page112 (2/2)

“Living in sin? Cohabitating? Consu the dirty?”

“Consu?”

“We should get started on that”

At the heat in his words, her pulse turned sluggish “We’ll have time”

“Yeah We’ll go away together as soon as we can ements After the…funeral?”

When they reached the airport, the plane aiting Rafe held her hand through the flight, and he dozed, the stress lines around his eyes lessening Now that it had ebbed, she recognized the anguish he’d endured since she left

They landed after ten pm, and they drove down the coast until they reached the hotel “Are you sure you don’t want to go with ht up

She wanted to be with him to support hiood idea “I’ll be here when you get back”

“It will be early ainst him and kissed her with the emotion he hadn’t expressed before

Her toes curled, and her insides war this moment orth any risk

“I love you, Hope I’ll spend a lifeti it”

She kissed her first two fingers, then pressed theainst his lips “Go and be with your father”

Before leaving, he kissed her again

She walked to the , pulled back the heavy blackout curtain, and watched him walk toward their rental car It didn’t surprise her when he stopped, turned, then scanned the s until he saw her

Beneath a light, he touched his heart, then pointed at her He oing through soe the connection they shared

After his car had disappeared fro lot, Hope drew a bath and sank into it Withacross her h, the past wasn’t all there was I? The baby he’d once mentioned? Like mist, the pictures the the way they once ht have been

She fell into bed wrapped in a fluffy robe for security, and she was asleep when Rafe returned

He undressed her so her tight, as if he’d never let her go Deep inside, she wanted that too