“These are beautiful,” she murmurs, her touch raising goosebumps on my skin. “Do they meananything?”
I look down at the intricate patterns, considering her question. “Protection, mostly. Each knot represents something different—strength, courage, family.”
“And the dragon?” she asks, her hand moving to the stylized creature that curls across my chest.
“Got that after I left home the first time,” I tell her, watching her face as she traces the design. “Dragons guard treasure, but they’re also symbols of transformation. I liked the idea that I could change, become something different than what everyone expected.”
Her eyes meet mine, understanding in their depths. “And did you? Change, I mean?”
“I tried,” I admit. “Left Toronto, traveled, did some soul-searching.” I sigh, old regrets surfacing. “Fell back into old patterns pretty quickly after that.”
“And now?” she asks softly. “With everything that’s happened?”
I consider this, my hand absently stroking her back. “Now I have no choice but to change. To figure out who Kane MacGallan is, since Kane Murphy was apparently never real to begin with.”
She props herself up on one elbow, looking down at me with an intensity that makes my breath catch. “Kane Murphy was real,” she says firmly. “The name might have been based on a lie, but the person—theman I’ve gotten to know these past two weeks—he’s real.”
Something in my chest loosens at her words, a tension I didn’t even realize I was carrying. I pull her down for a kiss, trying to pour into it everything I can’t yet say—my gratitude, my amazement at finding her, my growing feelings that I’m not ready to name.
When we separate, she’s smiling that soft smile that makes my heart do uncomfortable things. “What was that for?”
“For seeing me,” I say simply. “The real me, underneath all the bullshit.”
She laughs, the sound light and carefree in a way I haven’t heard from her before. “Well, it helps that you’re currently naked and thoroughly debauched. Hard to maintain pretenses in this state.”
I join her laughter, flipping us suddenly so she’s pinned beneath me again. “Thoroughly debauched, huh? I think I can do better than that.”
Her eyes darken with renewed desire, but before she can respond, a sharp knock at the door makes us both freeze.
“Kori?” Declan’s voice calls through the wood. “Have you seen Kane? We need him for the conference call with the lawyers in twenty minutes.”
I press my finger to my lips, signaling Kori to stayquiet, but she gets a mischievous look in her eyes that spells trouble.
“Haven’t seen him since breakfast,” she calls back, her voice impressively steady considering my hand is now between her thighs, teasing her. “Maybe check the stables? He mentioned wanting to see the horses.”
I pinch her side in retaliation, making her squirm beneath me. She retaliates by wrapping her hand around me, stroking slowly in a way that threatens my sanity.
“Thanks,” Declan says, and I hear his footsteps retreating down the hallway.
“You’re evil,” I whisper, nipping at her earlobe. “He’s going to know exactly what we’ve been doing.”
“Mmm, probably,” she agrees, not sounding particularly concerned as she continues her maddening strokes. “But that gives us at least fifteen minutes before he finds you.”
“Fifteen minutes, huh?” I murmur, sliding down her body. “Let me show you what I can do in fifteen minutes.”
Her laughter turns to gasps as I put my mouth to better use, determined to make every second count.
Later—much later than fifteen minutes, after we’ve finally managed to drag ourselves out of bed and into the shower (where we get distracted all over again)—we make our way downstairs. I’mbraced for knowing looks, for Declan’s disapproval or Kat’s teasing, but what we find instead is chaos.
The main hall is filled with people I don’t recognize—men and women in business attire, carrying folders and laptops, speaking in urgent tones. Connor stands in the center of it all, looking overwhelmed but determined.
“What the hell is going on?” I ask as we approach.
Connor looks up, relief crossing his face when he sees me. “Kane, finally! Where have you been?”
“Around,” I say vaguely, feeling Kori shift beside me. “What’s all this?”
“Estate matters,” he explains, lowering his voice. “With Tomas confirmed dead, there’s a lot to sort out. The lawyers want all of us to sign some documents before we leave for Alberta.”
