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My lips part. “Ohhh…”

He smiles and strokes his thumb across my bottom lip. “I didn’t want to say before because it felt disrespectful, but now…” His expression hardens a little, and he frowns. “Well, anyway, now I don’t care. I know you’re mine. I think that’s why it felt so agonising, watching you with someone else. The universe was out of kilter. And now it’s back on its axis.” His frown lifts, and he kisses me again.

That’s exactly how I was feeling. That we’re two halves of a whole, brought together at last. He feels the same way I do. The thought fills me with joy.

“I love you too,” I say, knowing it’s the truth. “Don’t stop loving me.”

“Never,” he says.

“I couldn’t bear it if you did.”

“I won’t.” He kisses me. “I’ll love you forever.” More kisses. “Until the end of time.”

*

The next time I open my eyes, the room is filled with golden light.

I slept soundly all night, which isn’t really a surprise considering how much he wore me out. I should check the time on my phone, but I can’t be bothered to move. Judging by the light, it’s not super early, maybe seven-thirty or eight. It’s nice to have a lie-in.

He’s facing me, still asleep, and I don’t move for a moment, just enjoying the view. He looks younger, relaxed like this, his long dark lashes hiding his blue eyes, his hair flopping across his forehead. A hint of stubble shadows his jaw. He’s so handsome.

We had sex twice yesterday, and I’m a little sore, but even so, I can’t help but feel a flicker of interest at the thought of making the most of him while he’s in front of me. I don’t know when we’re going to be able to share a bed again. Moving a little closer, I bend forward and kiss his arm, his shoulder, and his neck, and he stirs sleepily and murmurs, “Mmm…”

At that moment, though, I hear banging, and then the jangle of the bell above the shop door.

We both groan. “Can’t they see we’re closed?” I mumble.

“Leave it and they’ll go away,” he says, pulling me toward him for a kiss.

Seconds later, though, the banging continues, and then the bell jangles repeatedly. I sigh, roll over, and pull on my knickers and shorts. Dammit, where’s my T-shirt? I can’t see it, so I pick up his All Blacks shirt and tug it on. It’s too big, but it smells nice.

“Suits you,” he says sleepily.

“I’ll see who it is,” I tell him with a smile.

“Come back soon,” he instructs, then yawns.

“Oh, I definitely will,” I promise with feeling, and then I go through into the living room, slip on my shoes, open the door, and run down the steps.

The shop is quiet and cool, still a little messy from the sale yesterday, the tables scattered with odd books. The shelves need reorganising, and I’ll have to do a stock take and find out exactly what’s left.

Musing on that, I cross to the front door, unlock it, and open it.

Then I gasp at the sight of the guy standing there, leaning against the doorpost.

It’s Jayden.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Vix

“Morning,” Jayden says.

I stare at him, my jaw dropping. My heart bangs. He didn’t tell me he was coming back. Shit. Fuck. What’s he doing here?

He’s lost weight since the last time I saw him, and although he still has his cane, he looks a little straighter, a little brighter. He’s still handsome, and he’s had his long hair cut short, which suits him. He has blue eyes, the same as Mitch, but Jayden’s are much lighter, and almost a blue-grey.

“I went up to the cottage,” he says, “but your dad said you were here. He tried to ring you, but you weren’t answering your phone.”