

Rough Terrain

Book One in the Vista Falls Series

Cheryl Douglas

Copyright © by Cheryl Douglas

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Rough Terrain © 2016 Cheryl Douglas

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# Chapter One

Wes Davis stared across the big mahogany desk at his lifelong friend and business partner and said the words that had been haunting him for fourteen long years. "I want to go home, man."

Home, for them, meant a small town where people called their neighbors friends and didn't feel the need to lock their doors. For Wes, Vista Falls held a lot of good memories, and a lot of bad, thanks to the one girl who'd changed the course of his life with just a few words.

"You want to go home?" Colt stared at him, looking stunned. "For what, a visit? Sure, take as much time as you need. I know it's been rough on your family since your dad passed."

John Davis had been Wes's rock, the one who'd encouraged him to drop out of college and start his own business. Without his dad's guidance, nothing made sense in Wes's life anymore. The business he'd once loved--born of his passion for hunting, fishing, and the great outdoors--didn't even fuel him with the desire to get out of bed anymore.

"I've been running too long." Colt was one of the few people in the world who could understand that statement without needing an explanation. He should have. He'd been running too. "It's time to go back and face my past. Make things right with Sage."

Sure, they'd only been eighteen. It was the summer before college, and they were both excited about their futures. But with those two little words, I'm pregnant, Wes's priorities shifted. He wanted to be a father. But he never got the chance. Before he knew what hit him, Sage's father was making demands, siccing lawyers on him, shoving legal papers in his face, and making threats about bringing down Wes's whole family if Wes didn't sign and disappear.

"Come on, man. It's been a long time. Sage's probably gotten on with her life just like you need to do."

Wes laced his hands behind his head as his eyes drifted to the family photo on his desk. It was the last one taken before his father died. "Losing my dad has reminded me what really matters. He didn't raise me to be a coward, but that's what I've been. I've got a kid out there I don't even know. How the hell am I supposed to live with that?"

Colt sighed, sinking into the leather chair across from Wes. "You don't talk about it, but I know that's got to be eating at you."

"You have no idea." There were days when it took all of Wes's self-control to keep him from picking up the phone to call his lawyer or a private detective, the adoption agency, someone who could put him in touch with his son.

"You and Sage made sure it was an open adoption," Colt reminded him. "I know she didn't want to have any contact with him, but if he wanted to reach out to you, he could."

"Maybe he doesn't know he's adopted. Maybe he thinks I don't want him in my life." The part that hurt Wes the most was the thought that his son might believe he'd abandoned him without a care or a thought. "He probably thinks I'm a selfish, irresponsible bastard who--"

"Don't do that," Colt said, shaking his head. "Don't put words in the kid's mouth. You don't know what he's thinking or how he's feeling."

"No, but I need to find out. I have to meet him." Wes knew none of the pieces of his life could fall back into place until he'd made peace with his past.

"Fine, but how will going back home help make that happen?"

"I left there because I couldn't stand the thought of running into Sage and her family every time I turned around."

"I know, but--"

"A lot of time has passed. I'm not going to lie--it still hurts like hell to think she didn't want me to be the father of her child, but she was just a kid then. Same as me. Can I really hold her responsible for buckling under the pressure from her family, especially when I did the same thing? You know what her old man was like."

"A real hardass from what I remember," Colt said, rolling his eyes. "But what do you hope to gain from seeing Sage again?"

"Maybe she wants the same thing I do--to meet our son." Wes imagined taking that step with Sage, meeting their son together for the first time and trying to explain to him that giving him up had been the hardest thing they'd ever done.

"How do you know she hasn't already met him?" Colt asked. "Just because he hasn't reached out to you doesn't mean he hasn't reached out to Sage."

Wes knew his friend was only trying to help by preparing him for all possible scenarios, but right now, he wasn't helping. He was only making Wes question everything all over again. "Either way, don't you think I need to know?"

"I guess so," Colt said, shrugging. "Okay, so how long will you be gone?"

Wes was most concerned about the next part of the plan--trying to convince his partner that going home was not only the right decision for him but for their business. "Don't you ever think about going back? For good, I mean?"

Colt scraped his hands over his face, looking bone-tired. "Where the hell is all this coming from?"

"Isn't that where the business was really born? Out there on the water when we were barely teenagers, trolling around the lake in that shitty little boat and talking about how cool it would be if we could do that all day every day?"

"Yeah, sure, but we are living the dream." He threw his hands in the air, gesturing to Wes's spacious office. "Look around you. We couldn't ask for any more, could we? Thirty-nine stores across the country catering to hunters and fishermen who are as passionate as we are."

"Vista Falls has fallen on hard times in recent years. Moving our operation there could mean jobs for a lot of people. Folks we used to consider family."

"What about our employees here?" Colt asked, looking frustrated. "Don't we owe them? They've been loyal to us since day one, helping us grow and work out the kinks. Have you thought about what it would do to them if we moved halfway across the country?"

"I have." That was the only thing that had prevented Wes from suggesting this idea to his friend before. "I've spoken to a few key people in our organization, looked at ways we could restructure so job loss here will be minimized."

"Are you listening to yourself right now?" Colt asked, raking his hands through his cropped dark hair. "You're talking like this is a done deal. We're fifty-fifty partners, remember? That means I get an equal say."

"I know that." They'd been fortunate in their partnership, always agreeing about major decisions and the direction of the company. This was the first major roadblock they'd hit in the thirteen years since the inception of their business. "That's why I'm coming to you now, so we can work this out."

"Well, you tell me how we're gonna do that."

"We could offer everyone the option to transfer to the new headquarters." Wes knew it was unlikely most people would uproot their lives and families for the sake of a job though. "Our online business is strong. We've been talking about expanding anyway. We could find homes for some people in that area."

"Sounds like you've thought about this from all angles," Colt said, shaking his head. "I can't believe this is the first I'm hearing about it."

Wes understood his friend's confusion, even his sense of betrayal, but Wes wouldn't have pushed for this if he didn't believe it was the best thing for Colt too. Their head office was in Houston, and as much as they loved the city, they both missed the simplicity of small town life. "How long have you been telling me you're getting tired of the rat race... that you'd love to slow down and get back to basics?"

"Having a flagship store in a town the size of Vista Falls doesn't even make sense, man."

He'd already considered that and knew his partner was right. Vista Falls didn't have the population to support a huge store. "So our flagship store remains here. We can open a smaller store in Vista Falls. We know the need exists. There are more avid outdoorsmen there than anywhere, and they have to drive damn near an hour when they want to buy their gear or order it online. But we all know you can't buy guns and shit online. You need to hold it, get a feel for it--"

"Yeah, yeah, you're preaching to the choir," Colt said, raising his hands on a sigh.

Colt's friend's reasons for wanting to stay away from Vista Falls were as good as Wes's reasons for wanting to go back, but he'd been watching Colt wrestle with his past for years, claiming he didn't need his family in his life. But one bad relationship after another had proven that Colt's childhood continued to haunt him, making the stability he claimed to want damn near impossible.

"What are you afraid of?" Wes asked quietly. "Facing your old man again?"

Colt's dad had been a raging drunk while they were growing up, often taking his anger out on his wife and kids. Colt left town the first chance he got, but his mother and siblings stayed. Alzheimer's finally got the best of his dad, and Colt now footed the bill for his round-the-clock care at a facility just outside of town. They rarely talked about Colt's family, mainly because Wes felt guilty that his father had been the kind of man his best friend deserved as a parent.

"He probably won't even remember me," Colt said, his face an impassive mask. "Which just might be for the best."

"But you remember every shitty thing he did to you, your mom, brother, and sister. You've cut them out of your life too. Is that fair?"

"Dude, sometimes you just need to leave all that behind, start over. That's what I've been trying to do."

"How's that been working out for you?"

Wes thought of the girlfriend Colt had recently broken up with. They couldn't have been more different. She'd have rather spent an afternoon at the salon than on the water. She hated Colt's cabin, turned her nose up at camo, and wouldn't get in his pickup truck until it had been washed and waxed.

"Just because you want to take a trip down memory lane doesn't mean I do," Colt said.

"You're thinking about Gabby now, aren't you?"

Gabrielle had been Colt's high school girlfriend and Sage's best friend. The four of them had been inseparable for three long years, until Sage's pregnancy drove them apart. Gabby sided with her best friend; Colt sided with Wes. The rift gave Colt the excuse he needed to get the hell out of town.

"Are you kidding? I haven't thought about that girl in years." Their eyes met, and Wes would have bet his last dime that his best friend was lying through his teeth. "Just because you haven't been able to leave the past behind doesn't mean I haven't."

"So you've never looked her up, huh?" Wes asked, sliding a pen through his fingers. "No idea whether she's got a husband or kids?"

"What makes you think I'd even care? That was a lifetime ago. I've had a hundred girlfriends since then."

"Yeah, and you've never loved one of them the way you did Gabby."

Colt swallowed, glancing out the expansive window that looked out on the forest behind their building. "It's all water under the bridge now. We can't go back and rewrite history."

"No, we can't. But we can make things right with the people we hurt."

Colt glared at him. "I left home for you, because you couldn't stand to be there anymore. And now you're trying to drag me back, claiming I've got unfinished business with my family... and some chick I haven't thought about in over a decade?"

"Then you won't care that Gabby's married."

The color drained from Colt's face, confirming Wes's belief that Colt was living in denial. "She is?"

"You really haven't looked her up on social media?" Apparently not. If he had, he would have seen the photos of Gabby with her husband: hunting, fishing, camping, doing all of the things she used to love to do with Colt. Maybe it was for the best. No matter what Colt claimed, Wes knew seeing those pictures would sting.

"No. You have?"

"She friended me on Facebook a while back, so I see her posts from time to time."

"And?"

"Married. No kids."

Colt sucked in a sharp breath, looking pained. "Good for her. I'm happy she found someone." He looked Wes in the eye. "Anyone we know?"

Wes shook his head. "No, he moved to town after we left."

Colt rubbed his eyes, letting his hands cover his face. "And you really think I'd want to go back there so I could see my ex with her new man every time I turn around?"

"I'm not sure he'll be her man for much longer."

"What are you talking about?"

"She sent me a private message last week, asked how we were." Wes watched his friend closely, half expecting him to walk out so he didn't have to hear the rest. "We went back and forth a bit before she told me that her husband got a job offer out of state."

"Is she going with him?"

"Doesn't look like it. It seems they've been having problems for a while now."

"What did she tell you about Sage?" Colt asked. "And don't tell me you didn't ask about her 'cause I know you better than that."

"Her dad had a stroke a few months ago. She's taken over his car dealership."

"Huh." A ghost of a smile played across his lips. "She must hate that. Even in high school, she didn't want to work there."

"Yeah, well, I guess she doesn't have much of a choice. Her brother's in medical school, and we all know her mama's never worked a day in her life." Wes tried to keep the bitterness out of his voice, but it wasn't easy. Sage's parents had always looked down on him because his family had been honest, hard-working laborers while the Brevilles enjoyed the benefits of inheriting the only car dealership in town.

"I need time to think about this."

"You got it." At the end of the day, the business and their friendship came first. It was the only thing that had gotten Wes through the past decade and a half, and he wouldn't do anything to put it at risk. "Just don't take too long."

Wes had already lost too many years with his son, and he didn't want to waste another day.

# Chapter Two

Wes hadn't set foot in Rusty's bar in a hell of a long time. He'd been a kid with a penchant for trouble then. Now he was a grown-ass man... on a mission.

"Well, I'll be damned," Rusty said, chuckling. "Look what the cat done dragged in, Bernie."

Rusty's thick red hair was a little thinner and grayer than Wes remembered. His beer belly was a little bigger, his faded jeans sitting just a little lower, but Wes could have picked his father's old friend out of a crowd any day.

"Good to see you, buddy," Wes said, shaking Rusty's hand before leaning over the bar to kiss Rusty's wife's cheek. "Bernice, you're prettier than ever."

She laughed, slapping his arm. "You silver-tongued devil. What took you so long to show your face around here? Just 'cause you're some bigshot now, you ain't got time for us little people anymore?"

"You know that ain't true." He scanned the bar, settling on the real reason for his visit. Seeing his old family friends was nice, but knowing that his ex-girlfriend was there was what had prompted him to leave work early. "I'd have been here sooner. Just been so damn busy settin' up shop."

Between the time it had taken to convince Colt returning to Vista Falls was the right call and working out the logistics, it had been a year since Wes got the ball rolling on the plan to relocate their business. A year of planning what he would say to Sage when their paths finally crossed again.

Tonight was the night.

"I hope you know how proud your dad was," Rusty said, his green eyes filling with tears. "He talked about you all the time."

Losing his father had been hard, but Wes was grateful every day that his dad had lived long enough to see Wes realize his dream. "He's the reason I do what I do. You know that. If Dad hadn't gotten me into hunting and fishing, who knows where I'd be? I sure as hell wouldn't be running this company."

Wes's passion for the outdoors had led him and Colt to drop out of college and start a small retail shop for outdoorsmen. That led to a second store, then a third. He blinked, and before he knew it, they had forty stores throughout the States.

"I'll catch up with you later, sugar," Bernice said with a wink. "We're down a waitress tonight, so that means I gotta hustle."

"I guess I don't have to ask why you're back," Rusty said, smiling. "You always did have a thing for that girl."

"It's been a long time," Wes said, watching Sage chatting up the same girlfriends she'd had when they'd dated. "A lot's changed since then."

"This the first time you've seen her since you been back?" Rusty asked, setting a bottle of Wes's favorite beer on the counter. It had been his old man's favorite too, which was probably the only reason Rusty remembered.

"Yeah."

"I gotta say I was shocked you guys decided to move your head office here. It's sure been good for the local economy, giving our folks jobs, but wouldn't you be better off in a big city?"

"We've been in a big city a long time." He looked around the local watering hole, thinking it hadn't changed much since he left. "It was time to come back home."

"Time to come back to her?" Rusty asked, nodding in Sage's direction.

"What's she been up to since I left?" Wes had always been curious, but he'd never had the guts to look her up on social media in case he found a barrage of pictures of her with a smiling husband and kids.

"You know her daddy had a stroke a while back, right?"

"Yeah, I heard about that. She's still running her family's dealership?"

"She sure is." He smiled, his eyes softening when he looked at Sage. "You know she's a good girl. She'll always try to do right by her family, but rumor has it her daddy left her with a real mess to clean up."

Wes remembered a time when Sage's old man had told Wes he wasn't fit to spit shine his baby girl's shoes, let alone father her child. Apparently Mr. Breville had fallen on hard times while Wes had been busting his ass to feel worthy of the girl he'd left behind.

"That can't be easy." He watched Sage cross the crowded bar, apparently headed to the restroom, and stop to talk to all the people they'd known since they were kids. The years sure had been good to her. She was just as beautiful as he remembered. "You ever see her in here with anyone other than her friends?"

Rusty laughed. "You want to know what she's been up to, why don't you ask her?"

Wes's eyes collided with Sage's before he muttered, "I think I will."

He felt as though they were the only two people in the room when she stared back at him. The last words he'd spoken to her--I'll never forgive you--ricocheted through his head, and he couldn't help but wonder whether she heard them too.

He made the first move, walking slowly toward her, giving her a chance to retreat to the safety of the restrooms. But she didn't. She stood her ground. Waiting for him.

"Wes," she whispered, sounding a little breathless. "I heard you were back in town. How've you been?"

He was dying to take her in his arms, to satisfy his curiosity about whether they still fit together as though they were made for each other. But he didn't have the right to touch her anymore, and he was certain she'd remind him of that if he stepped out of line. "I've been okay. You?"

With a slight smile, she said, "From what I hear, you've been doing better than okay. You and Colt hit it big. Congratulations."

He wanted to remind her that that had always been their plan, but doing so would have made him sound bitter and resentful. He'd promised himself he'd leave all that behind when he finally saw her again. He gestured to one of the few free tables in the back of the crowded bar. "Can I buy you a drink? Catch up?"

"Um, I'm here with my friends," she said, gesturing to a table of girls he'd once known as well as his own sister.

When his gaze drifted to their table, they smiled and waved at him in unison. He'd known Gabby would be there. She was the one who'd told him if he wanted to talk to Sage, he'd better get his butt down to Rusty's.

"Just one drink," he said, determined to wear her down. Letting her walk away without finding out what she knew about their son wasn't an option. "Please. Then you can get back to your friends."

"Okay," she said, leading the way to the vacant table. "Just one drink." After Wes ordered her a beer, Sage met his eyes for what felt like the first time in forever. "The years have been good to you."

"I was just thinking the same thing about you," he admitted, leaning forward. He smiled. "It's been a hell of a long time. I didn't expect you to look the same."

She laughed, her uneasiness obvious. "The lighting's not so great in here. If it were, you'd see lines that weren't there before."

Maybe, but she wouldn't be the only one. They'd both grown up with the scars to remind them of the love they'd lost. But Sage still had long dark hair that fell in soft waves down her back. Big dark eyes and olive skin... the only traits she'd inherited from her father, according to her.

"It would be a hell of a lot easier to have this conversation if you'd gained fifty pounds," he said, trying to lighten the mood. "As it is, I'm having a hell of a time taking my eyes off you."

"Glad I'm not the only one," she said, dipping her head to hide her smile. "I can't believe it's still there after all these years... that spark."

Wes hadn't known what to expect when he saw her again, but he sure as hell hadn't expected to feel as if he'd been struck by lightning... for the second time. "I guess some things never change."

Her smile faded as she looked at him. "But some things do. A lot of things have, in fact. I'm not the same girl I was back then."

"I wouldn't expect you to be." He waited for the waitress to place Sage's drink down before he said, "I've grown up a hell of a lot. I'm not the same scared kid your daddy ran out of town."

"The way I remember it, you left willingly."

Only after she'd already left, intent on delivering their baby in another state before starting college that fall. "Not like I had a choice. Staying here, with all the memories of us, wasn't an option."

"Yet you're back." She took a sip of her beer, regarding him over the rim of her glass. "Which must mean you're long over it now."

"Do you ever really get over something like that?"

"No, you don't. It changes you. At least, it's changed me."

Instead of diving into the subject they'd been skirting, he asked, "So what you made you come back here after you got your degree?"

"I got my MBA, actually."

He raised his bottle, a smile tugging his lips as he tapped it against her glass. "Congratulations. That's pretty impressive. Especially since I dropped out after my second year so me and Colt could open our first store."

"I'd say you made the right decision." She wrinkled her nose. "I would have preferred getting an English degree, but I let my father talk me into a more 'practical' option." Her voice dripped with disdain as she made air quotes around the word.

"Do you still write?" When they were dating, she'd always been working on a short story or poem, claiming she was going to buckle down and write a book someday.

"I haven't since I started working at the dealership."

"Before that?" He suddenly wanted to know everything he'd been missing out on for the past fifteen years.

"I wrote a book. A memoir about adoption." Her tongue darted over her bottom lip, an old nervous gesture. "It got picked up by a publisher. I even did a book tour. It sold better than we expected, so they told me to submit the fiction manuscript I'd been working on."

"And?" He could tell this story didn't have a happy ending, but he was dying to get his hands on a copy of the book she'd written, sharing their personal struggle and revealing feelings she'd probably never even shared with him.

"My dad had a stroke. I had to take over for him. I didn't have a choice. My family needed me to step up."

"So once again you did what your family wanted you to instead of following your heart?" He was clenching his jaw to prevent himself from spewing any more unsolicited garbage, but it wasn't easy. On the subject of her family, he had a hell of a lot to say.

"You can't tell me you wouldn't have done the same thing if your family needed you," she said, a defiant edge to her voice that wasn't there before. "I know you better than that."

"The difference is my family wouldn't have expected me to uproot my life to rescue them." Wes knew he'd crossed the line when she stood, slinging her oversized purse over her shoulder.

"Thanks for the drink. It was... nice catching up."

Watching her walk away, Wes cursed himself for letting his past resentments prevent him from getting the one thing he wanted most--information about his son.

***

"Are you okay?" Gabby asked and squeezed Sage's hand when she returned to their table.

"I'm fine," she said, forcing a smile. "Just took a minute to catch up with an old friend."

Her closest girlfriends all rolled their eyes in unison. They knew the story of Sage and Wes as well as anyone and could tell she was lying through her teeth when she tried to play that meeting off as insignificant. Sage was still having trouble catching her breath. She'd known she'd run into Wes eventually. Vista Falls boasted less than a few thousand residents even after he and Colt moved their business there, so it was only a matter of time before their paths crossed, but she'd hoped to have a little more time to prepare herself.

"What did you guys talk about?" her friend Meghan asked before sipping her martini. "Is he married? Does he have any kids?"

"I don't think so." Sage couldn't believe he'd have looked at her the way he did if he had a wife and kids waiting on him at home.

"He doesn't," Gabby piped up, shooting a guilty look in Sage's direction.

"How do you know that?" Sage held her breath. She didn't want to hear that her best friend had betrayed her by maintaining a friendship with her ex behind her back.

"It's not what you think," Gabby said, looking panic-stricken. "We just connected on social media a while back. We've chatted a bit about our lives and stuff. That's how I know he's still single."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Sage asked, trying to make sense of her friend's confession. If their situations had been reversed and she'd reconnected with Colt, she couldn't imagine not telling Gabby the second it happened.

"I wasn't sure how you'd react," Gabby admitted. "And I wanted to get to know him again before I decided whether he deserved another shot with my best friend."

"What are you talking about?" Sage asked, glancing in Wes's direction. He was standing at the bar, surrounded by a group of guys he used to play football with, laughing and talking as though he didn't have a care in the world. "Wes isn't interested in me anymore. What we had was a long time ago. And I don't have to remind you the way it ended."

"Yet he came back," their friend Jenna reminded her. "That has to count for something."

"He came back because his father died," Sage said, reaching for her drink to wash away the guilt she still felt whenever she thought of the way her father had treated Wes's dad. His parents had always been kind to her, even after she put their grandchild up for adoption. "His family needed him."

"Maybe fate brought him back here," Meg suggested with a smile as she toyed with her straw. "Same place your love story began. Wouldn't it be romantic if you fell for your first love all over again?"

"You need to quit watching those sappy romantic dramas," Sage said, reaching for her cell phone when it buzzed with a message. "Not everyone gets a happy ending." The message wasn't important, but at least it gave her a reprieve.

"But you guys could," Gabby said as she sneaked a peek at Wes. "It's obvious he's still into you."

Sage wanted to grill her friend about the messages she'd exchanged with her ex, but doing so would have meant admitting she was still interested, and her pride wouldn't let her do that. "Have you asked Wes about Colt?" she asked Gabby, trying to deflect her friends' interest in her situation.

"Oh yeah," Jenna said, squeezing Gabby's arm. "If Wes is back, that means Colt is too. Have you seen him, talked to him?"

"As a matter of fact, he passed by my flower shop the other day."

Sage gaped at her friend, unable to believe she'd kept that juicy tidbit to herself. "And? What did he say? How did he look?"

"Ugh." Gabby downed her drink. "Way better than he has any right to look. He should be bald with a pot belly by now."

The ladies laughed in sympathetic agreement as Sage wondered if thinning hair would have done anything to diminish her attraction to Wes. Probably not. He was the only man she'd ever met who could make her feel like a giddy teenager just by uttering her name.

"I don't think he would have come in to see me at all," Gabby continued. "But I was changing out a window display just as he was leaving the bank next door. I guess he would have felt guilty for walking right by without saying hi."

"Was it weird seeing him again?" Sage asked, hoping she wasn't the only one reduced to mush at the sight of a man she should have been over years ago.

"Yeah, it was. But it was kind of nice too. It took me back."

Back to a time Sage sometimes wished she could forget. "Did he ask what you've been up to? Whether you were married or had kids?" Sage should have asked Wes those questions, but she'd been afraid of the answer.

"I told him a bit about the divorce," Gabby said, propping her chin on her hand. "But I didn't want to make it seem like I'm not over it. 'Cause I totally am."

Gabby had given up on her marriage long before she signed the divorced papers. Her ex was a nice enough guy, but they'd come together for the wrong reason--because they were both lonely and trying to get over other people.

"Well, this has been fun, ladies," Sage said, reaching into her purse for enough cash to cover her part of the tab. "But I've got another early morning, so I've got to call it a night."

"Any offers on the dealership yet?" Jenna asked as Sage slapped two twenties on the table.

"I wish." A buyer would mean their family would have enough money to pay for her father's care, support her parents' lifestyle, and pay for her brother's last year of medical school. All of her prayers would be answered in one fell swoop.

"You'll find someone," Gabby assured her with a weak smile that said she wasn't at all convinced. "As soon as the economy turns around, you'll see."

"How have Colt and Wes managed to grow their business while everyone else seems to be struggling?" Meg asked.

"I guess they have the magic touch," Jenna said, prompting Sage and Gabby to share a look that said they could attest to that.

# Chapter Three

Wes was grateful Gabby was the last in her group to leave. It meant he could have his first face-to-face conversation with her in years. After they shared a brief hug, Gabby invited him to sit down.

"So how did your talk with Sage go?" she asked before sipping her water.

"She didn't say?" Wes asked, unable to believe they hadn't pumped her for information as soon as she returned to the table.

"I want to hear it from you," Gabby said, regarding him carefully as she sat back, crossing her arms.

His best friend's ex was as beautiful as he remembered, with long blond hair, bright green eyes, and a ready smile that made everyone feel at ease. But Wes had been one of the few guys in high school who hadn't made a play for her. Probably because he'd been too busy falling in love and planning a future with Sage.

"I got the feeling she didn't want to talk about the past," he admitted, running his thumb over his life line. He did that sometimes to remind himself that even though he'd made a lot of mistakes, he had time left to make things right.

"Can you blame her?" Gabby asked gently. "It's taken her a long time to get over what happened. Honestly, I'm not sure that she ever has."

"Neither have I." Wes eased back in the wooden chair as he ran a hand over his mouth. "There isn't a day goes by that I don't think about my son."

"I know Sage feels the same way." She looked torn before asking, "Have you read her book?"

"No. She told me about it tonight."

"You need to read it." She covered his hand with hers. "But I have to warn you I cried all the way through it."

Wes suspected he might as well. His emotions were always close to the surface when he thought about the adoption that never should have happened. He didn't know if he and Sage would have survived the stress of getting married and having a baby so young, but they shouldn't have been robbed of the chance to try. "Did she write it under her own name?"

"Yeah, you can buy a copy at Wright's bookstore. They always have plenty on hand."

"In a town this size, it took a hell of a lot of courage to write something so personal and attach her own name to it." Wes didn't know if he would have had the guts to do that. "Did she take any flak from people?"

"Not really," Gabby said, shaking her head slowly. "A lot of people were surprised since she left town before she'd even started to show and didn't return for more than a year. By then she'd lost all the baby weight and..."

"What?" Wes asked, leaning forward. "Why'd you stop?"

"I just feel like this is Sage's story to tell. Not mine."

"But what if she won't tell me?" His biggest concern was that she would continue shutting him down, especially where their son was concerned. That was why he had to ask... "Has she heard from him?" It killed Wes that he didn't even know his own son's name.

"Wes, I'm sorry," Gabby said, her expression pained. "There are just some things that are off-limits. And that's one of them."

Wes couldn't blame her. He'd have taken certain secrets to the grave for Colt. "So how do you suggest I get her to open up to me?" No one knew Sage better than Gabby, and if anyone could help him devise a plan to get back on his ex's good side, it was her.

"You could try being her friend," Gabby suggested. "It worked before."

Wes was reminded of a time when the four of them had been inseparable. Colt and Gabby had started dating first while he and Sage tagged along to round things out. But it wasn't long before their attraction and friendship turned into the kind of love Wes hadn't expected to find until much later in life.

"There's been a hell of a lot of water under the bridge since Sage called me a friend." Wes wondered if it was even possible for them to rebuild the trust they'd lost. "I'm not even sure that it's possible anymore."

"Wes, let me ask you a question," Gabby said, leaning closer. "Why did you come back to town? Really?"

"To make peace with the past, I guess."

He looked around the bar with the same vinyl bench seats and old wooden chairs he remembered. The walls were lined with framed photos Bernice had taken at local events along with sports paraphernalia from Rusty's favorite teams. The jukebox in the corner was a relic, but it still played the tunes the old-timers loved. This was home. That was why he'd come back.

"To make peace with the past or with Sage?"

Sage was a huge part of his past. He couldn't think of his time in Vista Falls without thinking of her. "I don't know that I'll ever be able to make peace with her decision to give our son away."

"You mean your decision to give your son away. Don't try to put it all on her, Wes." Gabby released a shaky breath. "I was with her when she gave birth. She didn't want her parents there, but she was scared to go through it alone."

Tears burned his eyes as he imagined what she must have gone through, how she must have felt handing that tiny baby over to a nurse, knowing she'd never see him again.

"I held her all night," Gabby said, fighting back tears. "She was inconsolable after he was born. I was so scared she might try to hurt herself. That's how shaken up she was."

Sage had always been one of the most upbeat people Wes knew. He couldn't imagine her slipping into the kind of darkness Gabby described.

"How did she get through it?" he asked, forcing the words past the lump in his throat.

"It sounds cliché," Gabby said with a bitter smile, "but she got through it one day at a time. Hell, it was one hour at a time for a long while. During that initial period, before the adoption was finalized, she was so tempted to call the whole thing off."

"Why didn't she?" Wes asked, wishing with everything in him that she had. "She must have known that I would have supported her."

