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25
Sterling checkedoff another item on the inventory of Logan’s equipment he was wading through. He sat at the desk in his new office, facing the window that overlooked the town square. He’d had to shut the office door to block out the mouthwatering smell of pastries wafting up from Cafe Oasis. If he wasn’t careful, he’d gain ten pounds from snacking on the delicious fare below. A knock on his door drew his attention and he turned and straightened, stretching his arms above his head, the muscles between his shoulder blades pulling tight.
“Come in,” he called.
The door opened, and Kat stepped inside. His breath caught. She’d undergone a transformation since he’d seen her on Saturday. The shadows beneath her eyes had faded, her complexion was back to its usual tawny hue, and the corners of her mouth hitched up. It wasn’t quite a smile, but it was a dramatic improvement. She looked happier, and years younger. His heart kicked up a gear. He didn’t want to get ahead of himself, but her presence made him hopeful.
“Hi, Kat,” he said, warmth filling him from the inside and diffusing out. God, he loved the effect she had on him. It made him feel like a new man. “It’s great to see you.”
She glanced at the papers on his desk. “Can you spare a moment to talk?”
“For you, always.” He spun the chair around so he was facing her fully, and gestured for her to take the seat he’d bought for clients to use.
She sat, fidgeting with something in her palm, hidden from his view. “I owe you,” she said. “Thanks to you, I was finally able to see myself clearly.”
His chest felt too tight to contain his rapidly swelling heart. He clutched handfuls of his jeans. Where was this going? And where did he want it to go? “You’re welcome.”
“You were right,” she continued, staring at her lap like she couldn’t quite bring herself to meet his gaze. “I needed to forgive myself. Teddy wouldn’t have wanted me to keep going on like I was.”
He suppressed the stab of pain brought on by the mention of her late husband’s name. He was a part of her life, he reminded himself. A very important part, that made her who she is today.
“I talked to my in-laws over the weekend.”
“That was a big step for you.” He was inordinately proud that he’d been able to contribute to her getting there in some small way.
She took a deep breath and lifted her head, her dark eyes locking on his. “It was, but I’m really glad I did it. We cleared up a lot of misunderstandings.” Her fists squeezed together as she went on. “I also visited Teddy’s grave.”
“You did?” Then the implication hit him. “You drove?”
“Brooke drove me,” she corrected.
“Still, that’s massive. I’m so proud of you.” He wished he could have been there to hold her hand and talk her through it. Regardless, he was pleased she’d had Brooke. He’d have to buy the other woman flowers and pay her a visit. “How do you feel now?”
“So much better.” The smile accompanying the statement loosened the knot of complicated emotions in the pit of his stomach. His optimism grew. This was actually happening. She was really here, in his office, telling him she was moving on. He hardly dared to hope she might be ready to acknowledge the feelings between them.
“I have something for you.” She opened her hand and offered him a small velvet pouch, the type one might find at a jeweler’s. He stared at it, both intrigued and afraid of what might be inside. “Go on,” she urged. “Open it.”
His fingers fumbled with the tiny drawstrings, and he slipped his thumb and forefinger inside. They brushed a small item wrapped in tissue paper. He drew it out, his brow crinkled in thought. It was weightier than he’d expected, and an odd shape. He had no idea what it could be. Lifting the sticker that sealed the paper together, he unwrapped it. When he’d finished, a key lay on the center of the tissue, shiny enough to be new despite its old-fashioned style.
“What’s this?” he asked, confused.
Kat took it from him and held it up. “It’s the key to Sanctuary,” she said. “Dual-purpose. It unlocks both the front door and my apartment.”
He swallowed. His throat had become dry and scratchy. “Why are you giving this to me?”
She pressed it into his palm. “I cleared space for you, in case you want to stay permanently.” She lowered her gaze, tugged at the hem of her shorts, and added, “If not, I hope you’ll come by whenever you want to see me, or anyone else. Treat it like your second home, because as far as I’m concerned, it is.”
He was touched. He wondered if she could possibly know how much this gesture meant to him. Since his mother had died, he’d never had a home. A place where he was always welcome, no matter what. A place where he could be himself. The backs of his eyes prickled and he swallowed a lump of emotion. To him, home had become as much about the people as about the place. Sanctuary was home.
Kat was home.
“Thank you.” He grasped the key so hard it bit into his fingers. “This means a lot to me.” He blinked quickly and chewed on his tongue to suppress the rising tide of love and affection from spilling over and emerging as tears, or, God forbid, words.
“There’s something else,” she said, shifting awkwardly. “Another thing I need to show you.”
* * *
Damn,this was much harder than Kat had expected. She must be keeping it together better than she thought though, because if she’d looked half as edgy as she felt, Sterling wouldn’t be staring at her with that steady, thoughtful gaze. He’d have already called a shrink or a paramedic. Fortunately, her fear was accompanied by an equal level of excitement because—finally—she was embracing life again. She was putting herself out there, going out on a limb, and it felt great. Better than great. Like a real turning point.
