Page 44 of Built of Illusions

She laughed. “Neither are you.”

He rolled his eyes. “But my shoes are more than a couple of sexy straps tied to a sole.”

True. With the rush to catch the plane, they’d only had time to rush into Nico’s and grab what she’d already packed for his place and a bag for him.

It wasn’t far to the sawmill, but she was glad of Nico’s warmth surrounding her by the time they entered. Once the door was closed behind them, he set her down on her feet.

“Josie! I’m so glad you’re here.” Tessa smiled and then pulled Josie in for a hug. The woman was so quiet, the demonstration of affection surprised her, but she hugged back. Hard.

They’d bonded in the few short days they’d known each other. In fact, she’d bonded with the entire group more than she ever had with anyone. Too bad they lived so far away.

You can work from anywhere. The whisper in her brain was correct. But Nico lived back in Sacramento and she wasn’t willing to give up on what felt completely right.

Flynn, Aisling, and Graham hugged her next, making her feel welcome, not as if she was an imposition. Which she totally was.

The women had brought an assortment of winter gear for her and the guys had grabbed Nico’s stuff from the lodge. Soon, they were dressed appropriately and hiking along the trail leading to the lodge. Josie knew several of the group were armed but she chose to remain focused on the people and not the danger.

Since Christmas, she’d texted with the women, but it wasn’t the same as catching up face to face. Josie had almost always been the odd-girl-out. The foster kid who showed up for a while and then moved again. She’d never had a close group of friends before.

But she did now. And she wasn’t going to allow herself to drift away from them. She’d keep up with texts and calls. Maybe she should set up a reminder in her phone to check in with them weekly.

You can work anywhere. Josie flicked the whisper to the back of her brain. She’d just bought a house. Just started a relationship with a man she liked on every level. A man she was probably already in love with even though they’d only been together for days not months.

In no time, the familiar barking of the dogs greeted them and Josie realized she was fully relaxed. Nico moved to her side and grabbed her gloved hand with his. “Okay?”

She smiled at him and leaned into his shoulder. “Very.” They hadn’t talked about their relationship enough for her to feel comfortable reaching up to kiss him in front of his friends.

As if he was reading her mind, a distinct possibility, Nico tugged her to a halt. Then he walked into her space, wrapped his arms around her waist and tugged her into him. He grinned then lowered his head to kiss her.

Her head was swimming when he lifted his to grin at her again.

The whistles and cheering around them had Josie’s face flushing but she knew she was grinning too.

“Yay!” Tansy pulled Josie into her own hug and then she turned and hugged Nico as well.

Tansy whispered something in Nico’s ear that had him smiling and squeezing her hard. Then Sam pulled Tansy into his side. “You forget something?”

She smiled up at him and tugged him down for a kiss. “That?”

Sam grinned but shook his head. “How about a coat? It’s not even ten degrees out here.”

Tansy shrugged. “I heard the dogs barking and had to come out and see everyone.”

Sam rolled his eyes as he shrugged out of his coat and wrapped her up in it. The hem reached below her knees and Josie’s fingers itched to draw the picture. The tiny woman smiling her love up to the man who would do anything for her.

Her own eyes prickled with tears but she blinked them back. She’d never witnessed such open and easy expressions of love until she’d arrived at Midnight Lake to help Tessa.

Would Nico ever follow her into love? Could he picture a future with her?

As they moved into the lodge itself, Josie realized not only was she already picturing a future with Nico, she was picturing it here at Midnight Lake, surrounded by their friends.

She only had to stay alive to give herself a chance to make it happen.

Chapter 15

In A Different Light

Nico felt freer and more relaxed at Midnight Lake. He’d changed into jeans and hiking boots at his place before they’d rushed to the plane, but it wasn’t the clothes.

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