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I dropped a kiss to her full mouth. “Then we’re good.”

I peered around her shoulder at the contents of the small refrigerator. The old wire shelves held a small amount of food. Tugging her aside, I picked up the carton of eggs, opening the lid. Only two were missing. The loaf of bread was barely touched, the package of cheese unopened, and the cream was almost full. There were two apples, some unopened yogurt, and on the counter, a few bananas. That was it. My suspicions about her lack of appetite were confirmed.

I shut the door, turning to face her. “This is all the food you have? Have you been eating at all?”

“Not much,” she admitted. “I wasn’t hungry.”

I recalled the small town I drove through on my way to the cottages. There was a little grocery store and I was sure I’d passed a restaurant. “I’ll take you into town for supper. You need to eat.”

She shook her head. “Nothing is open this time of night, Richard. It’s off- season. We’d have to drive farther to get to a bigger town. It’s a good hour away.”

“That’s fine.”

“I can make us some scrambled eggs.”

I relented easily, not really wanting to go anywhere. “All right. I’ll make toast.”

“You can make toast?” She gasped, laying her hand on her heart.

I yanked her close, kissing her teasing mouth. “Yes. My wife taught me.

She’s a smart woman.”

Her cheek folded in, and I knew she was chewing on it. I tapped the rounded flesh. “Stop it.”

“I like it when you call me your wife,” she admitted.

“It’s funny how often I found myself thinking of you as such. Never Katharine or Katy, but my wife. I liked the way it sounded, although I never questioned why.” I snorted. “Too stupid to realize how I felt about you, even in my own head.”

“Or too scared.”

The air caught in my throat. As usual, she hit the nail on the head. I had been too scared to admit what I was feeling. To admit an idea I had my entire life was wrong.

“I’m not scared of loving you anymore, Katy. I’m only scared of losing you.”

She curled herself into me, resting her head on my shoulder. I cradled her close, stroking through her hair in long passes.

“I’m here,” she whispered. “You found me.” “Thank God.”

I set down my plate on the old coffee table, my gaze on Katy. The firelight played over her face, the flames casting a red glow around her head. She pulled her legs to her chest, chin resting on them as she stared into space. She hadn’t eaten much, but she did finish the toast. I polished off all the eggs and ate both her apples. We’d replace them, and more, in the morning. For now, though, I needed to find out how she wanted to proceed together on the road ahead of us.

“What would you like to do, Katy?”

She turned her face toward me. “Hmmm?”

I ran my knuckles down her cheek. “Tomorrow. The next day. The one after. Tell me what you’re thinking.”

“I don’t know.”

“How long did you want to stay here? Or do you want to go home?” A sudden tightness enveloped my torso, making me breathless. “Are you coming home?”

She slipped her hand into mine, one word easing my worry. “Yes.” “Okay. Good. When?”

“Can we stay here for a few days? Or if you have to get back, I’ll follow you then?”

I shook my head. “I’m not leaving here without you. If you want to stay, we can. I’ll bring you back in the summer, too.”

“The cottages won’t be here in the summer.” “Why?”

“Scott passed away last year. His son, Bill, is selling the land. After speaking with him, I gathered whoever buys it will tear down all the cottages and develop something new and modern.” She looked around the room, her eyes drinking in memories. “He told me business has been poor, but it’s a good time to sell because of the location. The land is worth a lot of money. It’s a good opportunity for his family.”

“I’m sorry, sweetheart. I know this place is special to you.”

She smiled, rubbing her cheek on my hand. “I have my memories. I’m grateful Bill let me come back one last time.” She sighed, the sound low and sad. “I have one more good memory to add.”

“We can make our own memories, together. New ones.” She nodded.

“Do you want me to buy this place for you?” I searched her eyes. “I can afford it,” I added. “If you want me to, I will.”

“No! No, Richard. You don’t have to buy an entire resort for me. What on earth would I do with it?”

“If it made you happy, I would. We’d figure something out. It’s probably a good investment. We could rebuild it, including a bright blue cottage with white shutters just for you.”

She leaned forward, teary-eyed and kissed the corner of my mouth. “Thank you, my darling, but no. The fact you would offer means more than I can say.”

“Okay. If you change your mind, let me know.” “I’ll do that.”

I reclined back on the sofa, looking around the room, an idea forming in my head. I would have to see if I could arrange it. I tugged on Katy’s legs, bringing them onto my lap.

“We’re going to have a lot of questions to answer when we get back.”

“I know.” She drew in a deep breath. “Do you think they’ll ever forgive us?”

I was honest. “I don’t know.”

Graham had been more than fair after our talk. However, I knew it wasn’t over. Once I had figured out her whereabouts, I wasted no time throwing a few things into a bag and heading for the car to arrive before dark. I had called him prior to leaving, telling him I knew where Katy was and I was going to find her. He had been encouraging and wished me luck.

