But until their cases were over, it was doubtful they’d have another opportunity for a private conversation—and he wanted to give her food for thought so when their investigations did end, the hardest confessions would be behind him and they could move forward.

Or not.

He’d prefer to ignore that disheartening possibility, but the truth was Cate held all the cards in this relationship. He’d hurt her, and unless he made a compelling case for the rationale behind his choices eight years ago—and she could find it in her heart to forgive him—they were doomed.

First, however, she had to hear him out.

“No.” He fought the temptation to take her hand, linking his fingers on the table instead. “This is personal history I’ve never told anyone—but I’d like to share it with you. Whether or not it changes anything between us, you deserve to know. I should have told you the day we broke up. I’m asking you to let me explain now. To listen to what I have to say. Please.”

Her gaze dropped to his hands.

His did too.

Every knuckle was white.

He didn’t bother to loosen his grip. It accurately portrayed the state of his emotions.

Her cell began to vibrate on the table, and she jumped to her feet. Winced. “I’ll take this in the bedroom. Excuse me for a minute.”

Without waiting for a reply, she snatched up the phone, escaped to the adjacent room, and closed the door.

Letting out a slow breath, Zeke stood too and wandered over to the picture window that offered a panoramic view of the blue sky. A welcome change from gray.

But whether the sky in his personal world was destined to morph from gray to blue remained to be seen. At this point, it was in God’s hands.

A prayer couldn’t hurt, though.

He watched a puffy cloud scuttle along in the vast blue expanse of the heavens.

Solid as his core faith was, prayer hadn’t been a big part of his world for years. Not after all the horrendous violence he’d witnessed.

Yet at this pivotal moment that would determine the direction of his life, he reached deep into his soul and sent a plea to the Almighty for courage to open his heart to the woman who’d claimed it long ago—and for a positive reception to the leap of faith he was about to take.

15

AS CATE ENDED THE CHECK-IN CALL from her handler, she sank onto the edge of the bed. Examined her trembling fingers. Blew out a wobbly breath.

Evidence didn’t lie.

She had a bad case of the shakes—and her phone call hadn’t prompted them.

The man on the other side of the wall, waiting to shift the conversation from professional to personal, took the credit for her jitters.

She was so not ready to talk about their past.