Page 107 of Knox

“Your mother tried to stop him,” I whispered. “She tried to do the right thing.”

“I know.” Knox’s voice was rough. “She always did.”

I lifted my head, meeting his eyes. “Like mother, like son.”

Knox closed his eyes and inhaled.

We stayed like that until darkness fell, and the weight of the day finally lifted.

When Knox carried me upstairs to bed, I reminded myself that the nightmares would fade. And our love was enough to heal the parts of me that had been broken.

35

Two Months Later

Sloane

Paint fumes mixed with cool December air as I stepped back to admire our work. Island Adventures’ front entrance gleamed with fresh coral and turquoise paint, the colors Claire had chosen twenty years ago, now restored to their original vibrancy. Knox stood beside me, roller in hand, satisfaction evident in his relaxed posture.

“Mom would approve,” he said quietly.

“She’d love it.” I touched the newly installed sign. Island Adventures: Your Gateway to Carolina Bay Exploration. A pink neon sign in the window let guests know this was also where they could find Stride’s newest location. A perfect combination.

The partnership was official. Our futures further intertwined.

Knox set his roller down. “Think we’re ready for the grand reopening?”

“Almost. I still need to finish the classroom space for the women’s programs, and there’s one more thing I want to run by you.”

Knox tipped his head. “What’s that?”

“I have an idea for honoring your mother’s memory.”

His lips quirked in that sexy, almost smile. “More than this?” He raised a finger toward the freshly repainted building.

“Yeah.”

“I like it already. What do you have in mind?”

I bit my lip, unsure if I was overstepping. “I’d like to contribute to a scholarship for young women who want to pursue environmental science or outdoor recreation careers. The Claire Hawthorne Memorial Scholarship.” I wet my lips, pushing ahead with a backup idea in case he wouldn’t accept the money. “We can fund it through our businesses moving forward. There are solid tax benefits, and we can do something to help the next generation of conservationists and adventurers. But I can get it started for us this year.”

Knox stepped forward, his face alight with pleasure. “Mom would have loved that.” He kissed the top of my head and held me close, the way he always did.

And I melted into his embrace, the way I always did.

“Thank you,” he whispered into my hair. “For loving her.”

“Claire was incredibly lovable. Like her son.”

We turned in unison to the sound of tires on the worn gravel behind us.

Archer parked beside Knox’s Jeep and climbed out with Colton. Each man carried a box of security system components to be installed. They’d both fulfilled their active-duty requirements before being honorably discharged. Then, they’d invested in the startup costs for a new business providing security to locals as needed. The phone was quiet for now, but they’d have their hands full with the summer crowd in a few months. I was sure of it.

“Hey, wow,” Colton said. “This place looks great.”

“Thanks.” I smiled. “I was waiting for you guys. I got you a little Christmas gift.”

The Marines alternated between looking pleased and confused while I hopped inside the shop to retrieve a box I’d been hiding for at least a month.