Page 116 of Lavender Lake
I closed the door to the cabin and went down the porch steps. It was still light out, and the sun wouldn’t set for at least another hour, so it was easy to see the path to the house.
As I got closer, I saw a motorcycle out front.
My heart tripped with emotion.
The house was quiet as I went inside—Dad’s door was closed, and he was probably asleep. I peeked into Hadley’s room, but Cas wasn’t there. With a sigh of frustration, I traipsed downstairs and opened the sliding glass door.
Cas stood on the deck, his back facing me, acting as though he hadn’t heard my approach.
I paused, unsure of what to do.
Finally, he turned.
It had only been a few days since I’d seen him, but it had felt like a lifetime.
We stared at each other, drinking each other in.
“You came back,” I croaked.
“You called.”
I wasn’t sure who reached for who first, but suddenly I was in his embrace and his lips were on mine.
He placed his hands underneath my thighs and lifted me into his arms. I wrapped my legs around him, fusing our mouths together.
I tore my lips from his. “Wait.”
“You’re right, let’s go to the barn loft.”
“No.”
It was like I’d dumped a bucket of ice water over his head.
“No?”
“No,” I repeated, cradling his cheeks. “This isn’t the part we have a problem with, Cas.”
“This can solve most of our problems, Salem.”
I smiled. “You’re not getting into my pants tonight.”
“Let me try.”
Laughing, I pressed my forehead to his. “I’m glad you’re back. Where did you go?”
“Montana. You know they have swarms of mosquitos the size of bats.”
“Yes. I’m aware.”
I lowered my legs and dangled in his arms until he finally set me down.
“You told Declan you had some things to sort out?” I asked tentatively.
“Yeah.”
“So, did you? Sort them out?”
“Think so. What about you?”