"You would have tried. But you wouldn't have been living the life you are now." When Wes frowned, Gabby said, "That's what she was most afraid of, I think. Not only of ruining that precious baby's life but ruining yours too. She thought you'd end up hating her because you wouldn't have been able to pursue your dreams." Gabby clapped a hand over her mouth before jumping up. "I've already said way too much." She bent to kiss Wes's cheek. "It was good seeing you again. It's nice to have you home."

"It's nice to be home," Wes whispered as he watched her walk away.

***

Colt walked into Wes's office two days later, just as he was finishing the last pages of Sage's book. He'd stayed up all night reading it and hadn't been able to set it aside long enough to focus on work that morning.

"What's that?" Colt asked, gesturing to the book as he sat in the chair across from Wes.

Unable to speak, Wes handed it to him, trying to make sense of everything he'd read. He still couldn't believe that Sage had had the courage to be so open and honest about the most painful thing she'd ever endured. She held nothing back. Reading it was like reading her personal journal, and it both clarified a lot of things and confused the hell out of him.

"Is this for real?" Colt asked, looking at Wes after he read the book jacket. "She actually wrote a book about the adoption?"

"Yeah."

"Have you read the whole thing?" Colt asked, turning it over in his hands.

"Cover to cover." And he'd probably read it again. And again.

"Wow. Must have been intense."

"Not nearly as intense as it was for her to write it, I'm sure." Wes could never have found the courage to put his heartbreak down on paper to be judged and critiqued by strangers.

"This must have answered a lot of questions for you," Colt said, setting the book on the edge of Wes's desk.

"It answered some, but it raised a lot more. She loved the baby. Our son. She loved me too."

"She said that?" Colt asked, raising the book.

"Yeah. She didn't name me in the book. She just said she was in love with the baby's father and dreamed of building a life with him--me--when she found out she was pregnant."

"That's no surprise though. We all know how Sage felt about you. And that baby. She was just about the sweetest girl I knew. It must have killed her to give up her own flesh and blood."

"I need to talk to her about this. But how do I broach the subject without making her uncomfortable?" Wes could only imagine how raw and exposed she would feel when she learned he'd read the book.

"You said you might be in the market for a new truck," Colt said, setting the book on the edge of the desk before leaning back and stretching his long, denim-clad legs out in front of him. "Go in and see her. If you're lucky, you can talk her into taking a test drive with you. Might give you a chance to get her alone and talk."

Since he didn't have any better ideas, Wes stood, reaching into his desk drawer for his cell phone and keys. "Did you need me for something?"

Colt chuckled. "I know you're not gonna be able to think about work until you talk to Sage. Just go. I'll still be here when you get back."

Wes felt as if he was driving to the dealership on autopilot. He used to drive by as a teen, fantasizing about the day when he'd be able to walk in and slap down a big fat check for the most expensive vehicle on their lot just to put Sage's old man in his place. Now that day had finally come and not only was Sage's father not around to see it, but Wes didn't give a shit what he thought of Wes anymore.

As he pulled into the lot, he scanned the cars with plates, trying to figure out which one might belong to Sage. He finally decided on the black Jeep. It looked fun but practical at the same time, just like Sage.

He hopped out of his pickup, slamming the door as he tried to tamp down his nerves. He hadn't set foot inside this building in years and had no idea what would be waiting on the other side of that door. Would Sage be happy to see him, or would she tell him to go to hell after the way he'd trash-talked her family the night before?

Gabby was standing at the high counter in the middle of the reception area, passing her friend a coffee, when her eyes met Wes's. A slow smile spread across Gabby's face as though she sensed he needed the encouragement.

"Hey there, handsome," Gabby said when it became apparent Sage wasn't planning to greet him. "What brings you by?"

"I'm looking for a new truck."

That finally piqued Sage's interest enough for her to glance outside at his Ford F-450. "That doesn't look too old to me. What is it, a few years?"

"Yeah, but I put a lot of miles on it. I like to drive between our stores when I can. Driving helps me think."

Sage smiled. "Still? You always used to say you did some of your best thinking out on the open road." Her smile slipped, and she cleared her throat, obviously annoyed with herself for taking a detour down memory lane. "Um, I only have one sales guy in right now, and he's out on a test drive. My receptionist is out for lunch, so I'm covering for her." She glanced at her watch. "Barry should be back in about ten minutes, if you want to wait around?"

"Why don't you show Wes around the lot?" Gabby asked, giving her friend a meaningful look. "I've got help at the flower shop today, so I can cover the desk until Amy gets back."

"I couldn't ask you to do that," Sage said as her gaze darted to Gabby. "You don't even work here."

"But I did for years in high school and when I was on summer break from college. I bet this thing still has my ass print." Gabby rolled her eyes with a laugh as she claimed the swivel chair behind the desk and moved her butt from side-to-side with a cheeky grin. "Yup, I was right."

"Well," Sage said, reaching for a set of keys, "I guess that's settled. Thanks, by the way, Gabby."

Her teeth were clenched when she said it, making Wes doubt her sincerity, but he didn't care if she felt pressured into helping him as long as he got what he came for--time alone with her.

"Um, I think we only have one loaded 450 on the lot, assuming that's what you're after?" she asked.

He was after a hell of a lot more than a new vehicle, he realized as he watched the tempting sway of her hips in a tight black skirt as she made her way to the truck.

"Uh yeah," he said, realizing she expected a response.

Wes fell into step beside her, inhaling her fresh citrusy, floral scent. He knew it well even after all these years. They'd been lying in his bed one afternoon when they had his house to themselves, and she told him the shampoo was some combination of citrus and kiwi and the perfume wasn't perfume at all but a lavender essential oil. He'd told her whatever it was, it was sexy as hell and begged her to never stop wearing it.

"What are you doing?" she asked, frowning when she realized he'd sniffed her.

He chuckled, not at all embarrassed at being caught. "Just remembering."

"We should probably try to refrain from doing too much of that." Her high heels clicked against the pavement, her stride eating up the distance between them.

He stopped her in her tracks. "I read your book."

She turned to face him slowly, color creeping up her neck before eventually staining her cheeks. Given her dark complexion, it took a lot to make her blush. "You did? What did you think?"

"I thought you were incredibly brave." Since she seemed momentarily stunned, he took advantage of her lapse to close the distance between them. "I've thought about it a million times over the years, but I sure as hell wouldn't have had the guts to write my feelings down and let the world read them."

"It was hardly the world," she said, turning to walk again. "It only sold about ten thousand copies. Half of them to people in this town who wanted to support me, I think. But writing about it was kind of cathartic for me. If I'd had those thoughts and feelings rolling around in my head for the rest of my life, I think I would have gone crazy."

"I'm glad you found a way to deal 'cause I sure as hell haven't." Wes didn't mean to sound bitter that she'd found a way to let go of the past, but he knew that was how she would perceive it.

Sage closed her hand around the door handle of the truck she'd told him about. "What other choice do we have? We have to deal with it. What happened happened. We can't change it."

Wes rested his hand alongside hers, his cotton shirt barely brushing hers. "If you could change it, would you?"

She seemed to consider her answer a long time before she said, "I don't know. I guess a lot would depend on the kind of life he's had without us. I like to think that he's happy, that he adores his adoptive parents and they've given him the kind of life we couldn't back then."

"But we could have loved him," he whispered, his breath fanning her neck. "No one could have loved him more than we would have. You know that."

"We can't keep questioning ourselves and second-guessing our decision, Wes. It's not healthy. We need to let it go."

"I can't. Not until I see with my own two eyes that he's better off without us in his life."

She sucked in a sharp breath as she whirled around to face him. "You can't do that. You can't reach out to him. You know--you knew even back then--that wouldn't be fair to him or his parents."

"We're his parents." Wes knew it wasn't necessarily logical since they hadn't raised him, but in his mind, that boy would always be his son.

"No," she said softly, shaking her head as her gaze drifted from his to the ground between their feet. "They're his parents. They have been since the day he was born."

"What can you tell me about them?" Wes was desperate for something, anything that would provide a link to his son. No matter how fragile it may be.

She passed him the keys to the truck when another car pulled into the lot. "I can't do this here. You drive. We'll talk."

He walked to the passenger's side with her and opened the door for her before sucking in a few deep breaths as he rounded the rear of the big pickup truck. Wes wasn't even sure he should be driving given his state of mind. When he slid into the driver's seat and curled his big hands around the leather steering wheel, he realized they were shaking.

"Are you okay?" she asked, obviously noting the tremor as she fastened her seat belt. "We don't have to do this if you're not ready."

"No, I'm fine," he lied, starting the engine.

He didn't even have to ask where they should go. There was only one place he could think to take her--the lake. It was late May, so the kids weren't out of school yet, which meant it would be quiet. They might run into a few dog walkers or young mothers with strollers, but for the most part, they should have the small sandy beach to themselves.

"The lake?" she asked, looking tense as he turned down a narrow dead-end street that butted up against her lot.

"Where else?"

It was where they'd had some of their best and worst memories. The place where they'd fallen in love, broken up, and ultimately decided the fate of their unborn child.

# Chapter Four

Sage's stomach was tied up in knots by the time they climbed out of the truck. She'd never imagined having a conversation with Wes about their child. No. That wasn't entirely true. She'd imagined it hundreds of time. She'd just never thought it would happen.

"I can't walk on the beach in these," she said, pointing at her shoes. "Not to mention this." She pulled the hem of her black blazer away from her body. "It's hot today, in case you haven't noticed."

"So lose the blazer and kick your shoes off." His eyes traveled down her legs. "You're not wearing nylons. You can rinse your feet off before we head back."

Since she didn't have much of a choice, she slipped the blazer off, revealing a hand-dyed silk tank that Gabby swore reminded her of tie-dye. "I'll just leave them here," she muttered, knowing anything she said to him now would fall on deaf ears.

His eyes were roaming her body, making her remember things she'd have rather forgotten. Like how she felt when his hands grazed her skin as they kissed. Or the way he'd taken possession of her body when they made love...

"Something tells me you're thinking the same thing I am."

He smirked while she felt her cheeks burning for the second time in the past half hour. She never blushed, but something about this man brought out the worst in her...or the best depending on the day.

"You don't know what I'm thinking," she said.

After walking down the stone steps leading to the beach, he fell into step beside her. "Admitting it doesn't make you weak, you know," he said, slipping on his sunglasses.

"Admitting what?" She looked up at him, wishing she could see his eyes.

"That you're still attracted to me. You have to know I feel the same way."

She looked out at the water, unable to answer. As they neared the small clearing, she walked up to the iron railing that prevented onlookers from getting too close to the falls, remembering all the times they'd stood in this very spot, planning their future.

"Why did you come back?" she asked, suddenly wishing he hadn't. For years, her feelings for him had lain dormant. Pretending she'd gotten over him was so much easier when she didn't have to look at his handsome face and be reminded there was a teenager out there somewhere who could look just like him.

"For a lot of reasons." He curled his hands around the railing, looking out at the swirling water, no doubt remembering all the times they'd scurried down the embankment, shed their clothes, and made love under the waterfall.

Or maybe she was the only one thinking of that.

"Your family." She had to believe that was the only reason he'd come back. If she allowed herself to entertain any other possibility, she was in serious danger of falling for him all over again.

"Yeah, sure." He looked at her, but his eyes were masked by those damn aviator sunglasses. "Now that Dad's gone, I feel better being here, in case they need me."

There was so much she wanted to say. She wanted to tell him how sorry she was for his loss, that she knew his family loved him and was happy to have him back. Instead she swallowed the words that would have taken them back to another time and place.

"But they're not the only reason I came back."

"No?" She cleared her dry throat, thinking she'd give anything for a sip of water.

"I came back because I feel like I left too much behind."

She wondered if he could see her heart beating through her thin silk tank. "What did you leave behind?"

"Our son, for one."

"Wes, please." She closed her eyes when they started burning, a surefire sign that tears were going to start flowing whether she wanted them to or not. "You have to stop thinking of him as our son. He's not. He's someone else's son."

"Have you seen him? Heard from him?"

She shook her head, curling her hands around the railing and pulling her body away as though she was afraid to hold on too tight yet afraid to let go at the same time. Her life had always been like that. It had started as a tug-of-war between her family and the man she loved, and now it was a tug-of-war between her head and heart. Her head told her she had no right to get to know the baby she'd given away, but her heart desperately wanted to see him just one more time.

"Have you ever thought about reaching out to him?" Wes asked.

"Every day." She'd admitted that in her book, but she'd never said it to another person.

"Then why haven't you?"

She shrugged, fighting back the blinding tears that were making it difficult to see the swirling water below. "I don't think I have the right. If he wanted to, he could reach out to me, to us. Since he hasn't, I have to assume he doesn't want us in his life."

"Maybe he thinks it's the other way around, that we don't want him in ours. We were the ones who gave him up, remember."

"How could I forget?"

"You said in your book that you wished you could have kept him. That you'd have given anything if things could have been different." He sighed. "I feel the same way. Even if you didn't feel you could raise him, I should have stepped up. I may have made a lot of mistakes with him being on my own, but at least I wouldn't have had to live with this goddamn ache in my chest every day." He hung his head.

She swore she could feel his ache in her chest as she touched his back, wishing she could absorb some of his pain. "I'm not going to tell you to let it go again, because people have been telling me that for years, and I can't tell you how much I resent it. I'll never be able to let it go."

"Neither will I." He raised his sunglasses, letting her see the sheen of tears in his eyes. "That's why I need to see him. I just need to know that he's okay. That he knows we only gave him up because we love him and want the best for him."

She didn't know how to respond. Should she try to dissuade him or encourage him to do what he felt he had to do?

"Will you come with me to see him?" At her shocked expression, he added, "After I find out where he is and make sure he's willing to talk to us."

"I don't know if I can." Walking away from her son once had nearly destroyed her. She didn't know if she had it in her to do it a second time. That was why, fifteen years ago, she had refused his adoptive parents' offer of annual photos and occasional visits.

"I'll be honest," he said, releasing a shaky breath. "I'm kind of afraid to do it alone."

That was the only thing that could have made her smile in that moment. The Wes Davis she remembered had never been afraid of a damn thing, except maybe the threats her father had made against his family. Her smile fell as she thought of that. Even though her father's health was failing and she knew she shouldn't hold a grudge, she'd never gotten over the way he had treated Wes and his family as though they were second-class citizens because they hadn't been born with a silver spoon.

"What made you smile?" he asked, looking confused.

"Nothing." Dredging up the past wouldn't help them decide what to do about meeting their son. "Can I think about it, Wes? There's a lot to consider, and I wouldn't want to make a mistake. Not about this. It's too important."

He nodded. "I understand. Just know that I feel I have to do this. I have to find him, hopefully see him, talk to him, maybe even try to make him understand why we did what we did. I can't rest until I do."

"I understand."

"But if you don't feel you can go with me, I get that. Maybe if you want to write him a letter or something, I can take it with me to give to him. At least then he would know how you feel."

She was touched by the offer and grateful that he'd given her the opportunity to speak to their son in her own words even though she wasn't sure she was brave enough to do it face to face. "Thanks. I just might do that."

"Okay then. I guess you have to get back, huh?"

Standing so close to him without feeling free to reach out and touch him felt so unnatural. But Sage knew one touch would never be enough. Wes had always been like a drug for her. One kiss and she craved another until it was all she could think about.

"Yeah." She turned to walk back up the slight hill, savoring the feel of his hand on her lower back, making sure she was steady as she traversed the incline in bare feet.

"I'll take the truck, by the way."

She hadn't given the truck a second thought since he'd mentioned their son. "Oh, uh, okay." She could have really used the sale this month, but she didn't want him to take pity on her. "Don't you want me to go over some of the features with you?"

"It's okay. It's pretty much the same as the one I'm driving now."

"Okay." She should have been grateful they were talking business, but it felt wrong when she still had so many unanswered questions about the life he'd been living since he left. "Do you want to trade yours in?"

"No, that's okay. My brother said he could use another truck for the inn. I think I'll just give it to him."

Wes's younger brother had recently bought the inn he'd been working at since he was a teenager, and from everything she'd heard, business was booming. Sage thought it was nice Wes still wanted to help his kid brother out if he could though. She wondered if he'd loaned him the money to buy the inn, but she had no right to ask.

"I heard you two went out to dinner a while back." Wes slipped his sunglasses back in place before turning on the outdoor tap so Sage could rinse her feet before she got back in the truck. "How'd that happen?"

Sage wasn't sure Rush would have mentioned that to Wes, but since someone had, she had no choice but to answer. "Um, it was no big deal really. He was in Gabby's flower shop, buying a bouquet for your mom's birthday, and asked me if I'd like to grab dinner sometime."

"Huh." He opened the passenger's door, his expression inscrutable.

She thought about climbing into the truck and letting the conversation die, but she knew if Wes had gone out with someone close to her, she would have craved details. "Nothing happened, Wes. I swear. By the time they served the appetizers, we recognized it for what it was--two old friends catching up. Both of us knew it wouldn't go any further."

He seemed to be holding his breath when he asked, "Why?"

"Because he loves you and so did I." A part of her feared she would always love Wes, but she would never admit as much. "In fact, we spent a lot of time talking about you. Not about your life now," she quickly amended. "But about things that happened back in the day."

He frowned. "You didn't want to know what I was doing now or how I was doing?"

She bit her lip, wondering how much she should admit. "I know it seems crazy, but I asked Rush not to tell me. If you were married or had kids, I didn't want to know."

He braced his hand on the doorframe above her head, and this time, it was Sage who couldn't breathe. "It doesn't sound crazy. It would have killed me to know you'd moved on with someone else. I told myself that I wanted you to be happy, but every time I thought of you married to someone else, having someone else's baby, I just wanted to haul out my gun and--"

She gasped before she caught his smile.

"You know I've always been a hunter, Sage. When I need to blow off a little steam, I still take to the woods."

"Right."

She should have known he was talking about hunting. Even though he'd been in his fair share of scraps growing up, he'd never intentionally hurt someone. Hell, he was even a humane hunter, claiming he'd never take down an animal that didn't stand a chance.

He chuckled, gesturing to the seat of the truck. "Come on, let's get you back. I've got a fair share of work waiting on me back at the office and a partner who's probably about ready to take my head off by now."

***

Gabby looked disappointed when Sage walked back into the dealership alone. "What happened? Things didn't go well?"

Sage smiled at Amy, their longtime receptionist. Apparently Gabby had hung around just to pump Sage for information about her time with Wes. She headed into her office, not at all surprised when Gabby followed and closed the door.

"It went fine," Sage assured her. "He's going to buy the truck. In fact, he said he'll drop the check off tomorrow."

"That's not what I'm talking about, and you know it," Gabby said, pouting. "Come on, girl. Why are you holding out on me? I thought we told each other everything."

"He wants to find our son," she said softly, diverting her gaze as she sank into her leather swivel chair. "And he asked me to go with him when he meets him."

"Oh, God. How do you feel about that?" Gabby sat on the edge of the guest chair across from her friend. "Don't let him pressure you into anything, honey. If you don't think you can do it, just tell him. I know he'll understand."

"I told him I wasn't sure, that I'd have to think about it." She slipped the one and only photograph she had of her son out of her desk drawer. She wouldn't have had it if Gabby hadn't snapped it in the hour Sage shared with him after labor, thinking Sage might want it someday.

"So what do you think you're going to do?"

Sage took the lid off the glass container on the edge of her desk. It held their very favorite treat--M&M's. She offered it to Gabby before taking a handful for herself. "I honestly don't know." Since no one knew her better than her best friend, the person who had been there when she'd sobbed uncontrollably as the nurse wheeled her son out of the room, she asked, "What do you think I should do?"

"I can't answer that," Gabby said, wide-eyed as she popped one candy after another into her mouth. "Only you know what's in your heart, babe. I know you still think about him every day. How could you not, right?"

"He's almost fifteen."

"I know," she said with a sad smile. "In high school."

"High school. God." Perching her elbow on her desk, Sage rested her forehead on her palm. "That means girls. He's probably dating by now. He's had his first kiss..." It pained her to think of all the firsts they'd missed, all the upcoming firsts they wouldn't witness as he passed the threshold from boy to man.

"If you don't go to meet him and Wes does, won't you always wonder? You know, what he looks like? What he would have said to you? What you would have said to him?"

"Yeah."

"You know what my daddy always says, girl. It's not the chances you take that you regret. It's the ones you don't take that haunt you."

"You're right." Sage took a deep breath as she looked at the phone on her desk. "I'm going to call Wes now, before I chicken out."

"I'm so proud of you for doing this," Gabby said, rounding the desk to give her one-armed hug.

"We're assuming that he'll want to see us," Sage said, her finger hovering over the keypad.

"What's wrong?" Gabby asked. "You're not having second thoughts, are you?"

"I just realized I don't even have Wes's number."

"His cell number is the same as it's always been."

"Seriously?" Sage didn't even have to try to remember it. She felt as if those digits were permanently etched in her memory.

"Yeah, I guess he didn't want to change it," Gabby said, crossing the small room. "Maybe in case you or your son ever wanted to reach out to him."

Sage considered that as she dialed the number with trembling fingers, hoping he would answer while at the same time wondering if it would be easier to leave a voicemail message.

"Hey," Wes said. "What's up, Sage?"

The number at the dealership hadn't changed over the years either. Knowing that he'd remembered the number made her question all of the other things he remembered. "Um, I'm sorry to bother you. You're probably back at work, aren't you?"

"No worries. I can talk."

She heard what sounded like a door closing, filtering out the sound of voices on his end of the line. "I thought about what we talked about, and um, I think I'd like to come with you. Assuming he wants to meet us." It hurt her heart to acknowledge she didn't even know the name his adoptive parents had given him.

"That's great." Wes sounded relieved. "I'll get on this right away, see what I can find out. As soon as I can arrange a meeting, I'll let you know, okay?"

"Sure. Sounds good. Thanks." She hung up before he could say anything more. She was quickly realizing Wes still had the potential to say and do things that turned her well-ordered life upside down.

# Chapter Five

Wes was still sitting at his desk as he watched the sun dip lower in the sky, warning of impending nightfall. But there was no point in going home. He was too wired to sleep. The possibility of meeting his son within the next few days or weeks was making him crazy excited. Even if the kid just wanted to yell and swear at him, Wes didn't care. He wanted to see him, talk to him, tell him that he loved him and would always be there for him if he needed anything.

"Knock, knock," Gabby said, tapping on Wes's half-open door. "Is it okay if I come in?"

"Of course." Wes closed his laptop before waving her over. "Come on in." He stood to kiss her cheek before guiding her over to the distressed leather sofa in the corner of the spacious office. "Twice in one day. How'd I get so lucky?"

Gabby smiled, looking uncharacteristically nervous as she bit her lip while her eyes darted around the room. Her gaze finally landed on a framed photo of him and Colt hanging on the wall, standing on either side of a Grammy-Award-winning singer they'd guided to the catch of his life. "I just wanted to talk to you about Sage. I know she told you she'd go with you to meet your son--"

"You don't think that's a good idea?" Wes asked, leaning back as he crossed his ankle over his knee.

"It's not that I don't think it's a good idea," Gabby said slowly, as though she was choosing her words carefully. "Look, you know I love that girl like a sister."

"And?"

"I know she seems strong, like she's got it all together..."

"But?" Wes wasn't used to timid Gabby. He was used to the straight shooter who always said whatever was on her mind, no matter the fallout.

"This is her Achilles' heel. You and that boy are her only weaknesses. You need to know that."

Wes tried to process that bit of news. Especially since he would have said the very same things about himself, that Sage and their son were his only soft spots. He didn't want to cause Sage any more pain, especially since he was certain she'd already punished herself enough. "And you're worried about how she'll react if he's angry or hostile toward her?"

"Don't tell me you haven't considered that possibility." She touched his leg gently. "I'm scared for her. Something like that could really set her back. You weren't with her the months after the adoption was finalized. She was a wreck. She could barely eat or sleep. She cried all the time. Her parents actually thought about sending her away to some treatment facility to help her deal with the depression."

"Of course they would," Wes said, not even trying to hide his disgust. "That's how they handle everything. Sweep it under the rug. Make it someone else's problem so they can go on pretending to be perfect, like nothing ugly ever infiltrates their little world."

"I know how you feel about them," she said, resting her back against the armrest as she nestled her bent leg between them. "But they do love her, Wes. They're just misguided. They've tried so hard to protect her that they ended up almost ruining her life."

"Almost?" he asked, arching a brow as he crossed his arms. "I'd say they've done a pretty damn good job of that. She gave her child up because of them. She broke up with me because of them. Hell, she's not even doing what she loves for a living because of them."

"I know it's easy to blame them for everything that's gone wrong in Sage's life, but you need to know that she doesn't. She was a teenager when she got pregnant with your son. She had no confidence in her ability to provide a good life for him. And as for her parents forcing you out of her life, I seem to recall you walking away without a backward glance as soon as she told you she wanted to go ahead with the adoption."

"How the hell was I supposed to react?" Wes asked, feeling defensive. "She didn't ask me what we should do. She told me what she planned to do, what her parents wanted her to do. I felt like I didn't even get a say."

"You could have refused to sign those papers! I get that you were scared, but you did have a choice."

She sighed, shaking her head. "Do you have any idea how much she loved you?" Gabby shook her head. "No, you probably don't. I'm only telling you this because she never would and I think you need to know. She knew you had big dreams that didn't include staying in this town, working the land, or getting some factory job like your daddy had."

"What's your point?"

"She set you free." Gabby let that sink in before she added, "She knew a wife and kids weren't in the plan for your immediate future, and she didn't want to saddle you with a life you didn't want."

"I would have married her." Wes had even considered how he would propose, whether he would be able to scrape together enough money for a decent ring.

"I have no doubt you would have because it was the right thing to do. I know you, Wes Davis. You always do the right thing because that's how your parents raised you. To do right by people. But Sage didn't want you to feel like she was an obligation. And she didn't want you to start resenting her or your son because you couldn't realize the life you'd always dreamed of."

"That wouldn't have happened," Wes said with conviction. He couldn't imagine ever resenting either of them. Especially since he'd spent so many years wishing they could be a part of his life.

"Maybe, maybe not. But that wasn't a chance Sage was willing to take. And I can't say that I blame her. In her position, I would have done the same damn thing."

"Are you telling me if you got pregnant with Colt's baby, you would have left town, put the baby up for adoption, and never spoken to him again?"

Someone cleared their throat from the door. Gabby and Wes looked up to find Colt leaning in the doorframe, arms crossed, straining the plaid flannel shirt rolled up to reveal his powerful forearms.

"I'm kind of curious about that myself," Colt admitted, staring at Gabby. "I've asked myself a dozen times what we would have done if we'd found ourselves in Sage and Wes's position. You honestly don't think we would have gotten married, tried to make it work?"

Gabby seemed stunned by his question as she reached for her purse on the coffee table. "If being married taught me one thing, it's that you can't make it work, no matter how hard you try. If you have to force it, it just wasn't meant to be." She leaned in to kiss Wes's cheek. "Thanks for letting me stick my nose into your business. Think about what I said?"

"You know I will."

Gabby rushed past Colt, muttering his name as she passed. Colt was still watching her when Wes heard the ding of the elevator in the hall announcing her departure.

"What was that about?" Wes asked. "Were you just messing with her, or have you really thought about shit like that?"

"Sure, I've thought about it," Colt said, sinking into the leather club chair as he kicked his feet up on the scarred pine coffee table. "What might have happened to me and Gabby if fate had decided for us instead of letting two dumb kids think they knew it all."

"What does that mean? You're having regrets about leaving her?" Colt had seemed a lot more introspective since their return to Vista Falls, and Wes knew he was a lousy friend for not knowing the reason behind his pensive moods.

"I have a lot of regrets," Colt said, tipping his head back as he closed his eyes. "Gabby is just one of many."

"Tell me about it." Wes wanted to help his friend any way he could. Even if he couldn't find peace, he wanted Colt to.

Colt opened his eyes, staring at the ceiling. "You ever feel like your life is so far off track you don't know what to do to make things right?"

"I think we all feel that way sometimes." Wes crossed the room, took two longnecks out of the mini-fridge, and twisted the caps off before handing one to Colt. If he'd ever seen his friend in need of a cold one, it was now.

"Thanks," Colt muttered before taking a long pull of the beer.

"But that doesn't mean you have to stay there. Break it down. Figure out what's wrong and fix it."

"Easier said than done, my friend." Colt sighed. "I knew coming back here would be hard, but I had no idea that girl would still have the power to turn me inside out after all these years."

Wes sat on the arm of the chair across from Colt, propping the heel of his boot on the leather cushion. "Ah, so this is about Gabby?"

"Among other things." He looked at the same photo Gabby had been staring at moments before when he said, "She married another man. I'm still having a hard time wrapping my head around that. She was someone else's wife."

"I know." Wes knew it would have been hard for him to imagine Sage being someone else's wife.

"Did you know she had a miscarriage a while back?"

"No," Wes said, wondering how his friend had come across that bit of news. It didn't seem like the kind of thing Gabby would tell him during a casual conversation.

"Rusty told me. Apparently she was pretty broken up about it."

"I can imagine."

"And you know what I thought?" Colt looked disgusted as he said, "I said a silent prayer of thanks that she'd lost the baby, that she didn't have that connection with someone else. What kind of sick, selfish bastard does that make me?"

Wes considered his response, knowing that nothing he said would make Colt feel better about his reaction. "I'd like to say I wouldn't have done the same thing had it been Sage who was pregnant with another man's baby, but I can't. So at least we're both dirtbags. Don't feel so bad."

"I hate myself for thinking that." Colt closed his eyes again, bringing the beer to his lips and damn near draining the bottle. "How could I wish pain on someone I once claimed to love?"

