Page 113 of Renewal After Dark

“I’m very certain that you’ve turned my whole life upside down in the best way possible.” He kissed her because he couldn’t resist her plump, swollen lips. “I’m very certain that you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on.”

When she would’ve protested that, he kissed her again. “I get to say who that is for me, and it’s you. Three hundred thousand percent you.”

Her little whimper nearly broke the fragile hold he had on his control.

“But I want you to consider the other stuff I said. I want you to be totally sure.”

“I am.”

“McKenzie…”

“Duke.” She leaned in and took his earlobe between her teeth and nearly made him come in his pants when she bit down on it. “Maybe I’m a bit younger than you, but I’m a fully grown woman who knows the difference between a guy who’d make for a fun one-night stand and one who could go the distance. I’d never have let you anywhere near my son if I wasn’t one hundred percent sure you’re in the latter category.”

“I never should’ve let you catch me cross-stitching.”

Her husky laughter was the best thing he’d ever heard. “That was an error of epic proportions.”

“I’m beginning to see that.”

“I want to be with you. I want to end the best day I’ve ever had with you.”

What in the world could he say to that? “Can we bring Jax over to my place?”

“Uh-huh.”

“He won’t wake up?”

“If he does, he’ll go right back to sleep.”

“Okay, then…”

“Should I get him?”

Duke felt good about having tried to do the right thing, but the time for talking was over. “Yeah, I think you should.”

Jack Downing foundBilly Weyland floating in about six feet of water in the southern corner of the Great Salt Pond.

“Son of a bitch,” he whispered upon realizing what he was looking at. He’d met Billy a few times at the gym and had liked talking to him while he worked out.

He reached for the handheld radio to call in the grim discovery. “Downing to base. Come in.”

“This is base. Go.”

“I’ve found Weyland in the southeast corner of the pond.”

After a long pause, the dispatcher said, “We’re sending additional resources. Please stand by.”

“Copy.”

While he waited, Jack never took his eyes off the body. Other people would be in charge of retrieval, thank goodness. After his brother was notified, word would ricochet through the island community that the second missing man had been found dead. He hurt for Morgan, who’d held out hope even in the face of grim odds.

Billy and Jim had taken a foolish risk and had paid for it with their lives.

In a contest of man versus Mother Nature, she almost always won. After growing up on an island, Billy and Jim should’ve known that.

Blaine and Deacon Taylor were in the first boat to pull up next to Jack’s.

He pointed.

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