“Hey.” She looked over and saw Dustin walking toward her. “You okay?”

“Yeah,” Teri said, nodding. “I just wish…”

“Hey, babysitter.” She and Dustin turned around—and there was Real Gilroy walking toward them, smiling and very much alive.

“What?” Teri’s jaw dropped. “How—”

Real Gilroy tapped his chest. “Bulletproof vest. I knew getting Dimitri to think I was dead was my best chance of getting my backup in place. Sorry if I scared you.”

“No,” Teri said, smiling wide, even though she felt like she was also about to cry with relief. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”

“Sorry about the door,” Real Gilroy said, holding out his hand to Dustin to shake. “We’re fixing it now.”

“I appreciate it,” Dustin said. “And my dad will too.”

Real Gilroy tapped his watch. “It’s getting late. We should get you kids home.”

“Right.” Just like that, the reality of the situation—which had been pushed from Teri’s mind as she’d focused on more pressing things, like not getting shot—hit her. She was going to be in so much trouble. “I guess I have to face the music.”

Real Gilroy cleared his throat. “Actually… it would be better if nobody knew any of this happened. National security.”

“But we can’t drive all the way back to Connecticut before the Stones get home. I left the rental car behind.…”

Real Gilroy just smiled. “We’ll sort it out. Ready to go in five?” Teri nodded and he walked away, pulling out a walkie-talkie as he went.

She turned to Dustin and took him in. His sweet smile. His baseball cap. His kind eyes. She could practically feel the unspoken things between them. “Um,” she finally said. “Maybe I could get your number? In case I’m ever… in Canada?”

Dustin brightened. “Yes! That’s a great idea.…”

They exchanged phones to swap numbers. When she handed back his phone, she realized that this night—the one she’d wanted to be over—was suddenly ending much too fast. She looked up at him. She’d been brave tonight. She’d dealt with a fake spy and stolen a rental car and tied up a CIA agent. She could do this.

And before she could talk herself out of it, she took a deep breath, stepped closer, stretched up on her toes, and kissed Dustin Alberta.

Dustin kissed her back, pulling her close, and all time stopped as they kissed, there in that Canadian clearing, the moon bright above them.

“Ew.” They broke apart and Teri saw all three Stone children staring at them. Chris covered Parker’s eyes. Daryl looked disgusted. “That was gross.”

“Dillweed!” Parker exclaimed. She beamed at her linguistic prowess.

“We need to get her another word,” Chris said.

“Dillweed,” Parker repeated firmly.

Teri laughed and picked Parker up, then looked at all three of the kids. “Come on, guys,” she said. “Let’s go home.”

CHAPTER 28

Kat