Chapter 10

10

Kinsley didn’t dare tell him it would take a bit more than two glasses of champagne to make her do something she would later regret. Nor would she tell him how she had thought about him every night. The last thing Daegan Westerhouse needed was an even bigger ego.

As they drove on, the scenery blurred by, colors mixing in the sunlight. Each bump in the road jolted her, though not nearly as much as his words had.

His caring nature only made him even sexier. Although she knew she shouldn’t, she wanted Daegan even more and not just as someone to fool around with. She hated to admit it to herself, but his actions, once she understood the sincerity of them, spoke volumes about who he truly was.

And it was sexy as hell.

As Kinsley grappled with this, she came to a startling realization. Her desire for him was not just about the present, but about a future she shouldn’t even be considering. She wouldn’t mind spending another night in his arms, or even a few more. But what she truly yearned for was a lifetime of his bad jokes, his thoughtful insights, and his very, very long nights.

She thought about that in comfortable silence for a long time before they pulled into his aunt’s homestead. An old wooden fence went as far as the eye could see; it likely enveloped the entire property. The house itself was a large, modern log cabin with plenty of windows to view the beautiful scenery.

“Do they know we’re coming?” she turned to ask as they made their way slowly up the long, winding driveway. Gravel crunched under the tires as they approached, mingling with the distant chirping of birds.

“Not a damn clue,” he chuckled.

Kinsley froze. “You mean you didn’t tell them?”

“Nah, pleasant surprises make better stories later. Besides, my mom is the type of person who will have a hard time sleeping the night before something fun or exciting; she’s always been that way. There’s no reason to keep her up at night just because her son is dropping by,” he grinned.

“But I’m sure they would have loved to know.”

“And they will know in about ninety seconds when we’re knocking on the front door.” He paused. “Plus, Aunt Tilly probably already knows,” he muttered under his breath.

“What do you mean?” she questioned.

“You’ll see,” he said, answering absolutely nothing.

“What if they have other company over or have plans or something?” Kinsley asked, nervous in a way she hadn’t been since her job interview.

“They really don’t do much, to be honest, Kins. Occasionally they travel, but they aren’t at the moment. Not many visitors stop by. There are really only a few family members left. My younger brother Vince lives overseas. There’s also my cousin Joe—my aunt’s only child—but he’s usually too busy traveling with whichever new girlfriend he’s picked up for the month.”

Kinsley looked at him. “Surely your cousin can’t be that bad.”

Daegan laughed. “I wish I was joking. We can’t keep track of all their names. They change so fast. Years ago he brought one girl to Thanksgiving dinner and then a month later he had a different girl for Christmas and a completely new one for New Year’s. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen the same one twice.”

“That’s ridiculous.”

Daegan chuckled, pulling into a spot behind a garage door. “Now, before we get out, I need to warn you.”

Kinsley shifted her gaze his way. His demeanor seemed to soften.

“Aunt Tilly,” he paused before letting out a sigh. “She is a little…odd.”

“In what way?”

“In…” his voice trailed off in thought. “You’ll know it when you see it. She’s eccentric and overly dramatic about things. She means well, but…”

Kinsley chuckled. “I’m sure she’s fine,” she assured him as they exited the car.

They made their way up the beautifully manicured lawn with shrubs and more flowers than Kinsley could name. A small bird bath sat in the middle of a gazebo to the side of the house. The walkway from the garage to the front door was brick, adding a unique sense of charm.

Daegan approached the door and gave it a few solid knocks, then rang the doorbell. From outside, Kinsley swore it sounded like geese honking.

A moment later, the door swung open with a burst of energy, a plump blue-and-silver-haired woman behind it. Her curls bounced as she pulled him close, her voice rising with excitement. “Daegan, my boy!” Daegan was trapped in a bearhug in a blink. “I knew you were coming!” she exclaimed before shouting, “Milly, get over here! It’s your son! The one that didn’t burn my old barn down.” She let go of Daegan and looked at Kinsley. “And who is this delightful creature?”

Creature?

The woman’s gaze flickered over Kinsley as if she was reading her aura.

“Aunt Tilly, this is Kinsley. She’s my—” Daegan had started.

“And he’s brought a girl , Milly! Mildred, do you hear me in there?” she shouted, though she didn’t bother turning back.

“She’s my—” Daegan spoke up a little louder, trying to get the words out.

“Ah, I’m sure she is, sweet cheeks,” Aunt Tilly said, her tone dripping with disbelief. “Personal assistant, of course.”

A static overcame Kinsley, like tiny sparks. How did Aunt Tilly know?

Aunt Tilly was already shaking her hand firmly.

