My mind was running at a million miles a minute. How could I have been so stupid? I should have kept on top of Matt while I had the chance. Instead, I let him walk free.

If anything happened to Meadow, I’d never forgive myself. I’d gone away to recover from the trauma of losing Carolyn and Tamara. It had been overdue, but I hadn’t been able to face dealing with that loss until now.

That was because of Meadow. I owed her everything. Her coming into my life woke up the feelings I’d thought were gone forever. It was because of her that I’d finally been able to let go of the loss I’d experienced.

But what if it happened again? What if I lost Meadow too? Because of my own stupidity.

I jumped into my Jeep and drove like a maniac to the address on the piece of paper. I knew exactly where it was, overlooking my favorite beach, right at the place where I’d taken her to the lifeguard tower.

As I drove, screeching around corners and running stop signs, I wondered if it was because of that night that she’d chosen this place to live.

When I reached her house I slammed on the breaks and leapt from the Jeep. My heart skipped a beat when I thought how close I was to seeing Meadow again.

Meadow’s car wasn’t in the driveway but another car was. I knew it was Matt’s.

I leapt up the steps to her front door and pushed it open.

“Meadow,” I called. “Meadow!”

The light in the hallway was on and I rushed toward it. There was a sound coming from one of the rooms and I ran to it. When I saw what was happening, my mind went completely blank with rage.

Meadow was lying on the bed, in her nightdress, struggling. Matt was on top of her, his pants around his knees and his shirt off. And he was trying to strangle her!

I grabbed him and flung him against the wall.

“Get the hell away from her,” I yelled.

Without even thinking, I drove my fist into his face. That was followed with another blow, and another. He collapsed on the ground, his face covered in blood, and still I couldn’t stop. I just kept punching him and punching him.

It wasn’t until Meadow grabbed me that I finally stopped.

“Kane, you’re going to kill him.”

“I want to kill him.”

“No, you have to stop. I’m calling the police.”

“If he thinks he can put a hand on you like that, he deserves to die.”

I looked up at her and took deep breaths, trying to calm my rage.

As my vision came back to normal, I realized who I was looking at. I was looking right at the most beautiful person I’d ever seen in my life. If there had been any doubt in my heart, I knew the truth for certain now. I was in love with this woman. I was madly in love with her.

I would die for her.

And this guy had been trying to strangle her! I wanted to hit him again but Meadow’s arm on mine told me not to move.

“Meadow,” I gasped.

“Kane.”

“I’m back,” I said, pulling her into me.

Instantly, she burst into tears. I realized then just how desperately she’d been waiting for me to return. I hadn’t known for sure if she was waiting for me or if she’d forgotten all about me. Now I knew. She was my girl, and as I crushed my lips down on hers for the first time in so long, I knew that what we had was real. It would last forever.

She sobbed as she kissed me, completely overtaken with emotion.

“I’m back,” I said again. “I’m back and I’m never going away again. I promise.”

A movement at our feet broke the passion. I reached down and pulled Matt up onto the bed. He was in no state to resist, his face bruised and bloody and his nose possibly broken.

I held Meadow in my arms and we both watched him on the bed until the police finally arrived. Meadow was trembling and I whispered soothing words in her ear the whole time.

“I’m back, Meadow. I’m back.”

She kept sobbing every time I told her that.

“I can’t believe you’re back,” she said.

I squeezed her and nodded.

Then she hit me on the chest, not hard but it was about as hard as she could manage after everything that had just happened.

“And I can’t believe you disappeared like that!”

“I’m sorry,” I said.

“You better be!” she said, and I saw the fire of her personality return to her eyes.

I smiled and she smiled back, forgiving me for disappearing with that single look.

The police arrived and filled out a report, noting the marks on Meadow’s neck. They took Matt away in handcuffs and I knew we wouldn’t have to worry about him ever again. He was done.

Sandra, Paul and Jason were standing by, waiting for the police to leave.

“Good riddance,” Sandra said as the police passed her with Matt.

I led Meadow by the hand down to where they were all waiting.

“I see you two are reacquainted,” Sandra said to me and Meadow, a mischievous look in her eye.

“Let’s go back to the brewery for burgers,” I said. “We’ve all got so much catching up to do.”

Paul and Jason looked like they were in agreement. Sandra shrugged. I turned to Meadow but she was shaking her head.

“That was a lot for me to process for one night,” she said. “I think I’m going to turn in.”

“What?” I said. “I thought we’d …”.

“You thought we’d what?” she said, looking at me sternly. “You disappear for all that time, and then you think you can just waltz back like nothing happened?”

I shook my head. I knew I’d been hard on her by disappearing without a word. Despite our kiss, I’d have to earn my way back into her life.

“Do you want me to stay here with you for the night,” Sandra said to Meadow. “You’ve just been attacked.”

“No,” Meadow said immediately.

I was surprised at how sure of herself she sounded.

“Matt’s in police custody. I’m shaken up but I want to be alone. I need to process all this,” she said, looking right at me.

“You sure?” Sandra said.

Meadow nodded. She thanked me for showing when I did, but didn’t kiss me again. Then she said goodnight to all of us and went back inside.

Sandra, Paul and Jason got into Paul’s car.

“You meeting us back at the brewery?” they said, pulling out of the driveway.

I was still standing on the lawn.

“I think I’ll call it a night too,” I said.

They drove off and I stood there. I contemplated going up to Meadow’s door and knocking. I knew what I wanted. My cock was throbbing just knowing she was in there, but something told me I needed to give her space.

I sighed and went back to my Jeep, heading for home.