Eban stood back as Signy and Allan marched Corinne to the cruiser, patted her down and found a knife in her pocket. Eban was grateful he’d kept Darby far away from the woman. They placed her inside the police vehicle. As the car door slammed shut, Eban turned to Darby and opened his arms, relieved when she threw herself at him. He didn’t deserve her but wouldn’t let her go this time.

The door to the ice fishing hut opened and a man stumbled out, looking a little shellshocked at all the commotion. He hadn’t been injured. Simply terrified. The cops began taking his statement.

Eban leaned down and spoke into Darby’s hair. “I love you. I’m sorry it took me this long to say it. I’ve never told anyone that before and I guess I was terrified you might not say it back. But that doesn’t matter anymore. I love you even if you don’t love me.”

Darby gripped his jacket and dragged him closer. “I love you too, you idiot. Don’t ever suggest what we have together might not be worth ‘giving a shot.’ It’s worth it. It’s worth the risk.”

They sheltered out of the wind behind one of the huts. Darby burrowed cold hands around his waist and squeezed him tight.

Emotion clogged his throat and his pulse raced in sudden panic because he knew he was rushing things, but he didn’t want to stop. “I know you have important work to do. I also know me being in Virginia won’t work. I’ve made a few inquiries about getting a transfer to Anchorage or Seattle. They even need a new Special Agent in Charge out in Honolulu—as you mentioned a co-supervisor out there—but I realize that might not work for you and there’s no guarantee I’ll get the job. Bottomline is I’ll move, and although Seattle isn’t as close as I’d like, it’s a direct flight from here.”

Her cold nose found his neck. “I’ll talk to my co-supervisor on Oahu. See if she has room for me in her lab.”

“You’d move from here?” he asked quietly, aware of the police officers moving around them, photographing the scene for evidence. “I know it’s home for you.”

“It’s not home anymore.” She pinched her lips and shuddered. “I’m not sure I can go back to the Institute as if nothing happened, as if nothing changed. Martin’s death was awful. So were my friends’ doubt and the Institute’s lack of support. I’m gonna need to take a little time to figure it all out.”

He loosened his grip on her. What the hell was he thinking, bombarding her with this stuff after she’d gone through yet another ordeal. “Of course, you do. We can figure this out later. Much later.”

“I don’t mean about you.” She threw her arm around his neck and pulled him closer. “I love you. I think I loved you from the moment you first held me. And I would definitely like to make a family with you, but not for a good few years. I want to finish my Ph.D., and maybe find a decent research position first.”