“You just didn’t sound like yourself,” he said simply, lifting his gaze to hold hers. The intensity in it made her breath catch. “I know all your voices. I knew something was wrong.”
Tears sprang to her eyes. The aftermath of being grabbed and threatened at gunpoint and fearful for Dylan—it all snowballed and she wanted to throw herself at him and cry on his shoulder.
But she couldn’t do that. He was leaving Lost Harbor.
“I need to use the bathroom,” Dylan said. “He wouldn’t let me take a leak the entire time.”
“Yeah. Of course.” Darius helped him stand up. Dylan limped off toward the bathroom as Kate and Darius watched his every move.
“I hope he’s—” Kate began anxiously.
Darius cut her off by cupping her face in his hand. “He’s okay. But I’m not.”
Oh my God. Had Steve gotten him after all? Frantic, she patted his chest, his arms, anywhere that he might be wounded. “Are you hurt?”
“No, but I’ll die if I don’t say this. I love you, Kate. It’s not over for me. It’ll never be over.” Pure emotion, open and raw, blazed from his gray eyes. This was a Darius she’d glimpsed, but never seen in his full glory. Loving, powerful, caring, opening himself up to her—he took her breath away. “We can figure this out. I’ll do whatever it takes. I’ll fly back and forth. Spend summers here. I don’t care. Anything except walk away from you. I thought I could, that I wasn’t a romantic kid anymore, but I was wrong. I mean, I’m not a kid—I’m a man, with a man’s heart. And it’s yours.”
She let out a sob of sheer astonishment. “It is?”
“When I saw you arguing with that asshole, like you were made of pure fire trying to keep Dylan safe, I wanted to throw myself through the glass for you. I want you. I love you. I’m yours, if you want me.”
She threw herself into his arms, which he opened just in time. Being held by him again flooded her with transcendent joy. “I love you too, Darius. I’m not used to loving anyone, it’s so confusing. I couldn’t believe you wanted to just leave. You didn’t even ask me if I wanted to come with you!”
“I didn’t dare. I have Dylan with me now, and it all seemed too much to ask of you. But I should have. God, I should have. I should have told you how I felt.” Holding her tightly, he moved his hands in delicious circles on her back. “I’m sorry I ever made you think I could live without you. You’re my Kate. You’re my everything, my light, my joy, my fire.”
The tears were flowing down her face now. “How’d you get so good with words?” she wailed.
“I guess you’re rubbing off on me.” His chest shook with a deep chuckle. “Or maybe you just inspire me.”
The sound of Dylan’s footfalls made them pull apart. The boy looked from one to the other of them, hands on his hips. “I saw that.”
Darius cleared his throat. “Yeah. We should talk.”
Dylan put up a hand to forestall him. “I already know. You and Kate love each other and want to be together.”
They glanced at each other and Kate twined her hand in his for support. Was this going to be difficult? She thought she had a good relationship with Dylan, but he was still mourning his mother. Maybe he didn’t want an interloper around while he got to know his father.
“Yes,” Darius said seriously. “All that is true. But that’s about as far as we got. We’re not making any plans without you—”
The boy interrupted him. “Can we forget this stupid Texas idea and just stay here?”
Darius’ jaw fell open. “You don’t want to go to Texas?”
“No way. I like it here. It’s a fresh start. Or it will be, after people get used to me. That’s what Maya says.”
Darius nodded slowly, as if he was afraid to hope it was all going to work out. “I’ll have to see if I can get my job back.”
“They’d better not turn down the hottie fire chief.” Kate squeezed his hand.
He raised an eyebrow at her. “There’s another problem. We’ll have to work it out with the landlady.”
“I was thinking maybe I could have the upstairs, like it could be my bedroom.” Dylan grinned, suddenly looking like an ordinary, carefree teenager. “That’s why I came up here before. I woke up early and I went upstairs so I could imagine living there. It looked like someone had messed with the door. I shouldn’t have gone in, that was stupid.”
“You were really brave, Dylan,” Kate told him. “Brave and a little reckless.”
“Maybe it runs in the family.” Dylan smirked.
Darius settled his arm over Kate’s shoulders. The strength and love flowing through it turned her heart into a glowing ball of joy. “We’ll think about your idea. Now how about you go tell the crew we’re all fine and we have a suspect in custody? Kate and I will be right behind you.”
“Sure thing, Dad.” He headed for the door.
The look in Darius’ eyes at the sound of that word sent a new wave of emotion through Kate’s heart.
He spun her against him and cupped her face in both his big hands. For a moment they gazed at each other, joined in silent union, suspended in time.
Then he touched her mouth with his and she lost herself in a kiss she wanted to never end. This right here, her and Darius, this was the rock on which her life would rest from now until forever.
The sound of applause from outside made them break apart again.
“Dad?” Dylan called from the outdoor staircase. “You should see this. Look out front.”
Still hand in hand, she and Darius slid open the glass door and stepped onto the front deck. The entire volunteer fire department had gathered outside. Various official and personal vehicles were parked along the street. They were cheering Dylan as he limped down the stairs.
“I texted Nate about Dylan being held hostage and saving the day by tripping the dude,” Darius murmured. “Guess word must have spread.”
Someone spotted them on the deck, and everyone’s attention turned their direction. More applause, along with whistles and cat calls as people noticed they were holding hands.
Laughing, they both bowed to the crowd. “Thanks for all the help!” Darius called down to his crew. “Nate, we need to talk.”
Nate laughed. “Job’s yours again, Chief. No questions asked.”
Whoops and cheers went up from the crowd. Kate threw dramatic air kisses, as if they were royals on a palace balcony. Lord and Lady Armor-All, perhaps.
Darius drew her close and whispered in her ear, “Are you sure you want to stay in this crazy town?”
