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“But I know I can’t move that quickly. There’s too much that could go wrong.

Stephan told me the businesses aren’t all the way legit yet, and that means there’s still a risk that he could end up in prison again.

I couldn’t do that to Dylan—uproot his life just to see it all pulled out from beneath him. ”

I couldn’t do that to myself. I didn’t say it, but from the way Mia’s lips turned down at the corners, I knew she got the gist.

“So, I’m going to stick with my plan and head back to Atlanta at the end of the summer. It makes more sense. Dylan won’t have to change schools, and I won’t have to get a new job. We’ll come here for the summers, but for now, I think we need some separation between us.”

Bella shrieked with delight as Dylan pushed her gently on the swing.

“I think that’s really wise,” Mia said.

I jerked my head over to look at her. “What? Really?”

“Yeah. You just reconnected with Ace after a decade, girl. Take it slow.”

I exhaled a laugh through my nose. “Seems like the guys don’t want me to leave at all. Every time I mention going back to Atlanta in the fall, they all get pouty.”

“Doesn’t surprise me,” Mia said with a smile. “Dragons aren’t known for their understanding of nuance.”

“Dragons, or men?”

That made Mia laugh for real. I hadn’t realized how much tension I was carrying in my shoulders, but I did now as I relaxed.

“I’m glad you think it’s the right idea,” I continued. “I was worried I was being dramatic. Or… that I was afraid to let a good thing pass me by.”

“Ace waited ten years,” Mia said. “Going back to your life for a few months isn’t going to change his commitment. If anything, it’ll push him to get the clan businesses straightened out even faster. We’ll all benefit from that.”

“You sound really sure about that,” I said.

“Well, I have some experience in the field.”

“What do you mean?”

Mia kept her gaze on Bella and Dylan. “I left Hawk when I was three months pregnant.”

My eyes widened. I never would’ve guessed that. Their relationship seemed so sweet, so strong. I vaguely remembered them fighting a lot ten years ago, but they were so happy now. “Can I ask why?”

“Bella wasn’t exactly planned. When I saw that positive test, everything with Hawk became more… real. When we were dating, I’d been into Hawk’s bad boy lifestyle, you know?”

I chuckled. “Yeah, I know.”

“But then I had a kid in my future. And instead of the sexy, mysterious bad boy, I saw a man who was going to put my kid’s well-being in danger.

I didn’t know if I wanted my baby to grow up with a dad who might get in trouble with the law, or something worse.

” Mia frowned, like imagining it broke her heart.

“What changed?” I asked. “What convinced you to come back?”

That turned her frown into a soft smile.

“Hawk proved to me that it’d be worth it.

I didn’t believe him at first, and it took time for him to convince me.

But he was determined. He proved to me he would be a good dad and would always put Bella first, no matter what.

It was hard for me to believe it when he was just running his mouth, but he was patient with me. He backed up his words.”

“You three seem like a happy family.”

“It’s not all sunshine and roses,” Mia admitted. “But it was good for us. It built real trust between us. And we got a lot better at communicating.”

I sighed. “Is it really that easy?”

“It’s not easy,” Mia said. “But if Ace loves you, he’ll understand your reasoning. He won’t rush you.”

I could only hope she was right.

As the sun began to set, Mia announced that it was nearing Bella’s bedtime. Bella yawned and reached her arms up to her mom. Dylan was already saying he was starving. That kid could seriously put away enough food to feed a small army.

We made it home. Stephan had picked up pizza on his way back from the garage, much to Dylan’s delight. He scarfed down half of one and took the rest up to his room to devour while he played his video games.

Stephan and I put the leftover pizza away. It was quiet in the house, save for the muffled sounds of Dylan’s game and his shouts into his headset. There was a strange, simmering tension between us, and I didn’t like it. It was so different than the easy connection we’d had until now.

This was why I’d wanted to take it slow. Not everything could be effortless, right?

“Harley—” Stephan started, at the same time I said, “Can we?—”

I bit my lower lip, hiding a smile. Stephan offered me a tentative smile in return. “You first.”

“I wanted to ask if we could talk.”

“I think we should,” he said warmly.

I made a cup of tea, then followed Stephan out of the glass doors and onto the back deck.

The moon was nearly full, and bright enough that it cast soft light over the still surface of the lake.

The night air was cool and smelled faintly of smoke.

Somewhere, someone had a campfire going.

That, or a dragon was having a little too much fun.

I cupped the mug in both hands and let the warmth seep into my palms.

Stephan stood next to me at the deck railing. He looked even more handsome in the moonlight, with his face cast in half-shadow. That worried furrow was back in his brow. I leaned closer and rested my head against his shoulder.

“I know you want me to stay here,” I said.

He nodded. “I do.”

“Part of me wants that too. I know it’s not going to be easy for me to leave at the end of the summer. Not for Dylan, either. He’ll probably cry and then pretend he’s not crying.”

Stephan chuckled. “I did the same thing at his age.”

“I just can’t do this that fast,” I said. “We said we’d go slow, and even though it’s been…” I trailed off as I searched for the right word.

“Incredible?” Stephan nosed against the crown of my head as he rubbed my lower back. “Perfect? Amazing?”

I huffed a small laugh. “Yeah. Even so. I can’t drop everything and move here. What if something happens to you? With Sean, or with the police? What if something happens to me?”

His hand slid to my waist and squeezed. “Nothing will happen to you, Harley.”

“Blakely ran me off the road, Steph.”

I could practically feel his anger radiating off him. “And nothing like that will happen again.”

“I know, I know.” I turned and caught the corner of his mouth in a brief kiss to calm him down. “I need more time. I need things to calm down in Lakeview. I need to talk to Dylan about what he wants once he’s gone through his first shift. I need to know I won’t get hurt again.”

Those familiar gold flecks appeared in Stephan’s eyes. It was always intoxicating to have his gaze on mine when his eyes burned gold. It wasn’t only his desire I felt—it was his dragon’s, too.

“You know I want you to stay,” he said. “Whenever you want to come to Lakeview, you and Dylan will always have a place here. Doesn’t only have to be summers. Anytime. However long you want. You’re always welcome.”

“Thank you.”

“I know it’s hard to believe in our future together.” A muscle in his jaw jumped, like saying the words hurt. “I’ll give you all the time you need, Harley. I’m not going anywhere.”

Relief rolled through me. It was more than I’d felt with Mia. It was like sliding into a hot bath after a long day. I’d needed to hear him say he’d wait. Even if I knew it in my heart, I’d needed to hear him say it.

“Thanks for understanding.” I wrapped my arms around his neck.

“You don’t need to thank me. It shouldn’t have taken me this long to find you again.

” He leaned down and pressed his face into the crook of my neck and inhaled, then brushed his lips against my skin.

“I love you, Harley. I’ll prove that to you.

And I’ll prove you and Dylan have a place here. No matter how long it takes.”

I hugged him closer, pulling our bodies flush together. My heart pounded as the low resonance of his voice rolled through me.

I couldn’t say it back. I did love him. I’d loved him since I first met him, ten years ago, when he was a rowdy bad boy with big dreams for his clan. But saying it felt like a promise I didn’t know I’d be able to keep.

Stephan pulled back enough to catch my eyes again. There was a small smile on his face, like my thoughts were broadcasting at full volume. With him, I sometimes thought they were. He tipped his forehead against mine. “We’ll be okay, Harley. I’m not worried about anything.”

I kissed him. I desperately wanted to believe he was right.