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"Yes?"

He looked at me for a long moment, his blue eyes searching mine. Then, without another word, he crossed the space between us and swept me into his arms.

I gave a little gasp of surprise as his enormous hands settled around my waist and he drew me close against his broad chest. The familiar warmth spread through his spectral form as soon as he touched me, making him feel solid and real, and I instinctively wrapped my arms around his neck.

Oh, it felt so wonderful to be held by him again! I pressed my cheek against his chest and breathed in that delicious masculine scent of leather and wood smoke and something dark and spicy which seemed to belong to him alone.

For a moment, neither of us spoke. We simply stood there holding each other, while the golden doorway shimmered beside us and the hot Florida sunshine spilled across the old stone floor.

Then Garrik bent his head, bringing his lips close to my ear.

"Come back to me soon," he murmured, his deep voice sounding strangely rough.

My heart gave a little flutter.

"I will," I whispered.

He tightened his arms around me.

"Not just to break the curse, sweetheart," he said softly. "Because I want you with me."

For a moment, I couldn't breathe. Had he really just said that? Had Garrik Blackthorn, the grumpiest, most stubborn, most infuriating man I'd ever met, actually admitted that he wanted me to come back simply because he enjoyed having me around?

I looked up at him, feeling tears prickling behind my eyes. His handsome face was very close to mine, and there was such tenderness in his deep blue eyes that I felt my heart squeeze tight in my chest.

"Oh, Garrik," I whispered.

I wanted to tell him that I didn't want to leave, either. That I'd spent the entire night wishing he was beside me and that the thought of going back to my ordinary life without him was making me miserable. But somehow, I couldn't get the words out.

So instead, I rose on my tiptoes and kissed him. It was a long, sweet kiss, and he returned it with such tenderness that I almost forgot about the golden doorway and the miserable job waiting for me on the other side.

When we finally drew apart, I rested my forehead against his chest and closed my eyes.

"I promise I’ll come back as soon as I can," I whispered. "Just let me get things settled at home."

He kissed the top of my head.

"Take all the time you need, sweetheart," he murmured. "I'll be waiting."

I thought my heart was going to break. He'd spent a hundred years waiting for someone to break his curse, and now he was going to be waiting for me.

I hugged him a little tighter, wishing desperately that I could simply stay where I was, but then, of course, Bartleby had to open his mouth.

"Well, this is all very touching," he remarked from somewhere near our feet. "But unless you intend to spend the entire morning embracing each other, Celeste, I suggest we get moving. Otherwise, you're going to be late for work, and from what you've told me about that charming employer of yours, you'll almost certainly be fired."

I gave a startled little laugh and pulled back from Garrik's embrace.

"He's right," I admitted reluctantly. "I really do have to go."

Garrik sighed.

"For once, I find myself forced to agree with the infernal beast."

"Naturally," Bartleby replied. "I'm right about most things. It's simply that neither of you cares to admit it."

I smiled down at him.

"Come on, you. Let's get going."