Page 125 of Stolen Dreams

“For someone who was adamant about not being in a relationship, your sudden shift on the subject is interesting.” Sakari takes a sip of her drink. “I just want you to be careful,panik.”

Kaya’s shoulders relax as her expression softens. “When have you ever known me to be anything other than cautious?”

Tikaani takes Sakari’s hand and gives it a gentle squeeze. “She’s right, my sweet. We must trust her instincts and let her walk her own path.”

Sakari purses her lips then sighs. “Yes, I suppose we should,aakuluk.” She lifts her glass once more, this time higher and toward the center of the table. “Inuuhiqatsiaq! Cheers and to good health!”

A mixture ofinuuhiqatsiaqand cheers erupt around the table before we all take a drink. Dessert is brought to the table and devoured faster than the main meal.

The second the cobbler hits my tongue, I tell Kaya she is in charge of dessert going forward. She simply laughs.

After a long line of warm embraces, we wish everyone a good night and take the path back to Kaya’s house, the fading sunlight illuminating the trail.

“That went better than expected,” she says as her house comes into view.

“I like your family. It’s good of them to ask or say all the hard things. Means they love you.” I trail my fingers down her arm and lace them with hers when I reach her hand. “What’d you think, T-Man?”

“Your family is lit, Miss Kaya.”

“From dope to lit. Oh, how we evolve,” I say on a laugh.

Kaya leads us to her front door and unlocks it. “Be right back. Need to grab my bag.”

As Tucker opens the car’s back door, Kaya steps out with a stuffed tote. I stow it in the back seat next to Tucker then slip into the driver’s seat.

The miles fly by as we head to my house. But before I turn off Fossil Mountain Highway, Kaya takes my hand and twists in her seat to face me.

“You know we can go at whatever pacewewant, right?”

I flip the blinker on, ease off the accelerator, and press the brake. “Of course, Fire Eyes.” I turn onto the road for the Calhoun estate and keep my speed slow. “It’s not something we’ve talked about, but I’m open to it.”

She stares out the windshield, contemplative a moment. “Yes, we still have a lot to learn about each other. But the same can be said for people who’ve been together years.” Her eyes are back on my profile. “I just don’t want someone to mold our relationship according to their ideals. Does that make sense?”

I bring her hand to my lips and kiss her knuckles. “Makes perfect sense.”

Pressing the button for the garage door, I steer the car inside and put it in park. Tucker bolts from the back seat and runs inside the house. He’ll probably have a movie queued up and a handful of snacks ready by the time we walk through the door.

“I feel like we’ve gone slow enough,” Kaya whispers into the dark. “I’m ready to go a little faster.”

My pulse thrums in my ears. “You’ll have to guide me, Fire Eyes.” I lean over the center console and kiss her. “My version of fast probably looks different than yours.”

Cupping my cheek, she softly strokes my scruff with her thumb. “I love you, Ray.” She presses a chaste kiss to my lips. “You and Tucker. Don’t know who I’d be without either of you.”

Dopamine hits my bloodstream in a rush. I frame her face with my hands and take her mouth in a fevered kiss. “I love you, too.” I drop my forehead to hers and bask in the swirl of energy between us.

A thunderous boom from inside the house garners my attention. Probably an action movie playing through the speakers, but you never know.

“We should get inside before he eats his weight in sugar.”

Kaya chuckles and reaches for her bag in the back. “Yeah, we should.”

At a leisurely pace, we enter the house and go about our nightly routine. After a quick change of clothes, we’re on the couch, movie ready, and in one big snuggle with Kaya at the heart.

Life may not be perfect, but this is as close as it gets. All I need is right here. So long as I have Tucker and Kaya, I have everything.

EPILOGUE

KAYA

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