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“I don’t.” I inhale sharply. “But I believe you’ll do everything you can to help me find Connor.”

His fingers tighten around mine. He doesn’t ask me for more trust than I’ve offered.

The kettle has cooled enough that I have to start it again. Andrei makes the coffee while I slide Connor’s books into a drawer beneath the table. I want them near me tonight. When he passes me the blue mug, he has added just enough milk to make it the color I like.

“Cole will stay outside,” Andrei says, setting his mug on the counter. “I’ll stay until you’re asleep, then join him.”

“You’ve had as long a day as I have.” I move closer and touch his arm. “You don’t have to spend the night outside.”

His eyes settle on my hand. “Cassie.”

“That wasn’t an invitation for you to leave,” I tell him.

He places his hand over mine. “Tell me what you want, then.”

I lean against the counter. The room feels full of him: his dark hair damp from the rain, the pale scar on his hand, the scent of coffee between us. Hours ago, on the highway, I put my hand in his because I was afraid. I am afraid now too, but he’s listened to me talk about Connor, and I’ve heard him speak Misha’s name as someone he loved. I want to be close to him with both of us knowing exactly what I am doing.

“I’m tired of having choices made for me,” I say.

“What are you choosing?”

I set my mug beside his and step closer. My heart beats hard enough that I feel it in my throat, but I put my hands against his chest and rise to kiss him.

He bends to meet me. His mouth is warm, and his hand comes to my waist without pulling me closer. I can feel him holding back, giving me room to move away if I want to. Instead, I grip the front of his shirt and kiss him again. This time he pulls me against him, and I feel his breath leave him as my hands move up to his shoulders.

Murphy jumps down from the sofa and walks into the bedroom, his tail held high. I hear his paws cross the floor, followed by the soft thump as he claims my bed.

I ease back enough to see Andrei’s face. His gray eyes remain on mine, and his hand rests at my waist while he waits for me to speak.

“Stay,” I whisper against his mouth.

Andrei’s hand moves to the back of my neck as his eyes search mine. “If I stay, Cassandra, it won’t be to watch you sleep.”

“I know.” This time, when I kiss him, neither of us pretends it will end there.

14

ANDREI

Cassie kisses me again before I can answer her. Her hands hold the front of my shirt, and the kitchen counter presses against my back as she steps closer. I’ve spent days wondering what she would do if I stopped giving her room to leave. Now she’s closing the distance, and I still need to be sure she understands what she’s asking.

I draw back enough to see her face. Her chestnut hair has come loose around her cheeks, and the freckles across her nose are more visible here than they were under the lights at the vineyard. She looks tired after everything that happened today, but her blue eyes stay on mine.

“Cassie,” I say, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Tell me if you want me to stop.”

She runs her thumb along my shirt collar. “I asked you to stay.”

“I heard you.”

“Then why are you arguing?”

“I’m giving you a chance to change your mind.”

She studies me, and I can almost hear the next question forming. Instead, she takes my hand and leads me past the table to her bedroom. She steps inside, and I follow her. A lamp beside the bed gives the room a warm glow. Books cover one shelf and fill two uneven piles beneath the window. A sweater lies across a chair, and Murphy is stretched across the center of her bed as though neither of us has any claim to it.

Cassie looks at him. “Move.”

Murphy opens one amber eye, then closes it again. I reach down to scratch behind his nicked ear. He lets me for a moment, then rises with an offended look and jumps onto the chair.