“Kinsley, this is Aunt Tilly.” Daegan let out a sigh of defeat and walked past his aunt into the house.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Connie,” Aunt Tilly said, completely butchering her name. “You can call me Aunt Tilly.” Odd. “Come in, dear, come in.” She wrapped an arm around Kinsley, practically pulling her into the house.

The home, though it felt warm and inviting, was warm in spirit only—the place was freezing cold, piercing through Kinsley’s thin clothing. There were family photos and occasional knickknacks, much like her own home. However, their collection bordered the realm of eccentric—perhaps New Age. It was outside Kinsley’s realm of knowledge, though she appreciated the array of colors.

“I had a dream about this, you know!” Aunt Tilly whispered excitedly, a gleam in her eye.

“You…did?” Kinsley’s skepticism was on high alert. As she hated to admit it, Daegan was right.

As Aunt Tilly raved on about her vision, Daegan shot Kinsley a knowing look, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. Kinsley had to bite her lip to keep from laughing.

“Yes! Of course! I had a dream about two nights ago of two birds in the sky. Flying, flying, flying,” she grabbed Daegan and rocked them both from side to side. “Flying high in the sky—until smack! , they hit my window. Their carcasses fell into the shape of a D—well, one was a little mangled—but I knew it was a sign from the beyond that Daegan would visit with a,” she paused for a moment, deciding on her wording, “ friend .” Her hand rubbed Kinsley’s back and she nodded solemnly, as if this explained everything.

Great, so now I’m a part of her spiritual zoo. What’s next, a seance?

She raised her voice, “Seer even confirmed it for me this morning, didn’t you, Seer?”

From another room, a parrot squawked, “Daegan’s here! Flying, flying, flying!”

Unease crept through her bones. “Oh…right.” Kinsley was taken aback and a bit disturbed. “That sounds…” Daegan had walked off to another room, leaving her alone with his crazy aunt.

“I know! Exciting, isn’t it?” Aunt Tilly was enthused.

That’s not how I would describe it.

Aunt Tilly continued, “So much of our dreams spread meaning into our lives. I write all mine down in journals. Yesterday morning I had a boat in my tea leaves. That means a visitor, dear. And then this morning,” her voice raised, giddy with excitement. “This morning,” she continued upon calming her voice, “I saw a bouquet of flowers in them.”

“A bouquet of?—”

“Ah!” Aunt Tilly shouted, startling Kinsley. “Don’t tell Daegan yet, of course! This is all so exciting!”

Kinsley was confused. “What does a bouquet mean?”

“Oh, you don’t know?” Aunt Tilly gasped. “Oh, dear one, it means marriage.” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “You and Daegan will marry.” Aunt Tilly’s bright eyes sparkled. She clasped her hands together, her blue-and-silver curls bobbing as she nodded fervently. “The signs are all around, dear. The universe practically shouted it at me!”

Kinsley’s heart skipped a beat. Of course. Marriage. I just slept with this lady’s nephew a day ago and we haven’t even discussed what that means for us. But yes, marriage. That makes total sense. Though, if even a spark of it was true, maybe it meant Daegan would ease off from buying her home. She would take all the help she could get.

“Oh, I don’t think—” Kinsley said before being interrupted for the umpteenth time.

“Kinsley, this is my mother, Mildred,” Daegan said, stepping closer as if to shield Kinsley from his aunt’s eccentric predictions. His presence was solid, reassuring, and Kinsley couldn’t help but feel a flutter of appreciation.

A kind-faced woman stood behind him. Daegan had her eyes, and her smile too. “Pleasure to meet you, Kinsley,” she said softly. “You can call me Milly.”

“Pleasure to meet you as well, Milly.” Kinsley shook her hand, eager to have the conversation with Aunt Tilly come to a swift end. If she could survive Aunt Tilly, Daegan’s mom would be a breeze.

“It is such a wonderful surprise to see you, of course.” Milly smiled. Her gentle demeanor was a refreshing contrast to her sister’s eccentricity. “We’re re-doing one of the guest rooms, so if it isn’t much of a bother, you’ll have to fight over who gets to sleep in the bed and who gets the sofa.”

Daegan shifted his eyes to Kinsley. “We’ll sort that out later.”

Kinsley smiled.

“Or you can be a gentleman and let Paisley take the bed,” Aunt Tilly interjected.

“Fair enough. Paisley,” Daegan looked to Kinsley with a smirk on his face, “you get the bed.”

Milly cleared her throat. “Daegan, honey, why don’t you bring in the bags? I’ll give Kinsley a quick tour.”

Daegan nodded and left to go collect their bags, likely happy to escape the awkward tension.