"So you don't love her anymore?" Wes had an opinion on that, but he wanted to hear his friend's take on it first.

"How can I?" Colt asked, frowning. "I don't even know her anymore. We were kids when we were together. I'm a grown-ass man now, and I'm ashamed to admit I still don't have my shit together. So even if I did have feelings for her, how could I expect her to give me another chance?"

"The other stuff you mentioned," Wes said, trying to get a clearer picture of why Colt was really beating himself up. "That have anything to do with your family? Your old man?"

"I can't go back there." Colt clenched his jaw. "I've been back here for months, and I haven't set foot back in that house. Not even to see my mama. What kind of son does that make me? Hell, what kind of man does that make me? A coward who--"

"That's bullshit." Colt was one of the strongest men Wes had ever known, and he refused to allow him to get down on himself because he didn't want to go back into that house of horrors he'd grown up in. "You don't want to go back there? Don't. That doesn't mean you can't have a relationship with your mama if you want one. Take her out for lunch. Ask her to meet you somewhere. Hell, buy her a new house. You can't be the only one who has bad memories of that place."

"You really think I should offer to buy her a new place?" Colt asked, looking thoughtful.

"Why not? It's not like you can't afford it. I think it'd be good for her. And for you. Clean slate."

"Yeah, maybe you're right." Colt nodded. "Anyway, enough about me. I want to hear how things went with Sage this afternoon. We got so busy with work stuff when you got back that I didn't get a chance to talk to you about it."

That was what Wes loved about his best friend. No matter what he was going through, he always made time to ask about other people's challenges and offered to help in any way he could. "She wants to go with me."

"You mean to meet him?"

"Yeah." Wes peeled the label off his bottle, sighing. "But Gabby's worried about how Sage will handle it if he doesn't react well to us just showing up after all these years, trying to make things right."

"I can understand that." Colt leaned forward and set his empty bottle on the coffee table. "So maybe you should think about going alone, you know, see how he reacts to you before you decide whether or not to bring Sage into the mix."

"He's our son," Wes said, frustrated by his own indecisiveness. The last thing he wanted was to hurt Sage, but he wasn't sure he could take this step without her. "She has every right to see him if she wants to, right? And who knows better than she does whether she's ready?"

"If you're sure, then don't worry about what Gabby said. Just go for it," Colt said, looking Wes in the eye.

"But what if Gab's right? What if he lashes out at us for abandoning him and that makes things even worse for Sage? It took a hell of a long time for her to recover from the adoption. Is it selfish of me to want to stir all this up again?"

"That depends," Colt said, stroking the dark stubble on his jaw. "Are you doing this because you want this or because you think Sage does? Or are you doing it for your son because you want him to know you let him go because you loved him?"

"I don't know." Wes had asked himself that question a dozen times and still didn't have the answer. "Maybe a bit of all three?"

"Some people weren't meant to be parents," Colt said, looking at the plank hardwood. "Like my old man, for example. And some were. Like you, man. You would have been a good dad, even at that age. I really believe that. And if I didn't think your son would be better off for knowing you, I'd tell you to stay the hell out of his life. To be smart enough to leave well enough alone. But that's not the case."

Wes was almost too choked up to say thanks because Colt was giving him the confirmation he'd never even realized he needed. He wasn't a bad guy, and his son wouldn't be worse off for knowing him.

Colt crossed the room to the door. "I really believe you need to see him. Whether or not you take Sage with you that first time is up to you. But if you want my advice, don't waste any more time. Meet your boy, Wes."

***

Sage was at her obligatory weekly dinner with her parents, but she'd have rather been anywhere else. She was grateful her father's recovery had progressed to the point he was able to speak again, but that also meant he could pass judgment on the way she was running his business.

"I heard you went out for lunch with Wes Davis today," her mother said, pursing her thin lips as she passed the roast beef.

"The grapevine must be malfunctioning," Sage said, trying to hold her temper as she loaded her plate with food she'd rather not eat. "He came in to buy a truck. We took it out for a test drive." She looked across the table, where her father was sitting in his wheelchair and studying her with that same ever-present scowl he'd worn since she was a little girl. "You'll be pleased to know he bought a new 450. Didn't even want to trade his old one in. I don't have to tell you that really helped our month."

Before her father could respond, her mother rolled her eyes while piling food onto her husband's plate. "I think it's disgusting the way he's been throwing his money around since he came back to town. First he bought and renovated that big ol' factory. Then he bought that piece of land, and have you seen the size of the house he built on it? It must be five thousand square feet. What does a single man need with all that space?"

Sage looked around the house she'd grown up in, wondering why her parents needed six bedrooms and bathrooms when they only used one. "It's his money, Mom, and he earned it the hard way." She cut her meat into small squares so she wouldn't choke on it given how dry her throat was. "I'd say that gives him the right to spend it any way he wants to."

"You always were defending that boy," she said, brushing her sideswept ash-blond bangs out of her eyes. "In your eyes, he could do no wrong. However, we were always the bad guys, weren't we? We didn't know anything. You thought you knew it all. And look at you now. No husband, no children..."

Sage set her knife and fork down carefully, glaring at her mother. She couldn't believe her mother had the audacity to attack her when she'd done everything she could to help them. "My only concern since Dad had his stroke has been keeping the business afloat. I put everything else, including my own career, on the back burner. Maybe I would have had time for a social life if I didn't spend every goddamn waking hour at that dealership!"

"Watch your language," her mother said, sounding shocked.

"And don't talk to your mother that way," her father muttered, his scowl deepening.

"I am sick and tired of being treated like a child," she said, tossing her pressed linen napkin on the table beside her plate. "You've always assumed you knew what was best for me. You even managed to convince me for a while. But now I can see that you may very well have cost me the best things that ever happened to me."

"What are you talking about?" her mother asked, grasping her pearls as the color drained from her face.

"I'm talking about Wes. And our son." She let that sink in as her parents looked at each other, clearly deciding how to react. "I loved him, and he loved me. I let you convince me that we were too young to be parents, that I'd be ruining all of our lives if I didn't agree to go through with the adoption."

"You would have," her father said, looking weary as he shook his head. "You were just a kid yourself."

Sage felt a modicum of guilt for having this conversation with her parents while her father was still recovering, but it was long overdue. For years she'd been the dutiful daughter, carefully avoiding the topic of her son so as not to upset anyone. But she was done hiding from the past. And the truth. It was time to face it head-on and let her parents know exactly how she felt.

"I know you may have thought you were doing what was best for me, but you didn't care what I thought was best. You assumed you knew Wes better than I did, and I'd say time has proven you dead wrong." She raised an eyebrow. "He's a successful businessman--a multi-millionaire, in fact. For you to have assumed that he was lazy and wouldn't have worked his ass off to provide for us--"

"Language," they said in unison.

Sage clenched her teeth, pushing her chair back. "I will continue to do right by this family because my conscience won't allow me to walk away and leave you high and dry with Dad in this state. But I'll be damned if I allow you to continue weighing in on every decision I make."

"Sage!" her mother said when Sage pushed her chair back and stood. "Where is all this coming from? You know we love you, that we only want what's best for you."

"But that's just it," Sage said, standing behind her chair and gripping the back of it. "You don't know what's best for me. Hell, I'm not even sure I know. But I'm making it my business to find out. And if you want to have any kind of relationship with me, you'll kindly stay out of my way."

***

Gabby was waiting on her front porch when Sage got home, and she was glad to be saved a phone call.

"Come in," Sage said, fitting her key in the lock. "We're opening a bottle of wine. I need my best friend."

"Um, I'm not sure you'll feel that way when I tell you what I did."

Gabby wasn't big on regrets. She usually just plowed ahead without thinking twice, so if she was feeling remorseful, it had to be big.

"At least let me open the wine before you tell me," Sage said.

Following Sage into her tidy Tudor-style home, Gabby said, "You know I love you, girl. That's the only reason I did it."

"Oh, God." Sage reached into the fridge for the emergency bottle of white wine. "My parents just said the same thing to me. Now I'm really scared." Sage's hand trembled slightly as she poured two glasses of wine and handed one to her friend. After a healthy swig, she closed her eyes. "Okay, let me have it. What did you do?"

"I went to see Wes."

Sage's eyes flew open. "What? Why?"

"I got to thinking after I left your office," Gabby said, claiming a stool at the island in the middle of the room which served as both a table and prep space. "I'm not going to lie--I'm worried about you going with Wes to meet your son... and I told him so."

Sage sighed, bringing the bottle of wine with her as she claimed the stool beside Gabby. "Honey, I know your heart is in the right place, but I can take care of myself. If I didn't think I could handle it, I wouldn't have agreed to go with Wes."

"But I thought I may have pressured you into it," Gabby said, her eyes filling with tears. "If you had a setback after meeting him because of me, I'd never forgive myself."

Sage gave her a one-armed hug, laying her head on her friend's shoulder. "You got me through those months after the adoption. I'm not sure I would have made it without you."

"Don't say that!" Gabby said, swiping at her tears. "Don't even think that!"

"It's true, and we both know it." Sage sat upright and took another sip of wine while handing Gabby a napkin to dry her eyes. "But I'm not that same broken girl anymore. I'm a grown woman now, and a lot of years have passed. I've gotten a lot stronger. Writing the book helped me work through a lot of those emotions, and I really think I'm ready to meet him, assuming that's what he wants."

"What if he doesn't?" Gabby asked, looking at Sage out of the corner of her eye. "Have you thought about how you're going to feel if he doesn't want to meet you guys?"

"Of course I've thought about it." She took another sip. No amount of alcohol would dull the pain if that came to pass.

"And?"

"And I can't live my life in fear anymore. I have to face the past, come to terms with what I did. Tell my son that I'm sorry, I'll always love him, and just make sure he's okay, you know? He's getting to that age where he'll be thinking about college soon. What if his adoptive parents can't help him with that? I want to be able to."

"Don't you think you have your hands full trying to support your own family?"

"But he's my family too, and I'd do anything for him." If she got a call asking her to donate an organ to him, she would do it without hesitation. That was how much she loved this person whose name she didn't even know.

"You really think Wes would let his kid stress about how he was going to pay for college? Come on, you know he'd step up."

"Yeah," Sage said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear as she kicked off her high heels. "I know he would. But I'd want to do my part too."

Before Gabby could respond, Sage's doorbell rang. "Are you expecting company?"

"Nope, though a pizza sounds good right about now. I left my parents' house before..." Sage stopped in her small foyer when she realized who was standing on the other side of her door. Wes.

"Ohhhh," Gabby said, grasping Sage's wrist as she came up behind her. "I wonder what he wants."

"I don't know." The thought of having Wes in her personal space made Sage suddenly feel very vulnerable.

Nudging her toward the door, Gabby said, "Well, don't keep me in suspense. Open it already."

# Chapter Six

Wes had driven by her house twice, trying to decide whether to head home, but he knew he wouldn't get a wink of sleep until they had this conversation face to face.

"Hi," Sage said, her cheeks flushed as she opened the door. "How'd you know where to find me?"

Wes tried to keep a straight face when Gabby nudged her forward so they were standing mere inches apart. "Uh, you're listed in the phone book. I hope you don't mind me stopping by like this. I really need to talk to you, and I didn't think it could wait 'til morning."

"No, I don't mind." Sage stepped back to let him in.

Gabby gave them both a quick hug before she winked at Sage and said, "Call me if you need me."

Sage closed the door behind Gabby and leaned against it, facing him. "Um, I was just having a glass of wine. Would you like one?"

"Uh, a beer would be great, if you have one?"

Sage smiled before leading him into her small kitchen. "I should have known better than to offer you wine. You'll always be a beer guy, won't you?"

Wes stood in the doorframe of her kitchen, wondering how many men she'd prepared meals for in this room. "There are some things I would change about myself if I could," he said, accepting the longneck she offered. "But beer consumption isn't one of them."

She snagged the bottle of wine off the island, along with her glass, and led the way into the living room. "I skipped dinner. I was just thinking about ordering a pizza. Care to share?"

"I'd love to." It had been a long time since they'd shared a meal, and Wes couldn't help but hope this would be the first of many more.

She called their order in before sitting beside him on the two-seater white slipcovered sofa, tucking her legs under her. "So what would you change if you could?"

It wasn't easy to think straight with her sexy bare legs within stroking distance, but he forced his eyes back to her beautiful face. "What's that?"

"You said there were a lot of things you would change about yourself if you could. Name one."

He smiled, settling back as he prepared for one of their talks. It had been a long time, but Wes hadn't forgotten how much Sage liked to philosophize. She'd always claimed she was an over-thinker, but he liked that about her. She forced him to dig deeper than he would have without her there to ask him the tough questions. Like now. "I'd work less. Your turn."

"Ditto." She propped her elbow on the back of the sofa, resting her head in her hand. "That's not entirely true. When I was working on the book, the hours were grueling, especially when the deadline was looming, but I loved every second of it."

"So you'd rather work on something you're passionate about instead of working out of obligation?" He hated to think of her wasting her life by supporting a family who had never really appreciated her. Unless her parents had done a complete one-eighty in recent years, they wouldn't even acknowledge that she'd sacrificed her life for theirs.

"Something like that." She took a sip of wine, staring at him over the rim of the glass. "Okay, your turn. Name something else."

"Hmmm." He knew she didn't take these questions lightly, and he saw this as an opportunity for them to get to know each other all over again, so he took his time before responding. "I'd travel more, for pleasure. I get to travel a lot for work, mostly throughout the States to scope out new locations for retail stores and deal with suppliers. Since we're committed to domestic production to help save jobs, I've never had much cause for international travel."

"You always used to talk about the places you'd like to visit on some of those extreme outdoor adventures," she said, scrunching her nose. "Sport fishing in the Amazon, big game hunting in Africa..." She shuddered. "The thought of you doing some of those things used to scare the hell out of me. Of course, you didn't have two nickels to rub together back then, so I knew there was no immediate threat."

"Yeah," he said, smiling. "Ironic, isn't it? Back then I had no shortage of time, but I didn't have the money to make it happen. Now it's the other way around."

"Did moving here increase your workload?"

"Not really." He tipped his bottle back as his eyes scanned the room. The large pieces of furniture were light and neutral, but there were feminine touches like aqua curtains and throw cushions.

"What?" she asked, following his gaze around the room. "You don't like it?"

"No, it's great. I always wondered where you'd live, the kind of house you'd have."

"Then you thought about me over the years?" she asked, looking into her wine glass as her fingertip circled the rim.

He wanted to tell her he'd thought about her more than he cared to admit, but he was determined to keep it casual. "Of course I thought about you. How could I not? We were a big part of each other's lives for a long time. And after what we shared..." He didn't want them to keep circling back to the adoption, though it was inevitable. "Well, I guess it's only natural we'd wonder."

"I thought about you too." She sounded almost shy as she admitted, "I'm really glad you're back, Wes. I've missed you."

Those three little words made it even more difficult for him to suppress the urge to kiss her. He'd wanted to ever since he laid eyes on her in Rusty's bar, and every time he saw her, he wanted it more.

"I've missed you too." His voice was raspy as he tried to find a balance between the truth and scaring her off by revealing too much. "I've dated a fair bit over the years, when time allowed, but there's only been one Sage in my life."

She smiled, taking another sip of wine. "How selfish would I be to admit I'm happy to hear that?"

The doorbell rang, drawing them out of the moment.

Wes reached for his wallet. "That was quick."

"They're just around the corner," she said, jumping up. "You don't have to get that. My purse is in the--"

"Hey," he said, grabbing her arm before she could reach the hall. "I got this. You wouldn't want to get pizza sauce all over your fancy work clothes. Why don't you go throw some sweats on while I get the door?"

"Okay, thanks," she said, making a beeline upstairs.

He paid the delivery guy, grossly over-tipping him because he remembered what it was like to have a job like that. As he brought the box in and set it on the coffee table, his eyes drifted to a framed baby picture he hadn't noticed before. As he studied it, he sucked in a sharp breath.

"I have a feeling he'll look just like you," Sage said softly. She stood in the doorway, watching him. She'd changed into yoga pants, a black tank, and a white cropped hoodie.

Wes swallowed continuously, fixating on the perfect little baby in the old photograph. "Where did you get this?"

"Gabby took that just after he was born. I have another copy at the office. You should take that one."

"No, I couldn't." He set the frame back on the table, his eyes never leaving it. He tried to imagine the kind of young man that baby had grown into, but he couldn't. Would he be tall and broad like him or smaller in stature like his mom? Would he have Wes's blue eyes or Sage's dark eyes?

"Please," she said, walking over to the table to pick up the frame. "I can always have another copy made, Wes. You should have this one."

He wanted it. More than anything. "Thanks." He realized his hand was trembling when he reached out to take it.

She must have seen it too because she gave him a wobbly smile. "I'll just grab us some plates and napkins for the pizza. Do you want another beer?"

"No, I'm driving, so I shouldn't."

"A soda or water then?"

"I'm good, thanks."

He appreciated her excuse to leave him alone for a minute. He needed to collect himself before he made a damn fool of himself by weeping. It's not that he hadn't cried over the loss of his son over the years. Just not in front of anyone.

She returned and set a bottled water down in front of him.

"Thanks," he said.

"I'm so scared," she whispered, staring at the photo in his hands. "What if he hates me?"

Wes wanted to tell her that was impossible, that no one who knew her could hate her, but their son didn't know her and could very well hate her. "Actually, that's what I came here to talk to you about." He set the frame on the table. "I'm guessing Gabby told you about our talk?"

"Yeah, that's why she was here. She was afraid she overstepped by going to see you, and she didn't want me to hate her." She dished up the pizza and handed him a plate along with a paper napkin. "But she knows I could never stay mad at her, even if she does stick her nose in where it doesn't belong sometimes."

"Because she loves you." Wes knew he didn't have to remind her of that. He'd never known two women more connected than Gabrielle and Sage.

"I think she loves us together, if you want the truth." She laughed almost self-consciously. "You know how many times over the years she's told me I haven't gotten serious with anyone else because you were my soul mate?"

Wes took a bite of pizza because if he didn't, he would blurt out something stupid like... She's right! Judging by the sudden color in her cheeks, Sage was wishing she could take her words back.

"But she raised a good point," he said, trying to give her a graceful way to change the subject. "Maybe I should reach out to him first. I can try to explain the situation. If he's willing to see us again after that, he might be more receptive to seeing you, after he's heard the story."

"No." She shook her head emphatically, reminding him of the stubborn girl he used to love. Once she dug her heels in about something, there was no changing her mind. "I want to meet him. With you. I don't want you to try to convince him he doesn't have the right to feel hurt or angry or confused. He does. I don't want to make him feel guilty for feeling that way. I'm sure we would in his position, right?"

"I guess you're right."

"You know I am."

They ate in silence for a few minutes with him polishing off two pieces of pizza to her one.

"Have you started to do any digging yet?" she asked, reaching for her water. "You said something about hiring someone to help find him?"

"Yeah, but the lawyer I contacted said that if it was an open adoption, the adoption agency should be able to tell us something. Do you have any paperwork that might help? You know, from the adoption agency you dealt with--something with their name or phone number?"

"I do," she said, jumping up. "It's in my office. I'll be right back."

He appreciated that she was making this easy for him. When he'd come back to town, he wasn't sure what to expect. There had been a lot of hostility between them when he left, mainly because they'd disagreed about the right course of action.

"Penny for your thoughts," she said, standing in the doorway with a nondescript manila envelope pressed to her chest.

"I was just thinking it's nice we can be friends after everything that went down between us." When she didn't respond, he added, "Assuming that's what we are? Friends?"

"I think so." She sat on the edge of the sofa, farther away than she'd been before. "I mean, I'd like to be friends." She bit her lip, her eyes straying back to the photo. "Gabby has been amazing, but no one else really understands what it was like to give him up, to wonder all these years about what he's like."

"What does he look like?" Wes said, knowing he was speaking her thoughts. "Does he have any of your mannerisms or mine?"

"Is he an athlete like you or a writer like me?"

"Does he love the outdoors?" Wes cleared his throat. "Did his adoptive dad ever take him fishing or hunting? Is that something they like to do together?"

She surprised him by placing a hand on his knee. "Does he have a girlfriend?" She wrinkled her nose, making him laugh. "God, I'm not sure I could handle that. I still imagine him as a little boy, you know?"

"Yeah, me too." Thinking about all of the important moments they'd missed out on killed Wes. But if they were lucky enough to get a second chance to be a part of his life, they had a lot of amazing moments to look forward to. Like high school and college graduations. Maybe a wedding and grandbabies.

She pulled her hand away, resting her elbows on her knees as she covered her face with her palms. "God, I just pray he doesn't tell us to go to hell and he never wants to hear from us again."

Wes inched closer, resting his hand on her back. "Babe, there's a chance of that happening. We have to be prepared for that." The endearment had slipped out before he had a chance to censor it.

Instead of reprimanding him, she leaned into him, taking the support he offered. "I'm just so glad you're here to do this with me. I don't think I could do it alone."

He was dying to kiss her, but it wasn't the right time. She was sad and vulnerable and scared, and he refused to take advantage of that. With any luck, their love for their son would be the bridge that brought them back together, but Wes didn't want her to think, even for a second, that he was trying to use this horrible situation only to reconnect with her.

"I'm not sure I could either," he said honestly, brushing his lips against her temple.

***

Wes was completely stunned when he got off the phone with the adoption agency the next day. He hadn't been able to track down the adoptive parents via the records Sage gave him... and with good reason. His adoptive father had died, and the mother remarried and changed her name. Apparently the lady at the adoption agency knew that because the adoptive mother had called the agency to provide her new information... in case Nick's birth parents ever sought him out.

After all these years, his son finally had a name. Nicholas.

He stared at the photo Sage had given him, which was now displayed prominently right beside his phone on his desk. He was still trying to decide whom he should call first: Nick's adoptive mother or Sage, to fill her in on what he'd learned. He didn't know if she would want to be a part of the phone conversation or not. They hadn't discussed that last night.

"Knock, knock."

Wes smiled when he saw his mother outside his door. If anyone could help him make sense of this, she could. He jumped up and walked around his desk before enveloping her in a huge hug. "How is it you always know when I need you?"

She smiled, patting his cheek. "You know that's a mother's job. Besides, I might be here on a bit of a fishing expedition. And I wouldn't come without the right kind of bait." She held up a paper bag, shaking it under his nose.

He didn't even have to ask what was inside--his favorite homemade chocolate chip pecan cookies. He laughed as he dug into the bag then popped one of the small cookies in his mouth, moaning with appreciation as he closed his eyes. "God, these are good."

He offered her one, which she declined, before he set the bag on his desk and headed for the coffeemaker set up in the small kitchenette in the corner of his office.

"You want one?" he asked, raising a mug.

"No, thanks, honey." She watched him carefully. "So I was helping out at the church this morning when Vera Banks told me an interesting bit of news."

"Oh yeah, what's that?"

"Well, I don't know if you know this, but she's Sage's neighbor now. She lives right across the street. When her husband died, she wanted to downsize. That big old house with all that acreage was just too much for her to handle on her own and--"

"Mom, I think I know where you're going with this." As much as Wes loved his mother, the only thing he didn't love about being back home was her well-meaning meddling.

"Vera said she thought it was your truck parked at Sage's house for hours last night. Is that true?"

Since Wes knew he would eventually have to tell his mother about their plans and he could have used some advice right about now, he decided to distract her from the matter of him and Sage with the one thing that would set her on a different course--her grandson. "Here," he said, passing her the frame. "Sage gave this to me last night."

Tears filled her blue eyes before she clasped her hand over her mouth. "Oh my God, this is...?" She sank into one of the guest chairs.

"Nick." Wes smiled, his chest swelling with pride, though he knew he had no reason to be proud of the boy. He didn't even know him. "That's the name his adoptive parents gave him."

"Um, honey..." She set the frame back on the desk. "I know I should have told you about this sooner, but I wasn't sure you wanted to talk about it. Sage wrote a book about the adoption and--"

"I know." He pulled the book out of his desk drawer, holding it up before sitting back in his chair. "Read it cover to cover."

"Me too. Several times, in fact."

They shared a long look. It was all he needed to remind him that he and Sage weren't the only people who had suffered when they gave their son up for adoption. His parents hadn't wanted him to do it. They'd even offered to help him raise the baby, but that wasn't an option Sage's parents were willing to consider. As far as they were concerned, there was only one choice--adoption.

"I was so heartbroken for Sage when I read that book." Her jaw clenched as she straightened her silver-framed glasses. "The way her parents pressured her into--"

"I know." Wes didn't want to go there again. If he did, he was afraid he'd drive across town and let her parents have it. Something he probably should have done years ago. "But that's ancient history, right?"

"She was young," she said gently. "You were both so young, honey. I know you don't agree with the decision she made and you resented being pressured into going along with it, but you have to know how much she regrets it."

"You and Sage have talked about the adoption?" Wes didn't know why he was so stunned to hear that, only that he'd never imagined Sage having the courage to broach the subject with his mother.

"You know she goes to my church, right?"

"No, I didn't know that."

"Well, she does. Anyways, when she wrote the book, it circulated at the church, of course. It helped a lot of families who'd been touched by adoption. The reverend even asked her to speak about it." She smiled. "She was wonderful. I was so proud of her."

"Really?" He didn't know how to feel about the fact that his mother's relationship with Sage had continued, even grown stronger, though she'd never said anything to him about his ex. "I'm sorry I missed that."

"You need to forgive, son."

"I've already forgiven Sage. I know she was just doing what she thought was best for all of us."

"I'm talking about her parents. I know you think they're the reason you weren't able to raise your son, and you may be right. But it's not healthy to carry around all that hate and resentment."

Wes had never even entertained the idea of forgiving the Brevilles. Not that he thought they wanted his forgiveness. He was certain they couldn't care less how he felt about them. "I have more important things on my mind than them right now." He held up the slip of paper that contained the name of the woman who could provide a direct line to the missing part of his life.

"What's that?" she asked, frowning.

"The name and number of Nick's adoptive mom."

"Oh, wow." Her eyes widened. "You're going to reach out to her? Does Sage know?"

"She knows. That's the reason I was at her place last night, to discuss it."

"Oh." Her slim shoulders slumped slightly, beneath her thin, hand-knit gray cardigan. "I thought maybe you two were seeing each other again."

"We're not." Not that he didn't wish they were. "But we have decided we'd like to meet our son. Together."

She clasped her hands, looking elated once again. "Oh, Wes. That is so wonderful!"

"I hope it will be."

"You're worried that he won't be receptive?" She pursed her lips. "I guess I can understand that. After all, he has no way of knowing the circumstances or how much we all love him and wish he were a part of our lives."

The last thing Wes wanted was to give his mother false hope. She'd already been hurt enough. "Mom, listen, I know you want grandchildren, but you have to understand that Nick has a family of his own. He may never want to be a part of ours, and we have to accept that."

"I know." She faked a smile, shaking her head. "We have to deal the hand we're dealt, right? But I still think it's wonderful that you and Sage have decided to reach out to him. That must have been a difficult decision for both of you."

"Not for me." Wes felt as if he'd been counting down the days until he could make this happen. "I've wanted to do this for a really long time."

"So why didn't you?"

Trying to make her see it from his perspective wouldn't be easy, but he wanted to try. "For a long time, I had nothing to offer him."

"You had your love to give him. Don't you know by now that's the only thing that matters?"

Love had been more than enough in his family because his parents had been there for their children from day one... until his father died. He sure wished the old man were around now to meet his only grandson for the very first time.

"I wanted him to be proud of me." Wes knew it may not have made sense to anyone else, but he didn't want to come to his son as a broken and confused kid still trying to find his way. By the time he met Nick, he'd wanted to be a mature man who'd repented for his mistakes, made a good life for himself, and could offer his son some help and guidance, assuming he wanted it.

"How could he not be proud of you?" She gestured around his office. "Just look at what you and Colt have accomplished. It's nothing short of a miracle, if you ask me."

Wes chuckled. There was nothing miraculous about it. They'd busted their asses, working eighty-hour weeks and sleeping on the couches in their office when they were too tired to drive home.

"I appreciate that, Mom. But it's not just about the business, though I am proud of that. When I met him for the first time, I wanted to be able to tell him about the life I'd lived and feel like..." He'd imagined their first conversation a hundred times, but he had no way of knowing if it would go down the way he hoped it would, and that scared him. "I don't know, like I'd accomplished something, I guess. Like I had something to offer him, some wisdom." He met her smile with one of his own. "That's one of the things I remember most about my talks with Dad when I was Nick's age. He always seemed to have all the answers."

She laughed, fluffing her silver hair. "I'm glad you think so, but I can assure you that wasn't the case. Since you were the oldest, I think Dad practiced on you. He often told me he hoped he didn't screw you kids up too bad. He hated that he wasn't able to get an education. He felt he wasn't smart enough to be able to teach you everything you needed to know."

Wes's heart ached when his thought of his father thinking, even for a second, that he hadn't been enough for his family. He'd been more than enough, with or without some stupid piece of paper to deem him worthy. "If education was so important to Dad, why'd he let me drop out of college to start this business with Colt?"

"Because he knew it was your dream. How could he stand in the way of that?"

Wes picked up another photo on his desk, one that meant almost as much to him as the picture of his son. It was the last one taken of their entire family before his father died, and in it, the old man was beaming simply because they'd all managed to make it home for Christmas. "I don't think I would have had the courage to pursue this if he hadn't told me the best life lessons were found in your failures. That took some of the pressure off me. I figured the worst thing that could happen was we'd fail."

"But you didn't fail," she said, reaching across the desk to squeeze his hand. "You've exceeded your wildest expectations, I'm sure."

