They were also hounding Harlow. She had a storied history with the press. After her last abduction, the entire story of her traumatic childhood and the details of her father’s death had been in the news for weeks. She’d gone to therapy and had found ways to cope, but it was hard to do that with the spotlight on her. But Carly had convinced her to go back to therapy, and she was doing okay.

  “Hey, you,” Carly said as she set a tray next to Harlow’s bed.

  Her niece rolled over and eyed the tray. “You made me breakfast?”

  “Liam did,” Carly said with a smile, eyeing the waffles and perfectly poached egg. “He’s going to make a damned fine chef one day.”

  “He made my favorite again,” Harlow said, sitting up and leaning against the headboard. She picked up the mug of coffee and took a sip before saying, “I think Liam’s my favorite.”

  Carly laughed. “I think he might be everyone’s favorite. If he keeps cooking the way he is, I’m going to need to spend double the time in the gym.”

  Harlow rolled her eyes. “You look the same as always.”

  “You might need your eyesight checked.” Carly winked at her and then took a seat on the bed. “I was wondering if we could talk for a few minutes.”

  “Isn’t that what we’re doing?” Harlow asked with a raised eyebrow.

  “Sure, but that’s just small talk. I wanted to ask you about Sarah.”

  Harlow’s eyes widened before she glanced away. “You know about her?”

  “Yeah. Lex told me when we were looking for you after you were taken from the house. She thought Sarah might know where you were.”

  “Dammit.” Harlow put her coffee mug down and then buried her face in her hands.

  “Harlow, what’s wrong?” Carly asked. “You can’t really think that I’d be upset that you’re dating a woman, could you? I mean, Zane was… is my best friend. I’ve always had gay friends. I don’t understand.”

  “I… Oh gods. How do I explain this?” Harlow asked, looking a little lost.

  Carly reached over and squeezed her hand. “You can tell me anything. I won’t judge. I just want you to know that whatever is bothering you, it’s okay. I’m here.” She gave Harlow a tiny smile. “And if you’re dating someone, I’d really like to meet her.”

  “She wants to meet you, too, and I just…” Harlow shrugged. “I feel like an idiot.”

  “I promise you, there is no idiocy here,” Carly reassured her.

  “Okay, this might sound dumb considering everything you just said, but I was afraid to tell you.” Harlow grimaced. “I don’t think it had to do with you in particular. I mean, I always kinda knew it wouldn’t be a problem, but there was this very small voice in the back of my head that kept asking what I was going to do if you were disappointed in me. What if you were one of those people who is fine with everyone else, but not those closest to them? What if it put distance between us and things changed?”

  Carly shifted so she was sitting next to Harlow and put her arm around her niece’s shoulders. “Babe, that is never going to happen. You’re my ride or die. Like it or not, you’re stuck with me.”

  Harlow let out a half sob, half laugh and wiped at the tears that had formed in her eyes. “Thank you for that. But I don’t consider myself stuck with you. It’s a damned honor to be your niece.”

  “Right back at you,” Carly said, holding her even tighter.

  “I think I…” Harlow sucked in a breath before she continued. “I have a lot of abandonment issues and even more with men after everything that I’ve been through. It’s something I’m working on with my therapist, and I guess even the tiniest hint of a possibility of my relationship putting a rift between us kept me from telling you. I’m sorry. I know it must’ve hurt that I didn’t trust you.”

  “Maybe a little, but I figured you had your reasons.” Carly kissed the top of her head. “I understand. I really do. And I also know that telling you five hundred thousand times that I’m never going anywhere probably won’t change those insecurities, but be prepared because that’s exactly what I’m likely to do. You know, each morning over breakfast, when you leave for a run, or when you’re getting ready for a date. Or hell, even in the middle of a boring movie just to have something to talk about.”

  “Stop,” Harlow said, chuckling. “You’re crazy.”

  “Who isn’t?” Carly said. “After the year we’ve had, we’re entitled.”

