Page 145 of Kage

This is how I saw Mr. Nobody, a quiet man living a peaceful, unencumbered life. I had Henry to thank for that. Even my parents had complimented me on the sanctuary. Who knew there were still miracles left?

I leaned against a tree, doing nothing more than enjoying the beautiful surroundings. It was exactly what I did every time I came here, spending twenty minutes, maybe a half hour staring at the water and making peace with myself. Something was different today. Maybe because I was missing Juliette more than I had before. The small connection we’d shared online had given me hope.

What an idiot I was.

She’d gone on to live a new life.

Laughing softly, I pulled out my cell phone to take a few pictures, capturing the beauty of the morning just for the hell of it. This had nothing to do with the sanctuary, but everything to do with the moment of happiness.

“You’ll need a more expensive camera with interchangeable lenses and the ability to zoom in on the moment if you expect to capture the full beauty of the mountains. Or anything else for that matter.”

I froze, sucking in my breath. When I blew it out, Sadie whinnied. “Oh, yeah? You think you know everything about photography, huh?”

“Enough to know whoever is taking the photographs for the Horse Whisperer Sanctuary should be fired.”

Snorting, I took another picture on purpose. “Let me guess. You think you can do a better job?”

“Absolutely.”

I slowly turned and instantly the ache in my gut returned. The light breeze flowed softly through Juliette’s long hair and she tugged the strands, trying to keep them behind her ear. Her eyes were misted over, her soft, rosy lips pursed. As she studied me, she took several shallow breaths.

When I took a step closer, she made herself as tall as possible. “So what you’re saying is that you’d like a job?”

“Only if it pays well and I get free room and board.”

“I don’t know. I heard the owner and boss is an asshole.” I took another step closer, the pounding in my chest increasing.

From where I stood, I could tell she was trembling, her face flushed as she searched my eyes.

“You mean Mr. Nobody? Oh, hell. I can tame him easily. Soon, I’ll have him wrapped around my pinky.”

“You just think you will. I know the man. He doesn’t take disobedience lightly.”

Her snort brought a smile to my face. Now we were only inches apart, close enough I gathered a whiff of her perfume, the same incredible floral fragrance infused with a hint of musk.

No longer was it haunting.

“He’ll learn I’m a tough girl.”

“Yeah, but even tough girls need discipline.” I closed the distance, gingerly cupping the side of her face.

“He’s too much of a softie. I found his marshmallow center.”

I lowered my head, both of us taking gasping breaths. “Don’t tell anyone. That might ruin his gruff reputation.”

“I doubt anything will. Except for me.”

“Are you looking for a long-term engagement?”

She gripped my shirt with both hands and nodded several times, a single tear slipping past her long lashes. “How’s forever sound?”

Another breath escaped me as my heart seized.

“Let me think on it.” I captured her mouth, pulling her onto her toes, the taste of her like sweet spring cherries. As she clung to me, I realized she was absolutely the reason I could look into the face of my demons head on. Maybe I’d yet to conquer them, but with her touch and support, maybe I’d become a better man.

We both heard a sound and I pulled back, her laugh floating into the morning sky seconds before Tank leapt off the ground, pummeling into us. As we thudded against the earth, he dragged his long tongue across her face.

Her giggles mixed with his happy growls and for the first time since she’d left, I felt complete.

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