"Believe me, we failed plenty, but we figured it out," he said, thinking about the early days when they'd almost had to file for bankruptcy because they couldn't pay their suppliers. After a beat of silence, he voiced his real fear. "But I can't afford to fail with Nick, Mom. That would kill me. I may only get one shot with him. What if I blow it?"

"I'll admit you're in a unique position," she said, sinking back in the chair as she crossed her legs. "Most parents have the luxury of screwing up with their kids every day and getting another chance to do it all over again the next day. Nick doesn't have to let you in. He can choose to keep you out of his life. Both you and Sage."

"Thanks for the reminder."

"So if you only get one shot with him, you have to make it count."

"I know, but how?"

"Think about what you want to say to him. If you only get one hour with him, what do you want him to know, not about you but about how you feel about him? What do you want to know about him? Remember, this isn't about you or the man you've become. It's about the man your son is becoming."

Wes pondered those words, knowing they were true. His son was on the verge of becoming a man, and the father who'd raised him was no longer in his life. Did that mean there was a place for him? "I don't want Sage to get hurt. If Nick lashes out at her, I'm not sure how she'll react."

"You still care about her."

"Of course I do." His gaze lingered on the picture that had scarcely been out of his sight since he got it. "We share this bond. I guess I've never stopped caring about her, even when I was mad as hell about the way things went down."

"We're all entitled to our mistakes. No one is perfect. Not you. Not Sage. Not her parents."

"But the difference is Sage and I have learned from our mistakes," he said. "Can you say the same for her parents?"

"It's not up to me to judge Sage's parents. I don't know what they were thinking or how they were feeling when they insisted she give that baby up for adoption. But I have to assume they were just looking out for their daughter because they loved her and wanted to protect her. When you're a parent, you don't always make the right calls. But as long as you do it from a place of love--"

Wes raised his hand. "Mom, the Brevilles are nothing like you and Dad. They're selfish, manipulative--"

"They're Sage's parents, Wes," she said, her tone brooking no argument. "And your son's grandparents whether you want to acknowledge that or not. If Nick does want a relationship with you and Sage, what do you plan to do, exclude them from his life to punish them for what they did?"

Wes hadn't thought that far ahead, but he couldn't imagine Sage's parents wanting to have a relationship with the baby they'd wanted nothing to do with all those years ago.

"If you want to pave the way for Sage with Nick, I'd suggest offering him a copy of her book. She poured her heart out on those pages. After reading that, there's no way he could question how much she loves him. He'd know that she was only doing what she thought was best for him when she signed those papers."

Wes turned over the book to see Sage's beautiful face smiling at him from the glossy cover. "Maybe you're right. If Nick reads it, he might see the real Sage, even before he meets her."

"Well," she said, standing, "I'm sure you have some phone calls you're dying to make, so I'll let you get to it. Call me and let me know how it goes?"

"You know I will," he said, walking her to the door before giving her a hug. "You're the best."

"So are you, sweetheart. I love you, and good luck."

# Chapter Seven

After getting the go-ahead from Sage to make the call without her, Wes held his breath as the phone rang once, twice, three times, before a woman finally picked up.

"Hello?"

"Mrs. Martin, my name is Wes Davis, and I'm--"

She gasped. "You're Nick's father. His birth father. Oh my God, I'd never forget your name. How could I? You gave me the greatest gift in my life."

Wes swallowed several times, overcome by her praise. He'd been so caught up in his grief over losing his son that he'd never thought about what it would mean to this woman to get the child she'd likely spent years praying for. "I hope you don't mind that I'm calling--"

"No, not at all. In fact, I hoped you would someday."

Wes was relieved that she wasn't going to make this difficult or awkward. "You were?"

"Of course. After Roger died--that's my late husband--I was so worried about Nick. I even thought about calling you myself, but I didn't know how you'd feel about that. He was going through such a rough time losing his father, and I thought meeting you might help."

"I wish I'd known." Wes thought of all the times he'd considered reaching out to his son but had been afraid it would be like pouring salt in an open wound so he'd suffered in silence.

"He's doing much better now. I'm not sure if the agency told you... I'm assuming that's how you got my new number?"

"Yes, ma'am, it is. I hope you don't mind?"

"Oh, goodness, no. That's why I gave it to them. I always wanted you to have a way to reach Nick if you decided you wanted to. Anyways, my husband died about four years ago now. I remarried just a couple of years ago. Thankfully Nick gets along pretty well with my new husband. I wouldn't have married him otherwise, you know."

Knowing that she put Nick first put Wes's mind at ease, no matter how selfish he felt for thinking it. "Can I ask you a question?"

"Anything."

"Has he ever asked about me and Sage?"

"Of course he has." He heard the smile in her voice when she said, "I told him that you were both very young and didn't have the means to support a baby, so you gave him to us because you loved him and wanted him to have the best possible life."

"Thank you." Wes breathed a sigh of relief, knowing how lucky he was that his son had been placed with a caring, compassionate woman.

"When he was seven, we told him he was adopted. He asked why he didn't have brown eyes like us or red hair like me." She chuckled. "And Roger had blond hair. Nick's hair is very dark, almost black, and his eyes are blue."

Like mine.

"He was also quite the athlete, even from an early age, and I'm embarrassed to admit the both of us struggled to throw a ball in a straight line. We knew it wouldn't be long before he started asking more questions, and since we never intended to keep the adoption from him, we decided that was as good a time as any to tell him."

"Does he, um, still play sports?"

She laughed. "It seems that's all he does these days. That and hang out with his friends. He really is a wonderful young man, Mr. Davis. I think you'd be very proud of him. I know I am."

Wes was humbled that she would think he had any reason to be proud of him when she and her husband were the ones who'd done all the hard work raising him. "You must wonder why I'm calling now, after all these years."

"I am curious."

"I returned to Vista Falls not long ago and reconnected with Nick's mom, uh, I'm sorry, with Sage."

"You don't have to apologize. She's as much his mother as I am. She did give him life after all. She kept him safe until he could be brought into the world and..." She sighed. "Never mind. I just have very strong opinions about the roles we play as birth and adoptive parents, I guess."

"I wasn't sure you'd think we had a part to play at all to be honest." Sometimes Wes thought of himself as little more than a sperm donor, though not a day had passed without him wishing he could be more.

"You said you and Ms. Breville reconnected recently. Does that mean you're a couple again?"

"No." Wes wondered if she felt threatened by the prospect of Nick's parents reuniting and wanting to be a family. "I want to assure that the reason I called has nothing to do with us wanting to interfere in the way you're raising your son. I'm sure--"

Before he could continue, Mrs. Martin asked in a rush, "Nothing's wrong, is it? You're not calling because something hereditary came up, did it?"

"No, no! Not at all. I guess we just want the chance to meet him, to see if he has any questions for us, you know, about why we gave him up."

"Oh! I'm sure he does have questions, though I think Ms. Breville's book may have helped to answer some of them."

"Nick's read Sage's book?" Wes wondered how Sage would feel knowing that their son had read her personal account of the most trying time of her life.

"I read it first," she admitted. "See, we don't live too far from Vista Falls, and our local newspaper ran a story about Ms. Breville's book. She was having a book signing at our local bookstore."

"Really?"

"I'm ashamed to admit I went there to see her. I thought about introducing myself when she signed my book, but I wasn't sure how she would react. I didn't want to embarrass her in front of all those people, and honestly, I think I just lost my nerve."

"Wow, it's a small world. I can't believe you've met Sage... and read her book."

"It was beautiful, the book. I cried most of the way through it, knowing what she'd gone through and how much it cost her to trust us, two strangers, with her precious baby."

"How did Nick react when he read it?" Wes knew that would be Sage's first question when she found out Nick had read the book, and he wanted to be able to provide her with some answers.

"I think it helped him to understand why you did what you did. It answered a lot of his questions about the adoption and the kind of people his birth parents were."

"I'm glad, but there's no substitute for meeting face-to-face and talking, is there?"

"No, I guess not. But you understand that has to be his decision, don't you? I can encourage him to meet you, assuming he asks for my advice. But I won't pressure him into doing anything he's uncomfortable with."

"I understand." Suddenly remembering there was another man in the picture now, Wes felt compelled to ask, "Your current husband, do you think he'll be okay with this?"

"I know he will. We've talked about what would happen if you and Ms. Breville ever reached out to us. We want Nick to have the opportunity to meet you, Mr. Davis. Whether he chooses to or not, we want him to know that you want to get to know him."

"I'm glad, and please call me Wes."

"Okay, Wes." She paused. "Would it be strange to admit that I know a bit about you?"

"Not at all." Since she'd had their names all these years, Wes would have thought it strange had she not Googled them from time to time.

"Congratulations on your success with your company. Backwoods Outdoors is one of Nick's favorite stores. Whenever we're in the city, he always wants to go there. Of course, he orders from your online store too, but he always says there are some things you just need to hold in your hands."

"He's, um, into the outdoors?" He closed his eyes, imagining all of the things they'd missed out on: hunting and fishing trips, camping, hiking... Wes was getting a clearer picture of who his son was, and he couldn't wait to get to know him better.

"Didn't I mention we live on a small hobby farm? He's loved nature and animals for as long as I can remember."

"Wow, that's amazing."

"Oh, I think I hear the school bus now. Yup, there it is. If you want to wait a minute, I'll step outside and have a word with him. See if he might be up to talking to you now?"

Wes wanted nothing more than to hear his son's voice for the first time, but he didn't want the kid to feel as if he'd been ambushed. "Do you think that's a good idea? I mean, if you'd rather talk to him first, I can leave my number. If he wants to talk, he can call me."

"Trust me, that boy knows his own mind. If he doesn't want to talk to you, he won't. It's as simple as that. So do you want to wait?"

"Sure. Thanks." Wes heard her put the phone down, and he held his breath, wondering if she'd return to tell him his dream of meeting his son was never going to happen.

"Hello."

Wes immediately recognized the sound of a boy on the verge of becoming a man trying to sound older and more mature than he was. He realized he should have taken more time to rehearse what he wanted to say because now that he had Nick's undivided attention, he was at a loss. "Hey, Nick. I hope you don't mind that I called."

"No, it's cool."

"Okay, um..." There were so many things he wanted to say, so many questions he wanted to ask, but none seemed appropriate over the phone. "I was wondering if it would be possible for us to meet sometime. We'd love to talk to you, get to know you better."

"We?"

"Me and Sage." Your mom. He'd stopped just short of saying that, knowing the kid could argue he already had a mom and it wasn't some woman he'd never met. "Your mom said you don't live too far from Vista Falls...?"

"No, we're in Brock."

Less than an hour away. Wes couldn't believe he'd been so close yet so far away.

"Do you have any plans for this weekend?" Nick hadn't even expressed an interest in seeing them yet, and he could still shoot him down, but Wes prayed for the best.

"I have a football game on Friday night. You guys can come if you want. Maybe after we can go grab a burger or something?"

"Yeah, sure. We'd love that." Wes didn't even have to ask Sage first. He knew nothing in her life would take priority over this meeting. "Why don't I give you my cell number? If there's a change of plans or if you change your mind, you can call or text to let me know." He didn't want to believe Nick would have a change of heart after he'd had time to think about it, but it was a possibility.

"Sure, hold on. Let me grab my phone. I'll put you in my contacts."

Wes couldn't believe how casual he sounded. Meanwhile, his heart was beating so fast he could feel it through his black Henley. As he rhymed off the numbers, he debated whether to ask Nick for his cell number. Before he could ask, Nick said he'd text him in a few with the time and place of the game.

"Your mom told me you're really into the outdoors," Wes said, not ready for the conversation to end. "Anything you need, you know, in terms of gear?" It was the least he could do given how much he owed him.

"No, thanks. I'm good."

Wes tried not to be hurt or offended. He didn't know many fourteen- or fifteen-year-old outdoor enthusiasts who would turn down the offer of free gear. Baby steps, he told himself. He'd never given Nick any reason to trust him or his word. "Okay then, I guess we'll see you on Friday night."

"How do you know she'll want to come? Don't you have to ask her first?"

She. Her. It pained Wes to think Nick didn't know what to call Sage. Friday would no doubt be awkward for all of them at first, but he hoped it would be the first of many meetings. "No, I have no doubt she'll want to be there."

"Okay, whatever you say...?"

"Wes, call me Wes." He didn't want there to be any confusion about what he thought his role was in Nick's life. Nick had had a father. Now he had a stepfather. The most Wes could hope for was to be his friend.

"Okay, later."

***

Sage was sipping a glass of wine when the doorbell rang. She'd been on pins and needles all day, waiting to hear how Wes's call had gone, so she was relieved to see him standing outside her door.

"Thank God," she said, pulling him inside. "Why didn't you call me? I was dying to hear how it went. What did she say? Was she mad that you called?"

"Relax," Wes said, smiling. "It went great. She seems like a really nice lady. In fact, she seemed happy that I called."

"Really?" Sage took a deep breath, tipping her head back. "I'm so relieved. I didn't want her to think that we were trying to move in and reclaim him or something."

"Even better than that. I got to talk to Nick and--"

"Nick? That's his name?"

"Yeah. Nicholas Barrett."

Wes smiled when her lip trembled as she tried to keep her emotions in check. She'd always imagined what his given name might be. It was so nice to finally know for sure. She cleared her throat. "That's nice. I like it."

"Yeah, me too. Anyways, he invited us to come to Brock to watch his football game on Friday night. He said we could grab a burger afterward and..." Wes frowned when Sage set her wine glass on the hall table because her hand was shaking. "That's okay, isn't it? You still want to meet him, don't you?"

"More than anything." She walked away when she couldn't hold the tears back any longer. "But I can't believe he wants to meet us. Me. I can't believe he wants to meet me."

She walked into the living room and picked up the photo of Nick she'd brought home from her office. She'd stopped at a little shop on Main Street that specialized in handmade local crafts and selected a small mother-of-pearl frame for her most treasured possession.

Wes came up behind her, resting his hands on her shoulders. "I know it's a lot to take in, but I honestly think we'll be more nervous than he will. He sounded really cool, like a normal, well-adjusted teenager."

"I'm glad." She ran her hand over the chubby cheeks that she'd only had the chance to kiss one time before her baby had been whisked away. She couldn't help but wonder if she'd have the chance to kiss or hug him again.

"It turns out he lives on a hobby farm." Wes chuckled. "And he's not only into the outdoors but sports too."

She smiled at the pride in his voice as she tipped her head back to look at him. "Hmm, sounds a lot like someone else I know." Being with Wes again, feeling his hands on her, felt so good, even if he was only a supportive friend who wanted to see her through a tough time.

"I didn't know how I'd feel," he admitted, dropping his hands to his sides when she stepped aside. "Talking to him for the first time. I was nervous as hell the first few minutes, but after that, it felt really natural."

"Then he didn't give you a hard time?" Sage reclaimed her wine glass and took a healthy sip.

"Not at all. I'm sure he was surprised to hear from me, but he didn't let on."

"Can I get you anything? A beer, maybe? Have you eaten?" When he didn't respond, she said, "I was just about to throw a steak on the grill. Care to join me?"

"You haven't eaten yet either?" he asked, checking his watch. "It's almost seven thirty."

"I was too nervous to eat," she admitted, knowing he would understand.

"Then why don't we go out and grab something? Save you from having to cook."

Vista Falls was a small town, and tongues would no doubt wag if people saw them around town together. "If it's all the same to you, I'd rather stay in tonight. I'm pretty tired."

"You didn't sleep well last night?"

"Not really." She drained her wine glass, thinking she'd had more to drink in the last two nights than she'd had in the past month. Not that the alcohol had helped to settle her nerves. The only thing that would put her mind at ease was seeing and talking to Nick.

"In that case, let me do the honors. Just lead the way, and I'll fire up the grill."

Sage led him through the dining area to the kitchen, which led to the back patio. She gestured to the stainless steel barbeque in the corner of the large, semi-circular stone patio. "Have at it. I'll just toss the salad. Baked potatoes okay with it?"

"Sure, whatever. I'm easy." He went outside, turned the gas grill on, and reached for the grill brush to clean it.

Sage got a flash of what their life might have been like if they'd been a real couple, a real family. Would every summer night have been like this--barbeques on the patio while they talked about their day?

"What're you thinking?" he asked through the screen door, smiling when he caught her staring. "And don't say nothing. I can practically see the wheels turning."

"Nothing. I should get the steaks for you. Be right back."

She tried to collect herself, to focus on why they were spending so much time together. Nick. It had nothing to do with residual feelings from a lifetime ago. He was just trying to be a good guy, to keep her in the loop about their son. She had to remember that.

"Is it weird for you, being with me again?"

She nearly squealed when she realized he was standing behind her. He'd let the door close without the telltale slam, and she'd been so caught up in her own thoughts she hadn't heard him come in.

Considering the best way to answer his question, she repeated, "Is it weird for me? I don't know. Is it weird for you?"

"It's..." He chuckled. "Hell yeah, it's weird. But it feels right somehow. After the way we left things, I wasn't sure what to expect when I came back, but seeing you again has been like catching up with an old friend. You know how it is. Sometimes you can go twenty years without seeing someone and feel like you just saw them yesterday. That's how it is with you."

He saw her as an old friend? An old friend he'd conceived a child with!

"I'm glad we've been able to put the past to rest," she said, faking a smile as she passed him a plastic container of her favorite steak seasoning and a small platter containing two rib eyes. "It'll make things a lot easier, especially since we'll be running into each other all over town, I'm sure."

"If I have my way, we will," he said, smirking. He walked outside, this time letting the door slam shut behind him.

Sage braced her hands on the granite countertop, taking a few deep breaths before she refilled her wine glass and retrieved a beer from the fridge for him. She took a pair of tongs from the cupboard and returned to the patio to find him seasoning the steaks before he used the tongs to set them on the grill.

"Here you go," she said, passing him the beer.

"Thanks." He tipped it back, his eyes never leaving hers as she sipped her wine.

She should have gone inside to nuke the potatoes and toss the salad, but she was having trouble tearing herself away from him. "So tell me more about Nick."

"His dad died a while back," he said, resting the tongs on the platter. "His mother remarried, but she said he gets along well with his stepfather. Like I said, he's into the outdoors and loves sports. That's really all I know." He opened the lid of the barbeque to flip the steaks. "I didn't think it would be right to pump either of them for information at this stage of the game. If it feels right to him, I'm sure he'll open up to us about his life."

"I guess you're right." Sage was glad Wes would be there to help her break the ice with their son. She knew nothing about teenage boys. But since Wes had been one not too long ago, she assumed it would be easier for him to relate to Nick.

"It seems your neighbor has got her eye on us, by the way," he said, winking. "She told my mother that my truck was parked at your house for a long while last night."

"Oh God," Sage said, covering her face with her hands. "You must mean Mrs. Banks. She's a sweet old lady but a real busybody. She knows everyone's business."

Wes laughed. "Yeah, I remember her. We went to school with her grandson, Jimmy, right?"

"Mmmhmm." She took a sip of wine. "Every time I have someone spend the night, the whole town knows about it by morning." Sage stifled a gasp as she realized who she was talking to. She couldn't have a conversation with her ex-boyfriend about the men she'd slept with. She groaned. "God, I'm sorry. That was a really stupid thing to say."

He shrugged, obviously trying to play it off. "You're a beautiful woman, Sage. It's not like I don't know you've had other lovers since we broke up. Does it make me feel good to think about it? Hell no. But it is what it is. We both moved on with our lives."

"Yet we're back here again. Together. What does that mean?" She wouldn't have asked if she hadn't seen how tense he'd gotten when she mentioned other men.

"I don't know." His gaze strayed to hers. "It doesn't have to mean anything... unless you want it to?"

She had no idea what she wanted right now. The only thing she could think about was the fact that she'd be meeting her only child in just a few short days. "I should prepare that salad now. It looks like the steaks are almost ready."

"Way to dodge a bullet, Sage."

She could hear the laughter in his voice. He was undoubtedly calling her a coward, and maybe she was, but she knew she couldn't go on pretending forever. Eventually she would have to acknowledge there was definitely something still between them.

# Chapter Eight

Even though it was just supposed to be a casual dinner with an old friend, Wes couldn't remember the last time he'd had more fun with a woman. They talked and laughed, teased each other about old times, reminisced, and talked about their dreams--the ones they'd made come true and those they hadn't. He normally took months to open up to a woman like this... on the rare occasion when a relationship progressed to that point. But this was Sage. The girl he'd built his world around for years.

"So any regrets?" she asked as he refilled her coffee cup. "You've done what you set out to do. Made a fortune in an industry that you're passionate about. That's got to feel pretty good, right?"

"It feels amazing." He poured himself a second cup of coffee since there was no chance he'd sleep tonight. He'd be too busy thinking about what he would say to Nick when they finally met and whether he and Sage would still have an excuse to get together like this after they met their son.

He wanted more nights like this with her. As many as possible, in fact. But he didn't know if she had any recurring overnight guests. If so, that took him out of the running. He wouldn't share her with anyone. Ever. Assuming she was still interested in him romantically.

"I love that I'm able to work with my best friend and build a brand that we both believe in. Professionally, I can't imagine doing anything else," he said.

"And personally?"

"Now that's a different story." He had to be honest with her if they had a shot of taking their relationship beyond the friend stage, so he said, "I'd like to get married someday, have a family. How about you?"

She shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe. The dealership keeps me too busy for much of a social life, to be honest."

"But you must date some, or Mrs. Banks wouldn't have anything to gossip about." He couldn't let her earlier reference go, though he knew he should. Who she was sleeping with was none of his business, but if he had competition, he wanted to know.

She laughed, shaking her head. "I still can't believe I said that. I'm such an idiot sometimes."

He leaned forward, his eyes falling to her lips. "Tell me about all the guys who haven't been able to make you forget about me." He'd intended to make light of it, to tease her, but he saw there was a ring of truth to his words when the sparkle left her eyes.

"When you go through what we did, it changes you. At least it changed me. Getting into a casual relationship with someone without considering the possible consequences is hard. We may have been young and stupid, but we were careful, Wes. We always used protection. I still don't understand how I got pregnant."

"Does it really matter now?" Even though he hadn't been able to raise Nick, he'd never regretted for a single second that he'd been born. And he was beyond excited that he was going to get a chance to be his son's friend. "All that matters is that we have a child together."

She closed her eyes. The sounds of the crickets and their shallow breathing filled the thick, fragrant night air as they both processed their thoughts.

"Have you ever told any of the guys you've dated about the adoption?"

"Most of them knew after I wrote the book. That's the thing about living in a small town, right? There are no secrets."

"So you've dated a lot of local boys, huh?" Wes hated the idea of her sleeping with someone he knew, maybe even someone he'd once considered a friend. Though in a town the size of Vista Falls, that was inevitable.

"A few," she said, slipping the light wrap she'd left on the back of her chair around her shoulders.

"Anyone I know?"

She looked at him for a long time before she said, "I don't think I'd want to hear about the women you've dated. Do you really want to hear about the guys I've been with?"

"No, I guess not," he said with a rueful shake of his head. But he didn't want to run into an old buddy downtown and have to listen to him go on and on about how he'd fallen for Sage and she'd broken his heart.

She covered his hand with hers. "Suffice it to say life hasn't stood still for either one of us over the past fifteen years. I'm sure we've both dated, maybe even fallen in love--"

"Have you?" He brought her hand up to his mouth, curling his fingers around hers. "Fallen in love?"

"I thought I was once. He asked me to marry him, but I couldn't say yes. That's when I knew it wasn't love. I was with him because it was easy, convenient. He was a great guy, a good friend, but he wasn't the love of my life, you know?"

"Yeah, I do know." He knew all about looking for and never finding the person who could make him forget his first love. "You're not supposed to find the love of your life at fifteen, are you? I mean, that's just crazy, right?" He chuckled, suddenly uneasy about broaching that topic. He didn't know if time had dulled her feelings for him. Back then, she'd told him she would never love anyone else. But that was a lifetime ago. They'd both grown up, changed.

"It happens." She licked her lips. "I'm sure we wouldn't be the first ones."

At least he wasn't alone in believing what they'd had was special.

"You ever catch yourself wondering what our life would have been like now if we'd kept Nick and raised him ourselves?"

"Of course I have." She sighed as she looked at the stars. "We'd be the parents of a teen. From everything I've heard, that's not easy."

"Maybe we'd have had more kids. You think?"

"Probably." She smiled. "Assuming one of us didn't run away or try to kill the other inside the first year."

Wes laughed, thinking about some of the intense fights they'd had when they'd been stubborn, opinionated teens themselves. "We were way too young for the kind of love we found. Just think about it. Nick's about the same age now that we were when we met. I don't even know the kid, yet I know I wouldn't want him to get tangled up in anything that intense right now."

"You're right." She leaned forward, reaching for her mug before sitting back with her hands curled around it. "Maybe if we'd met in college instead, we would have been more mature, better prepared for what happened."

"My mother told me that I need to forgive your parents." He knew this would be a sore subject, but he was sick and tired of running from the truth. "I'd never even considered that a possibility until now."

"What happened to change your mind?" she asked, watching him over the rim of her cup.

"I put myself in your old man's place. I haven't even raised Nick, so it's crazy to say that I love and want to protect him, but I do. I wouldn't want him to meet the love of his life now, and I sure as hell wouldn't want him to get her pregnant. So maybe seeing things from a dad's perspective helps me to understand the way yours was feeling when he pressured you into following through with the adoption."

She released a long, slow breath as he lit the candle that was supposed to help keep the bugs at bay. "He said that I had dreams, and he was right. Since I was a little girl, I'd always loved books. You know school was my thing. I'd always thrived in academics. I couldn't wait to go to college and study classic literature and..." She shook her head. "And my father reminded me that if I had the baby, my life would revolve around him. And you. He said I'd eventually wind up hating my life and resenting the two people I loved most. He said he didn't want that for me."

"Do you believe that he was being as selfless as he claimed, only thinking about what was best for you?"

"Not really. I wanted to be a writer, and he wanted me to get a business degree. I think he always hoped that I'd come back here and run the dealership since my brother made it clear he wanted no part of it."

"Have you ever thought about selling it?"

"That's the plan," she admitted. "I told my parents I'd run it and do my best to make it profitable so that at least we'd have a prayer of attracting a buyer. But you know how it is in a small town like this. People either don't have the money or don't want the stress of trying to keep a small business afloat, especially during tumultuous economic times."

"So you'll have to go on running it indefinitely if you don't get a buyer?" Wes hated the idea of her trading in her dreams for someone else's. It didn't seem fair.

"It's not like I have a choice. My father's medical bills and rehab after the stroke weren't cheap. The cost to maintain that house they live in, not to mention their vacation properties, and paying my brother's tuition is a lot. Someone has to make sure there's enough to cover it all."

"The burden shouldn't fall on your shoulders. It's not right."

"It'll be easier when my brother's finished school. Maybe if we haven't sold the business by then, I'll at least be able to hire an assistant manager and cut back on my hours so I can write some more. Anyway, enough about me," she said, shaking her head. "Have you thought about our meeting with Nick, how we'll handle his questions?"

"We'll be honest with him," Wes said, thinking that was the only option. "We'll offer to answer any questions he has. Tell him we don't expect anything from him but would like to be there for him any way we can." He studied Sage while she nodded slowly. "What's wrong? You don't agree?"

"No, I do. I was just thinking about how I would feel in his position, the questions I'd want to ask."

"I'm sure he's as curious about us as we are about him."

"Do you think he'll ever want to come here to see us--you know, see where we live, where we grew up? Maybe even meet our families, his family?" She rubbed her forehead. "I probably shouldn't say that, should I? He has his own family. It could be dangerous to start thinking of him as part of our family--"

"He is a part of us," Wes said, inching his iron chair closer to hers. "He always will be." He rested his elbow on the table and curled his warm hand around her cheek when she leaned in to meet him. "And it's okay to be scared. I am. And I'm sure he is too."

He was dying to kiss her, but once he crossed that line, he couldn't claim they were just friends trying to see each other through an emotional minefield. They'd have acknowledged a romantic interest that would introduce a whole new set of complications he didn't think either of them needed or wanted. Especially now, when they were on the verge of reuniting with their son.

"You know what I'm thinking about right now?" she whispered, her eyes traveling over his face.

"Tell me."

"I'm wondering why you haven't kissed me."

He drew a shaky breath, half chuckling as he struggled to find an answer that would make sense. "Believe me, it's not that I don't want to."

"But...?"

"Do we really want to complicate things right now?" he asked, rubbing his thumb over her cheek. "Shouldn't our focus be on Nick and trying to establish a relationship with him?"

"Yeah, you're right." She pushed her chair back, clearing her throat. "I'm just going to get these things inside before the bugs start swarming. Excuse me."

He knew she was embarrassed by what she perceived as his rejection, so he gave her the space she needed as he wondered whether he'd just made a huge mistake.

***

Wes hadn't heard from Sage since their dinner at her house, so he sent her a text to let her know he'd pick her up from her place around five so they could drive to Brock together. She'd texted back to let him know she'd see him then. No emoji. No indication of what she was thinking or feeling, whether she was scared or nervous, having any second thoughts or regrets. It was driving him crazy.

"Hey, man," Colt said, strolling into his office. "I need to get the hell out of here for a while. How 'bout we go out on the water for a few hours, see if the fish are biting?"

Wes knew his friend had probably made the suggestion for his benefit, knowing that he was counting down the hours until he met Nick. He had a ton of work beckoning, but his concentration was shot to hell. "Yeah, that sounds good."

"I put some gear in my truck, so we're good to go," Colt said as they walked through the front door of their single-story factory on their way to the parking lot.

