Page 112 of In Hiding

“I know.” She kissed his lips with such tenderness his breath caught. “And I love you.”

“Did you discover that before or after you fired me?”

Her attention focused on his chest. “I judged you too harshly. You’d already proven yourself to me before that. I’m sorry.”

That didn’t answer his question.

“It was after,” she whispered. “After I realized you stayed. You watched over us all that time. You made a promise and you kept it, even though I’d kicked you out.”

“I loved you. I wasn’t going to abandon you.”

She leaned closer and speared him with a loving gaze. “Andersen House is your home. William and I want you to come and live with us. And I don’t mean in the guest house or as the handyman.”

Tracing his fingers over her forehead, he watched her eyes close and felt the tension in her muscles melt under his touch. “Wild horses couldn’t keep me away.”

~

Sarah stood on the veranda and watched the snow lazily drift to the ground. A light layer had gathered over the earth though it thickened by the minute. A prelude to the coming blizzard, or so she’d heard. The weather bureau had warned they were about to see a snowstorm like never before. With Erik’s and William’s help, they’d prepared Andersen House for the predicted white-out.

A ton of wood had been split, and the lockers were stacked to overflowing with more waiting underneath the house. The pantry and fridge were loaded with a month’s worth of food. The garden was as ready as it would ever be. She’d tried to convince Erik to stay with them in the main house, but he chose to remain a guest at the Sanctuary, insisting that she, William, and Jake would need time to build bonds as a family.

Now, as he joined her, he tugged on a coat and gloves. White vapor plumed with his breath. William followed close behind, the pair of them about to retrieve Jake from the hospital. He’d freshly shaved the sides of his head and re-plaited his hair, interweaving in strips of leather. It hung to the middle of his back and reminded her of their father in his younger days.

She remembered the stories her grandfather told of their Viking ancestors, and wondered if Erik would ever outgrow the tales of old. The exposed decorative tattoos on the sides of his scalp suggested never. She just hoped William didn’t get any ideas to follow in his footsteps.

“Does your head ever get cold?”

He grinned, his dark green eyes sparkling at her. “We’re built for the cold, sister.”

She felt her eyebrows rise in surprise. “You forget, we’re third generation Aussies. We’re not Viking.”

“Blasphemy,” he teased. “Our heritage is as much a part of us today as it was our ancestors.”

“Well,” she pulled the blanket around her shoulders tighter. “Have a word with the Gods, will you? Tell them to send their blizzard elsewhere.”

He chuckled and zipped up his coat. Leaning across, he placed a kiss against her cheek. William did the same. “We won’t be long. Go inside and get warm.”

She stayed on the veranda as Erik’s enormous pick-up truck disappeared down the drive. As if to spite her, the falling snow grew heavier and the wind strengthened. It whistled through the tree tops above, the sound echoing off the landscape.

Storm or none, there was nowhere else in the world she’d rather be. The rustling of the leaves, the howling winds, the angelic snow and the crisp, cold air combined to keep her grounded. They were the things she wanted to hold onto and never let go.

About to turn and go inside, she was stopped by the sound of a motor. It got louder as it came closer and a moment later, a shiny chrome grill appeared. Behind it, an enormous black Ford SUV lumbered into the drive. She waited as it made a circle and came to a stop at the bottom step of the veranda. The engine cut out and a door opened. The silver-haired man who appeared smiled as he rounded the vehicle’s bonnet.

“Sarah Andersen?”

She narrowed her eyes. “And you are?”

He climbed the steps and held out a hand, his kind blue-gray eyes warm and inviting. “I’m Damien McCafferty.”

Ah, so she’d finally come face to face with the Damien McCafferty. The one who’d secured Erik’s early release and provided Jake with all the support needed the night Ryan showed up. She had a vague recollection of him after Ryan went over the cliff, but it was a jumbled vision she half thought she’d imagined.

Erik regarded him with guarded optimism, and she couldn’t ignore Damien’s part in keeping her and William safe. Sarah accepted his handshake as he came to stand beside her under the shelter of the roof.

Sarah tugged the blanket around her tighter. “It’s nice to formally meet you,” she said.

He chuckled, sounding nervous. “Do you remember me?”

“Vaguely. You’ve done a lot for my family. I owe you thanks.”

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