"One other thing your auntie wanted me to mention."

His auntie was a bundle of messages.

"A mated pair of keets hatched three babies a few weeks ago. Nadia thought maybe you'd-"

"A baby Sparky?" Lynnea's eyes shone with excitement.

Seeing that look in her eyes, Sebastian stifled a groan. He could learn to live with a little featherhead.

"You can take a look at them when you come to dinner." Lifting two fingers in a salute, Jeb finally turned and walked back into the woods.

"This is what I wanted," Lynnea said, looking at the sunlit grass behind the cottage. "For you. For me.

For us."

And you're everything I wanted, even during the years when I didn't know what I was looking for, waiting for.

Sebastian brushed his lips over hers. Then he unlocked the door and pushed it open. "Welcome home, Lynnea."

She smiled. "Welcome home, Sebastian."

Picking up the basket, he followed her into the cottage.