He’d chosen to make it to the helicopter.
Nick had come after him as he was taking off, and he’d shot him once he was safe from the avalanche.
It was only after that night that he’d found out that Kate had gone up the mountain after him and that she’d almost been caught in the avalanche herself. He’d been taken back to England and kept out of the loop, forced to remain in the department building until everything had been cleared up. One of his friends had mentioned that Kate had been asking questions, and that she’d been told that he was dead and that she was coming to see his grave. He’d not been able to resist sneaking out to see her, and a part of him wished that he hadn’t. It had broken his heart to see her hurting so badly because of him, knowing that he couldn’t be with her. He could still remember everything that she’d said, and could remember every tear that had fallen and every time that she’d said that she loved him.
When he’d come back to the building, he’d had to face his superiors and had told them that she still thought that he was dead. They had given him strict orders to keep it that way, and he’d fought them every step of the way.
In the end, he’d got his way.
He could see her again, but not until one year after everything that had happened.
That day was today.
“Where’s the Hummer?” Kate looked around for it.
Jack smiled. “I walked.”
“From town?” She frowned.
He shook his head and pointed in the direction that Donovan’s cabin used to be.
“From my cabin… or at least where it will be when it’s done.”
Her mouth dropped open. “Your cabin?”
“What can I say? I liked this place so much I just had to get me a slice of it. Besides, I’m meant to keep out of the way for a while and there’s no better place in my books to be than here. Which is where you just happen to be, too.” He let his gaze run down her body and then up again. “So I guess we’re neighbours.”
“Oh, I think we’re more than that.” Kate smiled into his eyes as she stepped up to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. He felt so good in her arms and against her body, and she vowed never to let him go. “Can dead men have girlfriends?”
He nodded and slipped his arms about her waist, drawing her close to him as his eyes dropped to her mouth.
“That sounds much better than neighbours,” he muttered, and then closed his eyes as he dipped his head and captured her lips.
She couldn’t contain her smile as she held him tightly, savouring the way it felt to be held by him and melting in his strong arms. Her lips played softly against his and sweeps of tingles raced down her spine, making her shiver with delight as he pulled her body flush against his and deepened their kiss.
Drawing back, she looked deep into his eyes and found that they were smiling at her.
“Kate…” he started and she frowned.
“Jack?” She blinked up at him, watching the change in his expression as his eyes became soft and affectionate.
“You said you loved me,” he said and she blushed. “That you’d always love me.”
She smiled awkwardly. “I did.”
“Did you mean it?”
She frowned when she saw the flicker of doubt in his eyes and she remembered what had happened to him before. Raising her hand, she stroked his cheek gently and smiled.
“I love you.” She furrowed her brows and hoped that he could read in her eyes that she was telling the truth.
He smiled and drew her flush against him. “I love you, too.”
She closed her eyes as he gathered her up into his arms and kissed her, his soft lips brushing against hers and making warmth dance through her.
When he tugged her closer to him and whispered words of love into her ear, she finally convinced herself that this wasn’t a dream.
This was too good to be a dream.
It was really happening.
He’d kept his promise.
He’d come back.
And she’d finally found what she’d been looking for all her life.
Love.
The End
About the Author:
Anastasia Dawson is a great believer in love at first sight and the romantic ideal. Having grown up reading extensively, she developed a deep love of classical literature, ranking Jane Eyre, North & South, and Persuasion amongst her all time favourite reads. She enjoys writing historical romances and romantic suspense novels. A writer of emotion and life, she always strives to touch a chord of familiarity in her readers and give them characters they can love and a read to remember.
If you have enjoyed this story, please take a moment to contact the author at [email protected]
Other stories by this author:
Killing Game
Lily Walker thought true love was real, until she ran away to New York City to be with her older lover, only to find him in the arms of another woman. Desolate, friendless and with nowhere to go, she stands alone in the freezing January rain until the echo of a gunshot reminds her how dangerous the city is at night.
In the space of a moment, in the blink of an eye, she finds herself face to face with Cain.
A professional killer, Cain is hardened by circumstance to the point where he no longer feels human. When he drops into Lily's life, she stirs feelings in him that he's forgotten existed. He finds himself wanting to protect her from the dark side of New York City, and even from himself if that's what it takes to keep her untainted by his world. The trouble is, he can't keep away from her and as he begins to spend more time with her, it becomes more impossible to tear himself away from the girl he's fallen in love with.
Can Cain change his destiny and have the future with Lily that he so badly wants? Will he be able to protect her, or will his feelings for her draw her into the underworld and into danger? When the truth about Cain is revealed, will Lily be able to love and forgive a killer?
Copyright © 2007 Felicity Heaton
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means mechanical, electronic, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior written consent of the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.
The right of Felicity Heaton to be identified as the Author of the Work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
First printed November 2007
Second Edition
Layout and design by Felicity Heaton
All characters in this publication are purely fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
Originally released under the author name of Felicity Heaton
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