But… would having Price’s child be that terrible? Well, she wasn’t having a heart attack at the thought, and that said something right there. She was so wrapped up in her own thoughts, she didn’t even notice Jericho until he grabbed her.

His fingers wrapped around her arms in a tight grip, desperation in his silver gaze. She’d never noticed before how brilliant the color of his eyes were. “You must save your soul mate. Now. You don’t have a moment to lose, Aubrey.”

She stared at him. Creepy nutso boy was back.

“You have to believe, Aubrey. You have to believe in something.”

Her heart gave a hard thump, and her worry for Price over his job came roaring back. Her stomach gave a vicious twist. So far Jericho hadn’t been wrong. Not once. Did she really believe in what he said enough to go tearing across town in search of Price? And what if she didn’t and something bad happened to him? Her chest squeezed tight, and for a moment she couldn’t breathe. Something bad could happen to Price. Oh, God.

The truth slammed into her in one unholy wave of terror. She was in love with Price, and there was no way in hell she was taking any chances with his safety. She’d rather look insane running around town after him than let anything happen to him.

Jericho shook her hard. “14 Plumleigh Avenue, on the corner of Larkspur. Believe me, Aubrey. Go!”

She went, her legs and arms pumping as she raced across the square and over the five blocks to get to the address Jericho had given her. Her breath rasped out in painful pants. If this had to do with Price’s job, he would kill her for interfering. Did she care? Not really. He could kick her ass if it meant he was alive, breathing and healthy enough to get it done.

She skidded to a stop outside of 14 Plumleigh. The front window was broken out, the roof sagged on the porch, and the house looked as if it should be condemned. Her breath whooshed out in relief when she saw Price, alive and well, through the broken window. He wore a black bulletproof vest as he walked down a dark hallway toward the back of the house. She swallowed, blinking back tears.

Thank God, Jericho was wrong.

Through her tears she saw a slim man step into the hall behind Price. He wasn’t wearing a uniform and he carried a silver pistol. Her breath seized when he lifted the weapon to point it at Price’s unprotected head.

“Price, behind you!”

Both men spun toward her at the same time, guns raised. She dropped to the pavement and covered her head with her arms. The cement scraped the skin off her elbows and knees. Two deafening booms echoed over the quiet street, and she flinched, curling tighter into herself. Please, God, don’t let Price be hurt. Please, God, let her have warned him in time. Please, God. Please, God. Please, God.

Her ears buzzed, and her whole body shook as shock rocketed through her system. She needed to get up and check if Price was okay, but the message her brain was sending to her quivering muscles didn’t seem to be getting through.

She panted against the cement, small rocks and dirt rubbing against her cheek.

“Aubrey.”

Relief flooded her system as she heard Price’s voice shout from a distance. A very far off distance. It sounded like he was yelling from the end of a long tunnel. Tingles broke down her arms as someone grabbed her and flipped her over.

Price’s face hung over her, abject terror drawing the skin tight over his cheekbones. His big hands slid over her body in efficient movements. “Aubrey, are you hurt?”

“No, I’m fine.” Though her tone sounded vague and soft to her ears. She shook her head to try to clear it. Swallowing, she laid a hand along his jaw. “Are you all right?”

“Hell, no. I’m not all right.” Molten rage flashed in his gaze and the muscles in his jaw clenched beneath her fingers. His hands shook as they brushed the dirt off her cheek. “What were you thinking yelling like that? It was crazy amounts of stupid.”

Matching anger whipped through her, stripping away the strange lethargy that weighed down her limbs. She pulled away from him and sat up, poking a finger into his chest. “I was thinking that I was saving you from getting shot. Excuse the hell out of me if that was stupid. My mistake.”

“That wasn’t what I—”

Pushing to her feet, she swayed a bit and he caught her against his chest. She wanted to stay there in his arms forever. Where they were both safe and okay. Her heart turned over, and she had to close her eyes. The anger drained away as quickly as it had come.

