J.D. Trafford - Michael Collins 03 - No Time To Hide by J.D. Trafford Page A

a few minutes, watching the waves. “Cuteness is one of my better qualities.”
    “Sometimes,” Andie said. “Sometimes it’s a better quality. Sometimes it isn’t.”
    They sat without words for awhile longer.
    “I know I’m somehow responsible for this,” Michael nodded toward the smoldering pile across the water. “And I’m sorry.”
    “You don’t have to apologize,” Andie said. “I knew something would happen when I came back.” She paused, before finishing. “I knew that it wasn’t over.”
    Andie adjusted and turned, looking at Michael.
    “You told me who you were. You told me what you did, and I came back anyway. Full disclosure.” Andie looked at the bandage in her hand. “My fault.”
    Michael tossed a rock out into the water, and then set the other stones down on the ground by his side.
    “They’ve frozen our accounts. I have to check, but I’m doubtful that they missed any.”
    “I know.”
    “There’s probably an indictment and they’re probably starting the extradition process to bring me back right now.”
    Andie nodded, again. “Figured.”
    “And then there’s that.“ Michael looked back toward the shore; smoke rising from where the resort’s bar and office was once located. “And this.” Michael looked at the bandage in Andie’s hand, and then he shrugged his shoulders. 
    “How many times can I get away?” Michael put his hand on Andie’s knee. “How many people are going to get hurt in the process?”
    Andie rolled her head back and around, letting the tension escape her neck.
    “Depends on how bad you want to get away.”
    Michael nodded. “Or what it’ll cost me.”
    “You had nothing to do with Father Stiles,” she said. “It was a heart attack. You can’t blame yourself for that.”
    “But I could have been there.”
    Andie nodded. “You could have.” She shrugged. “But it wouldn’t have made a difference.”
    “And what about you?” Michael looked at the cut on Andie’s head, then back across the water to where the office and bar once were. “You could’ve gotten killed.”
    “But I didn’t,” she said.
    Michael picked up another handful of rocks and started sifting them.
    “While I was away, I thought about whether I could trust you. Can you believe that?”
    Andie smiled. “Of course,” she said. “I pop back into your life, and things go to hell.”
    “You said it, not me.” Michael threw another rock into the water. “But if I don’t trust you and Kermit, then I don’t see what point there is in being here, in being anywhere.”
    Michael turned to her. “What if I turned myself in? What if I stopped hiding?”
    Andie closed her eyes, sad.
    “Are you wondering whether I’d wait for you? Whether I’d stick around for twenty years for you to be released?”
    “The thought crossed my mind.” Michael shuffled his foot in the sand, and then he threw the remainder of his rocks into the water. They plunked and popped in rapid succession. “Prison isn’t exactly the best place for love to grow.”
    “Well, I do love you.” Andie moved closer to Michael, taking his hand. “I’d try.”
    “About all that anybody could ask.” Michael raised her hand to his cheek, rubbed it and then gave Andie’s hand a soft kiss. “But I know the odds.” He let her hand go. “It’s asking you to give up a life.”
    “I said I’d try.” Andie turned and kissed Michael. She playfully pushed him on his back and climbed on top of him, her legs straddling his torso. “But wouldn’t you rather fight it and stay together? Go down shooting?”
    Andie took Michael’s wrists and raised them above his head, pinning him to the ground.
    “I’m better at fighting, Michael.” Her little grin spread into a wicked smile. It was the spirit that he fell in love with. “You have to have an idea.”
    “You want another Houdini act?”
    Andie laughed and kissed Michael hard on the lips. It hurt his sore body, but in a good way.
    “I always liked