Over the next few minutes, Milly gave Kinsley a quick tour while Daegan brought their luggage into the guest bedroom. In that short period of time, Aunt Tilly had prepared an early dinner: a white bean and tuna salad. She sat down across from Daegan and ate the delicious meal, as Aunt Tilly gave a lecture on outdoor meditation during the different phases of the moon.

“So, Kinsley,” Milly asked, eyes twinkling, “any special someone back home, or are you a free spirit like my Daegan here?”

Daegan’s gaze shot to her, curiosity barely masked behind a casual expression. Kinsley laughed awkwardly, warmth rising in her cheeks. “Um, no one, actually.” She shot a look at Daegan. “Seems like I’m free as a bird.”

Aunt Tilly clasped her hands together loudly, eyes widening with delight. “You know what that means, don’t you?”

Kinsley looked down at her plate, biting her lip. Tilly had just said not to mention this in front of Daegan, hadn’t she? Surely, she wouldn’t?—

“Marriage!” Aunt Tilly shouted with glee.

Her parrot, Seer, in the other room started repeating “marriage” over and over, as if it was a chant.

Aunt Tilly leaned in toward the center of the table, her voice low and dramatic. “Two birds, one branch!” Her eyes were alight with what Kinsley could only describe as cosmic certainty.

Daegan shot Kinsley a look that said I told you so, while Milly simply smiled, content to let her sister’s excitement carry on. Kinsley felt Daegan’s hand briefly brush hers under the table. It was fleeting, but the warmth of it lingered. She glanced at him, catching the faintest tug of a smirk on his lips. Despite herself, she smiled back.

She took a sip of her drink, hoping it would cool the blush she felt rising up her neck. Aunt Tilly’s declaration echoed in her ears—marriage. The word felt heavy, almost ridiculous considering the rollercoaster she and Daegan were on. And yet, deep down, there was a tiny part of her—one she hated to admit even existed—that wanted to believe. She glanced at Daegan, who was busy avoiding his aunt’s enthusiastic gaze, but his lips were pressed into a bemused smile. She couldn’t help but wonder if he believed it too.

Daegan still couldn’t shake the idea of Cameron. They had to be something . Maybe they weren’t exclusive? Maybe they were just dating and not in a relationship yet? They could be friends with benefits. Could Kinsley really be that type? Or she could just be a liar and cheater.

Daegan felt dizzy; just the thought made him sick to his stomach. No, she can’t be a cheater. His eyes met hers and he forced a small smile. He quickly looked back at his plate, hoping she couldn’t read the questions behind it.

No, she wasn’t a liar. She couldn’t be.

He caught her eye again when she laughed at something his mother had said—those wide, open eyes that seemed incapable of deceit—and something in his chest loosened. Maybe, just maybe, he could trust her.

Aunt Tilly had been going on about signs and symbols for a couple of minutes before Daegan was ready to change the topic.

“I don’t think you can predict a marriage like that, Aunt Tilly—especially between Kinsley and I.” He sat back, fidgeting with the place setting on the table.

“But it was in the tea leaves , my boy.” Her tone was borderline scolding. “I had a bouquet in it today. A marriage!” Nobody spoke. “Between you two!” she clarified, extending her arms as if she was overseeing a ceremony.

“They’re just leaves,” Daegan tried to reason. “They don’t predict weddings.” He glanced at Kinsley, offering a small smile as he felt that familiar wall go up. Marriage —he’d sworn he was done thinking about it. But somehow, with Kinsley sitting near him, the idea didn’t seem so absurd.

“Of course, of course,” Tilly sat back down. “But the message is what you make of it. You remember when you were young, and I predicted you would get your toe stuck in a canoe?”

“You got your toe stuck in a canoe?” Kinsley asked. “How in the?—”

But Aunt Tilly plowed ahead, “And that time I saw you winning a trophy in school.”

“All the kids got them,” Daegan muttered under his breath.

“Back this up. I need to hear the toe in the canoe story,” Kinsley urged, leaning over her plate. But his family steamrolled on.

“Or that time he burned his little bum cheeks,” his mom laughed.

“Oh, I forgot all about that!” Aunt Tilly laughed and then turned to Kinsley. “For a week, almost every tomato I got from my garden looked like a plump little bum and then when they came to visit a few days later, the poor little guy thought it would be funny to take off his pants and sit right on some metal outside.”

Laughter bubbled around the table, and Daegan found himself leaning into it, the warmth of his family’s joy momentarily drowning out his doubts. Kinsley fit in so easily—too easily. It made him wonder if letting her in might be the greatest risk he’d ever take.

