Page 117 of Renewal After Dark

Morgan shook his head. “It’s just me—and him. Or it was.”

“How about a friend?” Jack asked.

“Yeah, I’ll reach out. Thanks for letting me know. Where are they taking him?”

“The coroner will be over from Providence,” Blaine said. “They’ll perform an autopsy and then release him to the funeral home of your choice on the mainland. We can give you some suggestions.”

“Sure, that’d help. Thanks.”

“When they’re done, they can send him back over on the ferry if you want to bury him here on the island.”

“There’s nowhere else he’d rather be.”

“I’ll be in touch,” Blaine said.

Jack handed Morgan his card. “Call if there’s anything at all I can do for you.”

Morgan shook hands with both of them. “Thanks again, you guys, and to everyone who was part of the search. Please tell them…” His voice broke. “Tell them I appreciate it.”

“We will.”

As they left the gym, Jack said, “I feel bad leaving him.”

“I do, too, but we’ve done what we can for him.”

“I wonder if he’ll stick around and take over the gym?”

“I guess we’ll see.”

Chapter24

McKenzie carried her sleeping son across the yard to Duke’s house, expecting to have second or third thoughts or regrets or something that would stop her from taking a step that could never be undone.

The only thoughts she had, however, involved excitement, anticipation and relief at finally, finally,finallyhaving found a truly decent man who was also sexy, thoughtful, funny and, much to his dismay, sweet. This must be what it was like to find a unicorn.

That thought made her laugh as she knocked on Duke’s door.

He’d gone over ahead of her to set up a place for Jax to sleep.

“You don’t have to knock here,” he said gruffly as he opened the door for her.

“Yes, I do. It’s polite.”

“Don’t be polite with me.”

“Are we going to fight about me having manners, or was there something else you had in mind?”

“That sassy mouth of yours is going to get you in trouble.”

“Promise?”

His low growl made her giggle.

“Laughing at me isn’t exactly polite.”

“Maybe not, but it’s fun.” If McKenzie had to choose one thing that she liked best about being with him, it was that she felt safe to be herself. There was never a time when she had to think about what she was going to say before she said it or need to worry that she might offend his delicate sensibilities. That’d been a huge challenge with Eric, who was easily offended and didn’t take well to joking around.

Duke’s home was warm and cozy and had framed cross-stitch samplers on almost every wall. She would take a closer look at all of them another time.

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