I chuckled, warmth fizzing through me at the thought that I brought her here. She wanted to be happy, and she came to me. That was kind of amazing. “Some of us don’t do subtlety. We need the words.”

“I want a future with you,” she whispered.

“Thank you.” I pecked her on the lips again. Things weren’t as comfortable and easy between us as they used to be, and I was sure we’d both need extra reassurance while we fell into a rhythm of togetherness again, but I was confident we’d get there—or to somewhere new and better. After all, we were both older, with more life experience. Surely that meant we could make an even deeper connection if we worked at it.

“In fact,” she continued with more certainty, “I think it’s about time I start looking for a house of my own.”

My heart skipped a beat. “You what?”

“Well, I’ve been here for six weeks, and I don’t plan to leave, so I should find a more permanent living situation. It’s not as though I can’t afford to buy a home here. I just wanted to come to the cottage first because of nostalgia, I guess. Or maybe because I’d hoped Grace would be more accepting of me than others might be.”

“Pretty safe bet,” I said. “Grace is something special.”

“Yeah, she is.”

Looking into Kennedy’s vivid eyes that were slightly blurred by sleep, it was on the tip of my tongue to suggest that she make use of the key I gave her all those years ago and move in with me. But I forced myself to swallow the words. It was best to take things slow, no matter how much I might want to run into a relationship with her at top speed. I just hated the thought of all the years we wasted.

Outside the bedroom, there was a series of loud knocks followed by heavy footsteps. Then another set of knocks on the bedroom door.

I stiffened, immediately going on the defensive, but a voice called out.

“Kenz, you’d better not be naked, because I’m coming in.” It was Blair.

“Totally naked!” she yelled back at the exact moment the door swung open and her brother appeared. Kennedy yanked the covers over herself and I shifted to make sure all the good bits were covered, but if Blair hadn’t wanted an eyeful of my chest, then he should have been more considerate of Kennedy’s personal space.

“First you left us behind, then we got there just in time to see you two running off together. What’s up with that?”

Kennedy and I exchanged a look.

“We wanted private time,” she said.

His hands went to his hips. “So, everything is worked out between you now?”

“More or less.” I took Kennedy’s hand and gave it a comforting squeeze.