Cassidy saw the well-painted gate of her new home and closed her eyes. She was right where she belonged and would stay for the rest of her life. Remy was her husband and he’d try to be the best he could be. Despite his pranks, they’d always been friends.

The limo stopped at the front step and Fari opened her door. She waited for Remy to walk beside her and they entered the house, as one. They went straight into the blue room.

Gigi stood from the couch she sat on with Chelsea beside her and immediately said, “Cassidy, we’re glad you’re back.”

Gigi’s cheeks were flushed and her hair done. Even her face was brighter and she looked ten years younger than when Cassidy first moved in. Cassidy went to her and hugged her. “Gigi, you look amazing. We thought we were going to lose you—but no longer.”

Gigi ended the hug and pointed to Chelsea beside her and the spread of coffee, tea and cakes. “Your sister helped us with the desserts. She wants to speak to you.”

Chelsea seemed subdued, so Cassidy waved her into the library and her sister followed. She held the door for her and once her sister passed, Cassidy closed the door. “Chelsea? How could you?”

Chelsea hugged her waist as she glanced up and met her gaze. “Cassidy. Look, I’m really sorry I believed Lucinda’s lies. I had no idea she’d hurt you. You and I might not get along always, but I’d never let anyone hurt you if I had a say.”

Cassidy let out a huge breath. Chelsea was vain like their mother, but not vicious, so Cassidy hugged her with forgiveness. “Chelsea, you’re being mature. What changed?”

Chelsea’s eyes welled as they stepped out of the hug. “That you were kidnapped and I believed the wrong person.”

“It’s okay,” Cassidy insisted. She’d not always been the best sister as she ran away to college or work, leaving her sister to deal with their parents. She motioned for them to sit on chairs. “I haven’t always been there for you.”

Chelsea smoothed her powder blue skirt as they took their seats across from each other. “Are you joking? You’re the best—working to make sure we all have a roof over our heads. I’m the bad one.”

Cassidy reached over and brushed her sister’s arm. “Don’t. No one is bad or good in our family.”

“What about Dad?”

“He means well. He has an addiction problem, but we all know he loves us.”

Chelsea rolled her eyes and stared at the white ceiling with the high crystal chandelier. Each glass drop glittered brightly. “I thought I could be like Mom and help our family by marrying well—and in the process I became spiteful toward the only sister I have.”

Perhaps they needed to work together and learn to trust each other again. It had been years since they’d tried to be friends. Chelsea was one of the most fashionable women she’d ever met, like their mother. What career might interest her? Cassidy didn’t voice her question and instead asked, “Maybe you can help us plan the repeat wedding next week? I actually want to say I do so no one thinks I was forced into anything.”

Chelsea’s beautiful face brightened as she smiled. “I’ll plan the best wedding possible. Mom will help too. We talked to Gigi already and she said it would okay as long as you agreed. I didn’t think you’d ask me, but I’d love to truly help.”

Her mother had zero sense when it came to money, and two weddings were expensive. She’d have to talk to Remy about this and really think hard. She probably didn’t need the wedding. They were married already, but she wanted people to see that this was her choice, her life. She stood. “Well, let me sleep on the budget, okay? Don’t sign any contract without running the numbers by me first.”

Chelsea stood and adjusted her white shirt to ensure no sign of sitting was on either of them. “Fair enough. Mom and Dad are the opposite of frugal, but I swear my checking account has never been negative. I saw how hard you’ve worked.”

Cassidy laughed. At least Chelsea saw the issues within their family as they were. “Good. Neither one of us should be like them.”

The door opened. Chelsea walked with her. “Agreed. Your husband is peeking in the door. Please tell him I didn’t put a knife in your back.”

“Remy is just protective.” Cassidy reached for the door and walked right into Remy’s waiting arms. He smelled familiar and good. The fly in the ointment was that he’d never be in love with her.

Chelsea smiled as she walked past them and said, “Like I should have been. Remy, please make my sister happy with you. She deserves love like she’s always wanted.”

