Page 62 of Modern Romance September 2026 Books 5-8

Slowly, I turn.

Dominic is standing just a few feet behind me.

Chapter Twenty-One

Dominic

She’s so beautiful. Dark hair falling in long, loose waves over her shoulders. A slim dress the same dark green of the pine forest. How did I ever think that alone was better? That avoiding pain was worth sacrificing the happiness I’ve experienced with her?

Her hands are at her sides, but I can still glimpse the rings on her left hand. Relief floods me. Perhaps it’s not too late.

“You’re here.”

“I am.”

Her eyes are shining, luminous. “How?”

“Well, my plane departed at—”

“No.” She shakes her head. “I saw you on TV two minutes ago.”

“Prerecorded conference. It was filmed yesterday.”

“And now you’re here.”

“And now I’m here.”

The words barely leave my mouth before she launches herself at me, wrapping her arms around my neck as I grab on to her. I hold her tight. She’s here. Real. In my arms.

“I’m sorry, Dominic,” she murmurs against my neck. “I’m so—”

I cut her off with a kiss. She tastes like home.

Finally, I raise my head. “I pulled away first. And I pushed you even further away.”

She leans her head against my chest. “I missed you.”

“And I missed you.”

I glance around the hall. “Would you walk in the garden with me?”

“I’d like that.”

I grab her hand in mine, hold on tight as we walk down the hall. I glance at the library doors. Her mother is standing there, a stunning smile on her face and tears in her eyes. She nods to me before stepping back into the library and closing the door.

We walk out into the quiet coolness of an autumn morning.

“When I left, I thought it was best if we had some time apart.” I glance down at her. “I never intended to let you shut me out. I’m sorry I left in the first place.”

She shakes her head. “I told myself it was because I was protecting you. But I was being selfish. I was protecting you as much as I was protecting myself. I was so convinced that you would eventually hate me that I didn’t even give you a chance.”

“I know what that’s like.” I stop, turn her toward me, and cradle her face in my hands. “I kept myself distant from you for weeks. Months. You’re not the only one who’s made mistakes. I should have given you more time. And I shouldn’t have pulled away so abruptly. I wasn’t the only one affected by that article.” I release her face only to reach down and grab her hands, bringing her fingers up to my lips and kissing them. “I told you about my childhood. But I didn’t tell you about John.”

She frowns. “You told me some.”

“Some. What I didn’t tell you was that he offered me unconditional love. The kind that I had once dreamed of having from a father. He wasn’t just a mentor or supporter. He came to love each one of us.” My voice tightens. “But I resisted. I treated him with respect, and I convinced myself that it was enough. Every time I thought about telling him just a little bit more, I stopped myself. Told myself it would be a sign of weakness, just opening the door to more pain. And then I left on deployment. I’d been gone for four months. I got the word he had passed.”

“Dominic…”