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Alec returned downstairs. “Let’s head back out, and if we can’t find her soon, I’m going to call the police and ask for help.”
“Let’s go back to the cottage once more,” Baird said. “See if her things are all there, or if she’s packed or taken anything. I can’t imagine where she’d go at this time of night, but we have to find her. I will find her.”
The cottage was still dark. The downstairs was cold. Upstairs, Ella’s room was still empty, her bed still made. Alec checked the first bedroom then. Baird checked the next.
And then Alec said quietly, “Baird, she’s here.”
“Where?”
“Here. Isn’t this your old room?”
Baird squeezed past Alec to look into his room, and yes, she was there, curled up in his bed, the covers tucked beneath her chin.
Relief flooded Baird, relief and gratitude and something else so deep and profound that he couldn’t even articulate it. “Why is she in here and not her room?” he asked, voice low.
Alec clapped Baird on the should. “I’m going back to the house.” He gave Baird a look. “I’m not going to tell you what to do, but it would be a great deal easier on my marriage if you do not have to break Ella’s heart.”
“The last thing I want to do is break her heart,” Baird said, voice rough.
He didn’t want to hurt her. He loved her. He wanted more time with her. If it was possible, he wanted forever with her. He didn’t want Ella finding forever with anyone else. He didn’t want someone wooing her and winning her and making all her dreams come true. That was his job. That was what he wanted to do.
“I’ll see you in the morning,” Baird said.
Alec paused at the end of the hallway. “I thought you were leaving.”
“It doesn’t make sense to rush out early now. But thank you for coming to help me find her. I appreciate it.”
“You did the right thing calling me. I’m just glad she is safe. Good night.”
Alec left, and Baird stood in the doorway several long minutes watching Ella sleep.
He didn’t know why she climbed into his bed, in his room. He certainly hadn’t thought to look for her here but at least she wasn’t outside in the snow, lost, scared, ranting about mad-crazy love.
His jaw eased and he smiled faintly. He’d fallen for the most illogical woman he’d ever known. He didn’t know what would happen next, he just knew leaving her wasn’t the right decision. Letting her go wasn’t right, either.
He’d never fought for a relationship before because he didn’t think one was supposed to fight for a relationship. It either worked or it didn’t. It was supposed to be clear and simple. Straightforward as well.
But maybe when you met the right person your perspective shifted, and you were willing to consider things you’d never considered before.
He wasn’t ready for marriage and children—far from that—but he could see that his hard, fast rules were problematic. Love meant opening your mind not just your heart.
Baird slid his coat off and placed it across the chair in the corner. He then sat down on the foot of the bed and eased his boots off.
Maybe you knew you’d met the right person when you suddenly felt a little mad crazy yourself. When your emotions weren’t tidy and easily controlled.
Maybe you knew it was love because you realized that you were not going to live without it. Not if you could help it. Not if you could fight for it.
Baird eased his wool sweater off, drawing it over his head and then removed his heavy belt before climbing onto the bed, and lying close to Ella, one arm around her waist, to keep her safe.
She smelled like cinnamon and snow and love. He held her a little tighter. No one had ever gone toe-to-toe with him before. No woman had ever gotten in his face, much less said the things Ella said to him tonight. But he was glad she did, and he was glad he’d been angry, or he wouldn’t have gone after her, and he wouldn’t have realized how much he loved her and refused to lose her. Until the moment when she seemed lost, he’d been focused on his anger, but once he couldn’t find her anywhere, his anger shifted into something entirely different, into something that was nothing to do with him, but her.
She had to be safe. She had to be okay. She had to be found. He couldn’t bear the thought that she was hurt, or in pain, or lost somewhere in the snow.
And he would find her. He had to find her. She was his and he loved her and every thing in him was focused on finding her, saving her, and loving her. Forever. Baird had never had such clarity. He had one purpose and one purpose only—bring her home.
Ella murmured something and he kissed the top of her head and closed his eyes. It was late. He was exhausted. But for the first time in months, he felt peace. That clarity during the search had give him insight into his heart. He did love, and he loved his Ella immensely. He could lose everything but her.
They were going to work this out. They could work this out. There was no way he’d let the best thing that had ever happened to him just go without a fight.
