Page 92 of The Lightkeeper

Chapter Twenty-Two

Aurora

Maybe if therewas one thing to be said about me, it was that I knew how to make a statement. And standing on the rocky bank of the lighthouse, wearing a bright flame-colored dress, and holding a waved whelk in my hands, I surely made quite a statement to the man standing at the edge of the rocks above, looking at me as though I were a ghost.

“Kit.”

“What are you”—his head swiveled to Dad—“What are you doing here?” he demanded, extending his hand to make sure Dad made it off the rocks steadily.

Dad’s smile broadened as he clasped Kit’s hand and looked between him and me. “I had to meet the man my daughter fell in love with.”

Heat bloomed in my cheeks, and I adjusted my glasses.

“Daughter…” He trailed off. His eyes widened ever so slightly as though he’d just put the pieces together.

“Had to make sure you deserved her.”

I sucked in a breath, watching Kit’s jaw flex. “And do I?”

Dad patted his hand reassuringly. “Any man who fills a gallery with only creatures my daughter loves—a man who risked the sale of every one of his drawings because he was too concerned with sharing the inspiration from the woman behind them, is more than deserving.”

My breath caught, watching Dad embrace Kit, whose stormy eyes were only on me. And when they were done, Dad walked toward the drive where Ailene and Kit’s siblings had just pulled in—all part of our plan.

“You’re here,” he croaked, reaching for my hand and then for me, lifting me almost completely over the last boulder and onto flat ground. “You came back.” He cupped my face like he still couldn’t believe it was me.

I licked my lips. “I couldn’t stay away.”

“Why not?” The hope in his voice made my heart swell.

I reached up and placed my hands over his. “I love you, Kit Kinkade. And I will always,alwaysfight for you,” I promised him. “But don’t you ever push me away again—don’t you ever think I would be better off without you.”

He let out a low groan, dropping his forehead to mine. “I couldn’t. I tried, but I couldn’t.” He let out a deep exhale. “Come with me.”

Before I could ask where and why, he led me to the house. I opened my mouth to warn him that his family was right outside, in case his plan was…experimentation… but the words died in my throat when I walked inside.

“Oh my… Kit.” I pressed my hand to my mouth, a choked sob wrenching from my chest as I looked around the room.

Gone was the old, tearing gray wallpaper and the dreary interior, and in its place were vibrant, bold colors. Not just colors.Specimens.Kit had painted massive, colorful seascapes like murals on the walls. Sea stars. Whelks and periwinkles. Crabs andlobsters. They filled every inch of the walls in reds and oranges, blues, and purples, bringing a new kind of life to the space that had felt almost… forgotten before.

“What did you…” He led me into the bedroom where there was even more.Including the moon snail and bushy-backed nudibranch.

“It didn’t feel right here without them,” he said quietly, taking me in his arms. “And it didn’t feel like home anymore without you.”

Tears loosed down my cheeks. “Kit…”

He gently kissed away the escaping droplets. “I love you, Aurora. I love you so much?—”

My lip quivered as I pressed my mouth to his, needing to kiss him. Hold him.Needing him.“I love you,” I murmured as he held me tighter and deepened the embrace.

There was a knock on the door, and Kit groaned. “Go away.”

I giggled and ducked my head to his chest.

“You forgot something,” Frankie called from the other side.

With a huff, he stalked to the door and yanked it open, the annoyance quickly deflating from his posture when he reached out and took whatever it was she’d brought.

The door closed, and I realized it was a painting.No.My heart stopped.Not just any painting.

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