Kris DeLake - Spy to Die For

“Thank you,” she said. Then she stood, and reached for the director’s hand. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

The director smiled. “No thanks needed. You have already done more for us than we could ever repay.”

Skye had no memory of leaving the room. She did remember trying hard not to skip down the stairs to the garden where Jack waited for her.

“I’m free,” she said as she approached the white bench he sat on. His head popped up over some blooming birds of paradise, and his feet nearly kicked some greenery nearby.

“Free?” he said.

“I no longer work for the Guild,” she said.

He took her hands and pulled her down beside him. “How fascinating,” he said. “I no longer work with the Rovers. I’m free too.”

“The director told me to enjoy my life,” Skye said, still marveling at that.

Jack’s smile faded. “Can you?”

She understood his sudden seriousness. She squeezed his fingers. “I realized I’ve been going about living all wrong. I’ve been worried about losing something I never had, rather than enjoying something I do have.”

“What does that mean?” he asked.

“I didn’t make attachments because I was afraid they’d go away. I had no idea how wonderful they are.” She looked at their threaded fingers. “How did you learn how to have attachments when you have no idea who your parents are?”

“Rikki,” Jack said. “She helped me through the dark times. You had to go through those times alone. But I’ll be with you for any dark times in the future.”

“Will there be dark times?” Skye asked.

“There always are,” Jack said. “But they’re not so dark when you share them.”

She leaned her head on his shoulder. “I thought I only deserved one night with you. And now I’m going to get a lifetime.”

“Are you ready for that?” he asked.

“Oh, yes,” she said. “I’m ready. And we’re free to choose where we spend that lifetime. We’re not bound to anyone.”

“Except each other,” Jack said.

She grinned at him. She couldn’t believe the happiness that filled her.

“Except each other,” she agreed. And she knew that would be more than enough.

Kris DeLake is one of writer Kristine Kathryn Rusch’s many pen names. In addition to writing as Kris DeLake in romance, Rusch also writes romance as Kristine Grayson (who specializes in paranormals) and Kristine Dexter (who prefers romantic suspense). In mystery, Rusch writes as the Edgar- and Shamus-nominated Kris Nelscott. In science fiction and fantasy, Rusch is known by her real name. She’s a bestselling double Hugo winner in science fiction. To find out more about her work, including her popular nonfiction blog, go to www.kristinekathrynrusch.com.