Stripping out of her clothes, she showered and changed into a Denver Broncos sleep tee. Tomorrow, she’d pack her things and drive back to the city. She didn’t think Kade would stop her.

He’d told her from the start he wasn’t interested in a relationship. At the time, she’d thought that was what she wanted too. Except the man was Kade, and she had fallen in love with him.

She dragged in a shaky breath. She’d keep working the case, follow the theory she had come up with that the same man was responsible for all four murders.

Which would eliminate the sheriff, who had no connection to Frank Keller or the Red Hawk Mine. Any of the Mountain Ore execs could be the killer, but Murphy was off the list, and Tony Russo didn’t have the handsome, sophisticated demeanor that Phillip Smithson had or the sexual allure and movie-star looks Rick Egan possessed. She didn’t know Barbara’s tastes in men, but Phillip and Rick were both handsome as sin, and a woman on the prowl would be easy prey. On the way back to Denver, she’d stop and talk to Savannah, show her internet photos of the two men.

Weariness settled over her. And sadness and a deep sense of loss. She climbed into bed and tried to read, but it was impossible to concentrate. Worry about a killer warred with thoughts of the man upstairs.

She’d been a fool to let things go so far, to let herself fall so hard for Kade. She was desperately, hopelessly in love. Tears formed a lump in her throat, and her eyes burned. She wanted to cry, but she refused to give in to the urge. At least Zoe had a chance for a happy ending. And Maria.

Ellie closed her eyes, but tears leaked from beneath her lashes. She was in love with Kade. But whatever Kade felt for her, it wasn’t enough. Real love required trust, and after the way Heather had betrayed him, Kade would never trust a woman again.

It was two a.m. when she finally gave up, took an Ambien, and managed to fall asleep. Exhausted, she overslept the next morning and woke up groggy, her chest aching with the tears she’d held back last night.

Breakfast was over, the men all gone to work.

As she had guessed, she didn’t see Kade. Instead, she carried her bags out to her rented Jeep Cherokee and loaded them into the back. A leaden sky and thick gray clouds promised rain, and the temperature had dropped below freezing. The prediction for tonight was even lower as an early-winter storm swept in.

Dreading the drive back to Denver, she returned to the kitchen to say goodbye to Maria and Dolores. Maria must have read the sadness in her face because she followed her out to the car.