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I didn’t believe him. Not entirely. But I couldn’t call his bluff either because I had no idea what was still lurking in the shadows of his expression or which questions would shed light on them.
I turned away, my jaw clenched, and started walking back to Dakota. She was standing by my truck, watching me with wide eyes, her body tense like she was bracing for bad news.
When I reached her, I didn’t say a word. Didn’t explain. I just pulled her into my arms, kissing her hard, fierce, like I needed to ground myself in something real. Like I needed to remind myself what mattered most.
When I finally pulled back, her eyes were wide with surprise, her breath coming in soft, shallow gasps.
I gave her a small, tired smile, then opened the door of my truck and got her situated before heading toward my side.
My heart pounded in my chest. This case was over but not solved, and just like Dakota getting that threatening note… it was my fault.
24?/?
dakota
The morning sun filtered through the windows of my momma’s kitchen as I stood at the sink, rinsing out a coffee cup I’d barely touched, my thoughts miles away. I could see Austin and Colt out front, waiting outside Tucker’s truck before the three of them made the trip back to Colorado. Tucker was out there, too, his voice low as he talked on the phone. He stood on the porch, having not yet knocked on the door to say goodbye.
A knot formed in my chest, tightening with each passing second.
They were leaving.
Even though he’d told me all I had to do was ask, after everything that went down at the Harvest Festival last night… Tucker hadn’t given me a chance.
But why was I so surprised? Had I really thought he was serious that night in his truck?
I’d known this day would come. From the moment Tucker rolled into town with that gruff, guarded demeanor, I knew he wasn’t staying. He’d never planned to. It was just supposed to be a job. A case. Something temporary, like the cool autumn air that would eventually give way to winter.
But now that the moment had arrived, now that he was standing on the porch, ready to say goodbye and then head back to his real life... I wasn’t ready.
He must have finished his phone call because a knock sounded at the door. I wiped my hands on a dishtowel, taking a steadying breath before I forced myself to open the door.
The late-October air was crisp, a light breeze tugging at the ends of my hair as I stepped onto the porch. Tucker stood with his back to me at the edge of the porch, as if he’d turned away right after knocking, his posture stiff and tense.
Colt gave me a quick nod, then climbed into the passenger seat as Austin waved before getting into the back. I waved back, but my eyes were locked on Tucker, on the rigid line of his shoulders as he stood there, his face hidden from view.
This wasn’t how I’d imagined saying goodbye. I’d pictured something different—something softer, lighter, maybe. Something like a “see you later,” instead of the way this all felt so… final.
He turned around, and when his eyes met mine, my heart twisted. This was not the Tucker I’d gotten to know over the past few weeks. It was like the walls had gone up higher than they ever had been, brick by brick, blocking me out.
He stepped forward, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. His gaze flicked away for a moment, like he couldn’t quite meet my eyes.
“Dakota...” His voice was low, rough, and it hit me like a physical blow to hear him say my name in that tone instead of calling meWildcardwith a wry grin. “I, uh... I don’t do this kind of thing. You know that, right?”
I blinked, confused by the abruptness of his words. “What kind of thing?”
“This.” He gestured vaguely between us, his brow furrowing. “Relationships. Emotions. All of it. I don’t... I’m not good at it. I can’t...”
His words trailed off, and for a moment, all I could do was stand there, staring at him as the meaning behind them slowly sank in.
I thought we were past this. I thought that after everything—the haunted house, the stakeout, the kiss in the ER—that maybe, just maybe, we’d gotten somewhere. But now, it felt like he was pulling back, retreating into the safety of that emotional distance he seemed to crave.
“I don’t want to hurt you,” he added gruffly, his gaze flicking back to mine, filled with something I couldn’t quite place. Guilt, maybe? Regret? “But this... I can’t stay. And dragging this out—dragging you into it—wasn’t fair. You deserve better.”
The knot in my chest tightened, and I bit the inside of my cheek to keep my voice steady and casual. “It’s fine. I knew you were leavin’, Tucker. I’ve always known that.”
And no, I didn’t mention the fact that I’d started to believe he was staying after he’d offered me the chance to ask him to.
I’d tried—hard.
