Target on the Mountain by Elizabeth Goddard (the chimp paradox .txt) 📕

environmental crimes committed by Mrs. Tate, the feds were also involved in peeling back the layers. Agent Sanchez’s activities were under scrutiny, as well.

It was hard to accept that Sarah’s attempt at whistle-blowing to expose harmful behavior had ultimately ended in her death and that of her friends. Harder still to deal with the fact that she’d reached out for Tori’s help. The guilt that she hadn’t been there for her sister when her assistance could possibly have saved her continued to distress Tori. Moving beyond that would take time, if she ever got over it.

Just like it would take Ryan time to get over her.

Although trusting Tori with his heart was a huge risk, deep down, he’d always known it was a risk he would take again if given the chance. When her life had been in danger he’d realized just how much he wanted a second chance with her.

But that wasn’t going to happen, and Ryan would have to be okay with it. He would survive, just like he had before.

Tori was alive and well, and he wished her the best.

A ruckus drew his attention from his computer. Katelyn smiled as she approached.

He pushed back from the desk. “What are you doing here?”

“I have a surprise for you. Can you come with me?”

He blew out a breath. “You aren’t trying to fix me up with someone, are you? I’m really not in the mood.”

“No. Nothing as nefarious as that.” Katelyn led him through the sheriff’s department offices and out the door, then around the corner to the small coffee shop.

Sitting at a table in the back corner, Tori smiled at him.

His heart almost stopped and he stumbled forward. “What’s going on, Katelyn?”

He’d told himself he would be okay going forward without her, but he couldn’t take more torture.

“Come on.” Katelyn pulled him forward.

Tori stood from the table. “Hi, Ryan. It’s good to see you.”

She wore a flattering scarf around her neck, presumably to hide the bruises that likely remained.

“You, too.” He slowly sat at the table with his sister and Tori. “So what’s this about?”

I thought you’d gone home.

Katelyn appeared giddy as a schoolgirl and her laugh almost sounded like a giggle. “Well, Tori and I have an announcement.”

“The suspense is killing me. Really. What’s going on?”

Tori pressed a hand on Katelyn’s arm. “We’re starting up our own private and protective services business. We need to come up with a snazzy name.”

His heart jumped around inside. “Wow. Well, that was fast. Are you sure?”

“Yes,” Katelyn said. “Absolutely.”

He wanted to hear Tori’s take on this. Had Katelyn pressured her? Not that it was easy to make Tori do anything.

“So will this business be something you do from across the country?” he dared to ask her.

“I’m moving back, Ryan,” she said. “I’ve already handed in my resignation.”

Hope surged. Hope and caution.

“Well that’s my cue to give you some privacy.” Smiling, Katelyn slipped from her chair. “I’ll be over there, eyeing the ice-cream cones.”

Ryan breathed in slowly. Braced himself for what she would say.

“Can we take a walk?” Tori asked. “It’s a beautiful day.”

“Sure.” He fought the need to run from this torture. Run far away from what he knew she could do to his heart.

Outside, they walked over to a small park with a stream. He waited patiently for her to speak her piece. Finally they stopped, next to a thick-trunked pine. In the distance, he could see Mount Shasta, magnificent and beautiful.

But the mountain’s beauty was nothing compared to Tori’s. She was doing it to him again. Warmth spilled out of his heart through his chest. He wanted to let himself love her.

Katelyn had been right—he was still in love with Tori. He wanted the freedom to give in to that.

“Mom and Dad urged me to go back to my job and my life. Funny, I thought working with the FBI was what I wanted.” Tori stared at the small, trickling brook for two breaths, then lifted her gaze to him. “But the job I thought I loved, the life I thought I wanted, that’s all changed.”

“What are you saying, exactly?”

“I don’t have the right to ask, Ryan, after everything I’ve put you through, but I hope you’ll give me another chance. Give us another chance. Because I would choose you, choose this life here, over anything else in the world. I know that now. I’m so sorry I didn’t see that before. But if you don’t want that chance with me, I’ll walk away. I’ll understand.”

In an instant, his lips were pressed against hers. His arms were around her, and she responded with tenderness, and something more just under the surface. He eased away enough to whisper, “I love you. I’ve always loved you.”

“I love you, too, Ryan. Forgive me.”

“There’s nothing to forgive.” Just... Ryan eased away but held her closely. “I don’t want to lose you again. Lose you to your job or—”

“You won’t, I promise.”

“Then why don’t we make it official?” His palms slicked. He could be pushing her too fast. She might not be ready for this. “Will you marry me?”

“Are you sure about this?”

“I’ve never been more sure of anything.” His heart pounded. What would she say?

She lifted her chin and kissed him. Thoroughly. Then she said, “Does that answer your question?”

His head dizzy, he peered at her green eyes. “I think that’s a yes, but I’d love to hear that on your lips.”

Your beautiful lips.

“Yes, Ryan Bradley. Yes, I’ll marry you.”

Standoff at Midnight Mountain

Mary Alford

Mary Alford was inspired to become a writer after reading romantic suspense greats Victoria Holt and Phyllis A. Whitney. Soon, creating characters and throwing them into dangerous situations that tested their faith came naturally for Mary. In 2012 Mary entered the speed-dating contest hosted by Love Inspired Suspense and later received “the call.” Writing for Love Inspired Suspense has been a dream come true for Mary.

Books by Mary Alford

Love Inspired Suspense

Forgotten Past

Rocky Mountain Pursuit

Deadly Memories

Framed for Murder

Standoff at Midnight Mountain

Grave Peril

Amish Country Kidnapping

Amish Country Murder

Covert Amish