Colter smiled back at her, the sight of it already so familiar and comforting. “Believe it,” he told her. “This is your new normal.”
“I’ve got to call my family,” Kensie said, even as her mind screamed that she wanted him to be part of her new normal, too.
“I can go,” Colter said, standing. “Let you call them.”
“No.” Kensie reached out for him and he let her pull him closer. Her heart beat a frantic, frightened tempo as she stared into his eyes, wanting him to see the truth of her words as she spoke them.
Obviously sensing something important was happening, Rebel scooted closer, pressing against Colter’s side.
“I meant what I said on the mountain,” Kensie blurted before she could lose her nerve. “I know it’s fast and I know it’s not what you were looking for, but I can’t help it. I love you.”
She had to tell him. He’d done so much for her. He’d lost so much in the past year. Even if he couldn’t love her back, she wanted him to know that he was worthy of someone giving him everything they had.
She expected his face to twist with regret and discomfort, but instead he smiled. It started out slow and sexy, putting crinkles beside his eyes. Then it burst wide and Kensie’s heart seemed to do the same.
“I love you, too, Kensie.”
Epilogue
His journey was coming to an end. He hoped.
Colter stared up at the apartment complex across from the lake, frozen in place. The wind coming off the water was cold, but nothing compared to the brutal weather Desparre was getting right now. Beside him, Rebel nudged his leg with her head, as if to say get moving.
Colter laughed. “Be patient, girl.”
It had been a month since he’d seen Kensie. He’d dropped her and Alanna at the airport, watched as Alanna stared nervously up at the sky. She’d never been on a plane. The people who’d raised her since she was five were in custody and she hadn’t wanted to leave behind the siblings she’d grown up with. But they all had families, too, people who’d been waiting for them, praying for this day to come.
Kensie had stared back at him, a smile trembling on her lips and tears in her eyes. She needed to go, needed to help Alanna transition back into a life she barely remembered. Needed to be with her family as they all reunited.
And his place was in Alaska. Over the past year, it had truly become his home. The noise of a city brought on unexpected panic, while the quiet solitude of his cabin soothed his soul. Gave him a little peace.
He hadn’t wanted to let her go, but he couldn’t go with her.
The truth was, they hardly knew each other. A long-distance relationship from Alaska to Chicago seemed a little crazy, but they’d vowed to give it a shot.
But over the past month, he’d realized it wasn’t right. He couldn’t move on like this. There was still too much baggage from his past weighing him down.
So for the past three weeks he’d been lying to Kensie. He’d pretended he was still in Alaska whenever they talked. But the slightly guarded tone her voice had taken on lately told him she suspected something wasn’t right. Or maybe she was starting to have second thoughts about their arrangement, too.
Swallowing his nerves, Colter tapped his leg for Rebel, but she was already up and moving. He had to follow her into the complex. He almost forgot to use the cane he’d brought along for show as they hurried through the doors. He’d done his research beforehand—this apartment complex didn’t allow pets.
The guy sitting behind the security desk frowned and Colter leaned heavily on the cane. “Sorry. I forgot her service vest.”
The guy looked like he was going to argue, so Colter rushed to the elevator, ignoring the man’s calls to sign in. The doors slid closed behind him and Rebel before anyone could stop them.
As the elevator rose, so did Colter’s stress level. He hated enclosed spaces, especially ones made of metal. Closing his eyes, he breathed slowly in and out through his nose as Rebel pressed hard against his side.
“Thanks, girl,” he said as the elevator dinged and the doors opened, letting them off on the fourth floor. Kensie’s floor.
Swinging the cane back and forth as he walked, Colter followed Rebel down the hall. Although they’d never been here, his dog seemed to know right where to go. She ran up to Kensie’s unit and sat on the welcome mat, then thumped her tail frantically.
Before he caught up to her, the door swung open and Kensie was standing there. She wore workout gear and carried a yoga mat under her arm, which fell to the ground as soon as she saw Rebel. Her gaze darted up, eyes comically wide as they met his.
He smiled, but it was shaky. “Hi, Kensie.”
Rebel lifted her front paws off the ground, almost knocking Kensie over as she rested them on Kensie’s forearms.
“Rebel,” Colter admonished, but it lacked heat. He wanted to jump on Kensie himself.
Kensie laughed and dropped to her knees, wrapping her arms around Rebel’s neck as his dog’s tail swung back and forth. “Hi, Rebel.” She looked up at Colter. “Her leg healed well.”
“It’s as good as it will ever be,” Colter agreed. The same as his. Neither of them were quite whole, but then again, if they were good enough for a woman like Kensie, maybe they didn’t need perfect.
Finally Kensie stood, wariness in her gaze. “What are you doing here, Colter? I thought—”
“You thought I’d never leave Alaska?”
She laughed, but it sounded more like nervous energy than amusement. “Sort of. I figured the next time I saw you would be when Desparre thawed out and I could get back up there.”
“It’s not enough,” he told her. “Phone calls for six months.”
She bit her lip and the hand petting
