Cecilia, present day

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“I’m going to meet my friend Heather in Berlin next week,” Cecilia said over dinner.

She and Colin had finally emerged from the cabin after doing little more than sleeping, having sex, and waiting for the night sky to light up with that otherworldly green of the aurora borealis for almost three days. But today she’d spent the morning with Lizzie, enjoying the spa and getting in a little girl time while their various boys had whittled away the hours doing who knew what.

They’d also made plans to get together when they both returned to California, and CeCe was excited over the prospect of a new friend.

And then there were the magical auroras.

It still made her breath catch, the way those waves of emerald seemed to streak across the sky. She’d managed to see it twice more, bringing her total up to four incredible views.

And each time they appeared, the air still froze in her lungs and awe welled up in her heart.

But she was also going a little stir-crazy.

They’d panned for gold, done the dog sled thing, eaten at the restaurants, had food delivered. They’d read and talked. They’d fucked like rabbits.

Items were being checked off her bucket list left and right, but she missed the sun.

By the time they got up in the morning the sun was already on its downward trek and when early afternoon rolled around it was pitch black. The short days were messing with her mind, as was the isolation.

The staff at the resort were really great at being unobtrusive, but she needed some people around. Needed to be able to walk down to the corner coffee shop and grab a pumpkin spice latte. She wanted to wear cozy sweaters and black leggings and infinity scarves, not parkas and snow boots.

She missed being home.

She missed Hunter and Carter and Jordan and Abby and Bec and Seraphina.

She missed her family.

But she had Colin, her heart reminded her, swelling like a balloon when he replied to her statement about meeting Heather with, “Do you want me to go with you? I know a great restaurant near . . .”

She squeezed his hand. “Don’t you need to get back to work?”

He grinned. “I haven’t taken a personal day in almost six years. Not since—” His smile faltered, but he pushed on. “Not since I buried my father.”

“But—”

“It was the perfect way of hiding,” he murmured, snagging a piece of meat off her plate. “But I’m done with throwing myself into work at the expense of a life that doesn’t involve conference calls and emergency client meetings.”

“Yeah?” she asked.

He captured her hand and kissed her fingers. “Plus, I think I can spare a few more days for the woman I love.” Her heart skipped at the words. “Coincidentally, my business partner, who’s also named Heather, will be in Berlin for a conference at the end of next week. It would be good to touch base with her before this project takes off.”

“So work even outside of work?” she teased.

His expression went guilty. “I—”

She stood up from her chair, crossed around the table, and plunked herself into his lap. “I’m teasing.” A kiss to his cheek. “And you don’t have to stealthily check your emails. I’m going to start doing some freelance design work for my friend Abby’s company, so I might be chained to my laptop more than you.”

“Why work on vacation?” he asked.

“So I can pay for my travels,” she said. “And maybe visit a certain Scottish hunk on my way back to the States.”

“Mmm, I like that idea,” he murmured. “Though that would mean I’d let you out of my sight and I’m not sure I can do that yet.”

“Col.” She touched his cheek, heart starting to pick up its pace. How could she have not considered the fact that they lived an ocean and a continent apart? How would they manage the distance? She couldn’t drop everything and move to Scotland. Not again. “We’re going to be okay, right? I mean, we’ll manage the distance? I—I mean I live in California—”

One hand rested on her hip and squeezed. “I’m rich, remember? I have a private jet that is always at the ready.”

“But—”

“Plus, my new venture is based in California. It’s why I was flying out of San Francisco in the first place.”

“Yeah, about that,” she said. “If this private jet is such a great perk, why were you on a normal flight with the rest of us cattle?”

“I’d loaned it to a friend.” A shrug. “Next time they’re on their own.” He grinned. “Especially since I’ll be in California more than Scotland for the foreseeable future. This project is why I’ve been working so hard to consolidate the McGregor businesses, to make sure they’re strong and healthy.” He tilted his head down so his eyes met hers. “It was stifling and I wanted to live my own life.”

“But the dukedom? Don’t you have to run it? You can’t just leave it to flounder—”

“Being a duke isn’t like one of your books. I might have the title, but it’s all in a trust and I have very good managers to make sure it’s secure,” he said, giving her a soft kiss before gently pushing her off his lap. “Now, eat your dinner. I’ve been planning to step back for a good long while from the non-technology ventures and have people I trust, people I’ve trained who are long overdue to take up the reins.”

There was something he wasn’t saying, CeCe realized as she sat back in her seat and studied him. “It’s not just that you were overwhelmed.” She tapped a finger against her chin. “There’s something else you’re not saying.”

He speared a piece of fish on his fork and announced like it was no big deal, “I was coming to find you.”

“What?”

“I was going to start with your former coach and keep going with friends and family, talking to anyone and everyone until I found you.” He smiled self-consciously. “Hell, I even considered trying to go viral. An I-messed-up-and-broke-the-woman-I-love’s-heart post on Facebook or Instagram. I even set up an account on YouTube.”

“You didn’t!”

He pulled out his phone and showed her. “I did.”

“Oh, my God.” She dropped her head to the table. “I’m so glad you found me on that plane.”

“Me too,” he murmured. “So, so much.” And he took her hand, lacing his fingers through hers.

They ate in contented silence, their eyes passageways to all the big feelings in their hearts.