“There will be a feature in the news about Jeff, touching a bit on his past for perspective but talking about how he turned his life around and saved you and other people during a wild shootout in a house.”
“Connor left out the parts about Jeff stalking you,” Shane added.
Connor shrugged. “It didn’t fit with the rest of the story.”
She gave in and touched her fingers to Shane’s. “I’m sort of happy he did stalk me that last time.”
He glanced down at her and winked. “Me, too.”
With one last look at Jeff, Connor headed for the door. “I’m going to leave you two—”
“No.” Shane snapped out the answer before Connor took his next step. Before she could agree.
She dropped her hand to her lap. “No?”
“I need to head out.” Shane didn’t make eye contact as he spoke. He glanced around as he moved away from her.
After spending so much of his life putting an emotional wall between them, this time he added a physical one. He was running away from her in every way she could imagine, both physically and emotionally. Even Connor stared at him with narrowed eyes as if trying to read his mood.
“Fine.” That was all she could muster.
Shane hesitated as he watched her. “I’ll call you.”
Yeah, she wouldn’t sit by the phone and wait for that call. In fact, she was done waiting for Shane at all. If he couldn’t see that he could abandon his past and his fears, and be happy with her, she’d give up. They’d been in this highly stressful situation and managed to survive not by staying away from each other but by finally being together.
That left only one thing for her to say. “Goodbye, Shane.”
And this time she meant it.
Chapter Twenty
The next day Shane waited outside the hospital for Makena to come out. He stood in the parking lot, leaning against her car. She’d been keeping vigil by Jeff’s bedside since the ambulance crew brought him in. She’d called the Corcoran headquarters to let them know Jeff was going to be okay. She’d talked about going to Holt’s house to wait for him to get in after a series of canceled flights delayed him.
Shane wanted to see her before Holt did. Wanted to see her...period.
Footsteps sounded beside him, but Shane didn’t flinch. He’d seen Connor park nearby and head for him. He’d likely come over to give Makena a break at Jeff’s bedside. A decent thing to do. Shane had never thought of it. He’d left her yesterday and stayed away because there was something he needed to do before he talked with her.
Connor took up position beside Shane and stared at the front door of the hospital. “If Holt were here, he’d tell you to stop moping and go get your woman.”
Shane turned slightly to face his boss. “What?”
“This, the doubt and guilt.” Connor held out a hand in front of Shane. “I get it. Believe me. I almost lost Jana because I was so worried about losing Jana.”
Shane had listened to many lectures from Connor during their time at Corcoran. The guy liked to talk and wanted things to be done his way. Shane appreciated the way Connor ran the business and the team. He had no complaints. Except for these talks that didn’t make a lot of sense in or out of context.
“Clue me in on what you’re talking about.” His mind kept zipping back to Makena and all the things he needed to say to her. Talking with Connor just wasn’t a priority, no matter how much Shane liked the guy.
Connor sighed. “Man, you’re stubborn.”
He’d been hearing that his whole life. Since Shane agreed, he didn’t bother to deny it. “That’s not news.”
“I know you’re invested in the whole bachelor thing.”
Was. Before Makena. Before being with her and realizing he didn’t want to be without her. “I am?”
“You’re not?” Connor wasn’t one to miss a clue. He didn’t this time, either. “Are you saying—”
“I love her.” The words that had once stuck in his throat now freed him. Shane said them and his whole world shifted into position. The failed marriage was behind him. Makena was his future.
Connor laughed. “I know.”
“You could have told me.” But Shane knew that wasn’t fair. Each of the team members had talked about the difference between life on his own and life with a woman who meant everything. They’d tried to sell him on getting involved again and taking the risk. He’d blocked the comments and ignored every word.
“You weren’t ready to hear it.” Ever the undercover agent, Connor scanned the parking lot. Watching people as they moved in and out. “So, what was the thing with leaving the hospital room yesterday? You have to know that hurt her.”