Page 23 of Carlos

The front door opened. Zoe leapt to her feet, nearly clipping Jenna’s chin with the back of her head.

With unwiped tears and snot drenching her face, Zoe stood still as Carlos hurried over to her. She was anticipating him reaching for his handcuffs but, instead, the man fell to his knees before her.

Zoe’s eyes widened in shock.

A part of her registered their audience. Bulldog had followed his brother in from outside. Lucky and Steel came in from the kitchen and Jenna was still behind her on the couch.

Carlos took her hands in his and bent down to kiss her knuckles. “What can I say, sunshine? I’m in awe of you. The strength you possess is immeasurable. The law failed you, but I will not. You put your faith in me, Zoe, and I will never betray that.”

Her breath hitched and her heart thrummed loudly. She sniffled pathetically. “You believe me?”

“I never doubted you for a moment,” he swore. “I needed to…step away. I’m not as strong as you. I did not want you to see my anger and think it was aimed at you.” He turned her hands over and pressed a kiss to each palm. “Zoe, I need you in my life. Everything I am, my heart, my badge, is yours now. Please say you’ll stay, that you’ll be with me.”

Zoe sank to her knees in front of him. “I’m a wanted fugitive, Carlos. One day, the law may catch up with me.”

“I am the sheriff here. I have ways to protect you too. If needed, we’ll run. You, me, and Kyle. We’ll head back to Montana and live up in the mountains where no one can find us.”

Her chin trembled and she felt more tears leak from her eyes. “You would do that?”

He nodded. “In a heartbeat. If it means being with you.” He reached to her right and grabbed a handful of tissues from the box on the coffee table. He started to clean up her face, which made a gasping sob escape her lips.

“I can do that,” she told him, though she made no move to take the tissues from him.

“The point is you don’t have to.” He put the used tissues into his pocket and then took her face gently between his hands. “I do have one stipulation.”

She felt her breath hitch. “What’s that?”

“You come live with me. You’ve been hiding for too long, love. You need to remember how to shine.”

Zoe swallowed hard. “Don’t you live with your mom?”

He nodded. “Consider her a live-in babysitter.”

“You have the room for Kyle and me?”

He nodded again. “Bulldog’s old room is free. We can easily turn it into a kid’s room for Kyle.”

“And…what about me?”

“Well, my bedroom has always seemed a bit dull to me. Could really use a woman’s touch.”

Zoe let out an elated hiccup. “We’ve only been on one date.”

Carlos shrugged. “You stole my heart six months ago in that kitchen,” he pointed over his shoulder with his thumb, “and you’ve owned my balls since you squashed them two days ago.”

Zoe put her hand to her mouth to stop her giggle. “I am so sorry about that.”

Carlos leaned in and pressed a very gentle kiss to her lips. “You can make it up to me later. Stay,” he kissed her cheek. “Move in with me,” he kissed her other cheek. “Be with me.”

Zoe found herself nodding. “Yes.”

“Yes?” Carlos questioned.

She nodded more sternly and said louder, “Yes.”

Carlos let out a whoop and leapt to his feet. He helped her to her feet and took her into his arms. “She said yes!” he shouted to their audience, though all of them had heard her answer too.

CHAPTER 9