Say Goodbye (Romantic Suspense #25) by Karen Rose

            “He’s gonna pay for that,” Dana said fondly.

            And he did. He didn’t even run, taking his punishment like a man.

            “I feel like . . .” Liza sighed. “Is it stupid to worry that things are too good?”

            “No. It’s normal. I struggled with that for years. Still do.” Dana met her eyes, serious now. “You’ve earned every bit of happiness. If another shoe falls, you’ll deal. You’re not alone.”

            “I know.” And she wasn’t, the object of her affection striding across the lawn, dripping wet and looking like every fantasy she’d ever had. Every carved muscle was on display. “Wow.”

            Dana snorted. “Stop it. I knew him when he was seven.”

            “He’s sure as hell not seven anymore.”

            Dana shook her head. “I’m going to leave you to your drool. I’ll see you later.”

            Tom tried to hug Dana as they passed, but she shoved him, still shaking her head.

            Tom dropped into the chair she’d vacated. “You okay?”

            “More than.” Liza gave him a peck on the lips. “How are your lips cold? It’s hotter than hell out here.”

            “I filled the Super Soaker with ice water.”

            “Oh, your mom is gonna get you back. I mean, this”—she gestured to his wet T-shirt—“was just the first wave of attack. Although I do like the outcome.”

            He grinned wickedly, sending her libido on a roller coaster. “Really?”

            “You know it. How long before we can go home?”

            “Too long. My mom told me not to even think about sneaking off for ‘private time.’ ”

            “They did come an awful long way to see us.”

            His grin softened to a sweet smile. “They did. We’re pretty lucky, you know that?”

            “We are.” She linked their fingers together. Kissed his knuckles. “Love you.”

            “Love you, too.”

            Her head resting on his shoulder, they enjoyed the little bubble of quiet.

            Which was promptly popped by the clearing of a throat.

            Liza looked up with a smile of welcome. “Hello, Tara.”

            Tom made a strangled sound in his throat, his reaction every time she called his boss by her first name. She’d done so for the first time the day they were in Eden, and she said it didn’t make sense to go back to formalities. Tom disagreed.

            “Ma’am,” he said, standing at attention. Liza wanted to hug him hard and drag him to bed.

            Molina’s lips twitched. “Agent Hunter. I wanted to thank you for inviting me and let you know that I’m headed out. I had a nice time talking with your mother.”

            Tom made another strangled sound. “I’m glad, ma’am.”

            “Now you’re just being mean, Tara,” Liza said with a chuckle. “I’m glad you could come. I might not see you again for a while with school taking off. Thank you for the commendation, by the way.” The special agent in charge had written a letter praising Liza for delivering Hayley’s baby under conditions that were less than ideal. “My advisor put it in my file.”

            “You deserved it. Now I have to get back to the office. We’re preparing for preliminary hearings on Joshua and his wife.”

            The two had been charged with kidnapping, along with several Edenites who’d engaged in the sexual assault of minors. Liza had already been given permission to miss class for the hearing. She’d promised Hayley and Tiffany that she’d be in the courtroom to lend moral support as they testified.

            “I talked to Tiffany a few days ago,” Liza said. “She’s doing well. Cameron Cook’s family is renting her the apartment over their garage. She starts training to be a nursing assistant in a few weeks. For now, she’s reconnecting with her little boy.” Prompt DNA testing had proven that the child was hers. It was one more nail in Joshua and Rebecca’s coffin.