CASEY PUSHED the recently repaired cabin door open and was nearly knocked off his feet by B.B.'s greeting. With his keen ears, the dog heard Casey's approach before his car had rounded the last bend. By the time he reached the porch, B.B. was always waiting.

"Hey, boy. Where's my better half?"

B.B. woofed, accepted a few more vigorous rubs, then ran outside to chase a squirrel. He seemed to enjoy the isolated surroundings as much as Emma.

Casey listened to the sound of running water and knew Emma was in the tiny shower. Since marrying her a week ago, he'd been about as happy as a man could get.

At her insistence, they'd moved into the remote cabin after renovating it a bit. Spotlessly clean, with walls, windows and roof repaired, it made cozy temporary quarters until Damon finished directing the builders on their modest house on the lake.

To Sawyer and Honey's delight, they'd been convinced to move nearby, only a few acres away from the main house on the land the family owned. With Misty up the hill and Emma down, Honey claimed she had the perfect female company close by.

Casey tossed his suit coat aside, pulled his tie free and loosened his collar as he heard the shower shut off, replaced with the sounds of Emma humming. Seconds later she emerged from the bathroom in a long pink T-shirt, her hair wrapped in a towel. The second she saw him, her beautiful dark eyes lit up and she came to him for a kiss.

"I didn't hear you come in," she said, going on tiptoe to hug him.

It was the type of greeting he'd never tire of. Casey took her mouth in a long, deep kiss before slipping his hands beneath the bottom of the shirt and cuddling her bottom. "Mmm..." he said. But before he carried her off, they needed to talk. "How'd it go today?"

"Actually, it was great." She stepped away to the refrigerator and poured two gla.s.ses of iced tea. In silent agreement they wandered out to the screened porch and sat in the new pair of rattan rockers bought for just that purpose. B.B. took a leap off the dock a something he'd begun doing only days after they'd moved in, then waded up on the sh.o.r.e, shook himself off and plopped down in the sun to dry.

"The nurse is terrific and Dad really likes her. She's firm but friendly. Even Mom is grateful to her for the help. I think she still worries about Dad, even though he's doing better."

With Sawyer's help, they'd located a home health-care aide to take over Dell's physical therapy and keep him on a healthy diet by supplying both breakfast and dinner. Her presence freed up Emma's time, a necessity since she'd opened a ma.s.sage therapy salon in Buckhorn, and found herself booked solid almost every day.

Emma's mother had stayed sober since that eventful day in Mrs. Reider's parking lot, much to Emma's relief. They were both trying to get along, though Casey doubted they'd ever be close. But now they were civil, and little by little they were building a tenuous relationship. It was a start.

Casey looked at her profile then set his tea aside. "Come here," he told her, catching her hand and pulling her into his lap. "You were too far away."

She smiled up at him. "Quit stalling. Tell me how things went with your grandfather."

He winced, but ended it with a grin. "We negotiated. I agreed to stay on as a consultant for the new hires in my department, and he agreed he wouldn't ask more than four days a month from me."

"Sounds doable. And like it might appease him. I know you didn't want any hurt feelings."

"He was so set on making me his heir."

Emma curled into him. "And you tried."

There was no refuting that. But he wasn't cut out for the corporate life, not when his roots were so entrenched in Buckhorn. "I think he's refocusing on Shohn." Casey laughed. "And if I know my little brother, he'll be running the business by the time he's twenty."

"I don't doubt he could if he set his mind to it."

Shohn had been the best man at their small wedding, and he'd also danced at the reception with every female in attendance. For a ten-year-old, he was an outrageous flirt and bursting with confidence. The women doted on him, calling him cute and audacious and adorable a a chip off the old block. Shohn just grinned throughout it all.

"You'll set your business up soon?"

"Yes." Since leaving Chicago, her life had been constant turmoil. Between the issues with her parents, relocating her home and work, the wedding, she'd barely had time to relax. More than anything, Casey wanted things to settle down into a calm routine. "I'll finish up two more weeks with Granddad so my replacement can make a smooth transition. My new office ought to be ready by then and all the advertis.e.m.e.nts will have been distributed. By the time the house is built we should be all set."

Resting her head on his shoulder, Emma said, "You don't need to make promises to me, Casey. The new house, the new jobs...they're a nice start, and I'm happy about them. But I'll always be happy, no matter what, as long as I have you."

Casey turned her face up to his so he could see her beautiful dark eyes. They were filled with love, all for him. Though Emma thought his life had always been blessed, he knew he'd just been pa.s.sing time without her.

His grin started slow, but spread. "You know, sweetheart, though it's usually your line, I have to say thank you."

Tilting her head, she laughed. "What are you thanking me for?"

"You came back home to me, Em. You gave me a second chance to have the only woman I want. You gave me back me, because without you I was only half-alive."

Her eyes were enormous, s.e.xy, shining with love. "Casey."

"I love you so d.a.m.n much. Just as you are, just as you've always been, and however you'll be in the future. You're mine. Now and forever."

end.