Page 141 of Crossing Every Line

She folded her arms over her aching stomach. She could understand not wanting to love again. Who would ever want to feel this way?

How could she be so wrong about Shane?

She was tired of asking the same questions to her broken heart and muddled brain.

“Why don’t we watch a movie, huh? Something with lots of violence and not a love story in sight.”

Her mother looked up at her. “You look exhausted, honey. Why don’t you go up to bed?”

“Because I’ll stare at the ceiling all night. At least if I watch bad guys blow up stuff, then I’m not thinking about… Well, I’m just not thinking.”

Lily sighed. “How aboutThe Expendables?”

“Perfect.”

* * *

SHANE CRAWLED HIS way up the winding road, his teeth jarring with each dip in the gravel. Ice coated every surface as far as the eye could see. The sun glared up off the molten snow encasement, giving him a headache. He’d left Connecticut early that morning, but the only reason he’d made it was because of the brand-new chains on his tires.

A good tip from his customer. Parts of California had snow, but nothing like the Northeast.

He frowned at Kendall’s missing Outback. He knew she was a skilled driver in these conditions, but no one should be on the road. The town had been buttoned down tight with only the plows and salt trucks hacking out a path in the deep freeze.

He gathered the paperwork he’d picked up on his way out of town: loan applications and interest rate information from three different banks, a New York license as a preemptive strike to establish residency, and a list of ideas for renovations.

Everything he’d need to talk to Kendall about refinancing and expanding the Heron.

Sitting with her on the dock, looking out over the water with its flawless stillness had been a defining moment. Having her settle against him had allowed him to finally quiet his mind against all the questions he’d had about running the Heron with her.

Making love with her in her tiny bedroom and seeing the love there just waiting for him had been the start of it. He knew that now, but that moment on the water on New Year’s Day had cemented everything.

She was what he needed. It had always been Kendall. From the will reading to the endless stretch of miles leading him here, one thing had been a constant. Kendall and her optimistic smile, her warmth, and the unending passion between them—all of it was everything he’d ever wanted.

And now he had the Heron that he could share with her and grow with her.

Hell, he was going to marry her. If it took two days or two years, he’d convince her that forever was the only option.

He climbed the steps, letting himself inside. Boxes for ornaments sat around the tree in the living room. He followed the clatter of dishes into the kitchen. Lily sat at the table wrapping Christmas dishes.

“Hi, Lily. Where’s Kendall?”

Lily didn’t say a word, just wrapped the next dish, placing it in the box at her feet.

He stood in front of her. “Lily.”

She looked up at him, her dark eyes flat and angry. “She’s gone to Bells’s place.”

“Oh. In this?” Puzzled, he felt the short hairs of his nape rise in alarm.

“She needed to get away from here for a little while.”

“Why?”

“Because she needed to think. She has plans to make too. You’re not the only one who has to think about the future.”

At a loss, Shane rubbed the back of his head. “I know that.”

“Really? Do you? I almost hope you’re just oblivious, because if you hurt my daughter on purpose with that stunt yesterday, then I might be the one tying a rock aroundyourchest and throwing you into the lake.”

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