Page 252 of The Grand Duel

“If you need us, just call. Both of you. And call my wife, please. She said she misses you and will likely drive out here if you try keeping her at bay much longer.”

I smile. “Okay. Thank you, Mason.”

I watch him leave and then walk to the house, knowing happiness awaits just inside the door.

I push against the green wood, my heart filling as the dogs rush at me.

“Hello, babies!” I drop my things, the flowers, and dip to my knees, letting them fuss over me. “I missed you, too.”

I hold Daisy to me when Luna starts sniffing around my shoes and bag. I kiss her head. “Dad’s had a long day today, Dais. You’re going to have to give him the bestest snuggles you can give him when he gets in, okay?”

The two of them jump at me excitedly, making me smile. “You want to go out?” I wet my lips. “Woods?”

Luna barks.

I chuckle and head upstairs to change.

I leave a note for Charlie, letting him know where we are, and then I put the dogs on their leads and walk through the village, over the bridge, and down into the woods.

The smell of chicken pie welcomes me when I walk back through the cottage door an hour later.

I smile as I slip off my boots, faintly hearing the sound of the shower running upstairs. Fetching a towel from the laundry room, I dry off the dogs and let them inside.

Once done, I check the pie that’s in the oven and then make my way upstairs to the bathroom.

The door is unlocked, and I slip inside the steamy room, closing it behind me. With the tip of my nose numb from the cold, I quickly undress out of my clothes and round the shower wall.

Charlie is standing under the spray, his body bared and beautiful. The second he sees me his eyes light up. He has seconds before I’m under the spray with him, my arms tucked into my chest.

“Warm me up.”

He steps back, pulling me directly under the water, his arms wrapped around me.

He leans down and kisses my head. “Hey, baby.”

I relax under the hot water, relishing the hold the has on me. “Hey.”

Tipping my head back, I look up at him, finding dark, tired eyes peering back.

I hate it. Seeing him so drained and worried. We both need time to come to terms with the situation, but I thought things were getting better, or I was at least getting better at hiding my emotions from him when they’d catch me off guard.

He doesn’t need to be worrying about me on top of everything else.

“Am I to presume the pie was gifted, and you’ve not become a culinary genius in the last ten hours?”

He huffs a laugh, his smile just about there.

I twist my lips, staring up at him.

“Scarlet,” he explains.

“That makes more sense.” I drop my eyes to his chest. “Do you want to talk about your meeting?” I ask.

He dips his head, his nose and forehead pushing against my own, lifting my head back up. “No.” He takes my lips in a kiss, holding me even tighter in his arms.

And amongst all there is shattered at our feet, we stand in the shower still completely in love.

Just a girl kissing her boyfriend, desperate for him to be okay.