"You were pretty sure I'd say yes, huh?" Wes asked. He stopped at his truck to grab his polarized sunglasses and a baseball cap. Since they never dressed up for work, they were always ready for an outdoor adventure.

"No, I just needed to get out on the water myself. I was hoping you'd want to tag along."

Wes waited until they were in Colt's truck, heading toward the lake, before he asked, "What's up? You rarely bug out in the middle of a workday."

"I'm not gonna lay my problems on you. Not today." Colt turned the radio up before slipping on his sunglasses.

"I wish you would," Wes said, turning the air conditioning off and opening his window. "You'd be doing me a favor, getting me out of my own head for a bit."

Colt sighed before cracking his window and breathing deeply, obviously enjoying the healing effects of the sunshine and fresh air as much as Wes was. "The old man asked to see me. He must have been having a lucid moment the last time my mother went to see him. Sounds like he's running out of time. I just don't know if I should go, you know? What purpose would it serve, seeing him again when he probably won't even know who I am when I get there?"

Wes would have given anything for one last conversation with his father, especially now, but he couldn't compare his situation with Colt's. His old man had been his best friend; Colt's had been his worst nightmare. Wes wasn't sure he'd ever be able to forgive the way Colt's father had treated his best friend.

"What could it hurt?" When Colt shrugged, Wes asked, "Could the old bastard honestly do any more harm than he already has? You may get a few things off your chest. Even if he doesn't know what the hell you're talking about, you'll know. Maybe it'll make you feel better."

"I've just been trying hard to put all that shit behind me," he said, curling his hand around the leather steering wheel. "What good would it do to start digging it up again?"

"He deserves to know how you feel. You should have the right to tell him. Don't cheat yourself out of that."

Colt turned into the gravel parking lot where a few other trucks with trailers were parked by the boat launch. Colt was parking his new Avalanche at the marina until he could buy or build a house on the water, so they grabbed their gear and trudged toward the dock.

They worked silently, loading the heavy tackle boxes, rods, and net just as they'd done thousands of times. This was their therapy. Whenever they were struggling with a problem, they'd head out on the water to work it out. Sometimes alone, sometimes together, depending on whether they needed to bend someone else's ear.

Colt started the engine, and they coasted through the narrow channel where the boat traffic was heavier even midweek. He slowed and pressed a few buttons on the GPS, deciding on the right spots to target. Once they'd dropped anchor and set their bait, they started casting in opposite directions, enjoying the silence for a few minutes.

Finally Colt said, "You must be nervous as hell about tonight."

"That's an understatement."

"How about Sage? How's she handling it?"

"Honestly? I don't know. I haven't talked to her in a few days."

"Something happen?" Colt asked, setting his rod in the rod holder before pulling a cold can of ginger ale from the cooler they'd brought. He handed one to Wes before peeling back the tab on his own.

"Call it a near kiss," Wes said, rubbing his face after setting down his own rod.

"A near kiss?" Colt chuckled. "That's a new one."

"I should have kissed her. I wanted to. She wanted me to. But I didn't."

"Why the hell not?"

"Because things are complicated enough already. I just want to get through this meeting with Nick tonight before I add any more drama to the mix."

"Then you do intend to kiss her?" Colt laughed when Wes rolled his eyes. "And we both know where that'll lead. You two never could keep your hands off each other. Didn't even matter who was around."

"Shut up," Wes muttered as he eyed the GPS to gauge the water's depth and the position of the fish. "We're not horny teenagers anymore. We're not going to let things get out of hand. We know, better than most, what can happen when you don't think things through."

"So you're just going to hold back with her because you're scared? That doesn't sound like you, man."

It wasn't his usual M.O., but he'd never been in a situation like this. He couldn't afford to screw this up. For Sage's sake, as well as Nick's, he had to be responsible and think about what was best for them. "I want a relationship with my son. That's why I came back here, remember? To spend more time with my family, and that includes Nick."

"Yeah, but you can't deny Sage was a big part of the reason you came back too."

"Only because she's the mother of my son," Wes argued. "It's not like I came back home because I thought we could pick up where we left off when we were kids."

Wes cast his line, thinking about how different his life would have been if he'd stayed in Vista Falls and raised Nick with Sage. He wouldn't have had his business, but he would have had a family. To him, that was worth a hell of a lot more than some big fat bank account.

"But do you think you could?" Colt asked, watching him and waiting for a response as his bait dangled just above the surface of the water. "Start things up again with Sage? You loved her, Wes. Like you've never loved anyone."

Colt was the only person who could make a statement like that and know it to be true. He'd been with Wes through it all. Every one-night stand and disastrous first date. Every relationship with a clingy woman who was just looking for a ring. Even a pregnancy scare a few years back with a girl he'd only dated for a few weeks. But Wes could have said the same thing to Colt about Gabby. In the years that followed, he'd never loved anyone the way he loved her. He let his guard down with Gabby, something he rarely did even with his best friend.

"Everything feels more intense when you're that age. You know that," Wes said.

"So you're saying it was just some teenage thing?" Colt snorted, casting his line back in the water. "That's bullshit and you know it. We've both been around the block enough times to know the real thing when we see it."

"I guess you're right." Wes sighed before taking a sip of his cold drink. "But I don't know if Sage and I have a shot. She's got a lot going on with the dealership--"

"And there's the issue of her family hating your guts." Colt chuckled. "Don't forget that."

Wes would have bristled at that comment a few months ago. He may have even started spewing profanities about her father that would have made a sailor blush, but over the past few weeks, he'd imagined a hundred different scenarios from a father's perspective, and that made it easier to understand why Sage's parents disliked him so much. He'd gotten their baby girl pregnant when she about to go off to college and follow her dreams, her passion. Any parent might have felt the way they did.

"How could I?" Tired of talking about his own problems, Wes asked, "Have you seen Gabby again?"

Colt smirked. "You wanna know how pathetic I am?"

"I already know. But I could use a good laugh, so lay it on me."

"It was my mother's birthday yesterday, so I went into Gabby's shop to order some flowers."

"Okay." Wes didn't see the problem. "And?"

"I've never sent my mother flowers in my entire life. In fact, I found out later no one has."

"Really?" Wes supposed he shouldn't have been surprised since the poor woman had been married to a deadbeat who'd rather spend money on booze and cigarettes than treat her to a surprise.

"Yeah. So I could have called it in, ordered them online even. But I walked in there instead. Could I have been any more obvious?"

Wes laughed. "Did she call you on it?"

"No, you know Gabby. She wouldn't say or do anything to make someone uncomfortable. She just took my order and made small talk. I wanted to ask her out for dinner, you know, just something casual to catch up. But I lost my nerve and bailed."

Colt had never been shy with women, so the fact that he got tongue-tied around Gabby proved he still had strong feelings for her.

"Who ever thought we'd end up back here, pursuing our first loves? It's crazy, isn't it?"

"Is that what we're doing?" Colt asked, leaning forward when he clearly felt a tug on his line. After reeling it in, he rid the bait of weeds and cast it back out. "Pursuing Sage and Gabby?"

No. Pursuing Sage would have meant he'd made the decision that he wanted to be in a relationship with her. And he hadn't. They were a long way from a relationship. Hell, they'd barely reestablished their friendship. "I'm not there yet. How about you?"

"Nah, man. I've got other shit to deal with before I can even think about going after Gabby."

"You're talking about your old man?" When Colt ignored him, he asked, "Did you go and see him?"

"Not yet. I might though. I've been thinking about it."

Wes knew it wasn't his decision to make, but he said, "I think you should. We both came back here to face our pasts, right?"

"No, that's why you came back." Colt set his sunglasses on top of his head, glaring at Wes. "I came back because we're business partners and where you go, I go."

Wes smiled. "You came back because this is our home. You can deny it all you want, but this lake right here, this is where our dreams were born."

"Yeah, and it's probably where they'll die," Colt muttered, making Wes laugh as he slapped Colt on the back.

# Chapter Nine

Sage was so nervous on the one-hour drive to Brock that she couldn't bear to make small talk with Wes. After what had happened the other night, she didn't know what to think. He'd been the one to pull back, and she was mortified, but she also appreciated how much restraint it had taken for him not to rush in to something neither of them was ready for.

"What are you thinking?" Wes asked, casting a sidelong glance in her direction.

"I'm wondering what he'll look like, whether he'll be shy or outgoing, how he'll treat us." She'd been thinking about Nick almost nonstop since she learned she'd have the opportunity to meet him. When she wasn't thinking about his father.

"You'll have your answers soon enough." He glanced at the digital readout on his dashboard. "We should be there in about fifteen minutes."

"I still can't believe he was living so close to me all these years and I didn't even know it." She shouldn't have been too surprised. She'd known the family that adopted him had been from their state, but she'd never imagined he would have grown up in the very next county.

"I think they moved away for a while," Wes explained. "The lady at the adoption agency told me they moved back after Nick's dad died so they could be closer to her family."

"Makes sense." Though Sage couldn't imagine calling on her parents if she found herself in a similar situation. She'd have rather gone it alone.

"I don't think he'd have agreed to see us if he wasn't willing to hear us out," Wes said, reaching for her hand. "When we talked, he didn't sound angry or resentful, just curious."

With a thin smile, she nodded, almost wishing Nick would yell and scream and let her have it for giving him up when she should have fought to keep him. That was what she felt she deserved.

"I think he's had a really good life, Sage. His parents are good people. They love him and gave him a secure and safe home life, something we couldn't have back then."

"Then you think we made the right choice?" She bit her lip as she stared at their joined hands. "Giving him up?"

"Was it the right choice for us? Probably not. But it may well have been the right choice for him, and I guess that's the only thing that matters. You were trying to be selfless because you already loved him enough to want to give him the best possible start in life."

Her stomach ached when she thought of how her own future plans had factored into her decision. "I'm not as altruistic as you'd like to believe." She took a deep breath when they passed a hand-painted sign welcoming them to Brock. "I was also thinking about how hard it would be to be a teen mom, all the things I wouldn't be able to do if I had a baby."

"Of course you were thinking about that," Wes said, frowning. "Your life was just beginning. Anyone would have had those thoughts."

She appreciated him for trying to make her feel better, but she had to ask, "Did you feel the same way?"

He curled his hand more tightly around the steering wheel as he seemed to weigh his words. "You have to remember at that time, I didn't really know what the hell I wanted. Sure, I was gonna go to college because my dad wanted me to, and I was lucky enough to get that football scholarship. I'd have been an idiot to throw away an opportunity like that. But I wasn't like you. I didn't have big dreams. I talked about making it big someday, but I had no idea how it would happen."

At her questioning look, he said, "Sure, I had things in my life I was passionate about: you, sports, and the outdoors. But I knew I wasn't going to become a pro ball player. I wasn't that good. And aside from being a fishing guide, I didn't see how I could make a living from my love of the outdoors. At that age, even the idea of starting the kind of business we did would have been laughable."

"But I remember you talking about doing something like that," she argued then bit her lip when the high school came into view.

The parking lot was filling up quickly with everyone in town showing up to support the home team. After growing up in a small town, she knew those boys carried the weight of a whole town on their shoulders, not wanting to disappoint anyone with a loss at the end of a long and grueling work week.

"Yeah, but I didn't think it was a real possibility," Wes said, drawing her attention back to him.

"When did you decide to go for it?"

"Me and Colt were taking a business course our first year of college. We had to write a business plan for this theoretical business. That's when it hit us--why not do it for real? The worst thing that could happen was we'd fail. But since there was nothing else we really wanted to do, it didn't seem like much of a risk. So we went for it."

"And never looked back," Sage said, thinking how lucky they were to be living their dream while most people, including herself, only imagined what their life could have looked like if they'd been fearless enough to take more risks.

"I don't know about that," he said, claiming one of the last free spots before cutting the engine and turning to face her. "I've looked back plenty, thought about all that I left behind. Especially you."

Moments like this made it easy for her to forget they wouldn't be together at all if they weren't so desperate to forge a relationship with their son. They would have had no reason to talk if they passed each other on the street, no reason to reminisce about the old days or talk about lessons learned. They would have been polite strangers with some history living in the same small town.

"Nick was a blessing for me even if I didn't get to raise him," she said. "I just hope I can make him believe that."

His large hand covered her knee, making her remember a time when that had been the beginning of an exploration that lasted well into the early morning hours. "Anyone can see how sincere you are. He'll see that too. Just don't be afraid to put yourself out there, be vulnerable, even if it means you might get hurt."

She wondered if they were still talking about their relationship with their son... or each other. "Okay, let's do this," she said, reaching for the door handle. "While I still have the nerve."

***

Wes suspected Sage's throat must have been raw from all the screaming she'd done, cheering the home team and their son--the star quarterback--to victory.

"God, I forgot how much fun this could be," she said as they made their way to the parking lot.

Wes checked his phone. He'd sent Nick a text to let him know they'd be waiting for him in the parking lot next to a black pickup truck. Nick still hadn't responded, which made Wes a little nervous, though he wouldn't let on to Sage.

"I can't believe you haven't been to a game since high school," he said, resting his back against the passenger door of his truck while she stood in front of him. "That's just about the only thing to do in Vista Falls on a Friday night."

"Too many memories, I guess," she said, crossing her arms to close her cropped black jacket. "I remember being so proud of you when you played." A small smile tipped her lips as she looked at the dusky sky. "I felt the same way watching him play tonight. Is that crazy?"

"Maybe, but I felt it too," Wes said.

Nick hadn't been just another guy with a great arm who knew how to read the game. He was Wes's blood, and Wes had felt that every time he looked at Nick, even if it had been from a hundred feet away. Inside Wes's coat pocket, his phone buzzed.

"Must be him," Wes said, pulling out his phone. "He says he'll be out in ten minutes."

"Oh God." Sage took a deep breath, closing her eyes. "I hope I don't screw this up. I may not get another chance to say everything I want to say to him."

Wes understood how she felt, but he chose to believe this would be the first of many heart-to-hearts they'd have with the boy. He closed his hands around her upper arms. "Just try not to put too much pressure on him. Though he'll probably try to play it cool, this has gotta be a lot for him to deal with, meeting us after all these years."

"You're right." She smiled. "Maybe it'd be best if I just followed your lead, huh?"

Wes sure as hell didn't have all the answers, but he had been a teenage boy himself not so long ago, and at least he and Nick spoke the same language--football.

He pulled Sage closer when a group of rowdy teens almost bumped into her as they piled into a rusty pickup truck next to her, yelling and swearing as they celebrated their team's victory.

"Remember when that was us?" she asked, bracing her hands on his chest as she looked up at him. "God, where did the time go?"

Looking at her now, it felt as though no time had passed. She still looked like the girl he'd fallen in love with, the one he'd been determined to make a life with. The urge to kiss her was strong, but when he was tempted to move in, he heard someone clear their throat.

"Hey."

That single word made Wes breathless as he looked into light blue eyes that mirrored his own.

"Hey, Nick." Wes pushed off the truck, wanting nothing more than to hug him, but he offered his hand instead. "I'm Wes, and this is Sage. It's great to finally meet you."

"Yeah, you too." Nick's gaze darted to Sage before he shyly offered her his hand. "You too. I mean, uh, it's nice to meet you too."

Her smile lit up her pretty face as she accepted his hand, clasping it between both of hers. "You were amazing tonight. Thanks for letting us come and watch you play."

"No problem." He cleared his throat as he looked around the near-empty parking lot. "So, uh, you guys still want to grab a burger?"

If Vista Falls was anything like Brock--and Wes suspected it was--there was one popular burger joint where everyone went after a big game. It would be loud and chaotic, with everyone wanting a piece of Nick.

"Is there somewhere a little quieter we could go? You know, have a real meal, get to know each other better?" Wes asked, hoping he wasn't overstepping by suggesting an alternative plan.

"Uh, yeah, there's a small steakhouse on the outskirts of town," Nick said, running a hand through his damp hair. "Jack's? You might have seen it when you were driving in?"

"Yeah, I think we did." Wes tried not to be too obvious as he gave Nick a quick once-over. The kid was almost six feet already, with broad shoulders and a trim waist. Wes had been almost the exact same size at his age. "Sound good to you, Sage?"

"Sure, whatever," she said, slinging her purse over her shoulder.

They piled into his truck before Nick commented, "I'm surprised you drive a truck. Don't get me wrong, it's a sweet ride and all, but I pegged you for more of a Ferrari kind of guy."

Wes was pleased to learn Nick had given him any thought at all. He laughed as he scanned the radio, looking for a Top 40 station that might appeal to a teenager. "I wouldn't be caught dead in one of those fancy foreign jobs, son." He bit his tongue when he realized what he'd said. He sure as hell hadn't earned the right to call Nick his son, but it was too late to take it back, so he ignored it, hoping Nick would do the same.

"I think that's cool," Nick said, buckling up in the backseat. "I mean, that all that money hasn't changed you."

Sage winked at Wes. "I can assure you it hasn't changed him a bit. I knew him when he was dirt-poor, and he's still the same guy now he was then."

"So you guys are still close then?" Nick asked, obviously trying to figure out the dynamic between his birth parents.

"We, uh, just reconnected when I moved back to Vista Falls," Wes explained. "I really wanted to meet you and thought Sage might feel the same way, so I reached out to her before I called you. I hoped this was something we could do together."

"I hope you don't mind that we contacted you," Sage said, shifting so she could look at Nick.

"No, it's cool." He pointed out the window. "Hang a left here, Wes. Follow this road a couple of miles. You'll see it on your right."

Wes was impressed with the kid. He seemed at ease, comfortable in his own skin, which was no easy feat for any teen. "Got it."

"So that team you played tonight was your big rival?" Sage asked.

"Yeah, they took out one of our linemen with a cheap shot last game we played. We wanted to teach 'em a lesson."

Wes smiled, remembering how he would have rallied his own team after something like that. "You've got a hell of an arm. You hopin' for a scholarship?"

Nick shrugged. "I don't know. I'm still weighing my options."

They pulled into the parking lot. Wes hoped it wouldn't be too hard to get a table, but there were only a few empty spots in the lot.

"The guy who owns this place is crazy about hunting and fishing," Nick said, jumping out of the truck on Wes's side. "You mind if I introduce you? His brother is my English teacher."

"No, I don't mind at all." Wes was honored that Nick seemed proud of his professional accomplishments.

Sage was already meeting them around the front of the truck before Wes could open her door, but he was able to reach the entrance first and hold the door open for her to enter. He could tell she was relieved that Nick didn't seem to harbor any animosity toward them, and she definitely wasn't the only one. Wes finally felt as though he could breathe too.

"Thanks," she murmured, smiling at him.

Once inside, Nick introduced them to the gregarious proprietor, casually adding, "Jack, Wes and his partner own Backwoods Outdoors. Maybe he can hook you up with some new gear for deer-hunting season."

Jack's jaw dropped as he looked Wes up and down. "Damn, I thought you looked familiar. I've seen you on TV and at a couple of shows. It's an honor to meet you. What brings you to our little town?"

Not wanting to put Nick on the spot, Wes explained, "I just moved back to the area, and I had a hankering for a good steak tonight. I heard you could hook me up."

"I sure can, my friend," Jack said, slapping Wes on the back as he led them to a booth. "Hey, let me bring you a new beer I'm testing out. I'd love to get your take on it."

"A cold beer sounds great." Wes knew it would be his only one tonight since he had to drive home after their dinner. "Thanks."

After he'd taken all of their drink orders, Jack gave them some time to peruse the menus, assuring them their waitress would be by in a few minutes.

"So," Sage said as she reviewed her options, "what do you recommend, Nick?"

"That depends," he said, lifting a shoulder. "You like meat and potatoes, or are you into salads and all that healthy sh--uh, stuff?" He blushed, dipping his head when Wes and Sage shared a smile.

"I'm willing to splurge tonight," she said, thanking the waitress with a polite nod when she returned with their drinks.

"You might like the perch sandwich. It's my mom's favorite." Nick looked at Sage as though he feared he'd said something wrong, and Wes knew it was time for them to lay their cards on the table about what they all expected from this meeting.

When they'd all placed their orders, Wes raised his bottle. "To new friends."

Nick seemed to finally exhale when he touched his glass to theirs, muttering, "Cheers."

Wes frowned when he caught Sage studying their son as though she was trying to read his mind. "Nick, I hope you don't feel weird talking to us about your parents. We'd love to hear more about them. Wouldn't we, Sage?"

"Huh?" She shook her head as though she realized she'd been caught daydreaming. "Oh yeah, of course."

"There's not much to tell," Nick took a sip of his soft drink. "You know my dad died a while back and my mom remarried. My stepdad's okay. He never had any kids of his own though. Never wanted them."

That made Wes wonder how Nick's stepfather felt about having a teenage stepson, but he knew it wasn't the time to ask. "Your mom seems like a nice lady. You sure she's okay with you meeting up with us tonight?"

"Yeah, she's okay with it. Actually, I think she's hoping you'll take a liking to me. That'd let her off the hook. She wouldn't feel so responsible for me anymore."

Sage looked alarmed as her eyes met Wes's. "Honey, I'm sure that isn't true. Your mother loves you--"

"I didn't say she doesn't," Nick snapped. "But things have been different since my old man died. My Mom and stepdad have been talking about retiring to this little cabin he has. In fact, they plan to spend the whole summer there."

"And you're not looking forward to that?" Wes took a pull from his beer as he watched Nick.

"I don't wanna go at all, but they say I'm not old enough to stay here by myself. It sucks. They still treat me like a kid."

He wasn't even fifteen yet, but Wes knew he must feel as though he was old enough to make his own decisions. "Still, being at the cabin must give you a chance to do some of the things you enjoy. Your mom told me you're into hunting and fishing."

"Yeah." He glanced at Wes before setting the white napkin in his lap. "It's weird, huh? You and me being into the same things?"

"I guess it is." Wes wouldn't have thought so had he been the one to raise Nick, especially since his own father had played such an important role in helping him explore his passions as a kid.

The waitress returned with a basket of fresh bread and seasoned butter for the table, and Wes laughed when Nick dove in as though he hadn't seen food in a week. When Wes had been that age, his parents always complained that with two teenage boys in the house, it was impossible to keep the kitchen stocked. That was why they'd had so many fruit trees and a big vegetable garden.

"Sorry," he muttered, looking embarrassed as he extended the basket to Sage. "I didn't get a chance to eat much before the game."

She laughed. "No problem. I remember you had a voracious appetite at that age too," she said to Wes. "Your mother used to make fresh bread every day. And remember those cookies, the ones with the chocolate chunks and pecans that..." She stopped talking when she realized Nick was studying her.

"You were close with his family?" Nick asked, gesturing to Wes with his butter knife.

"Yeah," she said, taking a small piece of bread and setting it on her plate. "Vista Falls is a lot like Brock, I assume. Everyone knows everyone else."

"Yeah, sometimes I'd rather live in a big city." He looked at Wes. "You used to live in Houston, right? What was that like?"

"I liked it, but Vista Falls is home. Always has been, always will be." Wes wondered whether he should tell Nick that he was a big part of the reason he'd moved back home. "Now that my dad's passed, I wanted to be here for my mother. My sister's going to school out of state, but my younger brother runs an inn in Vista Falls."

"That's cool."

Wes smiled. That seemed to be Nick's favorite catchphrase. "So tell us about school. You like it?"

"It's okay, I guess. I get most As and Bs, so it's not as bad as it could be." He reached for another piece of bread and buttered it.

"I know it's way too soon to ask this," Sage said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ears. "I mean, you still have a lot of time to decide. But do you have any idea what you think you'd like to study in college? Um, assuming you want to go to college, that is?"

Wes knew how important getting an education had been to Sage, but he was glad she wasn't putting any pressure on Nick to follow in her footsteps. If he'd learned one thing in life, it was that the people who were happiest were those who'd made their own way and ignored anyone who thought they knew best.

"I don't know." Nick glanced at Wes. "Business, maybe? That gives me lots of options."

The waitress returned with the appetizer platter they'd agreed to share, and Nick dove right in.

"So any girlfriends?" Wes chuckled when Nick blushed. "Sorry, am I not allowed to ask you that?"

"No, it's okay. There is this one girl I like, but we're just hanging out, you know, with other friends too. Not really dating."

"You have plenty of time for that," Sage assured him, smiling at Wes.

"You guys must have hooked up when you were pretty young, huh?" Nick asked. "Or were you not really together when I was, uh, when you got..."

Wes smirked, opting to put the awkward question to an end. "No, we dated through most of high school."

"You ever think about getting married?" Nick asked. "You know, when you found out about me?"

Wes and Sage both popped food into their mouths simultaneously as they decided how and who would answer his question.

"Sure, we thought about it," Wes said finally, not wanting Nick to feel any question was off-limits. "But we were both really young. We were headed off to college when we found out Sage was pregnant, and we had no way of supporting ourselves or you at the time."

Nick shook his head. "I get that."

"It's not that we didn't want to keep you," Sage said softly. "We did. Believe me. It's just that..." She drew in a deep breath. "My parents had very strong opinions about it. They didn't think we were ready, and honestly, they may have been right. I don't know."

"I read your book."

Sage gaped at Nick. "You did? When?"

"A while back. I was curious."

"Oh." She took a sip of her water. "What did you think?"

"I thought you were pretty brave to put it all out there like that."

Wes shared their son's sentiment. He didn't think he would have had the guts to bleed on the pages the way Sage had.

"It was kind of cathartic for me," Sage explained. "I had all of these pent-up emotions about you and the adoption. Writing has always been my release, so my best friend talked me into writing the book. At first it was just going to be for me, a memoir of sorts. But after I let Gabby read it, she convinced me to submit it to a couple of publishers, and to my surprise, one of them picked it up."

"I'm not surprised." Nick popped a pita square piled with dip into his mouth. "You're really good. I don't even like to read that much, and I got through that book in, like, a day."

"Thank you," Sage said, smiling. "That means a lot, especially coming from you."

"So have you written anything else?" Nick asked.

"I'm plugging away at something, but I don't have a lot of time to work on it. Writing isn't my full-time job. I'm running my family's car dealership while my father recovers from a stroke."

Wes couldn't believe how easily the conversation continued to flow as they worked through appetizers and entrees. Nick told them about his hobbies, the other sports he played, some of his friends, and his favorite subjects. He also asked about their families, saying it would be "cool" to meet them sometime. Wes knew his family would be excited to meet Nick, but he wasn't so sure about Sage's parents.

"Maybe I could come to Vista Falls sometime," Nick said after they ordered dessert. "If it's okay with you guys? You could show me around, introduce me to everyone."

"That would be great," Sage said, clearly not thinking about how her parents might react to the news that their grandson was coming to town. "Whenever you're free. Assuming it's okay with your mom."

"Like I said, she won't mind if we all hit it off."

Wes got the uneasy feeling that Nick might be trying to replace the family unit he'd lost with one he perceived to be better somehow. Wes wanted nothing more than to get to know his son better, but he refused to do that at the expense of the woman who'd been there for him when they couldn't be.

"Still, I'd like to talk to her about it just the same," Wes said. "Before we make any plans."

# Chapter Ten

"I can't believe how well that went," Sage said as they were heading home an hour later. "I wish we could have met his mom and stepdad when we dropped him off though. Do you think it was weird they weren't home?"

"I wouldn't read too much into it," Wes said, turning down the volume on a classic rock station that played some of their favorite songs from high school. "Nick said they had a thing at the church, right? Some potluck or something. I'm sure they'll be back soon."

"Do you think they go to most of his football games? I hope they didn't feel they had to stay away tonight just because we were there."

"I doubt we had anything to do with it."

"He's amazing, isn't he?" Sage knew she was gushing, but she couldn't believe how strong and smart and handsome he was. Not only was Nick a great athlete, but he was a solid student, and he'd had them in stitches several times as he shared some of his buddies' antics with them. "I already feel like I've known him forever. You felt it too, right? That connection?"

"Yeah, I did." Wes curled his hand around the steering wheel. "And I want more than anything to connect with him, but--"

"But what?"

"I just want to ease into it, you know? I don't want his mom to think that we're trying to take the place of his parents or anything. They're the ones who raised him, who loved him. They're the reason he's such a great kid. We can't forget that."

"You're right." She sighed as she sank back in the leather seat. "We owe them a huge debt of gratitude. It's a shame his dad passed so soon, isn't it? I wish we could have met him. I would have liked to thank him for the great job he did with our..."

"Son," Wes said, glancing at her out of the corner of his eye. "You can say it. He is our son."

"I don't feel we've earned the right to call him that." Sage knew it took a lot more than biology to make a person a parent. "Maybe someday we will but not right now."

Wes reached for her hand. "I know what you mean, but seriously, there's no denying it, is there?"

She laughed. "If his hair was a little longer, he'd look exactly like you did at that age."

"And English is his favorite subject," Wes reminded her. "He may not like reading, but he loves writing. He sure as hell didn't get that from me."

She appreciated his attempt to remind her that Nick had some of her traits too, but it was obvious Nick and Wes were more alike. Not that she minded. She was just thrilled to be getting to know him after all these years.

"How do you think your parents will react if we bring him to town?" Wes asked, squeezing her hand. "You think they'll give you a hard time?"

"Honestly? I don't give a damn what they think about it. They may have been able to bully me back then--I was just a kid. But now I'm all grown up, and I can decide for myself whether I want Nick to be a part of my life. And I do." Sage could tell Wes was relieved she wasn't the same insecure girl she'd been back then, eager to please her parents and afraid to rock the boat.

"Still, it's probably not a good idea to get your old man all riled up. He is still recovering from that stroke, right?"

