I planned to. I mean, he gave me the keys to a vehicle with real heat, but then I’d gone up to the barn and gotten everything cleaned up, turned off the heaters, and talked to his grandmother.
It sounded crazy and obviously she didn’t talk back, but for a few minutes, energy simmered in that barn. Maybe because the banked track had been reborn; maybe because Lilith brought her son into the world there; I didn’t know, but I couldn’t walk away.
These people made him…the man I loved, and I’d swear they wanted him home just as much as I wanted him to stay.
Just as much as he wanted to, but didn’t think he deserved to.
When I finally shut off the lights and headed for the house, I worked on salvaging the beautiful mosaic quilt first. While the laundry ran, I explored the downstairs, evidence of his grandparents’ pictures on the wall—their age told in the yellowing at the corners—puzzle boxes worn from repeated use, and the thick magnifying glass lying on top of a stack of crossword puzzle books.
Touches of familiar comfort neither Priest or Lilith seemed too eager to pack away.
The house wrapped around me like a hug and I gave in to the comfort of something lasting. I turned on the lamp important to Priest and snuggled into the easy chair for a while with a curled paperback of Lonesome Dove I slipped from the bookshelf.
I pretended the house was mine.
This family was mine.
My heart aching with the realization that Priest had a few battles to face before he found his way back for good—to this farm and me.
Mama, give me patience for this one. He’s worth it.
He stepped through the door, that quiet intensity so much a part of him back in his eyes. “You stayed.”
“I did for a bit. When do you have to go back?”
“I don’t. Jordan’s home. He called me to give me a heads-up that he planned to surprise Lilith and she surprised him instead.”
“How’s the baby?”
A proud smile curled his lips and my heart rolled over in my chest.
“He’s perfect.”
The weight lifted when Lana revealed her secret and threw him into chaos, only to be settled when we found his sister in trouble and needing him. Stabilizing him even in the storm because in that moment he had a purpose.
A protector. A caretaker. A coach.
Always giving.
How would he handle receiving?
“Does this mean you’ll go to Philly now?” My heart kicked in my chest while I waited for his answer.
For a yes.
His eyes narrowed and he nodded. “I’ll go to Philly now.”
Relief slid through me and I took a deep breath, not realizing I’d been holding in my last. But with Jordan home, his nephew delivered, and Jackson coaching us at the exhibition, he had nothing keeping him here.
He’d be back to spiraling.
Back to running.
And this time, him knowing what this town meant to me, there’d be no taking my hand before he ran.
I just hoped when he finally let go and walked away, he’d found enough here that he had no choice but to lay old ghosts to rest and come back.
“I—I cleaned up the barn and the good news is, the quilt survived. It’s hanging up in the laundry room. I didn’t dare put it in the dryer.”
“You cleaned up?” he said, his voice low as he took a step toward me.
“Well, yes. I didn’t want you to come home and have to worry about it after all you went through tonight so I—what are you doing?” I asked as he took another slow step toward me.
Stalking me.
With an unreadable look on his face.
“You stayed here and took care of everything while I was gone so I didn’t have to come home and do it?”
“Yes. It’s not that big of a deal.”
“To you,” he said quietly.
He took another step.
Energy snapped in the air between us.
“It’s just laundry,” I said before rolling my lips between my teeth.
He stopped within inches of me, his gaze flicking to my mouth before meeting my eyes again. “You didn’t just do the dishes. Cleaning up from childbirth is a lot more than just laundry.”
“I—why are you being weird?”
He took another step, backing me up until I bumped against the counter. “No one takes care of me.”
I tipped my head back and cupped his cheek, finally noticing the stubble on his ordinarily clean-shaven face. “Have you ever let them?”
His eyes closed and he tilted his face into my hand. “I don’t know how,” he rasped.
“Cain…” I whispered, trying out his name, his real name for the first time.
He shuddered at the sound, another barrier collapsing between us.
“Maisy,” he said, his lips just inches from mine.
“What do you need?” I whispered as I ran my thumb over his bottom lip.
“Stay.” He traced my lips with his tongue until I shivered and gasped—then slanted his mouth over mine, his kiss slow and deep.
Tongue gliding against mine, his hands curling around the back of my neck pulling me under him, his ragged intake of breath, and the desperation in the sound detonating in my blood.
My skin turned to fire, my breasts grew heavy, and with every lap of his tongue against mine, I throbbed…wet and wanting. When our mouths broke apart, I swayed with the force of letting go, our chests heaving, our connection beating with a life of its own in the intimate space between us.
With my eyes locked on his, I peeled my tank top over my head, offering what we both needed for what may be our last time.
He only had one commitment left now that I put him on the spot for the exhibition.
After that, he’d have to deal with his demons—and despite all the ways I could help him—that was one reality he’d have to face alone.
He dipped his fingers in between my breasts and tugged me to him, his warm brown eyes roaming over my skin, flaring with heat and need.
Reaching behind me, the movement pushing my breasts against his chest and
