We stood there in each others arms at the curb for I don't know how long. I didn't want to pull away for fear that I was dreaming and moving might make him vanish. So I stayed there tucked against him, holding him close and taking in his scent.

It was Alex who spoke first and broke the spell that seemed to be around us.

"I guess this answers my question."

I peeked up to his face, a grin spreading over my own. "What question?"

"On rather or not you'd be happy to see me."

"I am, but I'm also confused and wondering if I'm dreaming."

He matched my smile and brushed his lips over my forehead. "No, this is very much real."

"How did you know where to find me? How did you know I was here? How...did you know to come? Wait...why are you here? What's going on?" I rattled question after question off at him in one breath.

He smoothed his hand along my back, taking the questions in stride. "I had a visitor at my door this morning."

My brows drew together. "Who?"

“Daisy."

"My Daisy?"

“The one and only."

I blinked. "How...what..."

He laughed and watched me with an amused expression. "She was sitting on my porch when I went to get the mail. I knew immediately who she was ... and thought maybe you had gotten home. But when I got to your place, you weren't there and this woman came rushing over as I was trying to decide what to do with your dog."

"Dianna."

He nodded, "Right, Dianna. She said she was dog sitting for you and that Daisy had run off when she had let her out to go potty. She thanked me immensely for returning her and then we introduced ourselves. Of course, she was elated to discover who I was," my cheeks blushed and he chuckled low, "and then she wasted no time in telling me what had happened."

I hugged him again. "You didn't have to come, but I'm so grateful that you did."

"Yes I did." He kissed the top of my head, holding me close. "I think Daisy showing up on my stoop was a very clear sign that I needed to come out here."

"Maybe so." I smelled his chest and gave a soft sigh.

He rubbed my back and peeked towards the house. “I’m glad you happened to be outside. I felt kind of …awkward at the thought of knocking and asking for you.”

I lifted my head and met his gaze. “Yeah, that might have been kind of strange. Everyone would have been wondering who you were and why you were here.”

“Exactly.” He brushed his fingers over my cheek and it made me shiver and hug him tighter.

“When did you get in?”

“A few hours ago,” he smoothed his hands down my arms and took my hands into his own, “I rented a car then got a room at the Nathan Hale Inn over near the university and now, here I am.”

I smiled and squeezed his hands before blinking. “Oh, what about Bernie? He just had surgery…he needs you.”

“Don’t worry about Bernie. I left him with a good friend and he’ll be taken care of.”

“Are you sure?” The last thing I needed was for Alex to fly across the country for me and then something to happen to his dog.

His fingers smoothed over my cheek and he forced our eyes to meet. “Positive.”

I felt a sense of relief wash over me and embraced him again. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

“Me too, baby.” He kissed my head and hugged me close.

We stood wrapped in each others arms for a few more minutes before he pulled back and took my hands in his again. “It’s a little chilly out here.”

“Oh, yeah…” I glanced around then towards the house, “um…do you wanna go somewhere? I’d…invite you in, but tonight…just…probably isn’t good. I have an aunt coming in tonight with her family and it’s just kind of crazy at the moment.”

“Um no, that’s perfectly fine with me. I’d feel sort of uncomfortable being thrust into the midst of what’s going on.”

I gave a slight nod and pulled a hand from his, rubbing the back of my neck with it. I knew I wasn’t ready to introduce my family to Alex, but he was here and it was going to have to happen sooner than later. “Yeah, tonight’s probably not a good night for meeting the fam.”

He nodded in agreement and smoothed a hand along my arm. “Are you hungry?”

Suddenly it dawned on me that I hadn’t eaten anything since early that morning. “Um, not really, but I should eat something. I haven’t all day.”

“Okay, let’s do that.”

I glanced back to the house then to him. “Okay, give me just a minute to let them know so they don’t wonder where I’ve gone.”

“Sure, babe.” He kissed my cheek then headed for the vehicle.

I sighed and smoothed my shirt before heading back across the lawn and onto the porch. Taking a little breath and trying to figure out exactly what I was going to say, I finally headed into the house and shut the door behind me.