"Yeah." When her phone rang, Sage used her free hand to grab it from her purse, smiling when Gabby's face appeared on the Facetime screen. "Hey, girl. What's up?"

"I couldn't wait 'til tomorrow to find out," she said. "How did it go with Nick?"

"He's a great kid, Gab. I know I don't have the right to be, but I am so proud of him."

Wes smiled as he released her hand and turned the volume down on the radio so they could chat. He curled both hands around the wheel instead of taking her hand again.

"Was it weird?" Gabby asked. "Or awkward?"

"Honestly, no," Sage said, shaking her head. "Not at all. I was just telling Wes I can't believe how easy it was."

"Hi, Wes," Gabby said, grinning.

Sage turned the screen so Wes could see Gabby. "Hey, beautiful. Thanks for calling to check in." He glanced at the digital clock on his dash. "It's after midnight. Isn't it past your bedtime?"

"Ugh, I had a date tonight," she said, wrinkling her nose. "I just got in."

"Didn't go well?" Wes asked, smiling.

"He's the town vet, and he bored me with the details of this dog who had an obstruction. Apparently he had to perform a very delicate procedure to remove a chewed sock from his stomach. Like I want to hear about that over my filet, right?"

"Should I assume you won't be seeing him again?" Wes asked.

"Probably not, but you know how it is around here. Slim pickings. We can't be too choosy or we'll be sitting home every night, according to my mother." She laughed. "Have I mentioned she's eager for grandchildren?"

"Sounds like my mother," Wes said, grinning.

Sage listened to the exchange, knowing her own parents were in no hurry to add to their family. They believed it would be several years before her brother was stable enough to think about settling down, and they hadn't asked her whether there was a man in her life since before Wes moved back to town.

"Well, I'll let you guys go," Gabby said, stifling a yawn. "You wanna meet for breakfast in the morning, Sage?"

"I have a few things to take care of at work."

"Okay, I'll bring coffees and pastries by around ten. I should pass by the shop too. I just hired a new high school student to work Saturdays, and I want to make sure she's working out."

"Sounds good. I'll see you then," Sage said before disconnecting the call.

"You think Gabby's ready for another relationship?" Wes asked, as they passed the sign welcoming them to Vista Falls.

"I don't know." Sage was impressed by how mature her friend had been about the demise of her marriage, claiming she didn't blame her ex-husband for anything. "I know she wants some stability in her life. She's got a great little home of her own, and her business is doing well, but I think she misses being married."

"Was her ex a decent guy?" Wes asked, turning down the side street leading to her house.

"Yeah, he was. I thought they were really compatible. They had a lot of the same interests."

"Why do you think it didn't work out?" Wes asked, pulling into her drive.

"Right from the start, Gab said she didn't have that crazy chemistry with him she used to have with Colt, but she convinced herself that what she had with Colt was so intense because they were just kids. She thought a more mature love was supposed to be tamer, I guess."

"What do you think about that?" Wes asked, releasing his seat belt and shifting to face her as he curled his hand around her headrest. "You think just because we're older, we should settle for boring and predictable?"

"No." She sighed. "I guess that's why I'm still single though. Unrealistic expectations."

"Who says we can't have as adults the kind of love we had as teenagers?"

Sage didn't know if he was talking about them specifically or speaking in general terms, and she was too afraid to ask. "That honeymoon phase can't last forever, can it?" she asked, opting to believe he was speaking about the population at large.

"I don't know about that. My parents were in love right up until the end. I don't remember a time when my old man left the house without kissing my mom good-bye. And we're not talking about just some perfunctory peck on the cheek. I mean a full-on kiss."

Sage smiled as she settled her purse in her lap. "I remember that about your parents. They were always so affectionate with each other. It must have been so hard for your mom to lose him. He was more than her life partner. He was her best friend, wasn't he?"

"Sure was." Wes hesitated before he added, "I guess that's why I never got married. I've only found the kind of love they had one time in my life, and I'm not willing to settle for less."

"I'm not willing to settle either. I'd rather be alone than have a marriage like my parents have." She knew that sounded harsh, but she'd always been honest with Wes. She'd never had any reason to hold back with him.

"You can have whatever kind of relationship you want," he said, sliding a strand of her hair through his fingers. "You just have to be willing to put yourself out there. Get clear about what you want and go for it."

"What if I'm not sure I can have what I want?" It was becoming increasingly clear to her with every moment they spent together that she still wanted the same thing she'd always wanted--Wes.

"Tell me what you want." His gaze passed between her mouth and eyes as he waited for her response.

"Maybe I want a second chance." That was just about the scariest thing she'd ever said, but it was also the most truthful. "Is that crazy?"

"A second chance with me?" he murmured, moving in closer.

"A second chance for us. To maybe get it right this time." She didn't know if that was even possible, but she wanted to try, so at least she wouldn't be left wondering for the rest of her life.

"I want that too." His lips were hovering above hers when he whispered, "I want that more than I've wanted anything in a really long time." His kiss was slow and thorough, as though he intended to make up for every second they'd lost. "But we need to take it slow."

"I know." His kiss made it difficult to breathe, but she was trying to keep her voice level when she said, "Because of Nick."

"And us. We've screwed this up once before. I don't intend to let that happen again."

Sage smiled as she curled her hand around the back of his neck. "I don't either."

***

Nick pulled the blankets up to cover his bare chest when his girlfriend finally picked up the phone after his fourth failed attempt to call her. She'd slipped out of the stadium before he could find her and hadn't texted to let him know where she'd be.

"Hey, how'd it go tonight?" she asked.

"Where'd you go after the game?"

"Just out for a burger with everybody. I thought I'd see you there. Didn't you say Wes wanted to--"

"We went for a steak instead."

"I guess with his money, he can eat like a king, huh?" She giggled. "So what was Daddy Warbucks like anyhow?"

Nick hadn't thought twice about Wes's money. He'd been more interested in getting to know him. "He was cool. So was Sage. I liked them."

"So you're gonna see them again?"

"Yeah, I think so. They invited me to Vista Falls. Maybe I'll go next weekend."

"You think they'll take you in this summer so you don't have to move up to God's country with your mom?"

Nick knew it was too soon to ask Sage or Wes to take him in for the whole summer, but he hoped to work his way up to it. His mother would never let him stay home alone for the whole summer, and staying with his overprotective grandparents would have been even worse than being stuck in the middle of nowhere with no cell service or Wi-Fi for two months. "Even if they do, it's still an hour away. It wouldn't be easy for us to see each other."

"Wes could have his chauffeur drive you back here every weekend."

Even though Nick barely knew his birth father, he didn't appreciate Maggie making assumptions about him. "Wes isn't like that. He drives a pickup truck."

"Ugh. Why, when he could drive some hot sports car?"

"Turns out he's not into that shit." Unlike Maggie, Nick liked that the Wes he'd seen in the company's promo videos was the same guy he'd met tonight. Wes didn't pretend to be someone he wasn't for the sake of his public image.

"I thought growing up in that shitty little town would have made him want the best of everything. If I had that kind of money, you'd never see me living in Brock, let alone driving some stupid truck."

Nick didn't happen to agree, and he said pointedly, "I guess somewhere along the way, he realized money doesn't make him happy."

"Easy for him to say. He's got more than he'll ever spend. Tell him to send some of it this way."

Maggie always seemed to have her hand out rather than trying to pay her own way. That was one of the things that bugged Nick about her. Even though she had a part-time job at the local convenience store, she was always the last one to reach into her wallet when they went out with friends.

"Wes has worked his ass off for everything's he's got."

"How do you know? You barely know the guy."

As soon as Nick had found out Wes was his birth father, he'd done his homework, watching every video and reading every article he could find about him online. By now, Nick could probably have written Wes's biography without any input from the man himself. "I know what kind of guy he is."

"You haven't said much about Sage. What's she like?"

He thought of the book she'd written. The story she'd told... about her feelings for him. "She and Wes seem like a real couple. It's hard to believe they're not."

"How do you know they're not sleeping together? Just because they're not married doesn't mean they're not messing around."

"I guess." That would certainly have explained the chemistry between them. "Doesn't matter anyhow. The only thing that matters is they seem stoked about getting to know me, and I feel the same way."

"I would too if I were you." She snorted. "Can you imagine the kind of wheels that guy will buy you when you get your license? Especially with all the guilt he must feel about bailing on you."

"He didn't bail on me."

There was a big difference between putting a baby up for adoption and being a deadbeat dad who didn't even try to live up to his responsibilities. Nick couldn't pretend he hadn't spent a lot of time thinking about why Sage and Wes hadn't reached out to him before, but he hoped to be able to ask them that question someday.

"Call it what you want," she said, sighing. "He probably feels guilty for splitting, and I say milk it."

This conversation was leaving a bitter taste in Nick's mouth. "I gotta go. I'm tired."

"Yeah, sure. Will I see tomorrow?"

"Probably not 'til tomorrow night. Text me in the morning."

"Okay, love you."

For the first time, Nick found it difficult to mimic the sentiment. "You too. Night."

# Chapter Eleven

"Okay, tell me everything," Gabby said, depositing two takeout coffees on Sage's desk along with an aromatic paper bag.

Sage dove into the bag, inhaling the chocolate scent as if she'd been on a hunger strike. "Oh my God, that smells so good. I haven't had one of these in weeks."

Gabby peeled the lid back on her coffee. "Enough about the pastry. Tell me about Nick. And Wes. I know there were things you couldn't say last night with him being right there and all."

When they'd been dating, Sage had rarely held back with Wes. She told him everything she told Gabby. But things were different now. "Like I said, Nick's a great kid. And he seems open to getting to know us better, which is a huge relief. I was afraid maybe he was just luring us out there to tell us he hated us for giving him up."

"How was he with Wes?" Gabby took a sip of her coffee. "They hit it off?"

"To tell you the truth, I think there was a bit of hero worship going on there." Sage had caught Nick hanging on Wes's every word and knew Wes must have sensed it too, though he didn't mention it.

"Can you blame him? Any kid would be proud to have a dad like that. Small-town boy makes it big? It's a great story."

"Wes wasn't the only small-town boy who made it big." They hadn't talked much about Colt since he'd returned, and Sage wanted to know how her friend really felt about her ex living a stone's throw away.

"No, he wasn't," Gabby said, taking her croissant out of the bag and setting it on a paper napkin. She popped a bite into her mouth. "I'm really proud of Colt too. I think what they've accomplished is fantastic. And coming back here to help the people in Vista Falls who've been having a tough time by employing all those people..." She smiled. "It's like Christmas came early for those folks."

"Yeah, your real-life hero," Sage teased.

"Shut up," Gabby said, rolling her eyes. "You can't tell me you're not impressed they uprooted their lives and business to bring it back to Vista Falls."

"I think it's awesome they did that." Sage suspected they had reasons aside from bolstering the local economy though. "But you know how much Wes's family has always meant to him. The fact that his dad's gone now..."

"I know. Hey, that reminds me, have you heard whether Colt's seen his old man since he came back to town?"

"No, though I can't imagine why he'd want to. I know if it was me, I'd stay as far away from him as I could get."

"Speaking of nasty parents, how're yours?" Gabby asked, raising an eyebrow. "Are they still giving you a hard time?"

"I haven't spoken to them since the blowup at dinner, and I'm not going to be the one to reach out. I said my piece. If they want to talk, they can call me."

"Good for you." Gabby polished off her croissant before she said, "We should play hooky and go to the lake for a picnic today. Catch a few rays, relax a little. What do you say?"

"God, we haven't done that in ages."

"I know, right?" Gabby laughed. "Remember when we were in high school and the four of us would spend the day there? We'd have the tunes blaring all day, get a tan, then get a little tipsy while the guys caught our dinner and fried up the fish over the fire they'd built."

Sage smiled at the sweet memories. "Fish fry never tasted so good."

"You said it, sister. So finish up what you have to do here," Gabby said, collecting the garbage and tossing it in her wastebasket. "I'll pass by my house and pick up the swimsuit you left there, and I can loan you a pair of shorts and flip-flops. I'll be back around eleven thirty. Does that work?"

"Sounds perfect."

***

Wes walked through the lobby of his brother's quaint little inn. It wasn't the same place Wes remembered growing up. Rush was a master carpenter, and he had hammered every nail and stripped every wood surface himself, slowly bringing the place back to life.

"'Bout time you dragged your sorry ass down here," Rush said, pulling Wes into a half hug as they clasped hands. "So what do you think? I've still got a few more projects I need to tackle, like the roof and the wraparound deck, but--"

"Man, it looks great. Seriously." Wes tossed him the keys to his old truck, which was part of the reason for his visit.

"What's this?" Rush asked, holding up the pewter keyring with the Backwoods Outdoors logo.

"The keys to my old truck. I bought a new one, so I thought you might have a use for this one."

"Seriously? That's awesome, but why didn't you just trade it in?"

Wes shrugged. His brother was too proud to accept a handout, and he knew Rush wouldn't take the truck if it felt like charity. "It's no big deal, little brother. Just say thank you and shut up about it." He curled his arm around Rush's neck, leading him into the small office.

"Well, thank you," Rush said, tossing the keys on the pine desk he'd made with salvaged wood. "You picked the right day to stop by." Rush pointed out the window at the lake. "I hear the fish are biting. Feel like wetting a line?"

"You know I'll never turn down an offer like that."

"Cool. Why don't you text Colt too? It'll be just like the old days when I used to tag along, hoping to learn something from you two boneheads."

Wes laughed as he fired off a quick text to Colt, telling him to get his ass down to the inn.

"So what's this mama tells me about you reconnecting with your boy?" Rush said, leaning back in the squeaky swivel chair, lacing his hands over his flat stomach. "When were you gonna tell me about that?"

Wes and Rush had always been close, so Wes wasn't trying to keep secrets from him. He'd just wanted to meet Nick before he jinxed it. "As a matter of fact, me and Sage went up to Brock to meet him last night. It went well, real well. He's a great kid. If all goes according to plan, he'll be coming here next weekend, so you can meet him yourself."

"You need to bring him by the inn," Rush said. "I've got a new cook. She's great."

"Sounds like a plan." Wes hesitated to bring it up, but he knew he had to. "Why didn't you tell me you went out with Sage? I had to hear from Rusty that you two had been in there together."

Raking a hand through his black hair before stroking the stubble on his chin, Rush said, "I felt weird even asking her. Ten minutes into the date, I think we both knew it was a huge mistake. As soon as we acknowledged that, we relaxed and had fun just as friends. We spent a lot of time reminiscing--talking about you, in fact."

"Is that so?" Wes wanted to press for details, but he didn't want to come off as desperate.

Rush laughed, pointing at him. "You can't fool me, man. I know you're dyin' to know what she said."

"Okay, smartass," Wes said, mock-scowling at him. "What did she say?"

"That she really screwed up with you. She said she loved you and never should have let her parents convince her that y'all were too young to know what real love was."

Wes was relieved to hear she'd realized that a long time ago, not just when he'd come back to town. "She wasn't the only one to blame. I let her old man intimidate me. I shouldn't have done that."

"Water under the bridge, right?" Rush asked. "You were both kids back then, still trying to figure things out."

"True."

"And now?"

Wes laughed, wishing he had a better answer. "We're still trying to figure things out. Just taking it one day at a time."

"What the hell does that mean?" Rush asked, frowning. "Don't tell me you're still in denial. Anyone can see that you two belong together, man. You always have. Isn't that what Dad told you before he died? That you needed to man up and set things right with Sage and your son?"

"And that's what I'm trying to do," Wes said, remembering the last conversation he'd had with their dad when he was lying in that godforsaken hospital bed and talking about his few regrets. "But I'm trying to rebuild my friendship with Sage first. That has to be the foundation. And we need to figure out how Nick fits into our lives. We want him to be a part of it, but it's up to him what that looks like."

"I have an idea," Rush said, snapping his fingers. "Why don't you invite Sage over today? No better way to move your relationship along than reminding her how much fun you used to have together, am I right?"

After the intense day they'd had yesterday, maybe a little fun in the sun was exactly what they needed. "Sure, I'll ask."

By the time Colt strolled through the office door a few minutes later with a case of beer in hand, Wes had to tell him that a couple of other people would be joining their party, and he wasn't sure how Colt would take that bit of news.

"I'm going to head into the kitchen, see what Elsie's got planned for lunch," Rush said, standing. "I'm sure I can get her to throw something together for us."

Colt slapped Rush on the back before he left the room. "You ready to get your ass handed to you again today?" Colt asked Wes, grinning.

"Why does everything have to be a competition with you?" Wes joked. Friendly competition had always been the lifeblood of their relationship. "Gotta have something to do with the fact that I threaten your masculinity, bein' that I'm sexy and rugged and a jock and all."

After setting the case of beer on the floor, Colt doubled over, laughing. "That was a good one. Thanks, man." He smacked Wes upside the head before he sat down. "I needed that. Now tell me what happened with your boy last night. I was waitin' to hear from you. Why didn't you call?"

"I passed by the office before I came here," Wes said. "Thought you'd be there."

"Stopped by to see the old man."

Wes sucked in a breath, rubbing the stubble on his jaw. "Damn. I'm not even sure I should ask."

"I'll tell you about that later. I want to hear what went down with Nick first." He wiggled his eyebrows comically. "And Sage. You two didn't have a chaperone all night, am I right?"

Wes smiled, thinking the evening couldn't have gone any better if he'd scripted it. "Nick is one hell of a kid. Felt like I'd known him forever. Given the chance, I think we could be tight. Real tight."

"Man, that's great," Colt said, leaning forward to slap his buddy on the back. "You're getting everything you came here for, huh? You're getting back with Sage." He gestured to Rush's messy office. "Reconnecting with your family. Even getting to know your son."

Wes knew Colt well enough to hear all the things he wasn't saying. He knew Colt only wanted the best for him, but watching things coming together for Wes while Colt's life seemed to be stuck in neutral had to be hard.

"I hope you don't mind, but I invited Sage and Gabby to hang out with us today. They should be here in a few," Wes said.

Colt grimaced, rubbing the back of his neck. "Bound to bring back a lot of memories, don't you think?"

"How many times have you told me those were some of the best times of your life?" Wes knew that Colt sometimes needed a nudge in the right direction, and he'd always been the man for the job. "You shouldn't mind taking a trip back."

Colt blew out a long, slow breath. "That girl still does it for me, I'm not gonna lie."

Wes grinned, happy to hear Colt finally admitting the truth. "So what're you gonna do about it?"

"What can I do about it?" He clasped his hands as he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "The thing that always scared me about Gab was that I looked at her and saw forever. I still do. I know if we hooked up again, it wouldn't be some casual thing. I can't even touch her 'til I feel like I'm ready to go all in."

"Just know that you can't expect her to wait around while you pull your head out of your ass. She went out with some dude last night." When Colt scowled, Wes raised his hand. "It didn't go well, but she's ready to put herself out there again. You know as well as I do there were guys lined up in high school to take Gabby away from you. I'm sure that hasn't changed."

Colt jumped up when they heard female laughter in the hall. "I hear ya. I just need a little more time to figure out whether I can really do this."

***

They were toasting marshmallows around the bonfire, listening to some of their favorite tunes, while the sun set. They'd had a huge fish fry thanks to the boys' skill, and Rush's cook had contributed baked potatoes and corn on the cob to make it a real feast.

Sage was sitting between Wes's legs, her back against his chest, when she realized she was surrounded by some of her favorite people in the world. The fact that Rush and Colt were two of the most important people in Wes's life had always made them feel like her family too, and Gabrielle, who was snuggled up in Colt's sweatshirt--under the guise of staying warm--was more than her best friend. She was her sister.

"Penny for your thoughts," Gabby whispered while the guys argued about college football and which team had the best shot of going the distance.

"I'm just happy," Sage whispered back. "Happier than I've been in a long time."

They'd swum, fished, spent some time on Rush's boat, listened to Rush strum his acoustic guitar and sing some of their favorite songs, eaten, knocked back a few cold ones, and talked about the past. It was the most fun Sage had had in a long time... with the exception of last night's football game.

"I can tell. You wear it well." Gabby took her hand and sneaked a peek at Wes. Satisfied that he wasn't listening in, she said, "He's a big part of the reason, you know. Don't let him get away again."

Wes was the only man in the world who'd ever broken her heart completely, and Sage knew he still had the power to do it all over again.

"We're taking it slow," Sage said, mimicking Wes. "Making sure it's right this time."

"When a man lights you up the way that one does, believe me, it's right."

"Oh yeah?" Sage glanced at Colt, who was sitting between Wes and Rush. "I'm not the only one who's been lit up like a Christmas tree all day. You've barely taken your eyes off him, you know."

Gabby sighed before releasing Sage's hand. "That obvious, huh?"

"You still have feelings for him." Sage didn't have to ask if she was right. She could see the truth every time Gabby and Colt looked at each other. "So what are you going to do about it?"

"Nothing." She pulled her knees up to her chest, wrapping her arms around them as she stared into the crackling fire. "I can't. Not after what happened with--"

"You told me you wouldn't be afraid to put yourself out there again when the time was right. You promised you wouldn't let that divorce ruin your chances for happiness."

"It hasn't," she said with a trace of stubbornness that told Sage she was digging her heels in, preparing for a fight. "I'm dating again. When was the last time you went out on a date before Wes came back to town?"

Sage wasn't even sure she and Wes were dating. She just knew she wasn't interested in anyone else. "You're dating guys you're not really into. That doesn't count."

"So?" Gabby said, shrugging. "Maybe I'm practicing for the real thing."

"Colt is the real thing, and you two don't need any practice. You've had plenty."

Gabby grabbed Sage's hand, pulling her to her feet.

"Hey, where're you two going?" Wes asked, reaching for Sage's other hand.

"Washroom," Gabby said. "You know girls do these things in pairs."

"Well, hurry back," Wes said, kissing Sage's hand.

"Hey," Rush said, eyeing the empty case of beer, "all of you guys have had a lot to drink. I had a last-minute cancellation tonight, so I've got a couple of extra rooms. You're welcome to them." Sage and Wes exchanged a look before Rush said, "There are two queen beds in each room, so you girls can bunk together and the guys can take the other room." When Wes glared at his brother, Rush chuckled. "Or not. Whatever you want."

"We'll let you know," Gabby said, sneaking a peek at Colt before dragging Sage toward the inn. "Oh my God. He wants to sleep with you tonight. What are you going to do?"

Sage wanted to. She really, really wanted to, but sticking her best friend in a room with her hot ex-boyfriend seemed cruel. Or did it? "But that would leave you and Colt alone in a room. Are you sure you're ready for that?"

"Am I ready for it?" she asked, stopping in Sage's path before turning to face her. "Are you really ready to sleep with Wes again? What happened to taking it slow?"

"I'm still in love with him." Sage didn't know if she would have had the confidence to make that confession without a few beers under her belt, but it was true. "I'm scared to death of getting hurt or hurting him." She rubbed her forehead "Or, God, even hurting Nick..." She shook her head. "But I do want to be with him again more than anything."

Gabby gave her a hug. "Then you should go for it. Don't wait for things to be perfect. They never will be. Just take your happiness where you can get it."

"But what about you? I can't expect you to share a room with Colt. That would be weird, wouldn't it?"

"Don't worry about us," Gabby said, linking her arm through Sage's as they continued on the well-worn path to the inn. "You heard Rush. There are two beds. I think we're mature enough to control ourselves."

# Chapter Twelve

Wes was a little stunned when Sage agreed to share a room with him. He didn't want to assume she intended to sleep with him, since the room did have two beds, but he didn't know how he was supposed to keep his hands off her if that was what she expected.

"I was thinking about taking a shower," Sage said, holding up a strand of her long dark hair. "I probably smell like smoke from the fire. Hopefully Rush has some complimentary soap and shampoo in there."

"I'm sure he does." Wes removed the plaid shirt he'd thrown on over his T-shirt that morning, setting it on the back of the chair. "A shower sounds like a good idea. Don't use all the hot water," he teased.

She hooked her fingers into his belt loops, pulling him close. "We could conserve water, have a shower together."

Wes could feel his heart beating double time as he looked into those gorgeous brown eyes that had drawn him in so many years ago. Van Morrison's "Brown Eyed Girl" popped into his head. That song had always reminded him of Sage, and every time he heard it on the radio, he turned it up and sang along, his heart breaking just a little more for everything they'd lost.

"You sure you're ready for this?" he whispered, his voice husky as he slipped his hands into her hair, tilting her head back. "It's a big step."

"It feels right though, doesn't it?"

For the first time in fifteen years, Wes finally felt as though his life was back on track, and he knew there were two reasons for that: Sage and their son. "Being with you couldn't possibly feel wrong, baby."

She curled her hands around his biceps. "I know we hurt each other in the past and we're just getting to know each other all over again, but--"

He kissed her to silence her doubts then pulled away slowly, satisfied to see her looking a little more intoxicated than she had when they'd walked in the room. "You've had a few drinks. I don't want you to have any regrets in the morning."

She drew a shaky breath. "Believe me, it's not the alcohol making me feel this way. It's you. It's having your hands on me again after so long, kissing you..."

"We've both made our fair share of mistakes," he whispered, brushing his lips across her cheek. "But I know this won't be one of them."

She walked backward into the bathroom, her eyes locked on his as she lured him inside and closed the door. He hit the light, not wanting to miss a single second of this experience. He undid her faded denim shirt slowly, intent on taking his time, but the sight of the red bikini top that had been taunting him all day snapped his reserve. Suddenly he couldn't get her clothes off fast enough.

His lips branded every inch of exposed skin while he backed her into the stacked logs that made up the walls of the inn. Her breathing was ragged as she fought for space to tear off his clothes, whimpering when he pulled aside her top to taste her salty skin.

"Shower," she whispered.

While he would have been satisfied to take her right there against the wall, common sense told him to follow the lady's lead. After all the years they'd been apart, Wes wanted this night to be epic for both of them.

"My mind's telling me to take it slow," he admitted, perusing her body as she shimmied off the jeans shorts and tugged at the strings holding her bikini together. "But my body has other ideas."

She smirked, obviously satisfied to be getting to him. "We have plenty of time for slow, don't we?"

Wes wondered if she was talking about tonight or referring to the future he prayed they could have. He reached into the generous stall to turn on the shower, making it warm but not too hot--just the way she liked it. "Tell me what you want."

"I want the same thing I've always wanted, Wes." She stepped closer, reaching for his belt. She undid it slowly, following up with his button and zipper. "You. I want you. Inside me. On top of me. Taking me against the wall. In the shower. In a bed. On the floor. It really doesn't matter."

He hadn't thought mere words could make him lose his breath along with his train of thought, but those words sure as hell did. "I'm happy to oblige."

His smile may have told her was teasing, but he hoped his eyes let her know he meant every word. For years, making her happy had been reason enough for him to get out of bed in the morning, and while he now had a big company to run and a lot of people counting on him to keep his head in the game, he couldn't imagine anyone or anything ever being more important to him than the woman standing before him... blessing him with another chance. She returned his smile before opening the glass shower door a little wider so she could step under the hot spray.

His mouth was dry as he watched the water trail down her tanned, toned body in rivulets. "You are gorgeous."

Sage bit her lip as she took him in, her gaze heated while he stripped off his jeans, T-shirt, and boxer briefs. "So. Are. You."

When he stepped in, she reached behind her for the small bottle of shampoo and deposited some of it in her hand before working it into a lather, her eyes trained on him the entire time. He wanted to lick away the suds cascading between her full breasts, settling on her protruding nipples, but before he could, she squeezed some shampoo onto his hair and stood on her tippy-toes to massage his scalp.

"Turn around," she whispered.

He did as he was told, groaning as she worked her magic, rubbing slow circles on his temples. "God, you're good at that."

She brushed her breasts against his back as her hands ventured to his shoulders before wrapping around his chest. She pressed a kiss to his back. "I don't think I ever stopped loving you, Wes."

Stunned, he flattened his palm against the shower wall. He'd wanted to love her body tonight, but he'd never thought he'd get the chance to tell her how he really felt about her. He'd just assumed it was too soon, that she wouldn't be ready to hear it.

"I'm sorry," she said, stepping back under the spray. "I shouldn't have said that. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. It's not that I expect anything to come from this, assuming you still want to--"

He turned around quickly when he realized she'd perceived his silence as rejection and curled his hands around her delicate face. "Listen to me. I have never felt like this before. I mean, I have, years ago, with you. But no other woman has ever made me feel like this since."

"Really?" Tears were now melding with the water streaming down her face, but he was looking closely enough to know the difference. "I was so scared to tell you the truth. I didn't know how you'd react. I just knew I couldn't hold it in any longer. I couldn't make love to you and let you think it was just sex for me."

"We have never had sex. Not once." He turned her around, taking the harsh spray against his back as he backed her into the wall. "I am so in love with you. I think a part of me always has been. That's why I came back. To find that missing part of myself." He leaned his forehead against the wall above her head. "It's here. It's right here. With you. When I left, you kept a piece of my heart, Sage."

"And I'm not giving it back, just so you know."

He chuckled, his voice hoarse with emotion as he said, "I don't want it back. I just want you to..." He had never, ever tried expressing his feelings to another woman. Even trying to do so had felt awkward. He wasn't into girly shit like talking about feelings, but he knew he had to with Sage. "I just want you to take better care of it this time, and I'll promise to do the same with yours. Deal?"

She stroked the stubble on his cheek. "I am so sorry I hurt you. I'll never forgive myself for that."

"You have to forgive yourself. Just like I have to forgive myself. We can't move forward with guilt and regret paving our way, sweetheart. It'll never work that way. You know that."

She nodded slowly. "I know. It's just hard to let go of feelings you've had for so long."

