“I like blue,” Cathy said. When they parked, she got out, put her backpack into her seat, and followed Dan to the front door and then inside.

“The furniture is fairly new and in good condition. This TV works, but it’s not hooked up to cable. You’d have to do that. All the properties have monthly pest control.” He led the way into the kitchen. “Gas stove, and ice maker in the fridge. Garbage disposal in the sink.” He kept walking through the house pointing out amenities, and Cathy followed without comment until they got back into the living room.

“So, this property doesn’t have a security system?” she asked.

“No, but it’s easy enough to have your own put in if you want. I have no problem with that.”

She nodded. “I’ll take it.”

“Uh, you don’t want to see the other one first?” Dan asked.

“No. This is good. Like you said, closer to stores. How do I get utilities turned on?”

“They’re already on,” Dan said. “I’ll give you numbers to call to get them switched over into your name.”

“Can I move in now?” she asked. “I have cash.”

Dan blinked. He’d been a lawyer too long not to see some warning signs. Questions about security. Paying cash.

“I have the paperwork in my truck. I’ll need to see some photo ID.”

She pulled a wallet out of an inner pocket inside her jacket. “I have credit cards, too, but I don’t use them,” she said, and handed him her driver’s license and a credit card with a platinum rating.

“I’m going to ask you two questions. And before you answer, I want you to know that in my other life, I was the most sought-after criminal attorney in Texas. So don’t lie.”

“Ask away,” she said.

“Are you running from the law?”

“No. But I am running from an abusive ex-husband with as much power in his world as you had in yours. So if you don’t want me here, just say so. I’d like to be somewhere else before dark.”

Dan heard both truth and anger in her voice and nodded. “I’m going to get the paperwork, and I’ll bring your backpack with me. Make yourself at home.”

* * *

In another part of town, Sully and Melissa were moving his things into her bedroom, but it was taking a while. The random kisses, and brushing up against each other as they worked, reflected an unconscious need to touch the reality of where love had taken them.

“I think that’s everything,” Sully said. “There are only a few keepsakes I want from my apartment back in Kansas City. I’ll donate the rest to Habitat.”

“Are you sure?” Melissa asked. “This is a huge house. There is plenty of room to incorporate things you want to keep within it.”

“You’re the only thing from my past I want to keep. The furniture is stuff. I have no emotional connection to any of it. My lease will be up in a couple of months, so there’s no real rush for me to go back and deal with it.”