Page 16 of Finding Forever

I place two pills on the table and he opens his eyes. “Take the pain meds, Luke.” I pull two pans of muffins from the oven, and the aroma mingles deliciously with the smell of coffee. Bacon sizzles in a pan on the range. I take an oatmeal muffin from the pan. It’s piping hot and I break it open on a plate, butter both sides, and set it in front of Luke.

“The rest will be ready in a few minutes, but this’ll get you started.” I frown, crossing my arms. “You need to wear the sling to immobilize your arm. Every move could do more damage.”

The look on his face when his gaze rests on me has warmth flooding my cheeks. Maybe the danger we’ve faced has accelerated an emotional connection that in normal times would have developed more slowly.

You’re it for me, Katarina.

What did he mean by that? I know what I hope he meant. I’ve only known him a day and his life is a total mystery, but I know Luke.

Yes, he’s stubborn, but more than that, he’s a man of courage and determination with an ingrained sense of integrity. All of which makes him even more attractive.

“Thank you for taking care of me, Katarina” His gaze is direct. “You saved my life.”

CHAPTER SEVEN

Luke

Kit’s cheeks flush. “I don’t see how I could have done anything different.”

“You’d be surprised. A lot of people don’t hold up under pressure.”

I could spend all day simply watching her. Yeah, I want reinforcements to get here, but I also don’t want this time with Kit to end. Even injured and with Brigg still a viable threat, being with Kit feels like a sanctuary, a haven of warmth and security in the middle of chaos.

Being here with her feels like a promise of something real between us.

I bite into the muffin and barely stop myself from groaning. It’s damned delicious. “I’d stay at your inn just for the food. This is real good, Katarina.”

She flashes a smile. “The food is one reason to stay at Falls View Inn.”

“Yeah?”

“It’s not called Falls View for nothing. When we’re not in the middle of a snowstorm, we’ve got a great view of the falls and Love Lock Bridge.” At my questioning look, she adds, “A century ago two young lovers leapt to their deaths over the falls rather than be separated. Ever since the bridge was built, couples have attached locks to the railing and kept the keys as a symbol of enduring love.”

“Sounds sentimental.”

She shrugs. “Some would say it’s romantic.”

It strikes me that if I want Kit to be mine, I’ll have to up my game. Even injured and dealing with Briggs, I feel the realization hits hard.

Before Kit, there was an emptiness in me that work never touched. With my grandparents gone, all I really have is my mom, and we’re not exactly close. Kit fills that space in a way I didn’t know was possible. There’s a light there. Contentment. A bone-deep sense that she and I are connected.

I don’t know that I believe in love at first sight, but maybe I should reconsider.

The trajectory of my life has taken a sharp turn. From the moment I saw her, my focus shifted. My priorities shifted. I was being honest with her when I told her she’s the one for me.

Kit holds up the sling. “Can I help you put this on?”

I shake my head, forcing my thoughts back to the current situation. “I need both hands free. At least until Briggs is no longer in my custody.”

Light brown brows come down over her hazel eyes of gray and green, and I lift a hand before she can argue. A calmness settles in my chest knowing that my well-being matters to her. That I matter. I want to focus on her and me, but I’ve got shit to take care of. I’ll handle it.

“I’ll be fine. With the break in the storm, Beckett’s got the plows clearing the road now. Emergency vehicles are following right behind them.”

“I expected that,” she says. “I made the muffins for anyone who’s hungry.”

I like that she thought of other people. I push to my feet to check on Briggs. He’s slumped in the chair, eyes closed. The cuffs are still secure. Satisfied, I head back to the kitchen.

Kit has bacon draining on paper towels and is flipping hashbrowns in a pan. She tilts her head. “I hear the plows.”