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“For now.”

“Good. By the way, I gave my notice to Mr. Sullivan today. He invited me back for next season.”

Cadence’s gut fell. “You’re not leaving!”

“Just told you I was.”

“Right, but—”

“But nothing. I told you I was thinking about it.”

True. But Cadence hadn’t actually believed her.

“So, you’ll have this whole duplex to yourself, at least until you marry your accountant.” Paisley wrinkled her nose. “Don’t do that while I’m away, okay? I mean, I could come back for it, but I’d rather be here to help you plan.”

“Then stay.”

“Girl, I can’t. I really, truly, can’t.”

“Weston.”

Paisley sighed. “There’s more to it than him, okay?”

Should Cadence press? But the thin lines of her roommate’s lips told her this wasn’t the best time. “Okay. But keep talking to me, okay? Or, you know, start.”

“It’s only eight months until I come back.”

“Ugh. That long?”

“Middle of May is when things ramp back up around here. The ranch doesn’t actually need a family activities director between now and then, anyway. The boss man didn’t try that hard to get me to stay on.”

Which reminded Cadence that she needed to talk to Mr. Sullivan herself. What if he didn’t need a social media director, either? He probably didn’t. What was she thinking, believing she could stay here year ’round?

She’d get right on that tomorrow. Tonight, she only wanted to savor this new thing with Graham. And thank the good Lord above that they’d both come to their senses and given each other another chance… at the same time.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chicago in December. Ugh. Snow blasted sideways beyond the glass that kept the sub-zero wind from the airport departures area.

Beside Graham, Cadence sighed. “Do we need to be here?”

He chuckled. “You know we do. We might be grown adults, but our parents still expect us home for Christmas.” His had certainly made it clear they were not traveling to Montana for the season.

“It’s going to be weird.”

“I know.” Graham squeezed her hand. And he wouldn’t be able to protect her, not that anyone should need protecting from her own parents. He’d been used to her living a couple of doors down Hummingbird Lane. For the coming week, she’d be dozens of blocks away. And he wouldn’t see her in the office, either.

“Don’t abandon me.” She leaned against his shoulder.

“I never will.” Graham turned and wrapped her tight in the circle of his arms. This trust was not something he’d ever get used to. How had a geeky guy like him become lucky enough to win a smart, beautiful woman like Cadence?

He shook his head. Not lucky. Blessed. Both of them had done a ton of growing spiritually since the June night they’d fled Chicago. Semantics didn’t change his deep feeling of unworthiness, but somehow that managed to coexist with a newfound peace.

Graham might not be worthy of Cadence’s love. He might not be worthy of God’s love, either, but it didn’t stop either of them from loving him. And it only deepened his own resolve to keep learning how to live a life of love.

Something his parents and hers had yet to acknowledge they needed, despite a nominal adherence to Christianity.

He spotted the black limo idling in the pickup line and reached for his carry-on. “There’s Grandfather’s chauffeur now.”