He shakes my hand. “Yeah, what do you need?” He sits down in the recliner and I resume my place on the couch. Now that I’m sitting in front of them, I have no idea what to say.

“I—” I rub the back of my neck with my hand. “I don’t know where to start.”

“How about from the beginning?” Mrs. Montgomery suggests. Looking into her eyes, I feel like she knows more about the situation than she’s letting on, so I just spill it.

“I’m in love with your daughter.”

She laughs softly, taking me off guard a little bit. That’s definitely not the reaction I expected. “That sounds more like the end, but I guess we can start there too.”

God, I’m such an idiot. “Sorry, I guess I’m messing this up.”

“No, just relax and tell me why you’re here.”

I nervously glance at Mr. Montgomery before continuing. “I miss her. I walk around in this fog with nothing to look forward to. She’s all I think about.”

“Why the hell are you telling us this instead of her?” Mr. Montgomery grumbles.

“I’ve tried, but she won’t listen to me. She wants nothing to do with me. I know I’ve hurt her, but she has to believe that it wasn’t my intention.”

“What did you do?” Mrs. Montgomery asks.

“I lied to her,” I say on a sigh as I lean forward with my elbows on my knees. “I wasn’t upfront about certain things to keep her safe.”

“From her husband.” It’s not a question, but a statement. I see the guilt wash over her and I know she probably feels bad about the role she indirectly played in all of this. I don’t know the extent of her knowledge and have no intentions of filling her in since it’s not my story to tell. But considering her daughter had to shoot and kill the man she was married to, I’m guessing she has some insight into what her life was like with him.

“Yes, ma’am,” I say with a nod.

“I see.” She leans forward in her seat before continuing, “Let me tell you a little bit about Elizabeth. She’s closed off and doesn’t let people get close to her. Looking back, I don’t think she’s ever had a real relationship with anyone where they knew the real her. No friends, boyfriends, and certainly not her husband. Until you.” I’m momentarily taken back by her statement. I knew she was lonely, but I didn’t really get it until now. She’s never had anyone.

“She doesn’t think I picked up on it, but I knew you were different. Just the little things she’d say or the tone of her voice would give away her real feelings toward you. No matter your motive, you have to understand that handing over that level of trust was very hard for her, and in her eyes, you betrayed her.”

This is not at all what I wanted to hear. A piece of me dies knowing I might have messed this up beyond repair. My head sags while listening to her words.

“I also know she’s never had anyone fight for her. You have to show her what she means to you, that you’re not going to give up. I feel like I’ve failed her as a mother.” She looks down at her hands in her lap, her voice shaky and a look of shame written all over her face. “All I want is for her to be happy. You make her happy.”

I lean my head back against the couch. “I just wish we could start all over. Have a blank slate where she never heard of Alex Matthews.”

“What if there was a way to do that?” I bring my head back down and see the wheels turning in her head. “I’ve got an idea.”

“I’m listening.”

I was told to be here at eight thirty sharp. Looking at my watch, it says eight twenty-nine. I get out of my car and walk toward the restaurant that Mrs. Montgomery had told me about. I guess her and Elizabeth had dinner plans already for tonight. She told me where they’d be and said the rest is up to me. The closer I get to the door, the more my stomach knots up.

Opening the door, I immediately spot her sitting at the bar with her mother. Her back is to me with her long, brown hair falling down her back. She turns toward Mrs. Montgomery to say something, allowing me the opportunity to look at her profile. I probably look like a creeper standing by the door watching her, but I don’t give a shit. It’s been too damn long since my eyes have landed on her, and I’m going to enjoy the moment.

She laughs at something said to her, but I can tell it’s forced. She’s pretending to be happy for the sake of her mom, and I hate that I’m the reason she’s upset. Taking one final breath, I head over to her.

Clean slate.

It’s the phrase I repeat in my mind over and over as I approach her. Her head is still turned away from me when I get to the bar. Damn, I’m nervous. I clear my throat and say, “Excuse me Miss, can I buy you a drink?” I know the moment she recognizes my voice because her spine straightens. She turns around ever so slowly until her wide eyes land on mine. Her gaze travels all over my face as if she can’t believe I’m really here, but she recovers quickly.

“No, thanks,” she responds coolly, turning her back on me. Ouch, that stings.

I look over her shoulder to see Mrs. Montgomery staring at me. I’m not giving up yet. I move around Elizabeth and hold my hand out to her mother. “Hello, ma’am. I’m Bryce Daniels. How are you this evening?” She accepts my outstretched hand and shakes it. Okay, I might be overdoing it, but I’ve got to crack her exterior and find a way in somehow.

“I’m doing well, thanks,” she responds.

“Any advice on how I can get this beautiful lady to have a drink with me?”

“Ugh, fine,” Elizabeth reluctantly agrees with a roll of her eyes.

I signal for the waiter and order her another glass of wine and a beer for myself. “I’m Bryce Daniels, by the way.” I hold my hand out to her. She looks at me from the corner of her eye before giving in and placing her hand in mine.

“Elizabeth Montgomery.” Bringing her hand to my lips, I place a kiss on the back of it while looking up into her eyes. I hear her breath catch and that one sound sends me soaring. She’s still affected by me. There’s still hope.

“Nice to meet you.” I release her hand and she swallows hard.

“You too,” she replies quietly.

“So, you from around here?” The corners of her mouth tilt up just the slightest bit at my cheesy line.

“Yep, born and raised.” She plays along, allowing me to chip away a tiny piece of her shield.

“Nice. I’m just passing through myself. Had something important I needed to take care of.” The waiter puts down our drinks and I take a pull from mine.

“And what was that?”

“You see, there’s this girl that I’m crazy about and she just walked out on me.”

“I find it hard to believe she left for no reason.” She arches an eyebrow, daring me to argue with her.

“No, she had plenty of reason and I don’t blame her. I tried to give her space, but I just can’t take it anymore.” I push down the nerves that threaten to choke me. This is it. I just laid it out there in a way, and I’m scared shitless of her response.

“Hmm, she must be pretty special for you to come all the way out here to see her.”

I smile at her comment, but it quickly dies so she sees how serious I am when I say, “I’d travel to the moon if I had to.” We lock in on each other and it’s there. The invisible electricity that we became so familiar with. It’s crackling, ready to pop, until she looks away and breaks the connection.

“What do you do for a living, Mr. Daniels?” She messes around with the napkin in front of her, tearing off tiny pieces and putting them in a pile.

I lean in closer to her. “I work for the FBI,” I whisper loudly. “But you can’t tell anyone.”

She grins. “Your secret is safe with me. It’s too bad though.” She makes a show of being disappointed.

“What’s too bad?”

“I’m more of a soldier kind of girl.” She shrugs her shoulders as if to say sorry. Yeah, we’re joking around, but I think this is her way of confirming the things I’ve told her and seeing what’s true and what’s not.