Cassidy froze. She never should have told anyone her silly dreams. She had to be an adult. She let go of Remy and walked her sister to the door. Chelsea took her keys to her shiny, clean but at least ten years old Mercedes and left. Cassidy waved, “Bye Chelsea.”

Once her sister drove off the property, she returned inside and found Remy in the blue room. This time he was alone, so Gigi must have gone to her sunroom. He launched out of his chair and asked, “How are you?”

Remy was the most handsome man she’d ever laid eyes on. If only her heart didn’t hurt when he touched her. She knew he’d treat her right, but she felt prickles in her eyes. She swallowed and pointed toward the garden in the back even though it was night and all she’d have was the moonlight out there. “Good. Glad to be home. Would you mind if I go walking in the gardens alone for a few minutes? I want to breathe, if that makes any sense.”

He put his hands in his pockets and acted like he had something to say. However he nodded and said, “Gigi does the same thing. You must be hungry still, so I’ll have a small dinner set up for when you return.”

“Sounds perfect.” She just had to get her head on straight and not let her feelings get in the way. They were legally married and her property was now entwined with his. Their future looked bright so she needed to be happy about all of this.

She stepped into the rose gardens she’d helped plant years ago and tried to remain calm. This was her home now. She was safe here. Tears fell.

She wiped her eyes and hugged her shoulders. She had no right to be sad. Everything was good, but the positive thoughts didn’t help. More tears washed down her face, so she kept her head bowed and continued walking, refusing to go near the house until she stopped.

From behind her on the gravel path she heard Remy’s voice like a low rumble. “Cassidy, don’t cry on me.”

Goodness. He’d seen her. She wiped her tears with her fingers and turned with a sniff. “It’s nothing to worry about, Remy.”

He walked over to her and brushed her hair back from her cheek. “If you’re unhappy, then tell me what I can do.”

Another tear leaked out of her eye and she turned. Right now she’d sound stupid if she tried to explain. She kicked at a small round pebble. “That’s just it. Nothing. You can’t do anything. This is all in my head.”

“What?” He turned her toward him and cupped her face.

Despite the emptiness inside, she had to tell the truth. She swallowed. “Chelsea was right that I’ve always wanted love. I hid the results of my program from you for years because I know there’s no way someone as wonderful as you could ever love someone like me.”

A laugh escaped his throat and Remy slowly traced her back until his hands rested on her hips. The empty parts started to fill when he said, “I can’t love the smartest, funniest, most easy-going woman I’ve ever met? A woman who also happens to get me like no one else ever really did. Now, yes, you can see through me, which always made me feel weaker because you saw the truth that no one else could see, that I was a spoiled boy who didn’t appreciate his life.”

“But that’s not true. You always gave back to those you loved.” The tears stopped and she no longer felt like she choked on her own sorrows. She brushed her hair out of her eyes and stared at Remington Burke, the most handsome man she’d ever met. She took a deep breath. “Guess growing up together ruined any chance for falling in love.”

His hands tightened on her hips, in a gentle, protective fashion. “You’re wrong. When I almost lost you, I couldn’t breathe. You have always been in my life—I can’t live without you.”

There was nothing she could do to change their situation, and now he was being a gentleman, because he understood that too. She pressed her palm to his shirt. “You don’t have to, Remy.”

He held her hand there and she felt his heart beat. “Listen to me, Cassidy for once. I’m trying to tell you I love you.”

The moon seemed brighter in the evening sky and the roses from the garden smelled so wonderful, but she could hardly believe her own ears. “Wait. What? That’s impossible.”

He kissed her knuckles. “No, no it’s not. There was never room in my heart for anyone else but you, Cassidy. My heart and soul are yours and always have been.”

A huge choir of angels sung in her heart. She wrapped her arms around him. “Remy, I love you too.”

Then his lips met hers and nothing else mattered. Remington Burke loved her. Everything in her life was exactly what she’d always dreamed. They had their chance at happily-ever-after. The spark of his kiss made her believe him.