“Morgan, honey? Is that you?” My mother emerged from the living room. “I didn’t expect you to be so long cleaning the house.”

I shrugged and set the keys to her car onto the end table. “I took my time.”

“Are you alright, dear?”

“Yeah, I’m good.” I motioned back towards the door behind me, “But um, I ran into a friend and we’re gonna go get something to eat.”

“This late?” Miriam checked her watch.

“Neither of us has eaten all day. I won’t be too long.” I kissed her cheek then retreated back to the door, opening it before she could object.

She hesitated. “Well, alright. Be careful.”

“Always.” I smiled then slipped back outside and closed the door securely.

Alex had pulled the car into the drive while I had been inside and I crossed the porch then headed across the walk and slipped into the vehicle.

“All set?” He questioned as I buckled and settled back into the seat.

“Yes,” I flashed a grin, “let’s go.”

He returned the smile and then we were off.

Fifteen minutes later we were seated in an all night diner just outside of town. It was small and I knew it wouldn’t be crowded this late; the perfect place to relax and talk, not to mention they had the best onion rings in the state of Connecticut.

After placing the orders, I settled into the back of the booth and sipped on my water, watching Alex from over the top of the glass.

A little grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. “What?”

I shrugged and pulled the straw from between my lips. “Just watching you.”

“You like what you see?” His voice had a teasing note.

“So far I do.”

He chuckled then reached across the table and took my hand. “So, how you holding up?”

I sighed at the question, but answered it, “I’m okay. Today’s been rough.”

“I imagine so.”

“Yeah,” my gaze dropped to the table, “especially more so because today was the anniversary of Hugh’s death.”

“Geeze,” he squeezed my hand firmly, “I’m sorry, baby.”

“It’s been hard.” I could feel the tears welling in my eyes.

“I know.” He stroked my hand in a soothing manner.

I sighed and wiped at my eyes with my free hand. “And now I have to go through all of this with my poppy.”

“How is your grandmother doing?”

I shrugged a shoulder. “The best she can be, considering. I avoided everyone today and cleaned their place top to bottom,” my voice cracked, “it was hard to see… all his things.”

“I imagine it brought back a lot of memories.”

The way he was massaging my hand calmed me. “It did. I couldn’t go into their bedroom.”

“That’s perfectly fine.” He pressed his mouth to my knuckles.

I cleared the lump from my throat and met his gaze. “I don’t know how I’m going to get through this next week. Not just…because of my grandfather, but …I haven’t seen these people since Hugh’s funeral…and they’re going to be whispering behind my back and wondering what happened and wanting to know why I left.” A beat. “All they know is from my parents’ point of view.”

“Well, maybe this is your chance to explain everything.”

“What am I supposed to do? Make a speech? I just can’t see me explaining everything over and over, that’ll be so tiring and I cannot rehash that part of my life. I just can’t.”

“Hey, don’t get yourself worked up.” He held my hand with both of his, leaning over the table some.

I sighed and slouched in my seat. “I’m sorry. It’s… it’s a fresh scab and I just don’t want everyone picking at it.”

“I know, baby.”

“Yeah,” the word slipped from my lips with a puff of air and I fiddled with the edge of a napkin. “So um,” I cleared my throat and lifted my head to meet his gaze; determined to change the topic of conversation, “how long are you going to be here?”

Alex lowered our hands to the table and shrugged one shoulder. “I didn’t get a return ticket yet. I wasn’t sure what was going on with you.”

“How ‘bout we sneak out and go back tonight?”

He blinked. “Are you serious?”

I gave a dry chuckle. “Only half; I know I can’t, but it doesn’t mean part of me doesn’t want to.”

Alex chuckled low and the middle aged waitress that had taken our orders appeared at our side, placing two piping hot plates down before us. She inquired if we needed anything more, but satisfied with the meals, we sent her on her way.

“So, what all do you have to do tomorrow?” Alex questioned as he squirted ketchup onto the bun of his burger.

