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I closed my eyes briefly, resting my face against her palm.

When I looked at her again, she was smiling through fresh tears.

“I was hoping you’d say something like that this morning,” she admitted. “Before everything went wrong.”

“I should’ve said it then.”

“Maybe.” She drew a breath. “But I’m glad you’re saying it now.”

I put my arms around her, and she stepped into the embrace, pressing her cheek against my chest.

For a while, I simply held her.

Then Goldie leaned back enough to look at me.

“I do want to keep seeing you, Duncan. But I have a job in Chicago, and I’ve worked really hard for the chance to advance there. I can’t pretend I’m going to turn around tomorrow and move here because we’ve had a wonderful weekend.”

“I don’t expect you to.”

“I know this isn’t the most romantic thing to discuss right now, but I’ve already been in a relationship where we cared about each other and never made any real plans. I’m not interested in doing that again.”

“Neither am I.”

I took both her hands.

“You’re going back to Chicago tomorrow. I want you to go, finish your report, and show Janine what you accomplished here. You’ve earned whatever comes next with that job. I’m not asking you to give it up.”

She watched me closely.

“I can come to Chicago,” I continued. “We can plan visits around your work and Sienna’s school. Some weekends will be easier than others, and we’ll have to figure out what works. But I’ll do my share of the traveling, and I want us to make actual plans instead of waiting until we’re lonely enough to pick up the phone.”

Goldie laughed softly.

“That sounds surprisingly practical.”

“I’ve been told I’m good at making things work when somebody gives me the right plans.”

Her smile widened.

I brushed my thumb over her knuckles.

“I want us to be together, Goldie. Not just when you’re working in Maple Lane Falls. I want to take you on a proper date without a haunted house deadline hanging over us. I want you to come back here because you want to see me, and I want to visit you because I’m your man, not because something needs repairing.”

She laughed, and this time the sound held real happiness.

“Your man?”

“If you’ll have me.”

Goldie reached for the front of my jacket.

“I think I’d like that very much.”

I bent to kiss her.

She met me eagerly, sliding her arms around my neck as I pulled her closer. Her mouth was warm and familiar, and I took my time because I wanted her to know I wasn’t going anywhere.

When we finally separated, she stayed against me.