Page 57 of Her Property

Epilogue

“They’re here!” Cat cried, running from the window looking onto the drive into the living room of Alfred’s Lake House.

Jake stood next to the Christmas tree he’d felled with his own two hands—and his grandfather’s axe. He’d even hung one of his childhood ornaments on a branch tucked into the corner—though the rest of the tree was hung with decorations Cat had found in the attic.

The tree was beautiful, he had to admit. But not half as beautiful as Cat looked today, and every day since she’d quite literally fallen into his life. Cat’s sweater was made of something soft and touchable and clung to her curves in a way that should have been illegal. He couldn’t wait to feel that sweater under his hands later tonight and then leaving his hand as he tossed it on the floor.

As she ran up to him and gave him a kiss and a wink, she actually sparkled. Granted it was probably the glittery snowflake earrings she must have picked up on her trip back to New York last week.

The tiniest part of him was worried she’d be lured back to the equally glittery lights of the city once she was there. She’d gone back for some meetings in the office and to pick up a few last things at her apartment before the sub-letter moved in. But the concern had vanished the moment she called him that first night, saying, “I don’t remember New York being soloud!”

Cat had returned to work, but virtually, and with light administrative duties only. After a heart-to-heart in the hospital, Alfred had insisted Cat stay at the lake house over the winter while she figured out what she wanted to do. Cat said she’d shared with Alfred that she was rethinking corporate law—rethinking staying in New York altogether. When she relayed this to Jake he’d felt like his heart had leapt clear out of his body, but he’d responded with a grin and a kiss. No need to freak her out.

Cat’s schedule meant she worked over at Alfred’s place during the day and spent most nights at Jake’s. He wanted more of her, so much more, but he needed the time too. Since Alfred had dropped the lawsuit, he’d been going full steam on the James Colson Memorial Camp, splitting his time between the physical work of prepping the cabins and the administrative work of setting up the business. He had more work than he could handle on his own, and he was trying to convince Cat to join him as a partner. Or at least as a legal consultant. She insisted it was his baby, but he could see she was interested. After all, business law was her specialty. Last night when he was poring over a stack of contracts, she’d wrapped her arms around him from behind and whispered in his ear, “Want me to review your documents?”

It was the sexiest thing he’d ever heard.

But everything was sexy coming out of Cat Jones’ lips.

If he hadn’t turned around and pulled her onto his lap, they might have actually gotten some work done together.

* * *

“Areyou sure a surprise party is a good idea for a heart patient?” Jake asked now as Laura and Alfred’s muffled voices came from outside.

Cat shushed him. “The doctor said standing here and saying surprise wasn’t going to cause any trouble. I checked.”

He grinned. Of course she did. Cat was working on her excessive double-checking of everything, but she was still a lawyer. He’d learned a lot from her in the past few weeks about double and even triple-checking the important things. And she’d learned from him to relax about the small stuff.

“Surprise!” they called as the door swung open.

Alfred was standing arm-in-arm with Laura at the threshold. He looked tired, his face strained from the walk from the car. But he was pinching his lips together, clearly trying to hide a smile.

Jake was still adjusting to looking at the man without immediately getting his guard up, but he gave Alfred a nod as he looked in his direction.

“It’s not my birthday,” Alfred barked. Cat and Laura rolled their eyes.

“We’re celebrating you, Alfred. It’s grumpy old man day, don’t you know?” Cat said.

“Old!”

“Getting up there,” she said, winking, as she helped him out of his coat.

“Not too old for love,” Laura said.

“What?” Cat exclaimed. She whirled on Alfred, who glared at Laura accusingly.

* * *

The party was not so mucha party as five people sitting around eating cardiologist-approved vegetables and drinking cider. But during that time, they managed to get out of Alfred that he’d met someone—a physical therapist at the rehabilitation center he’d been staying at in Millerville named Susan. She was younger than him but only by 5 years—she’d gotten divorced a few years ago and had two grown children. She was the only one who wouldn’t let him rest, he said.

“She doesn’t put up with my bullshit. A lot like some other people I know,” Alfred said, leaning back in his chair and looking at Cat. She’d been visiting the rehab center every other day, working on Alfred to think about lightening his workload at the firm the way she had—since the other partners were doing so well at keeping things going in his absence.

“The woman with the salt and pepper hair and gorgeous smile!” Cat exclaimed from next to Jake on the couch. “No wonder she was looking at you like that. I can’t believe you kept that from me!”

“I learned from the best,” Alfred responded drily, looking from Cat to Jake.

Cat blushed and Jake pulled her in close. “We had good reason to keep things quiet,” Jake said, and Alfred nodded. “You’re absolutely right.”

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