He locked eyes with Kinsley and she smiled, making his heart soften. Even though he was grinning right back, Daegan couldn’t help but wonder if he was setting himself up for the same disappointment all over again.

Kinsley chuckled. “So you’ve been trouble since day one, huh?” Her voice was playful and teasing.

Daegan felt his cheeks flush. “I was two years old, thank you,” he said.

“Oh, his cheeks are turning almost as red as his bum,” Aunt Tilly cackled, bringing him back to the present. Her blue-and-silver curls bounced with each chortle.

Daegan groaned, rubbing the back of his neck as laughter filled the room.

“I remember him screaming and running around the yard without his pants,” his mother went on. “His father had to chase him down with the garden hose!”

As laughter erupted all over again, Daegan felt Kinsley’s knee brush against his under the table—a light, brief touch. When he glanced at her, her smile was bright and unguarded, and something inside him twisted. He leaned back, shifting his leg closer to hers.

As his mom had just begun to describe the lush, green cliffs from a recent trip to Ireland, her story was cut short by Aunt Tilly.

“Ah! LeBron!” Aunt Tilly gasped, her face a canvas of worry. She sprang up, her curls bouncing with each step as she hurried toward the window.

“Oh, LeBron is here too?” Kinsley looked to Daegan, eyes wide, expecting some sort of explanation. She knew damn well the athlete wasn’t showing up to chat with Aunt Tilly. Then again, anything seemed possible with this family.

“Her stallion.” Daegan clarified. His sigh spoke of a long reoccurring pattern of behavior. “He knows how to open a few gates in the pasture.” He left his seat to join Aunt Tilly, pausing for a moment to chat with her before running outside.

“Another day in paradise,” Milly whispered to her with a chuckle.

“She doesn’t happen to have a dog named Snoop Dogg, does she?” Kinsley laughed.

“Oh no,” Milly laughed alongside her. “That’s the bull’s name.” She took a sip of her tea.

Of course it was.

“That blessed horse,” Aunt Tilly huffed, marching across the room before plopping back down in her dining chair. “Daegan will get him sorted out.”

“I didn’t know Daegan was a part-time cowboy,” Kinsley smirked.

“Neither did he,” Milly added. “I’m going to see if I can help.” She stood up and left out the back door.

“You know, Kelly—” She figured Aunt Tilly wasn’t bound to get her name right even once at this point— “I have a question for you. Well, a few.”

“Sure.” A knot built up inside her, curious and hesitant all at once.

“What connection do you have to a rose and a cat?” Aunt Tilly’s eyes squinted as if determined to pierce through her.

“Oh.” The question caught Kinsley by surprise. “My—uhm, my grandmother’s name was Rose.”

“And the cat, dear?” Aunt Tilly looked more serious, not breaking eye contact. “A kitty cat?”

Kinsley froze. “My mom’s name was Katherine. She went by Kat and my Granny called her Kitty.”

Aunt Tilly eased back in her chair slowly, a grin coming over her face. “I had a dream recently. A rosebush that aged—” she looked like she was calculating something— “and a kitten that stayed young but ran off. Your mother died young, dear, didn’t she?”

Kinsley nodded.

“There were crowns, too. One was placed on Daegan’s head. The other on the woman connected to the rosebush and kitten. You.” Aunt Tilly’s look grew soft. “The crown. A king,” she whispered as if connecting the dots. “Your name! Kingsley!”

Sure. Why not?

“It was a dream I had of Daegan meeting someone. Of meeting you .” Her face beamed, clearly amazed at what she deemed to be an accurate prediction or vision.

Could Aunt Tilly really know what was to come? Or was she just another romantic spinning tales? The certainty in her voice was hard to dismiss. Against better judgment, Kinsley felt a spark of hope.

“Oh, I don’t know if Daegan and I are compatible like that.” Kinsley admitted, nervously playing with the edging of the tattered tablecloth. Maybe Daegan had changed his mind. Maybe he wanted her, and not just her house. Could it be true?

“If the two of you would get over your hang-ups, you would be,” she whispered. Aunt Tilly pushed her chair back, a gritty noise echoing through the house. “Wait here,” she said and rushed out of the room.

How would Aunt Tilly know whether they were compatible? It simply wasn’t possible. Kinsley wasn’t even sure if they were half the time.

“Ah! LeBron!” the parrot mocked from the next room, several minutes delayed. It brought a smile to Kinsley’s face at the ridiculousness of it all. It seemed the parrot even laughed at it, repeating it again.

“Seer, that’s enough,” Aunt Tilly scolded as she thumped down the hallway.

“Seer knows all, sees all,” the parrot chanted.

