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IT’S BEEN TWO WEEKS since I last heard from Knight, and I’m getting worried.

Okay, I’m worried and nervous because tonight I’ll finally be eating with the Kings I haven’t met because Duke had some business stuff come up and River had to go to her mom’s every other weekend.

Sue me, I’m needy and—

My phone stars buzzing like crazy, and I jump up from the sofa to grab it.

I hit accept and instead of Knight’s smiling face greeting me, I find a mountain man staring back.

“Holy crap, you ‘ve grown a beard,” is the first thing I say.

He strokes said beard. “Helps keep my face warm.”

“That’s good.” I click off the television with the remote, prop the phone against a shell-filled vase in the center of the coffee table, and plop my bottom on the floor so I can focus on him.

“How are you?” I ask lamely. Wow, Campbell. How do you think he is while at freaking war?

“Tired.”

“You look good, though.”

“That’s what all the ladies say.” He cocks a brow. “By ladies, I mean goats.”

“That’s... not weird, at all.” I shudder playfully. “Um...” For some reason, I can’t think of anything to say.

“How’s work going?”

“Great!” I latch on to that so hard I almost shout the word. “Super. I love it.”

His eyes widen. “Does my beard bother you that badly?”

“No. Why?” It really doesn’t. In fact, I think it’s sexy and—well, let’s just say I won’t be sharing what I really think of it with Knight. It will cross boundaries that have been set in place for almost a month now.

“You’re acting weird.”

“Maybe I’m taking lessons from Quinn.”

He laughs, his white teeth flashing in the semi-dark. “That would not be a good idea. “

Glaring at him playfully, I cross my arms over my chest. “Why not?”

“Because I like you the way you are.”

Cue swoon. I let my arms fall. “I met the mother of one of your ex-girlfriends.”

“Oh no.” He shakes his head “Whatever she said, I swear it’s probably true.”

I laugh. “Ariel ring a bell?”

He winces. “Yeah. Old high school flame.”

“I’m pretty certain her mother poisoned my donuts for marrying you before Ariel had a change to reconnect with you... um...” I rub my temple. “Maybe I should stop going to Bette’s.”

“Shit, Cam. I don’t want things to be awkward for you.”

“They are already are. Since I agreed, too, there’s no use in getting upset about it.”

“Except you are upset.”

“I don’t like getting in the way, and I don’t like feeling as if I’m the other woman.”

“Trust me, you’re not.”

“But I am. I basically snapped up an otherwise eligible bachelor under false pretenses.”

“Stop right there.” He rubs his hand over his face. “I’m not a commodity. I haven’t lived there in years, sweetheart. If—and this isn’t meant to be an insult—it wasn’t you, I’d eventually be with someone else. It was wrong of Ariel’s mother to put you in a position you couldn’t defend.”

“What position would that be?”

“My wife,” he says softly, and chills run down my spine.

“But I’m not.”

“They don’t know that, and it looks like word is getting around, too.” His gaze drops lower, as if he’s trying to see something off screen.

“What?”

“Quinn yelled at me via text for not replacing the rings you lost.”

I close my eyes and drop my head into the palms of my hands. “Barron asked me point blank about them, and Quinn... she’s beside herself over engagement rings right now because some woman whose family owns a paper mill is marrying Barron.”

When silence greets me, I peek at Knight through my fingers. He looks so thoughtful I uncover my face completely. “What’s wrong?”

“Just odd he didn’t tell me.”

“We didn’t tell them about us, and we have a baby,” I point out. “Maybe he’s not the sharing type.”

“Barron?” He gives me an incredulous look. “He used to sneak his report cards into our family Christmas cards. The guy has no shame.”

“Well, maybe—”

The baby monitor picks up Hazel as she starts to fuss.

“Is that my baby girl?’” he asks, a smile making his face light up.

“Yeah, uh, give me like a minute and I’ll be right back.” Without waiting for an answer, I dash to her room, covering her faces with kisses as I pick her up.

“Wanna see Knight? He’s waiting for you.” I change her diaper in record time, sanitize my hands, and grab a burp cloth before heading back to the living room. “Here she is,” I sing out.

“Hazel,” Knight calls. Astonished, I watch my daughter immediately start searching for him. Her eyes get all big as soon as she realizes that he’s, well, he’s in my phone. “You need a bigger screen.”

“As soon as I—”

“I have an iPad that’s never been opened in my office. I had it shipped there to give River for Christmas, but Auntie Quinn beat me to it.”

“I can’t take that.”

“And I can’t take it back.” He waves at Hazel, and she coos at him. “Guess she doesn’t mind the beard.”

“That’s because you look like a bear, and she likes bears.”

“Harsh, woman.” He clutches at his chest, and I roll my eyes. “Maybe next time, she can wear the necklace I got her.”

“Oh, she does wear it, except when she sleeps. I can’t... I’m too much of a worry-wart to chance it. I’m sure it’s fine, but—”

“No need to apologize for being an amazing mom,” he assures me. “Man, she is beautiful, Cam. Just like you.”

