this. But isn’t this why she took the risk just to show Zane how she felt? Would he stay in New York when all was said and done, now that he knew?
But he hadn’t said how he felt yet, other than his moon comment and being glad they’d reconnected. A bad sign.
She studied his face, trying to read him. “Zane …”
“Shh,” he said, a finger to his lips. He leaned toward her. “Holly, I haven’t called because I knew something was bothering you. I figured you needed some time to yourself. So, I came here to take care of my business.”
She gave him a lop-sided smile. “How’s that working for ya?”
He sighed. “I’m making progress.” His eyes roamed her face. “I’m glad you’re here.”
“Do you know what you’re going to do?”
“Yeah, I think so.”
She took another deep breath. “Are you coming back to Clear Creek?”
He glanced around his apartment. “After I settle some things here. I have to speak with the folks at work, make some arrangements.”
She breathed a sigh of relief. “So, you’re going to live in Clear Creek.”
“No.”
Her face fell.
He smiled, leaned toward her and kissed her on the forehead. “I’m going to split my time between Clear Creek and New York.”
His peck stunned her. “Wha … what?”
He sat back. “I’m doing it for everyone involved. I’ll keep this apartment and sublet it out when I’m not here.”
“But … but …”
He held up a hand. “This way everybody’s happy. Maybe later I’ll plant myself somewhere between the east coast and west coast, but until then, this is the best solution I can come up with.”
She thought about that. “What about what you want?”
“I’m fine. I can handle going back and forth. In fact, I’m looking forward to it.” He leaned toward her again. “The question is, how do you feel about it?”
“Sounds like I’d only see you half the year.”
He made a face then tapped his head with a finger. “Unless …” he smiled again. “You worked remotely.”
“What?”
“Online?”
She stared at him in shock. “Zane, what are you saying?”
He drew closer and cupped one side of her face with one hand. “I’m saying I love you, Holls. I don’t think I ever stopped. But we’ve changed, grown up. Don’t you want to find out who we are now?”
“I thought I had a pretty good idea,” she said lamely. But he was right. “So, you … love me?”
He drew closer. “Do I have to spell it out?”
When his lips touched hers the years between them melted away. No, they weren’t teenagers anymore. But you never forget your first love, they say, and in that moment, she knew it was true.
Zane broke the kiss, looked at Sophie, and kissed the top of her head. “Maybe we should put her in her playpen?”
Holly smiled, unable to speak. Good grief, he’d rendered her speechless? Before she knew it, he was carrying Sophie toward the playpen.
Holly stared after him, too stunned to do anything else. He did love her! Reality, however, managed to wiggle its way into her brain. “Zane, you were in Clear Creek what, a week and a half, two weeks?”
He returned to the couch. “Sometimes it’s enough, sweetie.” He sat. “Sometimes, what was in a person’s heart, never leaves. It just lies dormant for a while.”
She nodded. “I suppose that’s true. So … you want to see where this goes?”
“Don’t you?”
“But … my business.”
He smiled. “You could become an online personal shopper. You could shop everywhere for your clients.”
“But I do that now.”
“For a local customer base,” he pointed out.
She thought about that. He was right again. “But Katie …”
“You could hire someone part time to take care of things while you’re away.”
She gawked at him as realization dawned. “You’ve really thought this through, haven’t you?”
He grinned and nodded.
A hand flew to her mouth in her surprise. “But why?”
“Isn’t it obvious, Holls? I want you in my life. I want to get to know the woman you’ve become. So much of the old Holly is still there. But I want to get to know everything. And by golly, I’m not going to leave you for months at a time to do it. I want you to come with me.” He smiled, tucked a finger under her chin and closed her mouth.
Her face went crimson. “You … you’ve thought of everything.”
“Yes, that’s how much I want this to work.”
“Just to get to know me better?”
He shook his head. “To get re-acquainted, then …” he smiled as his eyes flicked to Sophie and