“I made this for you. Well, I made it after that dream I just told you about,” Aunt Tilly corrected. “It’s a baby blanket. My own crochet pattern!” She pushed it into Kinsley’s hands.

“Oh, but I’m not expecting—” she paused, looking up at Aunt Tilly, wondering if there was something Aunt Tilly knew that she didn’t. They had used a condom; had it broken at the worst possible moment?

Aunt Tilly’s eyes widened with shock, then understanding. “Oh! Oh, not now, dear, not now. In a couple of years.” She patted her hand. “I made it in white and a pale yellow, so it can be used with all your children.”

Relieved and grateful, Kinsley still couldn’t shake the confusion. This had come out of nowhere. “I don’t understand.”

“You and Daegan are ending up together.” Aunt Tilly’s voice was assured and genuine. “I made this for you to have, to use for the babies you’ll have together.” She patted Kinsley’s back. “It’s good to give it now, in case I’m not here.”

Kinsley shot a glance up at Aunt Tilly. No, please not again.

Aunt Tilly clutched at her chest. “I don’t mean death, Kenzie, I don’t mean death! I just mean in case I’m traveling the world, cruising the fjords,” her voice became melodic. “Traversing the outback, lounging in Cancun, visiting Japan, or…” she paused, taking in a long, drawn-out breath, “in the bed of a sexy Italian man named Matteo.” She exhaled a happy sigh.

Kinsley’s heart raced. Could Aunt Tilly be right?

“Keep it, Karly. It is my gift. Life’s too short to take everything seriously, my dear. You and Daegan have my blessing—not that it is needed—but if I meet that Italian stallion,” she fanned herself, “I might just bless myself.”

Kinsley cracked a smile and looked down at the beautiful crocheted blanket, made with love in each stitch. She gently traced the loops of the pattern with her finger, feeling the soft threads between them. The two strands of yarn, white and yellow, were intertwined perfectly around each other throughout.

Babies with Daegan? She wasn’t sure if she should be touched or completely mortified.

“Thank you, Aunt Tilly,” she said with a growing smile. “But I should really hide this from Daegan for now. If he heard this, he’d probably leap out the window.”

Aunt Tilly nodded with a laugh. “Oh, he might, dear, but only because he knows you’d catch him. Well, either that or some rosebushes.”

Kinsley offered a quick smile, another “thank you,” and rushed to stash it in her suitcase. Just as she zipped it shut, the door flew open. Daegan stood in the doorway, shirt smudged with dirt, hair windswept. “LeBron’s secure,” he said with mock triumph.

“Crisis averted,” she said, trying not to look suspicious.

“What are you doing?” Daegan said, eyes darting between Kinsley and her luggage.

Kinsley looked flustered. “Nothing.” She was quick with her response, like a child getting caught.

He raised an eyebrow with a teasing grin. “Something I should know about?”

“What? I can’t get into my suitcase?” She stood, brushing some pet hair off her knees.

“Come outside with me. I thought I could show you around, maybe have a quick bonfire before the storm rolls in.”

“Are you sure you’re not just trying to get me alone again?” Kinsley’s smirk was as playful as her tone.

“What if I am?” He closed the gap between them, voice low as his gaze locked onto hers.

“Then I guess I’d better make it worth your while,” she murmured.

“I’ll show you all the cool spots,” he laughed with the giddiness of a child. “I used to love exploring this place when I was a kid. But first, we should grab a blanket in case it gets chilly by the fire.”

Daegan gave Kinsley a tour of the outside along with a few of the animals, including LeBron—the stallion—and Snoop Dogg—the bull. He shared a few family stories, including one about how he once had to track down three escaped horses, one properly named Houdini.

“You’re just full of surprises, aren’t you?” she joked teasingly.

“Maybe to you I am,” he laughed.

“So what’s with all the interesting names for the animals?” Kinsley asked as Daegan led her towards the firepit.

“Aunt Tilly thinks she’s staying relevant—or something like that.”

“I guess that’s one way to do it.” Kinsley smiled.

It took a few minutes to get the firepit set up. But, as the sun began to set, crackling flames were casting a luminous glow around them.

They sat down on a log bench near the fire, basking in its warmth. The flickering light danced across their faces. Kinsley scooted closer to Daegan, their shoulders brushing against each other beneath the blanket.

“This is nice,” Kinsley said softly, her eyes reflecting the flames. “I’ve always loved bonfires. There’s something magical about them.”

Daegan chuckled. “That’s this entire property—magical. Something about a vortex or energy center.” He shifted his eyes to Kinsley. “According to Aunt Tilly, anyway.”