  “You can say that again.” Harlow picked up a piece of bacon and offered it to Carly.

  Even though it smelled like heaven, Carly passed. She wasn’t kidding about needing double workouts. “I should go downstairs and check on the boys.”

  “What’s going on with them?” Harlow asked, interest sparking in her blue eyes.

  Carly knew she really wanted to know what was going on with her and Jeremiah, but even Carly wasn’t sure. He’d been staying at her house since Liam and Zane were there. They’d decided to stay after Carly begged them to. She wanted Zane around, and besides, they needed a place where they could get back on their feet out of the prying eyes of the press. Her house, along with the added security, made the most sense. Carly loved having them there, but her budding romance with Jeremiah had cooled as he’d started to get to know his brother again. When he wasn’t with Zane, he was spending a lot of time on the phone with his boss.

  Maybe whatever had been between them had been because of the tension and anxiety they felt while trying to find Zane. That was a thing, right? People in intense situations developed feelings for each other. and then when it was over, they cooled. It had happened to her on set before. There was nothing like a good old-fashioned set romance for some excitement. But those never lasted, and eventually she’d learned that was never a good way to start a relationship.

  But Jeremiah? Her feelings for him definitely weren’t situational. She’d always cared about him and still did. All she had to do was look at him, and her insides turned to mush. Holy hell, she needed to get over herself. If he wasn’t interested, he wasn’t interested.

  “Earth to Carly,” Harlow said, waving her hand in front of her aunt’s face. “Where did you go? You looked like you checked out there for a minute.”

  “Oh, sorry. What was the question?’ Carly asked her, wondering what she’d missed.

  “What’s going on with Zane and Liam? Are they taking that movie deal?”

  “Oh, that.” Carly shook her head. Hollywood had come knocking just days after Zane had been cleared of all wrongdoing. Plenty of producers wanted the rights to their story, but they were all lowball offers, so Carly hooked them up with an agent who told them they could do better. “No. Not yet. Their agent is still in negotiations.”

  Harlow nodded. “I’m not judging in any way, but I’m not sure I’d want to do something like that where your life is up on a screen for consumption by the masses. I can just imagine the stupid shit people will say on the internet.”

  Carly nodded. “Yeah, I agree, but there’s something to be said about having a voice in your own story. The truth is that if they don’t sell it and secure the rights to have a say in how it’s made, then someone will just make an unauthorized version, and they’ll have no recourse even if it’s a complete fabrication. I get why they might want to do this. Besides, it will help them with their financial security. It’s not easy to start from scratch when you’re in your forties and fifties.”

  “True.” Harlow took a bite of her bacon. “I still don’t like it, but at least I understand it now.”

  Carly got to her feet. “I’m going downstairs. Enjoy your breakfast and then invite Sarah over for dinner. I’m sure Liam is making something fabulous.”

  “Okay,” Harlow said shyly. And then just before Carly slipped out the door, she added, “Love you.”

  “Love you, too.”

  Carly found Liam and Zane in the kitchen. Liam was behind the counter kneading some dough for the fresh ciabatta he was making. Zane was at the table looking over some contracts.

  “New movie deal?” she asked as she sat next to him.

  “Nope. Publishing contract.” He grinned at her. “They want me and Liam to write a book.”

  “Seriously?” Carly asked, her heart full for them. “That’s incredible. Is it a good deal?”

  He handed her the contract, and after a moment, Carly let out a whoop. “Seven figures? No effing way. This is amazing.” She pressed her hand to his cheek. “You have both been through hell and back. I can’t tell you how happy I am that these opportunities are popping up for you. For both of you,” she said, glancing at Liam. “It’s the very least of what you deserve and if I can help you in any way, let me know. I’ll move mountains for you.”

