident. “What? When? To who?”

“More than a year ago. He . . . he died.”

Mike sucked in a breath. “Oh my God, Liza. I’m sorry.”

“Thank you.” I’m sorry, too. Sorry that I’m giving you such a bastardization of the actual truth. Because her inability to be with Mike had nothing to do with Fritz and everything to do with Tom. “He was killed by a sniper outside Kabul.”

“Oh my God,” he said softly. Kindly.

“I was there.”

This time his gasp was completely silent. Then he let out a breath. “Liza, I had no idea,” he whispered. “I’m so sorry.”

“So . . .” She waved her hands in a vague gesture. “I’m not ready. I don’t want to hurt you.” That was true. So true. “I don’t want you to think this is more than it’s going to be.”

Mike was quiet for a moment, then pulled her close for a hug. “I’m sorry you lost him. I’m sorry you couldn’t save him.”

Also a nurse, he understood that part, at least. “He bled out before I could,” she said hoarsely.

“Were you hurt?”

“Not really.” The bullet she’d taken in her hip had been so meaningless in comparison.

“Was he the only one who died?”

“No,” she whispered. “Several others.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Me too.”

He let her go, a crooked smile tilting his lips. “So this is where I exit stage right, huh?”

“I’m sorry,” she whispered.

He laid a finger over her lips. “I get it. I don’t like it for a lot of reasons, obviously, because I like you a lot. I think we could have been good together.”

She swallowed hard, saying nothing. What could she say? It’s unlikely we’d ever have been good together, because I can’t seem to get over my seven-year crush on my best friend.

That was too much truth.

He sighed. “Well, if I have to bow out gracefully, at least it’s because of a combat hero and not a basketball star.”

Liza blinked. “What?”

“Your neighbor Tom. I thought it might have been because of him.”

Her eyes burned. “No. We’re just—”

“Just friends,” Mike finished. “I hear you. Not sure he does. He nearly bit my head off when I wouldn’t let him in earlier.”

Liza could only stare. What if Mike was right?

You are stupid. Stupid, stupid, stupid. She’d already