“I don’t know what any of that means,” she admitted.

“None of us do.”

The scent of smoke mixed with the crispness of the night air. The breeze rustled the nearby leaves, the flames dancing in the cool evening chill.

When Daegan pulled out a crisp white envelope from his pocket, Kinsley eyed it curiously.

“What’s that?” she asked, tilting her head as the wind tousled her hair.

Daegan held the envelope up, a contemplative look on his face as the usual warring emotions were dredged up. For a moment he reconsidered it. He could shove it back into his pocket. But sweeping it under the rug wouldn’t get rid of it. “Just some old memories I need to let go of.” He turned to Kinsley, a small smile tugging at his lips. “I thought burning them might be a good way to do that.”

“I think Aunt Tilly would approve of the symbolism.” She offered a supportive smile.

“Last week,” he began, feeling a heat come over him that was separate from the fire, “when you stopped by my house to pick up some books…”

The smile on her face gave way to a small frown.

Daegan placed a hand reassuringly on her thigh. “I’m sorry for how I acted—for how I snapped.”

“It’s okay. I may not know what’s going on with you, but I know you didn’t mean to get angry.” She placed her hand over his, her fingers delicately settling on top.

“But it isn’t okay, Kins. I just don’t talk about personal stuff like that with people. I wasn’t ready.” He flipped his hand, interlocking his fingers with hers.

“That’s okay, you don’t need?—”

“I’m ready now.” He gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “If you still want to hear it, that is—why I live alone, why I’m single.” His cheeks flushed as his decision was made.

Kinsley nodded.

He adjusted himself, his eyes settling on the fire. “About three years ago, I was engaged to marry a woman named Megan. Megan and I were together for a couple of years prior to the engagement, so it just felt like a natural next step.” He let out a slight sigh, fidgeting on the log bench. “A week before the wedding, I came home from work early, expecting to surprise her with some flowers. I thought maybe we could drive out to the countryside, enjoy the scenery?—”

“I can’t imagine you driving around the countryside with nothing to do.” She arched an eyebrow. “You’re always so busy, always doing something,” she added.

Daegan smiled. “That’s because time to think is a dangerous thing now; things were different back then. I used to love my free time.” He paused. “When I had it,” he whispered almost as quietly as the gentle breeze.

“What changed?” Kinsley asked.

“When I got home that afternoon, I didn’t see Megan in her typical spots through the house. I went to check in the bedroom and I saw a note on the bed. It said she and my older brother Ken had been having an affair for the last year. They fell in love, she found out she was pregnant a week before—with his child—and that she was leaving me so that they could be together.” The old anger and frustration didn’t creep up as much as it usually did—the sting wasn’t as sharp.

Kinsley turned to him, brushing a piece of hair out of her eyes. “How did she know the baby wasn’t yours?”

His voice, once a steady stream, now cracked. It could have been embarrassment—or maybe regrets of things he could have done differently. “We hadn’t had sex for months before then because of my travel schedule for work at the time. Whenever I was home, she told me she was on her period or just not in the mood. I never pushed to know more, she deserved any space she wanted.” He paused, allowing his fingers to trace the edges of the envelope. Megan’s love and care had become excuses and brush-offs. He felt like an ignorant fool for not seeing it sooner.

Kinsley leaned her head on his shoulder, bringing him back to the moment. A far better one than the past that sought to imprison him.

“Her note didn’t clarify anything,” Daegan continued, “but it made me feel weak enough that I was glad I was already on the bed. That was until I realized they had probably screwed on that same bed dozens of times while I was gone for work.”

His fingers trembled as he pulled out the letter Megan had left him that fateful day. He had it long since memorized, read it over a thousand times. Yet somehow looking at it—reading her words in her own handwriting—made it cut through him like a knife. The letter had become worn over time—the creases became memorized by the paper itself. A small tear in the corner from the night Kinsley had left, when Daegan had lost his temper. Yet somehow it still held him in a bind. One that he was finally, at long last, ready to break.

All because of this woman who walked into my office for a job interview.

He handed the note to Kinsley.

“After three years, you still have it?” she asked. “Why?”

“I’ve asked myself that same question hundreds of times, Kins.” He paused, inhaling the clean country air. “I imagine the answer lies somewhere between anger, resentment, regret, and a couple of layers of grief. I’m sure the loose ends and lack of any sense of closure don’t help, either.”

Kinsley leaned closer as she handed the letter back. “Did they ever explain anything to you?”

He dropped his gaze, viewing Megan’s handwriting one last time. A panic set in—could he really do it? What kind of person would he be on the other side? “None at all,” he confessed, folding it back up. “Ken was already married with three kids. His wife got the same sort of ridiculous note. Her only communications after that came from my brother’s divorce attorney. Seeing that woman cry over the man she loved—and the family he had broken—made me realize I dodged a bullet.”