He stepped out of the water, letting it pelt her instead. "Then let's consider this a cleansing experience. Let's wash all that negative shit away."

She closed her eyes, tipping her head back. "It feels so good."

With her eyes still closed, Wes moved in front of her, tracing the slopes of her curves with open-mouthed kisses before he finally hit his knees.

"Wes," she murmured, threading her hands through his hair, "that can't be comfortable. We should get out and--"

She gasped when his tongue circled her core, making her whimper as she dug her nails into his scalp. He'd been with a dozen women since his last night with Sage, but none of them had been able to satiate his hunger the way only she could. None of them had filled that void in his soul the way she did.

The intimacy of the act, something she'd been reluctant to let him do the first time because she was an inexperienced girl experimenting with her first lover, reminded him how far they'd come. Now they were older, wiser, hopefully smarter, and more experienced adults, ready for forever.

"God, I've missed this." She moaned. "Only you."

Wes wanted to know what that meant, but instead of tearing himself away to ask, he propped her foot up on the bench behind her, exposing her even more. The fact that she didn't object was further proof that she was ready to be vulnerable in every way, just as he was.

"Wes... oh..." She gasped before bracing her hands on his shoulders as her whole body trembled with the force of her release.

He stood and pulled her into his arms as the water, turning cold, continued to cleanse them. "Let's get out of here." He reached behind him to turn off the water before grabbing one of the plush white towels stacked on a stand by the shower door.

"My legs feel like jelly," she admitted with a half laugh.

"It's okay. I've got you."

He held her hand as she stepped out onto the bath mat, and he wrapped her in the towel before grabbing one for himself. When she turned toward the mirror to finger comb the tangles in her long hair, he stood behind her, kissing her shoulder as he looked at their reflection.

"We belong together, you know."

She seemed too overcome to respond, so she simply nodded, her eyes filling with tears again.

"Hey," he said, brushing the back of his hand against her cheeks. "No more tears. What's that all about?"

"I'm just so happy to be here with you. After I broke your heart and took our son away from you, I thought you'd hate me forever."

"Baby." He turned her to face him, needing her to look into his eyes when he told her the truth. "You didn't take him away from me. We decided adoption was the best course of action. Were we pressured into it? Yes. But that doesn't mean it wasn't the right thing to do. Look at Nick--he's a great kid. He's had a good life. He doesn't hate us for the choice we made, so why should we go on punishing ourselves?"

"I know." She flattened her hands against his chest, pressing her forehead into them. "I guess I'm just a little overwhelmed right now. Having you back in my life and Nick... it's everything I ever wanted. I guess I'm still not sure I deserve it."

Wes knew he wouldn't be able to convince her overnight, but he trusted that the more time they spent together, and with their son, the faster those old wounds would heal. "You deserve a hell of a lot better than me," he joked. "But I'm hoping by the time you figure that out, it'll be too late. You'll already be mine."

"Then I guess it's already too late," she said, giving him a watery smile. "I've always been yours, Wes. You just didn't know it."

"God, you're slayin' me here, woman." He kissed the hand she'd had resting against his heart as he tried to keep his emotions in check.

"Sorry." She giggled as she stood on her toes to press a kiss to his lips. "I promise to try to keep it light and fun for the rest of the night. How's that?"

"Now fun I can do. I'm an expert at that." When she reached for the hairdryer mounted on the wall, he took it from her and turned it on.

"What are you doing?" she asked, looking amused as she watched him wave the instrument over her scalp.

"What does it look like I'm doing? I'm drying your hair."

"You'll get bored in no time," she promised. "My hair's really thick. It takes forever to dry."

"Hmm." He pulled away the towel she'd secured under her arms. "Then I guess I'll just have to find some way to keep it interesting, won't I?"

He aimed the hot air over her nipples, drying up the water that remained. Her breathing was shallow as she watched him move the dryer all over her body, drying any trace of water while pausing to kiss her periodically.

"I think I better do that," she said finally, taking the dryer from him. "If I don't, we may never get out of the bathroom."

He winked at her reflection in the mirror as he watched her go to work on her hair. "I'm okay with that. Bathroom, bedroom, hall closet--doesn't matter to me."

She giggled when he wrapped his arms around her waist, burying his face in her neck. Blasting him in the face with the hot air, she said, "We can christen every room in your house and mine when we get back home. In the meantime, let me finish up here. I'll meet you in bed."

"Hmm, now I like the sound of that."

"Wait," she said before he could leave the room. "Let me." She quickly dried his hair. "We don't want wet sheets, do we?"

He chuckled. "Speak for yourself."

***

Sage stared at her reflection in the mirror as she replaced the dryer. She couldn't believe how much her life had changed in the past month. Before Wes had walked back into her life, she'd been so focused on supporting her family that she'd left little to no time for herself. She hadn't thought about her future or finding a life partner. She'd never considered the possibility of being a mother because she didn't feel she deserved another chance after failing so miserably the first time.

But Wes made her see things differently. He made her feel that she deserved to be happy, and that could only come with forgiveness. He'd brought Nick back into her life and helped her find an inner peace she hadn't known in years. Thanks to him, she'd stood up to her parents, set some boundaries, and even started writing a bit in the evenings again, dreaming of the day when she could do it full-time.

"What's taking so long?" Wes shouted. "I'm getting lonely out here."

"One sec."

She reached out to grab her purse, which she'd left on the floor by the door when they'd walked into the suite. As she withdrew the little plastic disc from her purse and tapped a pill into her hand, she realized this would be the first time she and Wes had made love since he'd learned she was pregnant all those years ago. That announcement had been the beginning of the end of their relationship.

As she dry swallowed the tiny pill, she wondered if there would ever be a time when they would celebrate the news that she was pregnant. Loving him as much as she did, she realized she wanted a second chance to have Wes's baby, to watch him be the amazing father she knew he would be.

She walked into the room to find Wes propped against a stack of pillows, one hand behind his head as he looked out the window. The white curtains on either side of the wide window hadn't been drawn, but with the lights out and no neighbors, privacy wasn't an issue.

"What were you thinking?" she asked, crawling into bed next to him.

He pulled her closer and kissed the top of her head, which surprised her. She'd expected him to be anxious to pick up where they'd left off in the shower. Though her fears were probably unfounded, she hoped he wasn't having second thoughts about making love to her.

"I was looking at the stars," he confessed. "Wondering... if I had one wish, what would it be?"

"And? What would it be?" She held her breath while she waited for him to respond.

"I couldn't decide. I want both you and Nick in my life. No way could I choose between you."

For her, that was the perfect response because she couldn't have chosen between the man she loved and the child they'd created together either.

"I still can't believe we got to meet him," she said, settling her hand on his flat stomach. "This morning when I woke up, I thought I'd dreamed the whole thing."

"Yeah, me too." He chuckled. "But then I got a text from him, and it reminded me that it was real."

"He texted you?" Sage asked, sitting up. "What did he say? Why didn't you tell me?"

He pulled her back down beside him, cradling her in his arms. "I was going to tell you. He said he talked to his mom and she's fine with him coming to Vista Falls next week, assuming we still want him to."

"Oh my God, of course we do! You told him that, didn't you?"

"Yeah, I told him." Wes smiled as he brushed her hair off her forehead, silently soothing her. "He has a game on Friday night. It's an away game between here and Brock, actually. So I told him I'd come to the game and we could leave from there."

"Oh, okay." Sage was glad that Nick had reached out to one of them and seemed so receptive to seeing where and how they lived, but she couldn't deny she felt a little left out.

"I know what you're thinking," Wes said, rolling onto his side to face her. "And he asked if I thought you'd be able to make his game too."

"Really?" Sage asked, grinning. "He asked about me? He wants me there too?"

"Of course he does, baby." He shifted her hair so it was over her shoulder and draped down her back. "I really think he wants us in his life." He closed his eyes. "And honestly, I don't know what the hell we did to deserve this, because in his position, I don't think I'd be so understanding. I'm just glad that he is."

"Me too." She wrapped her arms around him, tilting her face up to meet his. "I'm so grateful for this, Wes. You and me. Nick. It seems almost too good to be true. I'm afraid to think it could possibly get better."

"Ah, but it can," he said, shifting so she was on her back and his body partially covered hers. "Let me show you."

Her eyes fluttered closed as his mouth settled on that secret spot where her collarbone and neck met, the spot he'd discovered years ago and been the only man to find. "I almost forgot how good you make me feel."

"Mmm, I guess it's a good thing I have all night to remind you then."

His hands caressed her body, lingering on her breasts before dipping between her legs. She was already shamelessly aroused, and she was certain that was obvious to him by the wicked gleam in his eye when his fingers dipped inside her.

"You make me crazy," she said breathlessly, gripping fistfuls of his hair. "In the best possible way."

Instead of responding, he used his mouth to communicate in other ways. It closed over her nipples, licking leisurely until her skin felt stretched too tight.

"Wes, I'm..." She didn't even have time to tell him, though she knew she didn't have to. He'd always had the uncanny ability to read her body and mind. When she finally regained the ability to speak, she said, "You have to let me repay the favor. I feel like you're doing all the giving and I'm doing all the taking tonight."

"There will be plenty of time to even the score." He reached into the nightstand and extracted a condom.

"When did you have time to stash that in there?"

"You took forever in the bathroom," he grumbled. "I had plenty of time."

But as he rolled it on, he didn't look annoyed. He looked aroused and maybe a little wistful, as though he couldn't believe this was happening either.

"Did you ever think we'd end up back here?" she asked, looping her arms around his neck as he was poised above her.

"Only in my fantasies," he whispered before closing his mouth over hers.

He took his time inching inside her. Though she was more than ready, it had been a while since she'd been with a man, so she didn't make it easy for him.

"Sorry," she whispered, biting her lip when he drew back to make sure she was okay. "I just need a minute."

"Take all the time you need." He brushed his lips across her cheeks while his forearms framed her head, supporting his weight. "I'm in no hurry."

"It's just, uh, been a while for me."

"Good." He laughed when she smacked his back. "You'll never hear me complain about that. I can't remember a time when you treated sex casually. It's nice to know that hasn't changed."

"It hasn't." She kissed him briefly while composing herself. As hard as she tried not to let it fall, a tear slipped down her cheek. "It still means something to me. And you... well, you mean everything to me, Wes."

"I love you, baby. I'll never give you reason to doubt that again, I promise."

It sounded as though he was alluding to the future, but Sage was determined to savor the moment, one she'd waited so long for. Her eyes locked on his, the intensity in his hooded gaze growing with every powerful thrust.

The last time they'd made love, he'd been caught somewhere between a boy and a man. Now he fulfilled her in ways she couldn't even have imagined then.

"I didn't think it could get any better." His rhythmic prodding made it difficult for her to think, much less speak, but she had to say it. "You were always the standard, you know. No other man has ever measured up to you."

He rewarded her with a cocky smile, slowly his frenetic pace slightly. "Oh yeah?"

"I'd almost convinced myself you couldn't possibly live up to the memory of what it was like."

He leaned back, gripping her hips. "And now?"

"You've set the bar even higher."

He narrowed his eyes while resuming his pace. "You'll never have reason to judge me against another man again. At least I hope you won't. I'm not playing around here. You, this, it's all I want."

Curling her hands around his biceps, she lifted her hips off the bed, taking all he could give, though she knew she'd pay for it in the morning. "You're all I want too, all I'll ever want."

"Baby, please. I can't..."

Just as he could decode her body, she could do the same. Letting go, she felt him do the same, and the experience was like nothing she'd ever felt. Not only were their bodies united, but this time their hearts were too. They weren't kids anymore, with parents trying to keep them apart. They were adults who'd learned from and paid for their mistakes and had come back together better and stronger because of them.

"Jesus." He half laughed before staggering to the bathroom. She must have been wearing a self-satisfied smile when he returned a few minutes later because when he climbed in next to her, he said, "Feeling pretty good about yourself, huh? Happy to have ruined me for all other women?"

She smiled as she pressed a kiss to his chest. "Absolutely."

# Chapter Thirteen

Colt was sitting alone in the dining room the next morning, scowling into his coffee when Wes found him.

"Uh oh, I know that look," Wes said, claiming the chair across from him.

"Yeah," Colt said, frowning. "And I know that stupid look you're sportin' too. I guess I don't have to ask what happened between you and Sage last night."

"I'll fill you in about that in a minute," Wes said, helping himself to coffee from the stainless carafe in the middle of the table. It was a little late for breakfast, so the large room was empty save a few diners seated near the buffet table clear across the room. "I want to hear about what happened between you and Gabby. Y'all didn't try to kill each other, did you?"

"I am such an idiot," he said, rubbing his hands over his face.

"No arguments here." Wes took one of the untouched blueberry muffins from Colt's side plate and bit into it. "So what'd you do this time?"

Colt looked behind him to make sure no one was within earshot before he whispered, "I slept with her."

Wes was stunned. He suspected they might have fooled around, but he'd never guessed either of them would have let it go that far. "You're kidding?"

Colt grimaced. "Do I look like I'm kidding? But that's not the worst of it. This morning she started talking about what would happen when we got back home. She said she could cook dinner for me tonight, started talking about some family wedding she had to go to next weekend, asked me if I wanted to come as her date--"

"I don't think I like where this is going." Colt had always been like a brother to Wes, but if he'd hurt Gabby, who was a big part of the reason he had Sage back in his life, he'd have to kill him.

"I panicked, okay?" Colt sighed. "I told her last night never should have happened, that she should just forget about it and me and--"

"What did she say?"

"Nothing. She just left, stormed out of the room."

"You are one stupid son of a bitch. I've watched you screw around for years with women who didn't have a brain cell or ounce of morals between them. You finally have another chance with a good girl, one you clearly haven't gotten out of your system, and you manage to screw it up. How? Why?"

"Look, man, don't judge me," Colt said, pushing back his chair. "You don't know the shit I'm dealing with right now."

"I know you're trying to do right by your family," Wes said, leaning in. "But that doesn't mean you're not allowed to have a life of your own."

"It's more than that." He looked around. "Your family's always had it all together. Mine are a bunch of screw-ups. I keep trying to run from it 'cause honestly, I'm afraid to end up just like them. But being back here means I can't go on pretending anymore. I have to face it, and I don't want to face it."

Wes knew he was the reason Colt had come back to Vista Falls at all. "Buddy, anything I can do to help, you know I will. But do you honestly think shutting Gabby down is going to make this situation any better?"

"My old man used to tell me all the time that she was too good for me." He covered his mouth with his hand. "He used to say she'd leave me when something better came along."

"What the hell does he know? You should know better than to listen to him. He was probably drunk when he said it." Wes became incensed every time he thought about the way Colt's father had tried to tear him down instead of building him up the way Wes's father had.

"Maybe he was right. Think about it. What would someone like Gabby want with me? We both know I'm not what she needs."

"I'm no expert on women, but one thing I know for sure--they don't like to be told how they should feel. They like to make up their own minds about that. And my guess is if Gabby slept with you last night, it's because she's already made up her mind."

Colt looked out the window as the cleaning lady hauled her trolley across the paved parking lot to clean the small guest cabins. "I was crazy to think this could work."

"What do you mean? You're not sorry you came back here, are you?"

"I think I may have to head back to Texas, Wes."

"Wait, what?" Colt had been the one constant in Wes's life since they'd decided to take on this crazy challenge together. He couldn't bail now.

"This may be the right place for you, but it's not the right place for me." He sighed. "I'm more certain of that than ever. If I stay here, the past will continue to haunt me. I'll keep hurting the people I care about 'cause I just don't know how not to."

Wes hated to see his best friend in pain, but he couldn't fix what was broken in Colt's life. He could only be there to support him while he figured it out for himself.

"At least consider splitting your time," Wes said, hoping they could reach some compromise. After working side-by-side for so many years, imagining not seeing Colt every day was tough for Wes.

"We've still got the flagship store and a small office there," Colt said. "And since we haven't found a new operations manager yet, I could take care of things until we find someone."

"Then you're talking about a temporary move?" That made Wes feel marginally better, but he still didn't want to see Colt go. Their phenomenal growth over the past thirteen years had been due to the fact they were an unstoppable team. Wes didn't want to think about what might happen if they went their separate ways.

"I don't know yet. I just know I need to get out of here." He sighed, tipping his head back. "I'm sorry to leave you in the lurch like this, buddy. If there was another way..."

"Hey, you deserve to take some time. You've barely taken any personal time in a decade. Maybe that's what this is--you're burnt out. Could be some time off will give you some perspective."

"I'm not talking about taking time off," Colt argued. "That's the last thing I need. I'd go crazy if I didn't have anything to do."

Wes was guilty of working too much too, but he was beginning to realize how important balance was, especially now that he had Sage and Nick in his life. "Well, maybe think about cutting back on your hours some if you plan on going back for a while. I'm all for you being the one to interview and hire the new manager. In fact, I think that's a great idea. Just don't take on too much."

"It'll be okay, you know," Colt assured him, as though he sensed Wes's apprehension. "We can video chat every day, deal with any issues that come up. Maybe this arrangement will work even better. Think about it. We still have the building in Houston. We haven't sold it yet. Maybe we could ramp up production again, bring a lot of our employees back."

"What are you talking about?" Wes asked, shaking his head. "They've all got other jobs now. Besides, it sounds to me like you're talking about making this thing permanent, and I can't see how that's going to work. We can't run this business from separate states indefinitely, Colt. You know that."

"Whatever, we'll work it out. I just know I need to get out of here."

"Do you plan to let Gabby know you're leaving town?"

"I was hoping you could tell her."

"You're not a coward, Colt. Quit acting like one." Knowing this could be the last time he saw him for months, the last thing Wes wanted was to argue with him, but he'd always been the one to give Colt a slap upside the head when he needed some sense knocked into him.

Colt's jaw tensed as he shoved his hands in the pockets of his faded jeans and withdrew his keys. "I gotta go."

Wes stood and clasped Colt's hand while pulling him into a half hug. "Anything I can do. You know that, right?"

"Yeah, sure." He cleared his throat before he muttered, "I'll call you later. Say bye to Sage for me."

Wes was grateful he had a few minutes to collect himself before his brother approached. He still couldn't believe Colt was leaving.

"You look like you just lost your best friend," Rush joked, grabbing a clean mug off the table next to them before he sat down and poured himself a coffee.

"I fear I may have." But Wes knew it would never come to that. Even if Colt never set foot in Vista Falls again, they would always be business partners and friends.

"What're you talking about? Did something happen between you and Sage? I hope I wasn't out of line suggesting you guys stay here last night. I was just trying to help."

"You did, man. Thanks." If not for his brother's meddling, it may have taken months for Wes and Sage to get to where they were now.

"If it's not Sage, what's the problem? And don't tell me nothing. I can read you better than that."

"Colt's headed back to Texas. I really hoped we could work it out here. I thought it was only a matter of time before he'd be as happy to be home as I am."

"What happened to make him change his mind?" Rush asked. "We were talking yesterday, and he didn't say anything about heading out. In fact, I got the impression he didn't really mind being back. Course, I think that might have something to do with Gabby."

Wes would never have betrayed his friend's confidence, but his silence must have spoken for him.

Rush nodded slowly. "I get it. Whatever happened between him and Gabby last night is the reason he's so anxious to get out of town all of a sudden, huh?"

"Those two have a lot of history," Wes said, trying to remain noncommittal.

"They're not the only ones." Rush smirked. "You gonna tell me what went down between you and Sage last night, or are you gonna let me guess?"

Wes had never been one to kiss and tell, not even in high school, and he sure as hell wouldn't disrespect Sage now by talking to his brother or his buddies about what had gone on behind closed doors. "Let's just say we're on the right track."

Rush smiled. "Mama's gonna be real happy to hear that. You know she loves that girl."

"She's not the only one."

"So it's like that, is it?" Rush asked, looking at Wes intently.

"It's always been like that."

Rush nodded. "Yeah, I guess it has. I'm happy for you, man. For both of you. You and Sage are good together. I've never seen you two happier than you are when you're together."

"Hopefully we'll be together from here on out."

"Then you talked about the future last night?" Rush brought his coffee cup to his lips to hide his smile. "Or did you have time to talk?"

"Shut up, dumbass." Wes was used to his little brother busting his chops, but when it came to Sage, he was still sensitive.

"Hey, there," Sage said, wrapping her arms around Wes's neck from behind. "Is that any way to talk to your brother?"

"Thank you for jumping to my defense, beautiful," Rush said, standing. He bowed gallantly before pulling out Sage's chair. "I'm counting on you to teach this heathen some manners."

Sage giggled when Rush kissed her cheek after tucking in her chair. "What was that for?"

"Putting that smile back on my brother's face. It's been too long."

Whenever Wes thought about levelling Rush because he'd said or done something to piss him off, he reminded Wes why he put up with his BS--because he loved him. "Would you get out of here and give me some time alone with my lady?"

"Sure," Rush said, winking at Sage. "Just let me know if he gives you a hard time. I've got no problem kicking him out on his ass."

"Really?" Wes made a point of looking around the expansive room. "You got some three-hundred-pound security guard around here? 'Cause I know you're not pretending you could do it."

Rush chuckled as he gripped Wes's shoulder. "With one hand tied behind my back, big man."

Rush strolled off whistling, but not before Wes promised to put his theory to the test sometime. Sage was still smiling when Wes rolled his eyes as he leaned in to grab her hand.

"What's so funny?" he asked.

"You and your brother still going at it like teenagers. I guess some things never change, huh?"

Wes would have liked nothing more than to engage in small talk all morning, but he had to tell Sage about Colt sooner or later. "So, um, have you heard from Gabby yet this morning?"

"Yeah, she texted me just as I was getting out of the shower. She said she had to leave early, something about a big order at the shop. I told her not to worry, I could catch a ride home with you. I hope that's okay?"

"Of course."

"Is everything okay?" Sage asked, leaning back as she withdrew her hand from his. "It looks like you've got something on your mind. You're not having second thoughts about last night, are you?"

"You think if I were, I would have repeated it this morning?" When she blushed, he smiled, thinking how cute it was that she still got embarrassed talking about sex. "No, this isn't about us. It's about Colt. He's decided to leave town, and it looks like I'm going to have to be the one to tell Gabby. I'm not looking forward to that. Especially after..." Wes didn't like keeping secrets from Sage and he knew she'd hear all about last night from her best friend, but he wasn't sure he should be the one to tell her.

"Did they sleep together?" she whispered, wide-eyed. When Wes didn't confirm or deny her assumption, she said, "Wow. I can't believe it. Gabby's not the type to rush into something like that. She hasn't been with anyone since her divorce. I mean, I know it's not like she's never been with Colt, but still."

"Still, it sucks. Mainly because he's leaving town and I'm the one who gets to tell her."

"That doesn't sound like Colt."

"You're right." Which gave Wes some indication of how much last night had messed with Colt's mind. He was definitely acting out of character by making an impulsive decision to leave town without talking to Gabby first. "I think he's scared."

"Of what?"

"The way he feels about her. The way she feels about him. Hurting her. Not being good enough. Making the same mistakes his old man did. Getting tied down. Getting stuck in Vista Falls forever. Making a commitment. Take your pick."

"Do you feel stuck here?"

"I came back willingly, sweetheart. There's nowhere else I'd rather be."

She smiled. "I'm glad to hear that."

"You want to grab some breakfast?"

"In a minute." She glanced at her phone, which she'd set on the table when she sat down. "I got another text from Gabby. She wants me to pass by her place later."

"Maybe I can drop you off there? That would give me a chance to talk to her about Colt leaving town."

"Would you mind if I told her about that?"

Wes didn't think letting Sage break the news to her was fair. "Baby, you don't have to do that. I told Colt I'd tell her--"

"I just think it would be easier coming from me."

After thinking about it for a minute, Wes said, "You're probably right." The last thing Wes wanted was to make this any more difficult for Gabby than it was bound to be.

***

"So how was your night?" Gabby asked Sage when they'd settled on her back porch, each with a cup of coffee.

"I was about to ask you that."

As happy as Sage was about how well things were going for her and Wes, she wouldn't rub her friend's nose in it, especially since she had to be reeling from what happened with Colt. Sage still didn't have all the details, but if they'd slept together and he'd decided to leave town the very next day, Gabby was bound to be upset.

"Not much to tell," Gabby said, shrugging.

Sage wondered if Gabby was going to keep her in the dark, which hurt since she'd always shared the good, the bad, and the ugly with her best friend. "Are you sure about that?"

"We slept together." Gabby sipped her coffee. "Correction--we hooked up. That's all it was--a hookup. I'm done with it, done with him. I'm glad I got him out of my system finally. It's obvious that's not going anywhere, and now I can move on, right?" She faked a smile. "On to bigger and better things, right?" Her smile slipped when she said, "Okay, maybe not bigger. That might be impossible. But hopefully better."

Sage smiled at Gabby's attempt at humor, hating herself for the news she was about to impart. But not half as much as she hated Colt for bailing on a woman who could make his life so much better if only he wasn't too stubborn to see it. "I want to tell you that you're better off without him because you know I'd say or do anything to make you feel better."

"But you don't believe that, do you?"

"I think you and I are a lot alike." Sage watched a robin land on one of the bird feeders Gabby's dad had made for her and scattered around the property. "I never really got over Wes, though my pride would never let me admit it. And I don't think you ever really got over Colt."

"Please," Gabby said, rolling her eyes. "Have you forgotten I was married for five years? If you're questioning whether I'm over anyone, shouldn't it be my ex-husband?"

"You'd think so, wouldn't you?" Sage knew she was venturing onto shaky ground. The warning look in Gabby's eyes almost prompted her to retreat, but she knew Gabby would have had the guts to be honest with her no matter how hard it was, and she had to be willing to do the same. For the sake of their friendship. "But I'm not so sure you ever loved Kyle as much as you loved Colt."

Gabby looked shocked before she choked back a sob. She set her cup on the side table between them before leaning over, her hand covering her mouth. "God, why did I let him back into my life? Why did I give him the power to hurt me again? What the hell was I thinking?"

Sage inched her chair closer, curling her arm around Gabby's slender shoulders as she thought about all the ways she'd have liked to castrate her lover's best friend. "Sweetie, I'm so sorry. If I'd thought there was a chance he'd pull a stunt like this and bail--"

"What are you talking about?" Gabby asked, tears streaking her cheeks as her eyes searched Sage's. "Where did he go?"

Then Sage realized she still hadn't told her friend the worst part--Colt was gone. "Back to Houston."

"For good?"

"I don't know. I don't even think Wes knows."

Gabby jumped up, looking furious as she curled her arms around her midsection. "That's just like him, isn't it? That's exactly what he did the last time! Things were getting serious, and instead of staying and trying to make it work, he ran like the rat-bastard he is!"

Sage was glad Gabby lived on a corner and her next-door neighbor, a little old lady, had said good-bye as she left for the market. With the way Gabby's voice carried, everyone in Vista Falls would know her business by sundown if she kept this up.

"Honey, calm down." She put her arm around Gabby and steered her inside the house, making a mental note to come back for the cups later. "I know you're upset. But if Colt wasn't in this for the long haul, better you find that out now, right?"

"It's not like he said anything to lead me to believe he was." Gabby sniffled as she sank onto one of the benches flanking her kitchen table. "But I just thought..." She shook her head. "Never mind. It doesn't matter what I thought. I had no right to make assumptions. We're both consenting adults. I could have stopped it at any time, or asked him about where he saw things going, before I jumped into bed with him."

Sage sat beside Gabby, propping her head in her hand as she faced her friend. "So why didn't you? It's not like you to sleep with someone without thinking it through."

"I know, right?" She sighed. "I've been asking myself that very question all day."

"And?"

"The only thing I can come up with? It was Colt. How could I not?"

"Oh, sweetie."

At the sight of Gabby's watery smile, Sage could have cried herself. She had been there to hold Gabby's hand through her miscarriage and divorce, when she'd been lost and devastated. She'd even been there for her, as best she could given the challenges she was facing at the time, the last time Colt left her. But this time, Sage didn't know how to help. She couldn't tell Gabby what she'd told her back then--that she and Colt were just kids and she had her whole life to find the right guy. Gabby had lived life, thought she'd found the right guy, and ended up circling back to Colt. What did that say about the hold he had on her? That it wasn't likely to vanish no matter how many thousands of miles separated them.

"Maybe you should call him? Call him out on leaving. I'm sure that's the last thing he'd expect you to do."

"Like hell I will. I have my pride."

Sage reached for a paper napkin to blot her friend's mascara-streaked eyes. "I had my pride too when Wes left. Maybe if I'd called him back then, I never would have gone through with the adoption. Maybe we could have been the ones to raise our son." Releasing a shaky breath as she wrestled with her own doubts and regrets, Sage whispered, "Sometimes pride isn't all it's cracked up to be. Sometimes it can ruin our lives."

"I hear what you're saying, I do. But he left because he doesn't want me. How can I call him up and ask him why? It would be humiliating." She dropped her forehead in her upturned palm. "He wouldn't want to hurt me, so he'd stutter and stammer and make excuses. It would be awful for both of us."

"Maybe," Sage conceded. "Or maybe Colt would realize he finally has someone in his life other than Wes who's strong enough to stick around even when he makes bonehead mistakes."

Gabby half laughed, half cried as she bumped shoulders with Sage. "That's why I love you, you know. 'Cause even when I feel like crap, you can make me feel better."

# Chapter Fourteen

Wes was feeling better than ever about his relationship with Sage. They'd spent every night together, either at her house or his, since their overnight date at the inn, but since they were on their way to pick up their son for his first overnight with Wes, they would be sleeping separately tonight.