“With you? Absolutely.”
Chapter Thirty-Six
The entire world looked different now that he and Kate were together—for real, and for good. Even in the always dingy Moose is Loose Saloon, colors were brighter, sounds were jazzier, his bass practically played itself. Darius grinned as he thrummed the strings to match the pace set by the drummer. He finally had his black hat back, and he had Kate, and Dylan, and that meant that every little thing was right with the world.
He knew the very moment that Kate blew in like a spark on the wind, eyes bright and smile naughty. She blew him a kiss that sizzled onto his skin.
He shot her a look of pure locked-and-loaded lust.
She found the table he’d saved for her near the stage. Maya joined her, wearing an off-hours outfit of slinky black velvet. They chatted intensely, heads together, as the band finished out the song.
The set ended and the singer called for a break. Darius wiped off his face and sauntered to the table to join his love and his colleague.
He and Kate indulged themselves in a long, passionate kiss that nearly knocked off his hat, while Maya looked at the ceiling and whistled a tune.
“You two done yet?”
“Sorry,” said Darius, not feeling sorry at all. “Carry on. What’d I interrupt?”
“I was just filling in Kate on the perp. It turns out there’s already a warrant out for his arrest in Cali. So I sent him back.”
Kate pr
etended to glare at her friend. “As his lawyer, I should have been informed—” She broke off with a laugh. “God, I’m not even going to joke about it. Did I tell you that I cancelled my California bar membership so I can never get sucked into their games again?”
“Yeah, and I heard you’re going for the Alaska bar,” Maya said. “Think you remember how to study?”
“Oh, it’s much easier this time.” She smiled blissfully at Darius. “Someone keeps bringing me snacks and backrubs.”
“Spare me the sappy visuals,” Maya grumbled and turned to Darius. “I got a message that you wanted to talk to me about something.”
“It’s S.G.. She came to me with a request.”
Kate jumped in. “She saw how happy Dylan is now that he found his real father.”
“So Dylan’s doing well?”
“So well. No more fights with other kids. He’s taking summer classes to catch up. He’s doing great.” Kate glowed as she recounted Dylan’s achievements; Darius loved the fact that she now considered his son part of her own family.
He took Kate’s hand and ran his thumb across her palm as he addressed Maya. “S.G. came to me asking if there’s a way to find her family. I explained that we don’t even know if they’re alive, but she wants to find them anyway. I told her it’s not my department but that I’d talk to you. Any chance you can help her out?”
Maya’s warm brown eyes gleamed. “Would she be okay answering questions about her childhood? I’ve been checking a few things out, but I didn’t want to go too far unless she was ready. You sure she’s up for this?”
“It was her idea.”
“Good. Okay, tell her I’ll arrange a meeting soon.” Maya already had her phone out and was tapping something with her thumbs. “This is pretty exciting, actually. I’ve been hoping she’d want to explore her background. You know what, guys? I think I might head back and put my notes in order.”
“You sure?” asked Kate. “There’s a hottie over there watching you.”
Maya barely glanced toward the blond man in the Henley a few tables over. She paused briefly, then shook her head. “Damn. But no. What’s a man compared to a hot investigation?” She stood up and pushed back her chair. “You can catch a ride with Darius, right, Kate?”
“Don’t worry about me. I hear they have cabins out back.” She leaned against Darius’ shoulder and he wrapped his arm around her. It felt like…perfection.
“Well, don’t burn them down,” Maya quipped as she left.
“No promises.” Darius growled and hovered his mouth over Kate’s. “I have big plans for tonight.”
“You do?” Her dark eyes teased him and her curving lips drew him in for an irresistible kiss.
Oh yes, he had very big plans. For tonight, and all the nights that came after.
Very big, very naughty plans.
Thank you so much for reading! Coming next is Love At First Light, out in late summer. You can find all the Lost Harbor books here. Want to be the first to hear about new books, sales, and exclusive giveaways? Join Jennifer’s mailing list and receive a free story as a welcome gift.
About the Author
Jennifer Bernard is a USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance. Her books have been called “an irresistible reading experience” full of “quick wit and sizzling love scenes.” A graduate of Harvard and former news promo producer, she left big city life in Los Angeles for true love in Alaska, where she now lives with her husband and stepdaughters. She still hasn’t adjusted to the cold, so most often she can be found cuddling with her laptop and a cup of tea. No stranger to book success, she also writes erotic novellas under a naughty secret name that she’s happy to share with the curious. You can learn more about Jennifer and her books at JenniferBernard.net. Make sure to sign up for her newsletter for new releases, fresh exclusive content, sales alerts and giveaways.
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Also by Jennifer Bernard
Lost Harbor, Alaska
Mine Until Moonrise
Yours Since Yesterday ~ Book 2
Seduced by Snowfall ~ Book 3
Wicked in Winter ~ Book 4
* * *
The Rockwell Legacy
The Rebel ~ Book 1
The Rogue ~ Book 2
The Renegade ~ Book 3
The Runaway ~ Book 4
The Rock ~ Book 5
* * *
Jupiter Point ~ The Hotshots
Set the Night on Fire ~ Book 1
Burn So Bright ~ Book 2
Into the Flames ~ Book 3
Setting Off Sparks ~ Book 4
* * *
Jupiter Point ~ The Knight Brothers
Hot Pursuit ~ Book 5
Coming In Hot ~ Book 6
Hot and Bothered ~ Book 7
Too Hot to Handle ~ Book 8
One Hot Night ~ Book 9
* * *
Seeing Stars ~ Series Prequel
The Bachelor Firemen of San Gabriel Series
Love Between the Bases Series
Copyright © 2020 by Jennifer Bernard
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
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