Kinsley leaned her head on his shoulder, bringing him back to the moment. “That’s pretty shitty,” she said softly, her voice filled with empathy.

“I just couldn’t believe Megan was pregnant with my brother’s child. Their affair—it was a betrayal within betrayal.” Daegan still struggled to make sense of it three years later. It would never make sense. His hands clenched the letter, the thin paper crumpling as he swallowed those feelings down.

Kinsley sat silently, her gaze focused on the blaze of the fire.

“It shouldn’t have surprised me,” he continued, putting the letter back into the envelope. “Ken was always jealous of me, especially when Dad wanted to hand the business over to me and not him. Ken wasn’t the responsible type. I was, believe it or not. Dad originally wanted my brother Vince to run it with me, but he’s a free spirit now with no interest in the business.” Daegan paused for a moment. “I never thought Ken would do anything like this.”

“So during the entire divorce proceedings, he didn’t say one word to her?”

Daegan pulled out a folded up set of papers, slowly unfolding them. “It was never finalized.”

“Why not? That sounds like a reasonable excuse to get a divorce.”

Daegan cleared his throat before continuing. “Kins, three months after they left, they were involved in a helicopter crash.” He looked down at the papers in his hands—a printed news article detailing the accident. The fire offered just enough light to see the tale of their gruesome fate. “They didn’t make it.”

The air grew heavier than before as he handed Kinsley the tattered pages. His gaze drifted toward Kinsley as she read through what he’d given her, eyes growing wider with every turn of the papers. The silence stretched between them, filled only by the crackle of the fire.

“I’m not sure what to say,” Kinsley whispered, “other than I’m sorry that happened to you.”

“It’s been three years and I’m not sure what to say or feel, either. I’m pissed that my fiancée had an affair. I’m pissed that my older brother was the other man.” The fury he had held back began to bubble to the surface. But Daegan couldn’t let it win—not this time.

They sat in silence for a moment, the pops from the fire and distant chirping of crickets the only noise between them. He inhaled deeply, the smoky scent of burning wood mingling with the sweet perfume from Kinsley. He reached his arm around her, pulling her closer into him by her waist. Kinsley leaned in.

Though the strength in his voice faltered, Daegan continued, “I felt a sense of grief when the hospital notified me, but then I felt a whole different level of grief when I realized neither of them were ever coming back. I feel so selfish, Kinsley. You should mourn the loss of a family member…but all I could do was feel even more rage and frustration, knowing that I couldn’t even have the opportunity to tell either of them off. I could never explain to them what they put myself, Jackie, and Jackie and Ken’s kids through. I almost felt like I didn’t even have the right to be mad anymore. But that anger didn’t go away. It only got worse.”

“Mourning is hard,” she said, her cool blue eyes looking up at him reassuringly as she handed the papers back. “Trust me—I know it is.”

He planted a soft kiss on her forehead. “I don’t even feel like I mourned them right if there is such a thing. The embarrassment I felt,” he paused, his voice coming back stronger, “I don’t know if I can put it into words. Do you know how awkward it was to be at their funerals? People must have looked at me and thought ‘That’s the man Megan was engaged to before she left to go be with his brother .’ I don’t even know how I should feel.” He folded the papers, putting them back in the envelope alongside Megan’s letter.

Kinsley squeezed his hand, her voice soft but firm. “You were hurt deeply, Daegan, and it’s okay to feel angry. But you also deserve to let go of it—to give yourself the chance to be happy again. I know it’s not easy, but I believe you can find peace. You have the right to feel how you do.”

“But do I?” Daegan’s fingers drummed a restless rhythm on her hip, his eyes clouded with a mix of anger and sorrow. “I guess what really hurts the most is knowing there will never be any sense of closure, no answers to my questions, no explanation for why either of them sought the other one out. They quite literally took it to their grave.”

“It’s clear that your brother was an awful relative and that your ex-fiancée was content with being a cheater. You dodged a bullet.” Daegan nodded his head in agreement as Kinsley continued, “You can still experience grief—trust me, it won’t go away—but don’t feel like you missed out on anything. It is horrible that two people lost their lives, but you need to separate your grief over their deaths from the grief that two people you cared for were not how they seemed.”

“When did you become my therapist?” Daegan joked, a smile tugging at his cheeks.

