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I shot him a dramatic pout. “Why didn’t you warn me that punching someone hurt so bad?”

Aiden’s arms wrapped me up from behind, squeezing me tight.

“That was sexy as hell, sweetheart,” he whispered in my ear.

“Pretty sure you think everything I do is sexy,” I said with a fake exasperated sigh.

Turning me around, he smiled. “Guilty as charged.”

Feeling an angry glare burning the back of my head, I turned to James, leaning against Aiden for support.

“I am staying here with them, and there is nothing you can do or say that will change my mind. I’m happy here. Really, really happy. I found my passion again, and these people, this town, are everything I never knew I needed. There is nothing waiting for me back in Seattle.”

James’s face dropped, as if only now it was sinking in that his plan to take me back home wouldn’t work.

“This is not how I saw this conversation going,” he muttered while tenderly prodding at his swelling lip.

“I don’t doubt that. You didn’t see me, haven’t really seen me in a long time, James. In this new chapter in my life, I’m putting myself and what I want first, and you’re not in it. I hope you have a safe trip home, and I really wish you well, James. Good luck with everything.”

Not having anything else to say, I turned and shuffled to the bedroom, softly closing the door behind me. With zero energy left in my exhausted body to shower, I stripped off my stiff and dirty clothes before pulling on a pair of comfortable shorts and a matching sweatshirt. The bed frame creaked when I collapsed face-first onto the mattress with a groan. The thick duvet molded around me. My sigh brushed across the soft material, relishing the comfort after sleeping on the hard floor the night before.

Raised voices sounded from the other room, followed by the front door slamming shut. Seconds later, the bedroom door creaked as it slowly swung open, and quiet footsteps shuffled toward me. Gentle fingers brushed a few rogue strands of hair off my face.

Aiden searched my face. “You okay, sweetheart?”

I nodded, hair rasping along the cotton material. “Is he gone?”

“Yep. Miles wanted to escort him back to the seaplane to tell Finley and Dax to get him back to Seattle before nightfall.”

I snorted. “Should’ve known he was the rich asshole they talked about picking up yesterday.”

“He’s not the only one in the world.” A soft sigh escaped me as his fingertips brushed up and down my back. “Naptime?”

“Yeah. I need a shower, but I can’t muster up the energy for that just yet.”

His lips pressed to my shoulder. “There’s time for that later. Sleep, sweetheart. I won’t let anything happen to you, and I’ll be right here when you wake up. You’re safe.”

As I drifted off to sleep, brain fuzzy and lips loose, I let three little words slip out.

“Love you, Aiden.”

His lips softly brushed over mine. “And I’m obsessively in love with you, Aspen Carter. You’re mine, and I’m—we’re—never letting you go.”

Sounded like perfection to me.

32

ASPEN

My muscles strained as I pulled open the weathered wooden door. Instantly, laughter and the delicious scent of food greeted me as I stepped over the threshold into Dave’s. Taking a second, I scanned the high-top tables, only to have movement in the back draw my attention. The amazing group of women I was there to meet waved at me from a table in the corner, which I returned while heading to the long bar to place my drink order. Elbows on the rounded edge, I grinned at the familiar face on the other side, currently wiping away a few water droplets glistening on the polished wood left by someone else’s drink.

“Hey, Kale, what are you doing here? I thought you worked at The Nest?”

Palms pressed to the edge of the bar, he leaned forward, slightly curly hair falling along his forehead as he shot me a warm smile and nodded. “I pick up shifts here, too, when I can.” He flicked his wild dirty-blond hair out of his eyes. “I work all kinds of odd jobs around here. What can I get you? A glass of chardonnay like you had the other night?”

My cheeks heated, and I pressed a hand to my chest. “I’m flattered you remembered.” Kale was no Miles or Aiden, but the man was very attractive. He was no doubt a hot commodity in Anchor Bay.

His wide shoulders rose and fell in a casual shrug before he shoved off the bar. “I’m a bartender. It’s kind of my job to remember things like that. Plus, I had fun talking with you that night. You’re a cool chick, Aspen.”