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Wrapped in Jillian’s tenderness, Zane let go. Shaking, he clung to her strength while the torment spilled from his soul and rolled down his face. She held him, her blouse soaking up his tears, her love soaking up his pain.
He grieved for his mother. For his brothers. For himself. For the wasted, empty years.
Finally his grief was spent, his heart drained of the agony.
Relaxing, he fell asleep, cradled in the arms of the woman he loved.
Sometime later, a butterfly kiss brushed his lips. He swam through the sleepy haze toward consciousness. His eyelids floated up.
Jillian was bent over him, tenderness wreathing her face. “I’m sorry,” she murmured. “I didn’t mean to wake you. You looked so precious lying there asleep, I couldn’t help but kiss you.”
The all-male part of him wanted to roll his eyes. But the fact that Jillian considered him precious curled warmly around his heart. This woman who believed in fairy tales and happily-ever-after had rescued him from a lonely, empty existence. He smiled at her. “You woke me from my sleepwalk through life. You battered down the wall around my heart and pulled me out of the pit. Hell, lady, you and your rose-colored glasses slew my demons.”
“I have it on good authority that demons are scared spitless of rose-colored glasses.”
His smile widened. “I’ll spend the rest of my life being your champion.” He wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight. “I love you, Jillian.”
She inhaled sharply and her lips wobbled. Happy tears brightened her eyes. “I love you, too.”
“How long was I zonked out?”
She glanced at her watch. “A couple hours. The rest was good for both of us.”
“You’d better get back to Casey.” Zane didn’t want to let her go, but Casey probably wanted her comforting presence.
“He does great with Pop, and you need me more right now.” She propped herself on one elbow. “Can I get you a drink of water or some coffee? Something to eat?”
“No.” He paraphrased her words. “I need you more than food or drink right now.”
Her gaze held him in a warm embrace. “I’m here. Now and always.”
Awe washed over him. He took a deep breath. He still had unfinished business with the past before he could focus on the future. “There’s one more thing I have to do. You know that stack of rocks on the beach that looks like a tower?”
She nodded. “Yes.”
“Would you meet me there in two hours?”
“Absolutely.”
Humbled by her unquestioning faith and unconditional willingness to stand by him, Zane accepted her farewell-for-now kiss.
She left, and he retrieved his bloody T-shirt from the corner and stuffed it in the garbage. He buttoned on a dark green shirt, then pulled the nylon tote from his closet and retrieved what he needed to lay his final ghost to rest.
Aragorn’s fuzzy white head nudged open the door, and he slinked inside.
“Uh oh,” Zane muttered. “I don’t have time to spar with you, Your Majesty. I’m in a hurry.”
To Zane’s astonishment, Aragorn twined between his feet and began to purr. Loudly.
“Lulling me into a false sense of security so you can snarf a chunk out of my ankle? Oh no, I’m on to you, Big Guy.”
Aragorn butted Zane’s calf and purred louder.
Well, hell. Cautiously Zane bent and extended his hand. The huge feline nuzzled Zane’s fingers, then licked them.
“I’ll be a sonofabitch.” Zane gingerly scratched behind Aragorn’s ears. The animal’s rumbling purr increased in volume. He stared down at the cat, who stared back. They studied each other with wary mutual respect.
“Okay, now I’m a believer.” Mystified, Zane shook his head. “Somehow you knew I was waffling, and you were protecting Jillian and Casey.” Zane gave the animal a final pat. “Truce. ‘Cause I’m here to stay.”
