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“What? No, I can’t…”

“Can’t, or don’t want to?” Grace asked. “I get it, if you don’t want to, I’m sorry if I emb—”

Her words were cut short by a finger touching her lips.

“Can you just give me a moment to think?”

They were too close. And with an invitation to get closer with Grace staring at her like that, she couldn’t stop herself. It just happened. Their lips touched and then her tongue was met with Grace’s, and they were kissing.

“I need—” Caz pulled back before she did something with her hands that would really ruin things.

Somehow, she managed to wriggle free and climb out from where she’d been pinned.

“I’ll be back in a minute.”

Grace rolled over and grinned up at her. “Alright.”

Chapter Twenty-Four

It only took a few minutes for Caz to walk to the beach. At gone nine, it still wasn’t fully dark, though the sun had almost disappeared from sight. There was just a faint glow of oranges and yellows in the sky. The moon hadn’t made an appearance yet, but it would soon enough.

Caz marched through the sandier part of the beach until she hit the more solid and stable sand that had been soaked by the sea and dried out. She kept marching until her bare feet were washed over by the cold water as it rushed in and out.

She felt a shiver as her body temperature dropped with every step as she strolled the shore, her mind awash with thoughts and feelings that were becoming more difficult to keep under control.

Every image of Grace flashed through her mind: The wedding. Christmas. Her smile. Her tears.

All of it had built a huge reaction within Caz to protect and love her more than ever.

“Hello…excuse me?” a voice called out and brought her from her thoughts. Caz turned quickly and found a woman looking at her.

Dark curly hair tied back, her arms wrapped around herself. Another woman, older, stood a little further back, looking on and watching them both.

“Are you okay?” she asked, and Caz frowned.

“Yeah, I’m good. Thanks,” Caz called back with a half-wave.

“We just don’t see many people walking…” The woman stepped closer and eyed Caz up and down. “By themselves at night. Are you sure you’re alright?”

The woman seemed genuine and something about her concern had unlocked Caz in a way nobody but Grace ever had.

“My wife just kissed me,” she blurted out without thinking about how crazy that sounded.

The woman’s eyes widened. “Okay.” She then smiled. “And that’s a bad thing?”

Caz looked back along the beach and sighed. “I’m not sure. I mean, I wanted her to, but…it opens doors to things, doesn’t it?”

“It does, yes,” the woman said slowly as she gazed down at Caz’s hand and the ring on her finger.

She was right in front of Caz now. She looked like a grown-up, one of those women who had their shit together,Like Grace, Caz thought.

“Sorry.” Caz laughed. “That must sound completely ridiculous.”

“A little, but not the craziest thing I’ve ever heard.” She held her hand out. “Morgan.”

“Sweetheart, everything alright?” the woman behind her called out, and Caz stepped back as Morgan turned and waved.

“Yes, all fine, darling.” Morgan turned back to Caz, “We’re getting married later this year.”