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I allowed myself a moment to just look at her. To appreciate this moment. Jo Bennelli—my Jo—in my bed. In our bed. In our home.

Last night had been... I didn’t have words for what last night had been. Perfect didn’t cover it. Transcendent felt dramatic but accurate. It had been making love in the truest sense—connecting with someone I loved on every level.

Jo stirred, her eyes fluttering open. When she saw me looking at her, a sleepy smile curved her lips.

“Morning,” she murmured.

“Good morning.” I kissed her forehead. “Sleep well?”

“Better than I have in years.” She stretched, catlike, and the sheet slipped, revealing the curve of her breast. My body responded immediately.

She noticed. Her smile turned knowing. “Lane Daniels, are you getting ideas?”

“Maybe. Is that a problem?”

“Not even a little.”

I rolled her beneath me, claiming her mouth in a kiss that quickly turned heated. We had time before Remy woke up. Time to explore each other again. Time to solidify this new chapter we were writing together.

And we took full advantage of it.

Chapter 16

Lane

* * *

The fall festival at Remy’s school was exactly the kind of chaotic, joyful event that made small-town life worth it.

Jo fit in perfectly.

She helped Remy at the ring toss, laughed when Julia won the cakewalk, and didn’t complain when I dragged her through the haunted house that the fifth graders had put together.

“That wasn’t scary at all,” she said as we emerged, grinning.

“Liar. You grabbed my arm three times.”

“I was being supportive.”

“Uh-huh.”

Remy came running up with her friend Mia, both of them holding a stick of cotton candy bigger than their heads. “Daddy! Miss Jo! Can we go on the hayride?”

“Sure, peanut. Let’s go.”

We walked toward the hayride area, and I reached for Jo’s hand without thinking. She laced her fingers through mine, and something settled in my chest.

This. This was what I’d been missing. This feeling of completeness. Of family.

Thoughts of last night haunted me. Our lovemaking had been primal and sensual, and we’d only fallen asleep after several bouts of lovemaking. Jo had admitted it had been a few years since her last boyfriend, so both of their bodies had been starved for attention and care. And satisfaction. Lane had missed just being touched in that casual way couples had, and listening to your partner breathe as they slipped off to sleep.

I’d stared at her a long time last night after she’d closed her eyes, and it was the most peaceful feeling I’d had in years. My body was sated, and my heart was filling with love, minute by minute.

We wandered through the crowd, and I was aware of the looks we received. We were both known in the community, even more so after the Blake debacle. I knew there would be gossip. Some people were smug, like they’d been waiting for just this outcome. Others gave him nods of encouragement. Some just seemed happy for them.

As we watched Remy dance with her friends at the DJ booth Julia had organized, Jo leaned into me.

“Thank you,” she said softly.