Closing my eyes, I breathed in the cool, crisp air and then opened them. “No, but I’m glad he’s happy.”
We walked up to the top of a small hill over-looking the grounds, and took in the view. The white plantation style home had been transformed into a bed and breakfast back in the seventies when my uncle bought it. We had our own pond, walking trails, and wide open fields that you could get lost in for hours.
Regis hopped up on my legs. I sat down on the ground so he could tackle me. I giggled as he licked my face and lied down beside me.
“When you called in the middle of the night, I thought something was wrong.”
I looked up at him, his expression troubled. “Nothing’s wrong. I just wanted to come home.”
He sat down beside me and rubbed Regis’ head. “You can’t lie to me, peanut. Is it that cop you were with? Did he do something to hurt you?”
Shaking my head, I looked away, trying desperately to keep the tears at bay. “He didn’t hurt me, Uncle G. I just thought after everything we’d been through . . . it wouldn’t just end. He never said he wanted to make things work between us once we moved home.”
“Did you?”
I closed my eyes. “No.”
“Then you can only blame yourself, sweetheart. You weren’t raised to be scared of a fight. You fight for your country and for the good of man, maybe you should start learning how to fight for love.” He squeezed my chin and then got to his feet.
“Gary!” Mitchell shouted, his voice echoing from the house. Mitchell was my uncle’s significant other; they both ran the B&B together.
Gary turned around and I squinted against the sun so I could look up at him. “Yeah?” he called.
“Tell peanut she has a visitor!”
I stood up quickly, pulse racing. Regis jumped to attention and barked as I got to my feet. Was it Jason? Surely, it couldn’t be him. “Who do you think it could be?”
Uncle G and I walked down the hill together, followed by Regis. “Don’t know. It could be the news. I bet they want to interview you for the local paper. You’re a hero now; all the people in town are proud of you.”
I didn’t want to be on the news again. Jason and I had more time in the spotlight in the past week than I’d care to have in my entire lifetime. When we got down to the house, I didn’t see a news van anywhere, but I did see . . .
“Adrian,” I gasped. He jumped off the front porch stairs and raced toward me. My heart didn’t race the way it did when Jason was around, but it was still good to see him. He looked the same with his blond, spiked hair.
My uncle smiled and nudged me forward. “He was worried about you. I called him when I knew you were coming home.”
Adrian scooped me up in his arms. “Thank God you’re okay. I couldn’t wait to see you.” He set me down and Gary waved at us before disappearing inside the house. Regis ran in circles around him until he bent down to play with him. “I missed you too, Regis Finn McFadden.”
“Thank you for bringing him here.”
He ruffled Regis’ ears and stood. “You’re welcome. He’s always been your dog more so than mine.”
“That’s probably because I snuggle him more than you.”
“True,” he chuckled.
“How’s New York? Do you like the hospital?”
“It’s amazing. I never thought I’d like living in a big city, but it’s grown on me.”
“And the people, are they friendly? I bet they aren’t like those around these parts.”
His hazel eyes sparkled. “Not all of them, but I’ve met quite a few who are. It’s one of the reasons I wanted to talk to you. After watching the way you looked at your partner on the news, I don’t feel so bad.”
Grinning wide, I grabbed his hands. “Oh my God, are you seeing someone?”
He shook his head. “Not officially. She wants to be, but I wanted to clear things up with you first. I know I mentioned us getting back together, but then you left and I went to New York. It just all happened so fast.”