A flush of heat runs through me at his praise, but before I can thank him, Hazel starts to get fussy. “It’s pre-dinner dinnertime.” I lift my shirt and hunker down slightly, so I don’t flash him. Once Hazel is nursing, I take a deep breath and focus on Knight again. He has a bemused look on his face... “What?”

“You’re glowing. Being in Castle Beach is good for you and Hazel.”

“I’ve been walking home each day.”

“There’s a car—

“I know, but seriously, Knight, I need to be able to provide some things on my own. And my two feet work really, really well.”

“I can’t argue with that.”

I sit back a little, letting out a groan. “However, I’m not going to lie and say I don’t wish my new job included free massages.”

“I can take care of that when I get back. Personally.” His eyes grow heated and for once, he’s not throwing money my way. “But only if you want me to.”

I swallow. I do want him to. I want... I want what I can’t have because I can’t have a one-sided relationship filled with nothing but the baggage I bring into it. This man deserves so much more than that.

“Knight, I...”

“You’re all I think about, Campbell. I know you think you owe me, but the day we met in Atlanta, I think you saved me. And now, now you’re saving my family. In the last three weeks, I’ve spoken with my siblings more than I have in the past six years. That’s a lot of talking and catching up, sweetheart, and it’s all thanks to you. It’s not perfect by any means, but it means a lot to me.” The honesty in his voice makes me want to cry.

“You’re all I think about, too,” I admit. “I don’t like going one day without talking to you. Isn’t that too much?”

He leans forward in his chair, his silver eyes piercing. “I’m of the opinion that when you know it, you simply know it. And I know, Campbell, that you’re it. In the meantime, we can take it as slow or as fast as you want.”

“You mean... like date my fake husband?” I ask, nervous laughter bubbling up.

He grins. “Yeah, like date your fake husband. Think of it this way. We can’t do anything but talk, so I think we’ll know faster than most if things will work out.”

“I thought I was it?”

“You are, but you have to believe it, too.”

***

WITHOUT QUINN AND BARRON as buffers, dinner at the King house is a quiet affair, even with River and Hazel at the table with us.

Luckily, I catch Knight’s niece on a good day. She’s full of life and talks a mile a minute about everything she thinks about. Her father, Knight’s oldest brother, pays attention, but he, by no means, is as gregarious.

As for Ophelia... she’s like a sad princess out of a fairy tale with her dark hair, pale face, and miserable eyes. She can’t stop looking at the beach while she picks at her food. I don’t blame her. If the love of my life went missing, I’d go looking for him, too.

Especially since a body still hasn’t been found.

Jane Ellen does her best to keep the conversation going with me, but even she stops talking after a while. However, I don’t think she’s sad like Ophelia. I get the sense she refuses to be anymore.

Or at least she’s not going to be when we’re around her.

In private, we all let our guards down.

While River plays peek-a-boo with Hazel, I try to engage Duke in conversation. “Knight said the family business is in shipping.”

“It is. I don’t know how much he shared with you, but we’ve made a lot of strides since KGS went under ten years ago.”

“That’s good news. My father owns a financial advisory business and he always said if you wait long enough, a fortune lost can be found again. I guess he meant things are cyclical.”

Duke nods. “I’d agree with that.” He turns to Jane Ellen. “River and I have to leave soon. I promised Laken I’d—”

“I don’t want to go,” River says, shoving her chair back. “You can’t make me.”

“River.” Duke grabs her chair and pushes it into place again. “We can talk about this in the car.”

“You don’t bother to listen to me. No one does.” She screws up her face, and I can practically see the storm clouds rolling in. “If you cared about me, you wouldn’t force me to spend time with her.”

“She’s your mother,” Duke says patiently, but I can tell this isn’t the first time they’ve had this conversation. “She wants to get to know you. Give her a chance.”

“I hate her.” This time, she shoves back her chair and runs from the table, her legs carrying her up the stairs, feet pounding loudly as she goes.

“Sorry about that.” Duke exhales, getting to his feet and walking in the same direction River ran. “I’ll go talk with her.”

Ophelia rises, pushing on the table for support it seems. “I’m going home. Thank you for dinner.”

Jane Ellen sighs thickly. “At least let me call for a car, dear.”

“No, but thank you.” Ophelia pastes a smile on her face. “It was really nice to meet you. I’m sorry I wasn’t friendlier, but I don’t have it in me right now.”

“That’s okay. I’ll be here when you’re ready.” I don’t know why I say this, or even if I will be here, no matter if Knight and I do date over the Internet or not.

As soon as everyone is out of earshot, I lean over to Jane Ellen, who looks as if she’s dying to say something.

“Out with it.”

“Are you going to leave my son?”

I nearly choke on my water. “What?”

“Clearly, our family has issues, and a past we’re trying to break free from... and with Laird... are you the kind of woman who can face that sort of thing head on and stay?”

“I didn’t marry Knight’s family.” Reaching for her hand, I capture it easily and squeeze. “But I did gain a family when I moved here.”

Her chin trembles. “I miss him.”

“Me, too, and he’ll be back before you know it.”

She smiles. “Won’t that be wonderful?”

I hope so.