  Zane chuckled. “You already have. You know that, right? None of this would be happening if you hadn’t helped us with those first deals that came in. Without an agent we’d be screwed. We wouldn’t have her without you. She even introduced us to a high-powered literary agent, and that’s how this ended up on our desk.” He held up the contract for the book. “I just want to thank you. For this and for letting us stay here. It’s… everything.”

  Carly reached over and hugged him tightly with both arms. She’d never been much of a hugger except with Harlow, but now it seemed she couldn’t stop squeezing people. “I love the fact that you and Liam are here. You know that. After all the years we missed out on, I just think we deserve an extended slumber party, don’t you?”

  He grinned at her. “Remember when we were kids and I told you once that our meeting was kismet?”

  Her heart swelled with the memory. “Absolutely. We were what, ten? And you said that because we both loved the same thing from the ice cream truck.”

  “Orange Creamsicles!” they both yelled at the same time and then cracked up.

  “See,” he said. “Kismet.”

  Liam cleared his throat, and when Carly glanced at him, he averted his eyes. She patted Zane’s hand. “I think it was kismet when you met Liam, too.”

  “You do? Why?” He eyed her suspiciously. “You weren’t even there.”

  “Because he’s the catalyst for you getting out of that shitty hell hole. If you hadn’t gotten him out of there and sent him to me and Jeremiah, then it’s likely none of this would’ve happened.” She waved her hand around, indicating that he and Liam both were living there. “Your meeting was meant to be. Kismet.”

  Liam eyed her and then shook his head knowingly. He knew what she was up to. She was including him, trying to make sure he didn’t feel like a third wheel during their walks down memory lane. “I suppose it was kismet,” Liam agreed. “How often do people meet the love of their life after they’ve been forced into an underground criminal operation?”

  The way he said it so flippantly made both her and Zane laugh.

  Zane rose and went over to where Liam was still kneading his dough. He slipped his arms around him from behind and said, “You’re so damned cute, you know that?”

  “And you’re interfering with this bread. If you don’t step back, I think I’ll end up ditching it, and we’ll have to eat plain old white bread with dinner.”

  Zane gave a mock shudder and stepped back. “Not plain old white bread. I think I’ll wait to bother you until it’s in the oven.”

  “Good plan.” It didn’t take long before Liam was setting the timer on the oven. As soon as he was done, he grabbed Zane by the hand and said, “Come on, babe. We have some sun worshiping to do.”

  “Sun worshiping?” Zane asked, looking confused.

  Liam nodded at something… or someone over Carly’s shoulder.

  Carly looked back and found Jeremiah standing in the doorframe watching her. “Hi.”

  “Hi,” he said and stepped into the room.

  Carly noticed Zane and Jeremiah share a look before Zane nodded and followed Liam outside onto the deck. “What was that about?” she asked.

  “What was what about?” Jeremiah asked innocently.

  “Oh, come on. You and Zane were communicating about something. What was it? Is this where you tell me you’re all leaving us? Are my guest rooms going to be empty and no more fresh bread in my oven?” There was a slight hint of panic in her tone, but she didn’t care. She’d come to love having them all there. She wasn’t ready for them to leave.

  Jeremiah reached for her hand and slipped his fingers through hers. “No one is leaving, Carly. In fact, I think Zane and Liam are here to stay. They both love you and Harlow. If they leave it will be to move in next door after they cash in on all those media opportunities.” He grinned at her. “And as for me, well…”

  “Are you going back to LA?” she asked, squeezing his fingers and praying her suspicions were wrong. “I know you have a lot of work to do. It can’t have been easy being gone for so long.”

  “No, it wasn’t,” he agreed. “But I’m not going back. In fact, I negotiated an early retirement with them, and I’m moving to Premonition Pointe permanently.”

  Carly let out a small gasp. “You are? When?”

  “Now?” he shrugged. “I’ll need to find a place, but if you don’t mind me staying for a little while longer, I’d just as soon stay here until something comes up.”

