Dare to Take (Dare to Love 6)

She exhaled a long breath, not feeling particularly satisfied as, of course, Angie hadn’t incriminated herself.

And then, just as she turned to go home, she heard a man’s voice. “That’s her!”

Ella pivoted. The guy with dark hair who’d been watching her when she was shopping in Miami stood, handcuffed and accompanied by an officer. But he was looking at Angie. “That’s the original buyer.”

And somehow, Ella had her confirmation. She’d been set up by a woman she’d trusted.

The other uniformed cop led a silent, stone-faced Angie away, while the guy who’d stalked her had already been removed from the room.

“Come on, sweet girl. Let’s go home.” Tyler urged her toward the door with a hand around her waist.

“Wait. Officer DeCarlo?” She turned toward him.

“Yes?” he asked.

“Will she go to jail?” Ella asked.

He ran a hand through his cropped hair and shrugged. “To be frank? It’s a clusterfuck. We’ve got the guy on attempted robbery and a few other things here, but your boss? The theft took place outside the U.S. We’ll call in the Feds. Sorry I can’t be more helpful.”

Ella shook her head. “You told me what I needed to know. Thank you.”

“There’s an officer waiting outside to follow you home for the necklace,” he said.

She nodded. “I’m ready,” she said to Tyler.

As he escorted her out of the police station, she thought back to this morning, when she’d believed her life was already complicated. Now? She had all those things plus she now had no job.

Chapter Twelve

Tyler woke up at his usual time, ready for work. He expected to find Ella fast asleep, since he usually needed to wake her up. She wasn’t a morning person, and it’d taken awhile, but eventually he’d discovered the best way to rouse her was with sensual, slow kisses all over her body. He looked forward to those wake-ups and was surprised, after yesterday’s excitement, that she’d woken up on her own.

He rolled over, climbed out of bed, and made his way to the kitchen, hoping to find her there. He discovered her sitting at the table, drinking a cup of coffee … with her packed suitcase waiting against the wall.

His stomach dropped at the unexpected sight. “Going somewhere?” he asked, barely recognizing his own voice.

He understood the threat against her was over, but after all they’d been through together, he’d figured she’d at least talk to him first. Instead, she’d sucker-punched him, and he deserved better.

“I just thought, since whoever was after me has been arrested, that it was time to go home.” She placed her mug on the table and rose to her feet.

With her dressed in jeans and a tee shirt and him in his boxer-briefs, he felt at a distinct disadvantage during this conversation. Or, he thought, maybe it was an advantage.

He wasn’t going to let her go without a fight and met her halfway across the room. “Ella—”

Before he could gather his thoughts, she spoke. “I don’t want to go, Tyler. I have to,” she said, looking up at him with sad eyes.

His finger drifted down her cheek. “Explain. Because I didn’t ask you to leave.” He didn’t want her to go.

She bit down on her trembling lower lip before she drew a deep breath and began to explain. “You said you loved me and—”

“It scared you.” He cursed himself for letting that slip, jumping the gun on admitting his feelings.

“No. It was everything I ever wanted to hear, but…”

His heart beat faster with her initial words, then slowed to a stop with that one damned word. “But what?”

“I’m not ready.” She stepped away from him, as if she needed space, and he respected her wishes, remaining in place.

Even though she was shattering his heart with every word. “What will make you ready?” he asked, grabbing on to the back of the nearest chair.