Kinsley pointed to the envelope. “Five minutes ago when you pulled out a three-year-old letter and news article about your deceased ex and your brother.” A lump formed in Daegan’s throat as Kinsley’s voice grew as fiery as the pit in front of them. “I’m assuming you threw yourself into your work as a distraction after she left you…and then threw yourself in even deeper when they passed. It’s been three years, and you still come home from work after being at the office for eight to twelve hours, sit in your chair in your study, get out these papers, look through them, relive dozens of horrible emotions, and then go to bed angry and hurt. Then you wake up the next morning and do it all over again, hoping that one day these pieces of paper will have no effect on you anymore. But distractions don’t take away the pain, Daegan—they just make us numb to it while it bubbles under the surface, waiting for its time.”

“That’s why I need to let it go—to heal, to move on.” The envelope felt like an impossible weight in his hands.

“If that’s what you need to do, do it. I’m right here. I can help you if you let me.” Kinsley turned to him, placing a hand on his chest.

He pulled his hand away from her waist. As his chest tightened, he knew what he had to do. There was no getting out of it this time—no drawer to put it back in.

“Lick it,” Daegan said, his voice teasing as he issued the challenge.

She arched an eyebrow. “Excuse me?”

“The envelope. Lick it.”

Kinsley sat up stiffly. “Why don’t you lick it? Your emotional baggage—your saliva.” She smirked.

“I hate the taste of that crap.” He shuddered. It took him back to being a child, licking dozens of envelopes for family Christmas cards. “You’re my assistant. It’s in the job description.” Daegan grinned, leaning closer.

With a shocked gasp, she said, “Is that why you make me lick all those envelopes? You think I’m good at licking things!” Her smirk was pure mischief.

His grin widened. “I’m open to finding out.” Daegan tilted his head as he took her in. The warmth in her eyes, the softness of her lips that he longed to kiss again. His heart pounded, not from grief. This was something else, something that felt hopeful and terrifying all at once. He reached for her chin, his thumb caressing her lips, and he could see the way her breath caught in her chest. It felt like a leap into the unknown, but it also felt like freedom.

As their lips met, that addictive spark surged through him again. Their lips parted as the warmth of her breath mingled with his. Kinsley’s eyes fluttered open, but there was no awkwardness, no need for words. Between them had settled a quiet understanding, a silent promise that this was only the beginning.

“Nice try, but you lick it,” she whispered. “The envelope, I mean. You know that saying—if you lick it, it’s yours. And that’s yours.”

“Oh, is that how it works?” he laughed, brushing his thumb over her cheek.

Her eyes narrowed. “I’ll lick it, but don’t say I never did anything for you.” She exaggerated the gesture as she did so, handing it back with a flourish. Daegan ignored the way his heart was beating faster. “You’re welcome—you’re in debt to me forever.”

He smiled. That deal didn’t seem so bad.

“Now let it go,” she urged, her voice a soothing whisper in the night.

Daegan stared at the envelope in his hand, studied its worn edges and faded creases. It wasn’t just paper—it was everything he had lost. Trust. Security. A future he’d thought was certain. He had clung to it to tether himself to a truth he still couldn’t fully comprehend.

But then there was Kinsley, sitting beside him, her presence as steady and comforting as the fire before them. For the first time, the idea of letting go didn’t feel like freefalling into darkness—it felt like stepping into the light.

Daegan stood up and approached the fire, the envelope a heavy burden in his trembling hands. But as he drew nearer, he hesitated, his heart pounding in his chest. Letting go meant stepping into the unknown, leaving behind the familiar comfort of his grief. What if it only led him somewhere worse?

Taking a deep breath, Daegan held the envelope over the flames until it caught. Fire licked at the paper, and he released his grip, watching as the flames erupted dangerously around it. The heat of it forced Daegan to take a step back. Those words that had haunted him for so long were quickly turning to ash, until the fire died back down to a steady flicker as if it had never been.

A profound sense of liberation washed over him. The past, with all its sorrow and anger, was being scattered in the wind.

Daegan closed his eyes, savoring the feeling. He had been so consumed by his grief that he had forgotten what it felt like to live without its constant presence. But now, as he stood before the fire, he realized that he had the power to shape his own future, to create a life filled with hope and happiness. It was both a destruction and a creation—a funeral for the man he had been and a birth for the man he could become.

With a sense of renewed purpose, Daegan returned to sit beside Kinsley once more. She reached out and intertwined her fingers with his. In that moment, he knew that he was no longer alone. There was still beauty and love to be found in the world, even after all the darkness he had endured.

Together, they sat in the warmth of the bonfire. When he looked toward Kinsley, her smile lit up the night more than the fire ever could. When he squeezed her hand, Daegan felt a faint flicker of hope for the man he could become with her by his side.