the empty white chairs. When he spotted her, she half expected him to walk away, but he stayed where he was, watching her approach.
He looked good, she thought happily. The dark suit, shirt and tie suited him. It was his sexy author look, and it worked for her in a big way.
“I don’t have much time,” she told him. “I have to get to the reception, but I didn’t want to wait any longer to tell you that I’m sorry for what happened before, between us. I’m sorry for how I acted and what I said. I was caught off guard. That’s information, not an excuse.”
She paused, hoping he would say something, but he looked at her without speaking.
This was her moment to be brave, she reminded herself. She refused to lose out because of fear. Not anymore.
“A lot of things have gone wrong in my life,” she continued. “Verity’s gift has been a challenge from time to time, and while that’s on her, my reaction to those circumstances is on me. I’m pretty sure I learned the wrong lesson. Instead of thinking other people needed to grow enough to accept her, I told myself to be scared. To hide, to not reach out to anyone. I was so afraid of being like her that I stifled any creative thought I had. I wasn’t being my best self and when you came along, I didn’t realize what an amazing opportunity I had until I messed up everything.”
His dark gaze locked on her face, but he still didn’t speak. Which made all this really hard, but she wasn’t giving up.
Okay, this was it. She was ready to fling herself off the side of the mountain and hope he caught her.
“I love you,” she told him. “With all my heart. I love you and I’m so grateful that you were able to see what we could be together. Even if it’s too late and you’re done with me, I still want you to know how I feel and I hope that you can—”
He pulled her close, breathed her name and kissed her. No, it was more than a kiss—it was a promise. She hung on to him, kissing him back, feeling at home in his embrace, knowing this was all she’d ever wanted.
“I love you, too,” he said, pulling back enough to stare into her eyes. “It’s not too late. It will never be too late, because I’m not going anywhere. I’ve just found you, Renee. I’m not letting go ever.”
They smiled at each other, then kissed again. After a few seconds, he drew back.
“You have a reception to put on. Go back to work. I’ll be waiting when you’re done.”
She nodded. There was so much to talk about. Them, their future, where they were going to live and how they were going to have to introduce Koda to Fred and Lucille. But that was for later. He was right—she did have a reception to manage and a happy couple to watch over.
She raised herself on tiptoe and kissed him. “I do love you, Jasper Dembenski.”
“I love you back, times a thousand. Now go. I’ll be right here when you’re done.”
Three weeks later...
KODA STARED AT JASPER as if asking if this were really necessary. He was in his own home—shouldn’t the other creatures be the ones on a leash? At least that was Jasper’s interpretation of what Koda was thinking. If he really wanted to know, he was going to have to ask Verity to stop by.
They were in day two of what he liked to think of as the cat invasion. So far Koda had been accepting and the cats weren’t overly freaked out.
Fred and Lucille had a small room of their own, so they could have privacy while eating and using the bathroom. The cats weren’t allowed in his office, so Koda could have time away from them and relax. Renee was still concerned about the family blending but Jasper knew it was all going to work out.
They’d spent the past few days moving Renee into his house. They’d discussed getting a place in town, but she wanted to see if she could make the mountain retreat work. So far the late fall weather was cooperating, but the real test would be January.
He and Koda headed into the master bedroom where Renee was putting away her clothes. Knowing she’d moved in made him ridiculously happy, although he was trying to act as normal as possible. Thursday would be their first