Page 160 of Renewal After Dark

“Welcome to Gansett.”

Chapter32

McKenzie drove back to Duke’s with the window down to let in the warm early autumn breeze. She picked up a hint of woodsmoke in the air, which only added to the contentment that she’d found on the island. New friends, new work, new love, a whole new life.

Pulling into Duke’s driveway felt like coming home to the place she’d always been meant to find. She took Jax up to the apartment to change him and put him down for his nap. Even though she had a million things to do for several of her new clients, she stretched out on the bed and passed out.

She came to when she felt Duke snuggle in next to her.

He put his arm around her. “I hope that’s Duke,” she whispered.

“Who else would it be?”

He’d been there two seconds and already had her smiling like a fool in love. “I thought it might be my boyfriend.”

“It is. Now go back to sleep.”

“Let me turn over.”

He raised his arm so she could turn to face him.

“Hi.”

He kissed her. “Hi yourself. Missed you. It was a long two hundred and thirty-five minutes.”

“Yes, it was, especially since I was trying to stay awake the whole time.”

“Same. A wild vixen messed with my sleep last night.”

“Right. Who messed with who?”

“That’s my story. Sticking to it.” He kissed her again and again until they were clinging to each other and straining to get closer. “We’re supposed to be sleeping.”

“But this is way more fun.”

A loud car horn sounded from the yard.

“What the hell?” he muttered as he sat up.

“McKenzie! Come out here!”

“Who’s that?”

“I… I think it could be Eric.” She followed Duke off the bed and out of the bedroom to the window to look out at the yard. “It is.” God, what was he doing there?

“Stay here. I’ll get rid of him.”

“Duke!”

“Stay here. I promise it’ll be fine.”

It felt wrong to let him go out to confront her ex.

“Can I help you with something?” Duke asked as he went down the stairs to the driveway.

“Where’s McKenzie?”

“She’s not here.”

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