“I hope you find your happiness, Richard. Believe you deserve it and hold on to it.”

“Thank you.”

“Call me when you get back. We’ll talk.” “I will. Thank you, Graham.”

No other words had been spoken and no reminder of a job waiting. I had no idea what the future held for my career. All I knew right now was that Katy was my future. That was enough.

“I may not have a job, Katy.” “What will you do?”

“We”—I stressed the word—“we may have to move. I can put out feelers in Toronto or Calgary, maybe Vancouver.”

She nodded, playing with my fingers. She kept turning my wedding band around, twisting it nervously.

“Will you go with me?”

Her head shot up and she met my gaze. “I’ll go anywhere with you, Richard.”

“Okay, then. We’ll figure it out, together.” “What if we don’t have to?”

“I’d be ecstatic. I like working for Graham. I enjoy the positive energy and the teamwork.” I barked out a laugh. “I’m even fond of that dynamo they call Jenna.”

“I think you’re fond of them all.”

“I am. It’s what I want, and I’m willing to do whatever it takes to earn Graham’s trust back. As long as he gives me the chance to do so, we’ll stay. If not, we’ll have to move on.”

“Okay.”

“It’s as simple as that for you? After everything, you’ll pack up and follow me?”

She rested her head on the sofa. “I love you, Richard. If you have to leave, then so do I. The past is just that now—the past. Like the contract you burned, it’s gone. I don’t want to dwell on it or keep throwing it in your face. That’s not how love works. It’s not how I work.”

In a second, I had yanked her on my lap and was kissing her with all the emotion I felt. Every thought and new sensation went into my kiss. Love, want, desire, relief of having found her—and an emotion I had never known

—joy. Joy she was here, joy she returned my love, and joy for the future, because the future contained my Katy.

I tilted her head, needing her closer, wanting more of her in every way. My arms locked around her, molding her softness to my hard body. I slipped my hands up her shirt, pressing against the smooth expanse of her back, groaning with desire.

“Please, baby,” I begged, needing more.

“Bed,” she whispered against my mouth. “Take me to bed, Richard.” I stood up, holding her. I didn’t need to be told twice.

The bed was old and it creaked. The headboard ricocheted off the wall repeatedly as I took her, the sheets bunching around our bodies from our frenzied coupling. None of it mattered.

Before we hit the mattress, I tore off her shirt, yanking her pants away, leaving her bare to my thirsty gaze. I ran my hands over her warm skin,

wanting to feel the silkiness under my fingers. She tugged at my sweatshirt, and I fell on top of her, needing her mouth back. She proved adept at using her small feet to push down my sweats so we were skin to skin, my aching cock trapped between us. I memorized her all over again with my hands and mouth. Her rosy nipples begged for my attention, growing to hard peaks under my tongue. The sweet indent of her waist on the right side was ticklish, and I reveled in her giggles as I feathered it with light kisses, and teased her skin. The swell of her hips fit perfectly in my hands as I pressed down gently, opening her up to me. I kissed her belly button, dipping my tongue in to taste the saltiness of her skin. I rained small kisses down to her thighs; her tiny gasps ramping up my desire. Slipping my fingers into her wet heat, I hissed at the sensation. “God, Katy, I want you, baby.”

She sat up, wrapping me tight in her arms, drawing me back down. “Take me,” she pleaded.

She wound her legs around my hips, urging me to the place where I was desperate to be buried. I stilled as I slid inside, inch-by-inch, until our bodies were flush. Our eyes locked, and I lowered my mouth to hers as I began to move. Slow, even thrusts that built until we were both lost in the heat of us. She clung to me, fingers digging into my back, grabbing my ass, yanking on my hair, as she keened and whimpered my name. I clutched her tight, taking her now with powerful thrusts, our sweat-soaked skin sliding together, our bodies moving as one. With a guttural cry, I buried my face into her neck as she stiffened, her body tightening around me. My orgasm washed over me, cresting hard, every nerve on fire as I released deep inside her, groaning out her name.

“Katy! My Katy.”

Sliding my arms around her back, I rolled to the side, holding her close, pressing kisses to her face, hair, and neck. She hummed, contented and warm, into my chest.

“Love you,” she whispered.

“I love you,” I breathed into her skin. I felt around on the floor, finding a blanket, which I drew up over her bare skin, tucking it around her neck. She curled into my side, fingers tracing a slow pattern over my heart.

“Tomorrow,” I vowed. “Tomorrow we start fresh. Real. Us.” “Us,” she repeated. “Yes.”

I waited until she fell asleep before I allowed myself to drift off. I shut my eyes, knowing when I awoke she would be beside me.

Secure in that knowledge, I slept.