“What are you thinking?” he asked softly, his fingers still drawing circles on my skin.
I propped myself up on one elbow to look at him. “That I’m glad I’m here. With you.”
His eyes softened as they met mine. “Me too.” He brushed a strand of hair from my face, his touchgentle. “We should try to get some sleep.”
I nodded, settling back against him. “Stay,” I murmured, already feeling exhaustion pulling at me. “All night.”
“Wild horses couldn’t drag me away,” he promised, pressing a kiss to my forehead.
As I drifted toward sleep, wrapped in his arms, I felt something I hadn’t felt in a very long time—hope.
∞∞∞
Morning came too soon, and with it the sunlight streamed through the curtains. I woke slowly, aware of a warm weight around my waist and steady breathing against my neck. Jake was still asleep, his arm draped protectively over me, our legs tangled beneath the sheets.
I lay still, savoring the moment, not wanting to disturb him. He looked younger in sleep, the lines of worry smoothed from his face. I remembered the pain in his voice when he’d spoken of his wife and daughter, the loss that had shaped him. That he could still open his heart after such a tragedy spoke volumes about his strength.
A soft knock at the door broke the stillness. Jake stirred, his arm tightening around me before his eyes opened, instantly alert.
“Mom?” Nora’s voice called from the other side of the door. “Are you awake?”
I sat up quickly, pulling the sheet over me. “Just a minute, honey!” I called, my voice still rough with sleep.
Jake was already moving, sliding out of bed and gathering his clothes. “Bathroom,” he mouthed, pointing to the ensuite.
I nodded gratefully as he disappeared behind the door. Taking a deep breath, I found my clothes, pulling them on hastily before opening the bedroom door.
Nora stood there in her pajamas, her stuffed fox clutched under one arm. “I’m hungry,” she announced. “And Aunt Kat said to ask you if I could have pancakes for breakfast.”
I smoothed her hair, relieved that she seemed normal after yesterday. “Pancakes sound perfect. I’ll be down in just a minute, okay?”
She nodded, then peered past me into the room. “Where’s Jake?”
My heart skipped a beat. “Why do you ask?”
“Because he wasn’t on the couch when I came downstairs,” she said, as if it were obvious. “Rory said he might be checking the property, but his boots are still by the door.”
“I’m sure he’s around somewhere,” I said, keeping my voice casual. “Why don’t you go tell Aunt Kat Isaid yes to pancakes, and I’ll be right down?”
She seemed satisfied with this and headed back toward the stairs. As soon as she was out of sight, I closed the door and leaned against it, letting out a deep breath. That was a close one. If this continued between Jake and me, we would have to be more careful, like locking the door or waking up at the crack of dawn.
The bathroom door opened, and he emerged, fully dressed in jeans and a Henley. “That was close,” he said, a hint of amusement in his voice.
“Too close,” I agreed. “I’m not ready for that conversation with her. Not with everything else going on.”
He crossed to me, his hands settling on my waist. “Regrets?” he asked, his eyes searching mine.
I shook my head firmly. “Not about last night. Never about that.”
Relief washed over his handsome face, and he leaned in to press a soft kiss to my lips. “Good. Because I’ve been waiting too long for you to slip away now.”
I smiled against his mouth. “Not slipping anywhere. But we should probably go downstairs separately. For Nora’s sake.”
He nodded, stepping back reluctantly. “I’ll go first. Say I was checking the security feeds in my office.”
“Thank you,” I said, grateful for his understanding. “For everything.”
His eyes softened. “Always.”