“Chief, I—” Another man spoke from behind her, but he cut himself off. “Never mind, I’ll ask Sergeant Barkum.”

She blew out a breath and forced herself to step away from Price. “So, I’ll… um… see you tonight. If you have time, of course.”

He sighed, reluctantly letting her go. “One of my men is going to have to ask you about what you saw and did.”

“Oh, fun.” She rolled her eyes to hide the tears of relief. “I just love doing police reports.”

Sergeant Barkum ended up taking her statement, and for once in her life, she lied to an officer of the law. What was she going to do? Tell them she had her own personal homeless oracle? She played the shocked, confused, didn’t-remember-a-thing card for all it was worth. She consoled her guilty conscience by reminding herself she’d done nothing illegal to find out Price was here and in danger.

When the sergeant finally finished with her, she turned to leave only to be drawn up short when Price called her name. He gave her an odd look. “Mrs. Chambers says she saw you running like a crazy woman through town. How were you going for a run down this street and just happened to see me?”

“I told the officer, I honestly don’t remember. I was at my shop and then I was here and then there were bullets.”

“You’re in sandals—not the best jogging shoes.”

“Look, I know it’s weird. But just trust me… it’s what I remember. I don’t know why I went running.” She laid a hand on his chest. “I don’t know why I came here, but I’m glad I did if you’re okay.”

“Aubrey…” Suspicion faded from his eyes, replaced by warmth. He tugged her into his arms, and she went. She didn’t even mind the bulletproof vest. This was exactly where she wanted to be.

“I’m sorry I don’t remember more.” I’m sorry I have to lie so you don’t think I’m insane. But would they believe that a vagabond prophet sent her to save the day? She wouldn’t in their place. Price was fine and that was all that mattered. She’d play the amnesiac if she had to. Maybe on their fiftieth wedding anniversary, she’d tell him the truth about what happened today. Fifty sounded like a nice round number to her.

“I love you, Aubrey.”

“I love you too.” Taking a breath, she pulled back to look him in the eyes. She loved the way they crinkled at the corners when he smiled at her. “Price—”


“Yeah, sugar?”

“Will you marry me?”

He blinked. “Yes.”

“That’s it?”

“What’s it?”

“Just yes? No questions or doubts or… anything?” He’d been saying he wanted to marry her since their first date—or was it technically their second date? She had no idea—but after more time around her, she’d figured he’d need some serious convincing. Scott had—she shut down that line of thinking. If there was one thing she knew, it was that Scott would never be a fraction of the man Price was. No more comparing them.

“Not one.” He slid his fingers into the pocket of his slacks and pulled out a ring with a sapphire surrounded by diamonds. “I’ve been carrying this thing around for weeks.” He grinned, and it was the most beautiful thing she’d ever seen. “We should get married in the park, what do you think?”

Tears welled up in her eyes, and all she could do was nod. He slid the ring on her finger and then lifted her hand to his lips, turned it over, and kissed her palm. “I love you.”

“I know it.” He smiled. “I love you too, sugar.”

And she believed him.

She had to thank Jericho.

Price wanted her to go back to his place and wait for him there. She would, but not until she tracked down Jericho and thanked him up one side and down the other. Cold sweat broke out on her forehead when she thought about what might have happened to Price if Jericho hadn’t sent her to save him. Where was he? Jericho was always sitting on the park bench across from her coffee shop. Always. His butt had been glued there for months now.

She jogged up to the bench to find his sign leaning up against it. But no Jericho. Shading her eyes, she looked up and down the block. Maybe he needed to use the john, and he’d be right back. Fifteen minutes later, she was sitting in his usual spot. Nothing. He was never away from the bench this long, and a twist of worry cramped her belly. Where was he? Glancing down at the sign, she saw a hand-written note scrawled in the corner. What the hell?

Picking up the sign, she brought it up to her nose so she could read it. Underneath the huge words “The End is Near” was Gone to save another lost soul, Your Guardian Angel.

She choked on a laugh, but for the third time in one day, she believed.