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He smiles softly. “This way.”
Leading me upstairs, through a long corridor of closed doors, he finally comes to a stop and pushes one open.
“This is our room.”
My eyes take in the huge bedroom with a four-poster bed and floor-to-ceiling windows looking out across acres of beautiful, wide-open space.
“Wow.”
The single word is little more than an exhalation.
“It’s really something, isn’t it.”
I nod mutely, my eyes drinking their fill as Cade presses a kiss to the back of my head.
“Freshen up. Take your time. I’ll get moving on shutting this shindig down.”
I spin about, blinking owlishly, wholly awed at the beauty of North Star.
“No wonder your dad loves it here. It’s…it’s…”
He smirks, winking theatrically before moving back down the hallway and tossing over his shoulder. “Not half as breathtaking as you, Bambi. Not even close.”
Once I’ve drunk my fill—or as much as I can absorb at this time—I make short work of using the ensuite to freshen up.
Someone has had my suitcase brought up to the room, alongside my crossbody bag. I send a prayer of thanks up to the heavens as I take a minute to slip into a long dress that’s much more suited to the Texan heat.
I’m giving myself a once-over when I remember to plug in my cell, which is surely dead at this point. Digging into my handbag, I find to my surprise, it still has ten percent battery left.
As I pull out my charger, I smile, noting several text messages.
Anna
I’m so happy for you, love. I’ll keep the memory box safe in the meantime.
I smile at her thoughtfulness before sending a reply.
Me
I’m walking on air, Anna.
My smile freezes and falls from my face when I click on a message from Vaughn from earlier today.
Vaughn
There’s no easy way to say this, sweetheart.
Griff died this morning. I’m so sorry.
My stomach churns as I read and re-read the message over and over again. My breathing is coming in short bursts, and tears prick behind my eyes as emotion threatens to overwhelm me.
He can’t be dead. He was fine last night. He wasfine.
My gentle giant. Myfriend.
Another text pops up beside the previous one, and my forehead puckers in befuddled hesitation when I read it.
Vaughn