“I don’t even know. We have family coming in so I’ll probably be stuck at the house all day.”

“That doesn’t exactly thrill you, huh?”

“About as much as eating glass does.”

“You know,” he lifted a brow, “they really have people who can do that.”

“They’re crazy.” I shook my head and grabbed up an onion ring, holding it towards him. “Try this.”

“Ooh, so these are the best onion rings in the state of Connecticut,” he quoted my statement made when we were trying to decide where to eat.

“Mmhmm,” I held it closer to his mouth, “take a bite.”

Alex did so then reached a hand up to catch the part of the ring that crumbled when he bit into it. “Ooh hot,” he breathed out as he attempted to eat it.

“Oops,” I winced and quickly set the ring back on the plate. “Gosh, are you okay? I’m sorry, I wasn’t thinking.”

He swallowed it successfully then took a long drink of his soda. “Yeah, I’m good,” he exclaimed after setting the glass back on the table and wiping his mouth.

I made a little face. “Try one again after they’ve cooled some.”

“Good idea.” Alex chuckled then returned to his own food.

I watched him a moment before taking up my fork and making myself eat some of the chicken salad I had ordered.

After a few bites of his burger, Alex set it down and wiped his hands with a napkin. “Okay, lemme try an onion ring.”

“Ooh, you think they’re cool enough?”

“One way to find out.” He wiggled his brows then let me select one and offer it to his mouth.

I giggled low and watched as he took a bite, making sure he had bit completely through the onion part before pulling back. “Good, huh?”

He nodded, but a voice from my left spoke up before he had a chance to reply.

“My, my, are my eyes deceiving me?”

I froze in my spot, sharp chills spreading from my lungs straight down into my stomach. I knew that voice anywhere and despite wincing on the inside, I lowered the onion ring back to my plate and turned towards the newcomer with a smile. “Jade, hi. Yeah, it’s really me.”

Jade Carnes, formerly Jade Weston a.k.a. Hugh’s sister, stood at the side of the table dressed in a pair of dark denim jeans and a cream colored sweater. “I wouldn’t believe it if I wasn’t seeing it with my own eyes.” Those steely blue eyes she mentioned looked me over then darted over to my companion. Lifting a brow, she glanced back to me. “I thought once you’d high tailed it out of here, you wouldn’t be back.”

I bit my cheek at the cool tone to her voice. Jade and I had never had the best of relationships. In fact, we hardly had one. Of course, we’d play nice and smile for the cameras when we had been forced together at family events, but that was about it. Hugh wasn’t too fond of his sister; who had married rich and morphed into one of those society snobs that looks down her nose at those that make less than two hundred grand a year. And so I hadn’t had to deal with her too much, thankfully. But now, here she was and here I was.

“Did you bring your new beau,” her eyes darted to Alex then back to me at that, “home to meet the family?”

“No.” I held back the venom that wanted to come out with that.

“No? Then who’s this?” She waved a hand towards Alex.

“I’m Alex,” he introduced himself, holding a hand out towards her.

He was wearing long sleeves, but the minute Jade spied the tattoos on his hand, she made a face and refused the handshake. “Ugh, you’ve really downgraded, haven’t you?”

I blinked, my eyes widening at her statement. Could she have possibly gotten any ruder in the last two years? I hadn’t thought that was feasible, but it sure seemed so. “Jade!”

“What? It’s the truth. Hugh was so clean and…” she looked Alex over with a pure look of distaste, “and normal and now look at who you’re bringing home.”

I couldn’t believe I was actually hearing the words coming out of her mouth. I could feel my face flush with anger and embarrassment for Alex and had to clench my hands into fists to keep from jumping from the booth and lunging at her. “That was completely uncalled for.” I tried to keep my tone even, but my voice trembled just a little with the emotions I was feeling.

Jade gave a shrug and placed her hands onto her hips. “No, it wasn’t. I always knew you were the type to be slumming. Made me wonder what Hugh ever saw in you,” a shrug, “maybe the semi wasn’t an accident, maybe he just wanted to escape you.” She threw the last part at me before smirking and turning on her heel to saunter off.