  “Mind? Why would I mind?” she asked. But then she stood as a flash of frustration took over. “I mean, it’s not like I don’t know where we stand or anything. That I’m not always wondering what happened between us and if you’re just over it. I’m sure we can just go on ignoring it. But one day one of us will try to date again, and I imagine that might be awkward, but we’ll get over it. Or maybe you’ll have moved by then. Maybe next door with Liam and Zane and we can watch each other come and go and always wonder what might have been. And—”

  “Carly,” he said, standing and cutting her off.

  “What?” she asked defiantly. “Is this where you give me the brush off and—oomph.”

  This time when he cut her off, he did it by covering her mouth with his. She was so shocked at first that she didn’t even move. But then when his arms came around her, she melted into him and opened for the kiss. It was slow and sweet at first but then quickly became heated until they were both breathless.

  Eventually, he pulled back and stared down into her eyes. “Does that answer your questions?”

  “Some of them,” she conceded. “But I’m not sure what it means.”

  “It means I want you. I always have, and I’m moving to Premonition Pointe because I’m in love with you,” he said.

  “You are? Then why have you been… distant these last few weeks?” she asked, searching his gaze.

  “I’ve been working out my own stuff.” He sat and tugged her down to sit on his lap. “At first it was just about spending time with Zane and working out my own guilt for not realizing he was still alive. All those years lost… It really messed with me, you know?”

  She nodded. She’d had the same guilt and was also working through it.

  “And then it was about me coming to terms with how I treated you after the accident.” He reached up and brushed the hair out of her eyes. “I was an idiot, Carly. I never should have blamed you. I should’ve leaned on you. We’ve lost so much time, so many years. It’s painful to even think about it.”

  She leaned in and kissed him softly on the lips. “Life is painful and mistakes are made. We both know that. We also know there’s no way to go back and change anything. The only thing we can do is move forward.”

  “I agree.” He nodded. “The only question is if you want to move forward with me.”

  Carly grinned at him. “Hell yes, I do. Don’t you know I’ve been in love with you since at least high school?”

  His cheeks flushed. “I knew you had a crush.”

  “Well, back then, maybe it was. Now, I’m in love with you. Have been probably since the night you showed up on my doorstep.”

  He raised a dubious eyebrow. “Really? The night you wanted to slam the door in my face?”

  “Yep.”

  He eyed her skeptically, and they both laughed. “Can I ask you something?”

  “Sure.”

  “Do you have plans this morning?”

  She pursed her lips, thinking, and then shook her head. “No, why?”

  “This is why.” He stood, swept her up in his arms, and carried her upstairs to her bedroom. When he laid her down on her bed, he crawled over her and whispered, “I’m ready to make some new memories.”

  “What took you so long?” she asked with a wicked smile.

  “Only the gods know,” he answered, and then he kissed her.

  Chapter 27

  Carly parked her car at the cliff that had become so important to her. Her heart was full as she looked out over the sea. The fog clung to the coastline, but the sun was doing its best to break through. She thought it was the perfect metaphor for her official induction day into the coven.

  The coven had made her a part of their group months before, but there had never been an official ceremony. Now that everything that had happened with Valens was behind them, she was ready to start anew with the women who’d come to her rescue with no strings, no questions asked, and only pure love in their hearts.

  Carly had told Harlow not too long ago that she was her ride or die, and had been for a long time. What she hadn’t realized in that moment was that all of the amazing women of the coven were also her ride or dies. They were there for her for no other reason than that they loved her, and she was there for them.

  A knock sounded on the window, startling her. She jumped and then laughed when she saw Iris standing there with a wine bottle in one hand and an amulet in the other. Not her amulet, the one that had belonged to her father, but a different one with a bright blue sapphire in the middle.

  “Come on, Carly. Today’s your day. Let’s get moving,” Iris called.

  Carly grinned, grabbed her bag of tricks, and joined her friend at the beginning of the path that would lead to their coven circle high above the churning sea.

 

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