Page 144 of The Night Before (Savannah 1)

Her throat thick, she kissed her fingertips and brushed them over the cold marble. “I love you,” she whispered and sent up a prayer for Jamie’s sweet little soul. Some pain would never completely go away, she knew, and she accepted it.

But the terror of the horrible ordeal with Amanda was fading, blurring into her past, very rarely keeping her awake at night.

From the corner of her eye, she saw him and smiled through her tears. Adam had said he’d meet her here, in this place where he’d first approached her. Her doubts about him had faded with time and she’d found him to be warm and gentle, a considerate lover who was patient or passionate. The first time they’d made love since she’d left the hospital, she’d been worried, concerned that it might spark the return of her Kelly personality. She needn’t have been concerned. The entire night of kissing and touching and exploring, she’d been herself, feeling for the first time the joy of loving him.

They’d been outside for a walk with Oscar when the sky had opened up. Rain pelted them as they’d dashed back to the house and dripping, hurried into the kitchen. She’d nearly tripped over Oscar’s leash and Adam had caught her. They’d both tumbled to the floor, she on top of him and Adam had pulled her close, pressed his face into the cleft of her breasts visible through her soaked blouse, then begun to kiss her. She’d responded eagerly and this time as they’d come together, slick, wet bodies joining, she’d experienced each emotion, every tingling sensation—his hands on her buttocks, his tongue on her nipples, his erection hard against her abdomen before he’d finally slid between her legs and made love to her as if he’d never stop.

Even now the memory was crystal clear. She hadn’t lost herself in the Kelly personality. In fact as the weeks passed, that personality seemed to be fading. Caitlyn knew that someday she would be completely whole. And Adam would be at her side. She turned to him and fought the tears burning the back of her eyes.

“Hey,” she said as he approached.

“Hey, back at you.” He saw the tears in her eyes. “You okay?”

“You’re the shrink. You tell me.”

“My professional opinion? You’re hopeless.”

She socked him in the arm.

“My personal opinion?”

She arched an eyebrow.

“You are definitely okay.” He wrapped his arms around her. “Maybe beyond ‘okay.’ Even perfect.”

She laughed. “God, Adam, enough, okay. Perfect?” She thought about what she’d been through, what they’d shared, how well he knew her. “You need to get out more.”

“Good point. How about dinner?”

“Mmm. Maybe.”

“I’ll cook.”

She laughed again. “Then I think I’ll pass.”

He squeezed her. “You’re bad.”

“From perfect to bad in ten seconds. That must be some kind of record.”

“Come on, let’s go home. You can cook.”

She rolled her eyes as Oscar ran around them, wrapping the leash around their legs. “No way. Let’s go out.”

“Whatever you want.” He dropped a kiss on her lips and she felt warm inside. Safe. Complete. Which was silly.

“I think I just changed my mind,” she said, knowing her eyes were glimmering with mischief. “Let’s stay in. All night.”

“So it’s pizza and beer.”

“To start with,” she said, unwrapping Oscar’s leash and trying not to trip. “After that, who knows? Maybe we could do some role playing.”

A grin slid from one side of his mouth to the other. “That could be dangerous, don’t you think?”

“Oh, I don’t think,” she said and kissed him again. Taking his hand, she pulled him to the car. “I know.”

Dear Reader,

I hope you liked THE NIGHT BEFORE. I’ve got to admit that I had a lot of fun writing the book and, man, was the research a blast! Two trips to Savannah. What fun. Savannah is truly a magnificent, intriguing city with its grand old houses, rumors of ghosts and rich history. I was in heaven while I was there, even when I was caught in a rainstorm that would rival any I’ve ever seen here in Oregon.

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