I felt like I had just been kicked in the stomach, my entire face was red and it was starting to spread down over my body. A bile taste rose into my mouth and I forced it back, suddenly pushing out of the booth and going after Jade with every intent to do her bodily harm.

It was Alex’s strong hands that grabbed my shoulders and held me back. “Morgan, don’t,” he warned in a low hiss as he pulled my body against his and wrapped an arm around my waist to keep me in place.

I struggled in his grasp, watching as the woman of my spite waltzed right out the door. “How dare she?!” I seethed, trying to go after her once more.

He held me strong against his body. “Kicking her ass isn’t going to get you anywhere but a night in jail. You know that woman would press charges. And as much as I love to see some girl on girl action, I can’t let you end up there.”

I frowned and finally went slack. “It’d make me feel a hell a lot better.”

“Maybe so, but I don’t think you want a criminal record,” he paused, “unless you already have one.”

“No,” I sighed out, waiting until his grip loosened then pulling from him and sinking down onto the edge of the booth.

Alex was quiet for a moment before crouching down in front of me, one hand on my knee. “Are you okay?”

“No.”

“Silly question, I don’t know why I asked.”

I reached out and touched his cheek. “I’m sorry she said those horrible things about you.”

“Don’t be, it’s not your fault.”

“I know, but I still am.”

He kissed my palm. “Okay and I’m sorry she said that stuff to you.”

I snorted and frowned towards the exit. “Talk about slumming, she’s the hoity toity bitch that wouldn’t be caught dead in a McDonalds, let alone a place like this. What was she doing here?”

“I don’t know,” he shook his head, “I don’t even know who she is.”

My eyes shifted back to his face at that. “Jade Carnes…she’s Hugh’s sister.”

“Really?” He arched a brow and glanced towards the exit as well then back to me. “She’s a bitch.”

“She always has been, but she’s seemed to have gotten worse since I last saw her.”

“Hugh wasn’t like his sister, was he?” He rose to his feet and slipped back into the booth.

“Oh God, no.” I turned to face him and pushed my plate away. “Hugh was genuine and compassionate and caring and…just perfect. Jade…” I searched for words that weren’t too hateful, “Jade married really young to a multi-millionaire. She let the money and attention get to her head and it completely changed her. They have a house out here on the lake and then like…four other places around the world. Though by now, it’s probably more like ten.”

“Lemme guess, they have a loveless marriage.”

“Why do you say that?”

He shrugged. “Because she has to tear everyone else down to make herself feel better.”

“That doesn’t mean they have a loveless marriage.”

“It does if she’s got to attack others’ relationships because hers has gone to the shithole.”

“Maybe.” I reached out and toyed with my fork.

“He probably has a mistress, or two.”

I gave a low chuckle then felt bad for laughing at that. “Hugh wasn’t too fond of Jade. We usually only had to deal with her at like…family gatherings; Christmas, Thanksgiving…Easter. And even then we tried to keep it to a minimal.”

“Does he have any other siblings?”

“Yeah, a younger sister, Isla. She’s always been a sweetheart to me. But I have no idea where she is or what she’s up to.” I studied the table top. “I lost touch with his family after his death.”

“Well, that’s understandable.”

“Yeah,” I lifted my head to meet his gaze, “can we talk about something else?”

“Sure, what do you want to talk about?” He pulled his burger closer again and resumed eating.

“Anything that doesn’t deal with my past.”

“How ‘bout your future?”

“Yeah and how’s that look?”

Alex chewed on his food and then wiped his mouth before speaking, “Well, from over here it looks pretty damn good.”

I offered up a small grin. “Yeah?”

He reached across the table and took my hand again. “Absolutely. Now eat your food.”

“I’m not hungry.”

“You need to eat something.” His expressive eyes watched me with concern.

Those eyes always made me melt. Begrudgingly, I pulled my plate closer. “Maybe a few bites.”

“That’s all I ask.” Then he returned to his own food and a comfortable silence fell around us.