"You sure you don't mind that Nick's spending the night with me?" Wes kissed Sage's hand as they sat in the parking lot, waiting for the players to trickle out after their post-game showers. Nick's team had lost, so Wes knew he may not be in the best mood. He didn't care. He just couldn't wait to see Nick again.

"No, I'm fine with it." She curled her free hand around his knee. "The most important thing is that he wants to spend time with us, right? It doesn't matter who he's staying with."

Though she claimed it didn't bother her, Wes feared Sage saw him developing a bond with their son and was afraid of being left out. "I'm sure it's just because I have all the cool toys. Come on, you've seen my bunker. With all those fishing rods and lures, any teenage boy would be salivating."

Sage bit her lip. "Your guns are all locked up, aren't they? I know you keep them in a cabinet, but it is locked, right?"

Wes dropped his head to keep from laughing. Based on everything Nick had told him, he'd been shooting things up for years. "Careful now, you're starting to sound just like an overprotective mama."

She paled. "Oh God, I better not say anything like that in front of Nick. I wouldn't want him to think that I'm trying to take his mother's place."

"Relax," Wes said, curling his hand around her face. He pulled her in for a kiss. "I was just teasing you. I think it's sweet that you're looking out for him. And you can relax. The guns are all locked up, safe and sound. And I'll make sure he knows how to use 'em before I take him on any hunting trips."

Before she could respond, Nick knocked on the window. He hopped in the backseat, tossing his backpack down beside him. "Hey, guys. What's up?"

They'd had a few phone conversations that week, and Wes felt as though he was getting to know him better every day. They'd even exchanged texts, and Nick had sent him links to a couple of fishing and hunting videos he thought Wes might like.

"Good game, buddy," Wes said, starting the truck. "Sorry about the loss. I really thought you guys were gonna pull it out of the fire in those last few minutes."

"Ah, you win some, you lose some, right?" Nick buckled his seat belt. "I'm kinda hungry. You mind if we pass by a drive-thru on our way out of town?"

Wes didn't think there was a single chain restaurant in the county, so Nick must have known something he didn't. "Sure, just tell me where to go."

"Head back toward Vista Falls," Nick said. "You'll see a sign for Hedley's on the right. They have a drive-thru window."

"Cool," Wes said, putting the truck into gear.

"Did you have a good week at school?" Sage asked, shifting in her seat so she was partially facing Nick.

"It was okay, I guess," he said, shrugging. Nick looked out the window instead of facing Sage.

Wes frowned at him in the rearview mirror, though he suspected the boy was paying him little mind.

Looking slightly uneasy, Sage said, "So, um, your parents weren't able to make it to tonight's game?"

"No, why would they come?" he asked. "They knew you guys were gonna be here to pick me up."

"We'd like to meet them," Sage said. "Wouldn't we, Wes?"

"Yeah." Wes looked in the rearview again, this time catching Nick's eye. "Maybe we can come to Brock and we can all go out for dinner."

"Sure. Whatever."

Wes sensed Nick was a little uneasy, and he wanted to ask why but not in front of Sage. He didn't want to give her reason to worry or make the kid uncomfortable.

"My brother owns the inn in town," Wes said. "He invited us for brunch tomorrow with my mother. I hope that's okay?"

"Sure, why not?" Nick looked at Sage. "Your parents aren't going to be there?"

"I don't think so."

"They can't be too happy about you spending all this time with me."

"What makes you say that?"

"I read your book. I know they pressured you into putting me up for adoption."

Sage and Wes exchanged a look, wondering how they should respond. They didn't want to lie to him, but they did want to protect him if they could.

"I don't need my parents' approval anymore, Nick," Sage said finally. "So how they feel about us spending time together is irrelevant."

"Then you admit they're not happy about it?" he asked, narrowing his blue eyes. "They still don't want an illegitimate bastard for a grandson, huh?"

Sage gasped as Wes glared at Nick in the mirror as he pulled up to a stop sign.

"Watch your mouth." Wes knew warning him about bad language at his age was lame, but it was not okay for him to disrespect Sage.

"Sorry, but it's the truth and we all know it." Nick crossed his arms and sank further down in his seat, closing his eyes.

Wes gripped Sage's hand when tears sprang to her eyes as she faced forward.

"Ignore him," Wes mouthed. "Teenagers are moody."

After a brisk nod, she bit her lip and looked out the window. Rain started to fall, pelting their windshield.

"Hey," Wes said to Nick as he pulled into the parking lot of the greasy spoon. "We're here. What do you want to eat?"

"I'm not that hungry anymore. I think I'll pass."

Wes clenched his teeth as he pulled back onto the main road. If they'd been alone, he'd have had plenty to say to the boy, but he didn't want to argue in front of Sage. She had high expectations for this weekend, and Wes didn't want to disappoint her. They drove the rest of the way to Sage's house, a little over half an hour, in silence.

"Let me walk you to the door," Wes said, hopping out to get her door before she could argue.

Wes heard Sage say good-bye to Nick before she got out of the truck, but Nick merely grunted, his eyes still closed. Wes and Sage sprinted to her front door.

"You didn't have to walk with me," she said. "You'll get soaked."

Wes gripped her shoulders. "You okay?"

She tried to smile, but it fell flat. "That didn't go too well, did it? I shouldn't be surprised. He has every right to be bitter and resentful, especially toward my parents. I just thought after how well things went last weekend..." She shrugged before Wes pulled her into his arms. "I guess I was expecting too much."

"We just have to let him get it all out. Let him yell and scream at us. Take his rage if we have to. Then slowly try to build his trust."

"You're right." She sighed against his chest. "Building a solid relationship with him won't happen overnight, and we can't expect it to. We just have to take it one day at a time."

"Right."

He framed her face with his hands before kissing her forehead. He wanted to kiss her on the lips, but Nick was probably watching them. Wes didn't want to get into a discussion about his relationship with Sage tonight. That could wait for another day, after they'd hashed out everything else.

"So you sure you're okay?"

She offered him a shaky smile. "I will be. I think I'm just going to have a glass of wine and a bubble bath then head off to bed with a good book."

"You know how much I'm going to miss holding you tonight?"

"I'm going to miss you too." She sighed. "But it's only two nights. I think we'll survive."

Wes was relieved she saw things reverting back to their "new normal" when Nick returned home. He didn't want to spend another night without her if he could help it.

"So we'll meet you at the inn for breakfast?" Wes asked.

"I'll be there."

"I'll text you good night in a little while." He jerked his head toward the truck. "Let you know how it went with the kid."

Before he could step off the porch, Sage grabbed his arm. "Go easy on him, okay? Try to put yourself in his position. He has every right to feel the way he does."

"I know. I'll be patient and understanding, I promise." Wes was clueless when it came to being a good parent, but thankfully he'd had the best example. So he just imagined what his old man might have said and done in this situation and planned to do the same.

"Wes?"

He turned to face her, heedless of the rain showering him. "Yeah?"

"I love you."

Wes grinned. "Love you too, baby."

***

Nick had already jumped in the front seat by the time Wes returned to the truck. "So you two are a couple. Why'd you lie to me?"

Wes gave him a long hard look before fastening his seat belt. "I didn't lie to you. It's a recent development, and I don't really want to talk about that until we've had a chance to talk about your attitude tonight. What's that all about?"

Nick wasn't surprised Wes was calling him out. He could already tell Wes was a no-BS kind of guy. "So I'm supposed to just keep my mouth shut when something's bothering me? Is that how y'all do things around here?"

"No, not at all. I want you to talk to me when you have a problem with something, but there's a right way and a wrong way to do it. I don't think I have to tell you that what you said tonight really hurt Sage."

Nick stared out the window. He'd gotten a bad grade on an English test he'd thought he'd aced, gotten into a fight with his so-called girlfriend when she'd asked him to hit Wes up for some cash, then he'd lost the game 'cause his head wasn't in it. After all that, Wes only cared about Sage's feelings? "So you only care about protecting her? You don't give a shit about me? Good to know."

"I think you know that's not true." Wes curled his hand around the steering wheel. "What's got you in such a pissy mood? Losing the game?"

"That's part of it." Nick slouched, wondering if he could trust Wes with the rest of it.

"What's the other part?" Wes asked, giving him a sidelong look.

"You know how I told you I didn't have a girlfriend?"

"Yeah."

"Well, that's not completely true. There kind of is this girl that I've been seeing for a while."

"Why didn't you feel you could tell us that?"

Nick sighed. "You and Sage were young when you got together and she got pregnant. I guess I didn't want you two to embarrass me with a lecture about safe sex in the middle of a restaurant."

"Fair enough, so long as I can count on you to tell me the truth from now on."

Nick nodded, knowing Wes would probably be able to see right through him if he tried to lie.

"Okay, so what's she like, this girlfriend of yours?"

If he'd asked that question a few weeks ago, Nick would have told him she was awesome, but now he wasn't so sure. "I don't know. She's okay, I guess."

Wes chuckled. "Not exactly a ringing endorsement. You two having problems?" Nick's stomach growled, and Wes's lips twisted as he tried to keep a straight face. "Guess you were hungrier than you thought, huh?"

"Guess so." Nick was always hungry. His mother claimed all boys his age were.

"I have some leftover steak at home," Wes said. "I'll make you a sandwich when we get to my place."

"Cool." Nick hoped Wes had picked up some food for him since Wes had asked him what his favorite foods were a few days ago.

"You were telling me about this girlfriend of yours."

"We kind of got into it today."

"Ah, I see," Wes said, nodding. "That explains the bad mood. You want to talk about it?"

Nick wasn't sure he had the guts to tell Wes that Maggie thought he should get in good with Wes because she wanted a handout. "She and I just don't always see eye to eye on things. She, uh, kind of thinks it's okay to take advantage of people, and I don't."

"I see."

"My dad worked real hard. He was an electrician. And he always tried to teach me that there was no shame in an honest day's work, even if it didn't make you rich."

"Your dad sounds like my kind of man," Wes said. "I wish I'd gotten to meet him."

"I do too." Nick knew his dad would have respected Wes for coming from nothing and making something of himself. How could he not admire Wes for that? "Anyways, Maggie just doesn't see things the way I do. Her parents have always been flat broke, taking on extra jobs every month to pay the bills. I think she's always been embarrassed that her dad had to drive cab and her mama works in the school cafeteria."

"I don't think there's any shame in working for a living, keeping a roof over your kids' heads and food in their bellies any way you can. What do you think?"

"I agree."

"Listen, my folks didn't have much when I was growing up either, but we made it just fine. Your friend Maggie is young. She probably just wants things the other girls have, like fancy clothes and stuff like that. Does she have a job?"

"Yeah, she works at the local convenience store after school and on weekends, but she hates it."

Wes chuckled. "I worked plenty of jobs I hated too. It taught me to appreciate that I get to do what I love now."

"Is that part of the reason you got into this?" Nick asked. "Because you grew up with nothing?"

"No, son. I never really thought much about making a lot of money, if you wanna know the truth. All I knew was that I had to make a living doing something. So why not something I enjoy, right?"

"Yeah." Nick wondered if Wes got to test all the cool products they sold. Probably not, since there were thousands on their website and in their catalogue.

"Something specific happen to set Maggie off today?"

"She knew I was coming here, and she, uh..." Nick could feel his face burning as he looked out the window. He forced himself to rush on before he lost his nerve. "Wanted me to ask you for some money. We've got this stupid junior prom coming up. She wants me to take her, and she found this really expensive dress and shoes she wants." Who spends a thousand bucks on a dress and shoes they only plan to wear once?

"I see."

The steely edge in Wes's voice prompted Nick to add, "Don't worry. I wasn't gonna ask you for it. I don't need anything from you." He realized how that came off, so he added, "You know what I mean. I don't need money and stuff."

"Yeah," Wes said with a slight smile.

They pulled up a long gravel drive, and Nick saw a lake come into view. Tucked away in the trees was a two-story log home with wraparound porch. It didn't look huge, but it was exactly the kind of home Nick would have expected Wes to have. "Nice place."

"Thanks." Wes cut the engine before turning to face Nick, his hand on the headrest of the passenger's seat. "So here's the deal, kid. I make a lot of money. I know that's no secret. And I earned every dime the old-fashioned way. But do I give some of it away? Sure, I do."

"You do?"

"Yeah, you wanna know why?" When Nick nodded, Wes said, "Because when I was growing up, my parents would take me to church every Sunday. One week, I saw my old man put his last five bucks in the collection plate. He didn't have enough to buy milk and bread on the way home."

"Why'd he do that?" Nick asked, frowning.

"He said that while that five bucks might mean we'd have to sacrifice a few things, it would be worth it 'cause it would give someone who wouldn't have a meal a chance to eat. I didn't know it then, but they were trying to raise money for a single mom with a couple of kids. They were living in her car out by the railroad tracks."

"Wow." Nick suddenly wished he could have met his grandfather. A man who'd give his last five bucks to a total stranger must have been a pretty cool guy.

"Yeah. So you see, that was the kind of influence I had growing up. My parents taught me that you do what you can. Now, I can do a lot, so I do." He gestured to the house. "This is all I really need to make me happy. A little land with a boat slip, a place to lay my head, a boat to get me out there doing what I love, a rod and reel, and a few good lures." He smiled, slamming a palm on his steering wheel. "Oh, and a good truck. Other than that, I'm good."

Sounded like a pretty damn good life to Nick. He'd have been happy to have half as much at Wes's age.

"So if somebody needs something, I'm inclined to give it. But there's a big difference between needing something and wanting it. You need an education. For that, I'd cut a check no problem. You had a medical bill that needed to be paid? Done. But I will not buy your little girlfriend a dress so she can feel good about herself and gloat to all of her friends."

Nick was reeling over Wes's claim that he would pay for his education. "I'd never ask you to do that. That's what I told her, so she's pissed at me."

Wes smirked. "Do you really care?"

"No, not really."

"Good. Now let's get inside and get you something to eat."

# Chapter Fifteen

Wes watched Nick scarf down his second piece of Wes's mom's homemade apple pie before he asked, "You feeling better?"

"Yeah." Nick took a drink of milk before he said, "Sorry about what I said to Sage. I'll apologize to her when I see her tomorrow."

"That'd be nice," Wes said, taking a forkful of the remaining pie from the pan. "But she understands that you've got a lot of questions. You can feel free to ask anything you want, you know. Of me or her." He may have been opening a can of worms with an offer like that, but if he'd been in Nick's position, he'd have wanted to know more and would probably have been afraid to ask.

"What are they really like? Sage's parents."

Wes paused with his lips wrapped around the fork, wondering how the hell to answer that question. "What are they like? Well, they're different than my parents, that's for sure." He knew that wasn't really an answer, but it was the nicest thing he could think to say about two people who had made it their mission to make his life a living hell when he was Nick's age.

"Is everything she said in her book true?"

Wes couldn't speak to what she'd been thinking then or what had happened between her and her parents behind closed doors, but he had no doubt that every word in that book was the truth. "Yeah."

"So they thought I'd ruin her life... and yours?"

"I can promise you they already thought I was going nowhere, so they didn't care much about my life. But they were concerned about her." Sage's parents may have had a lot of faults, but he'd never doubted they loved her and were only trying to do what they thought was best for her.

Nick forked crumbs up from his plate, his gaze locked on the table. "I'm grateful to my parents for adopting me, but it's tough to grow up thinking you were someone's mistake."

Wes felt those words like a compound bow shot through the heart shattering the vital organ irreparably. He breathed in slowly, to see whether he still could, before he straightened, his back resting against the bar-height chair at the breakfast bar. His voice was gruff, bleeding with emotion, when he said, "You were never a mistake, Nick. Neither Sage nor I looked at her pregnancy that way."

"But you didn't want me any more than she did. She said in her book that you left Vista Falls right after you signed the papers."

"That's true. I did." Wes cleared his throat, wondering how to convey what it felt like to have your heart broken. "But only because I was a wreck and I knew Sage was too. Her parents were sending her away to have you, so she wasn't going to be here. I had a chance to go to college, and my father convinced me to take it."

"Did you ever think about asking her not to go through with the adoption?"

"Every minute of every day until it was too late," Wes whispered, looking at Nick. He wondered what Nick had looked like at one, learning to walk; at four, learning to ride a bike; at six, throwing a football for the first time. He'd missed those days. But he hoped he would be there for graduations, wedding days, and babies' christenings in the future.

"Why did it take you so long to contact me?"

Wes had been expecting that question, was even surprised that it had taken Nick so long to ask it. "I was scared. Scared you'd hate me, reject me. Then I'd have to live with that the rest of my life. I'm not proud to admit it, but I was a coward."

"I know it wasn't easy for you guys," Nick said, pushing his empty plate aside. "My mom always said you guys were so selfless for doing what you did. She said she'll always be grateful to you for letting me come into their lives."

Wes was grateful for the picture Nick's mom had tried to paint of them, but a boy who'd lost two fathers in his young life would probably see it differently. "Sometimes when you're young, you do really stupid things. Things that you regret when you're older and have a little life experience under your belt. Not fighting harder for the chance to raise you is one of the things I'll regret for the rest of my life."

Nick laced his hands, pressing the pad of his thumb into his palm. "You, uh, think you and Sage will get married and have more kids someday?"

"We haven't talked about it yet, but I sure hope so."

Nick nodded, looking as though he was struggling with Wes's response.

"Would that bother you?"

"I loved my dad, don't get me wrong." Nick's eyes filled with tears. "He was a great guy, and I really miss him. But..."

Wes placed his hand on Nick's back. "But what? You can say anything. I won't judge you. I promise."

"But if I had a choice, I would have chosen you." He scraped a hand over his face, looking more world-weary than any teenager should. "I know that makes me sound like an ingrate, but it's true. It's not fair that some other kid is going to get you and Sage for parents when I didn't."

Wow. Wes wasn't even sure how to respond. "Sage and I reached out to you because, more than anything, we want to be in your life. If we have other children together, sometime in the future, that's not going to change how we feel about you at all."

"How do you feel about me?" he asked, tipping his head as he looked at Wes.

"I love you." Wes curled his hand around the back of Nick's neck and squeezed. "And while I have no right to be, I'm proud of you. I can already see that you're an amazing kid, and to think that I played even a small part in that makes me happy."

Nick gave him a grudging smile. "When my mom saw your picture online, she said I looked just like you."

"Yeah, sorry about that," Wes joked, messing with his short dark hair.

Nick chuckled. "It's not such a bad thing. The girls don't seem to mind."

Wes threw his head back laughing, thinking how good this kid made him feel. "On that note, let me show you to your room. We've got a busy day tomorrow."

***

Sage wasn't sure what to expect when Wes and Nick picked her up the next morning. She'd planned to meet them at the inn, but Wes had called and said Nick wanted a few minutes alone with her. She wasn't too surprised when Nick came to the door to get her, leaving Wes in the truck.

"Hey," he said, not quite meeting her eyes.

"Did you sleep well?" She stopped just short of asking him whether he'd had a good meal after the game last night, knowing that sounded way too maternal.

"Yeah, the mattress on that bed was sick."

Sage smiled as she reached for her purse. "That's good."

"Um, could I talk to you for a minute before we head out?"

"Of course," she said, stepping back for him to enter. "Come on in."

"Thanks." He looked into the living room on the left and the small dining room on the right. "Nice place."

"Thank you. Can I get you some lemonade or sweet tea, maybe?"

"No, thanks, I told Wes we'd only be a minute."

"Okay." Sage gestured to the living room. "Do you want to sit down while we talk?"

"No, it's okay." He heaved a sigh. "I just kind of want to get this out there. I'm sorry for the way I talked to you last night, the things I said about your parents. I don't even know them, and I was out of line for asking--"

"No, you weren't," Sage said, touching his shoulder. "You weren't out of line for asking questions. You have every right to do that. If I were you, I'd want to know everything."

"Thanks." He gave her the same crooked grin that Wes sometimes sported. "For letting me off the hook, I mean. Wes said the same thing about it being cool if I wanted to ask you guys questions."

"I'd love it if you do," she said, hoping he could sense her sincerity. "How else are we going to get to know each other, right?"

"You're right."

***

Sage loved spending time with Wes's mother. She was so kind and gentle but strong-willed at the same time. She seemed to radiate positivity, something Sage knew Nick could sense since he seemed to gravitate to Sharon from that first hug they shared. Their meeting made Sage wish that her parents were different so they could be here to share this special moment with their grandson too.

"So Wes tells me you're a football player, Nick," Sharon said, winking at her grandson. "Wes would never admit this--he's much too modest--but he still holds all kinds of records at his old high school. Everyone says he was the best quarterback that school has ever had."

"God, Mom," Wes said, turning a ruddy shade as he swiped a hand over his face. "Do we really have to do this?"

Sage laughed as she gripped his knee under the table. "Your mom's not lying, honey. Let her tell Nick your story." Sage could tell that Nick was learning to worship Wes, but instead of making her jealous or uncomfortable, it made her happy. How could it not? The man she loved was getting a second chance with his son. Their son.

"If he doesn't want you to hear about how great he was, I'd be more than happy to tell you how great I was," Rush said, grinning at Wes.

"You played football too?" Nick asked.

"Must be something about those Davis genes, huh?" Rush obviously realized he'd made Nick uncomfortable because he said, "Sorry, kid. I was just--"

"It's okay." Nick looked around the table, his gaze finally settling on Wes. "I like being here with you guys. I know I'm not really a part of the family, but--"

"Nonsense," Sharon said, putting her arm around Nick. "You're blood. It doesn't get any closer than that."

Sage was grateful to Sharon for making Nick feel as though he belonged. He needed to hear that from the matriarch of the family, a woman he obviously liked and respected.

"Thanks for saying that." Nick smiled at her. "Does that mean you'll bake me another one of those apple pies you gave Da--uh, Wes?"

Sharon promised Nick another pie as they all pretended they didn't notice the slip, but Sage could tell how much it meant to Wes.

"Why don't we head outside?" Rush suggested. "You ladies can bring your coffee while we wet a line?"

"You boys go on ahead," Sharon said, standing so she could take the chair Wes had vacated. "I want a few minutes alone with Sage first."

Sage knew she shouldn't be nervous. She and Sharon had had plenty of heart-to-heart chats over the years, but now that she and Wes were officially a couple again, it felt different. Sage didn't want to get ahead of herself, but this woman could be her future mother-in-law, and she wanted to convince Sharon that she was as invested in this relationship as Wes was.

"He's quite a young man, isn't he?" Sharon said, watching the three of them head outside. Their laughter rang out while Rush shoved Nick into Wes.

"That he is," Sage agreed.

"I can tell how happy it's made Wes, getting to know him after all these years. And you too, honey. You must be so excited about the future."

Sage had learned a long time ago to temper her enthusiasm. Years ago, when she'd been excited about going off to college, she found out she was pregnant. When she'd been excited about a future with Wes, their relationship fell apart. When she finally got a publishing deal and her first book was a success, her father had a stroke and she had to take over for him. So no matter how much she loved Wes and Nick and wanted both of them to be a part of her life moving forward, she was afraid to hope for too much. "We're just trying to take it one day at a time, Sharon. But I'm happy. Hopeful."

Sharon frowned, reaching for Sage's hand. "You do know it's okay to be happy, right? That you deserve to be happy?"

"What do you mean?"

"I think you've been punishing yourself for a really long time, feeling guilty because you didn't fight harder to keep Nick, maybe even because you let Wes go without a fight."

"I suppose you're right." There was no point in denying it. Sharon had raised three kids. She knew how to sniff out the truth. "You know what they say--old habits die hard."

"But die they must," Sharon said. "At least this one. It's holding you back, honey. Preventing you from having the life you want with a man who loves you more than anything."

"He told you that?" Sage whispered, wondering what else Wes had told his mother about her.

"He didn't have to. I know him. I know what's in his heart. And it's you. It's always been you."

Sage felt tears sting her eyes, but she knew she didn't have to hold back with Sharon. She'd often been more of a mother to her than her own. "I love him too. So much. I hope you know I'd never do anything to hurt him again."

"I don't think you hurt him back then. I think you both had to make an incredibly difficult decision. Did it hurt both of you? Yes. But I never once blamed you... or him."

"You are so amazing," Sage said, giving her a hug. "Most parents would go crazy if they found out their teenage son got his girlfriend pregnant, but you and John were so good to both of us. Even when we decided to go ahead with the adoption, you never tried to convince us otherwise. You said it was our decision, and you let us make it. I don't think I ever told you how grateful I was for that."

"Maybe not, but you did write about it in your book, which John got to read before he passed. So thank you for that."

"John read the book?"

"He certainly did. And let me just say there were a lot of tears shed. We had a lot of good conversations about what you and Wes did."

"Really?" Sage was almost afraid to ask. "How did John really feel about it? Did he resent me for pressuring Wes into giving his grandson up?"

She shook her head slowly. "He often said how brave he thought you both were, that you'd faced the challenge with more dignity and grace than he would have had in the same situation."

Sage smiled, thinking how sad she was that she'd never have John as a father-in-law. He truly had been a wonderful example of what a father should be. "I miss him, so I can't imagine how much you all do."

"The fact that I got so many wonderful years with him was a blessing I'm thankful for every day. If you find someone like that, who's your best friend, you never let anything tear you apart." She brushed Sage's hair over her shoulder. "You and Wes were too young to understand that back then. You let what happened tear you apart, understandably so. But your past doesn't have to define you. It seems you two are getting a second chance. I so hope you'll make the most of it."

"We will," Sage said, smiling. "If I have my way."

# Chapter Sixteen

Brunch with Wes's family inspired Sage to visit her parents while Wes took Nick to meet his old football coach. She wanted them to know that Nick was in town before they heard it from one of their well-meaning friends.

"Well, this is a surprise," her mother said when she answered the door. "I was beginning to think you'd forgotten all about us."

"Can I come in?" Sage asked, refusing to take the bait.

"Of course." She stepped back. "Your father is lying down, but he should be up soon."

"Is he feeling okay?" Sage asked, feeling a pang of guilt for the way she'd left things with her sick father.

"Do you really care?"

"I didn't come here to fight, Mom. I came here to fill you in on what's been happening in my life. Not because I need your blessing. I don't. I just wanted you to know."

"Hmm. Would you like some tea?"

"Sure, why not?" Sage followed her mother, wondering why she always wore heels inside. It was one of the many questions Sage had never felt comfortable asking her.

"I hear you're seeing that Davis boy again." Her mother set two delicate cups and saucers on the table before a teapot Sage recognized as her grandmother's.

Sage's mother had a way of making her feel like a petulant teenager every time she opened her mouth. "First of all, he's not a boy. He's a man. And yes, I am. Do you and Dad have a problem with that?"

She pinched her lips together. "I know he's done very well for himself, but having money isn't everything."

Sage covered her mouth to keep from laughing out loud. "That's funny coming from you. I thought money was the only thing that prevented Wes from being good enough for me back in high school as far as you were concerned."

"Well, we certainly didn't have a crystal ball," she said, sitting. "No one could have predicted that he would become so wealthy. You know, I Googled him the other day. You'll never guess what his net worth is."

Sage hadn't seen her mother's eyes light up like that in a long time. But dollar signs always did make her salivate. She was probably already imagining how Wes's good fortune could benefit their family.

"I don't care how much money he has. I love him." Sage let those words settle in before she said, "And he loves me."

"Well, at least we won't have to worry about whether he can provide for you."

"I don't need anyone to provide for me." Sage shook her head. "In case you haven't noticed, I have a car and home of my own."

"I know, but think about the kind of house and car you could have if you married someone like Wes."

Sage couldn't believe that all of a sudden, her mother viewed Wes as a catch. "Mom, I busted my ass in college so I wouldn't lose my scholarship. Even after I gave my baby up--"

"Language." She frowned. "And really, do we have to rehash all this? It's ancient history."

"For you, maybe." Sage had promised herself she wouldn't lose her temper, but her mother didn't make it easy to keep her word. "But you and Dad seem to forget all that I've sacrificed to try to make a decent life for myself. I worked hard, lived beneath my means, paid off all my debt, including my house--"

"You don't have a mortgage on that house?" Her eyes widened. "Why didn't you ever tell me that?"

"You never asked." Sage didn't like to discuss her finances with her parents, mainly because they would probably have cut her salary at the dealership if they'd known she didn't have any debt. "I've bankrolled every single improvement on that old house and been saving for retirement. Do you want to know why?"

"I'm sure you'll tell me."

"Because I want to write. That's my passion. It's what I was born to do, and since it's not the most stable career choice--"

"You can say that again."

Sage clenched her teeth, spitting out the words. "I have saved my money, made do with less, and created a nice little nest egg for myself so someday I can live life on my terms. So you see, I don't need Wes. But I do want him in my life. Because I love him. Not because he has money."

Sage's mother narrowed her eyes, tapping her manicured nail on the table. "Why do I get the feeling there was a dig in there somewhere? Are you judging me because I chose to stay home with my children instead of getting a job that was beneath me?"

Sage's mother had never gone to college because, according to her, it wasn't necessary since she'd landed a man from a well-to-do family. But for years, Sage had sensed that her mother needed something more in her life. Now that her children were grown and gone, she seemed lonely and bored.

"No, I'm not judging you. But would it have killed you to help me out at the dealership? Dad was in the hospital, then you hired a caregiver for him. What prevented you from being at the dealership?" Sage had always wanted to know why her mother had never stepped up when her family needed her.

"What do I know about that kind of thing?" she asked, smoothing her layered hair. "You're the one with the fancy business degree. Your poor father would have been worried sick if he thought I was there, making a mess of things."

"So you didn't feel capable of making a valuable contribution? That's why you did nothing?"

She shrugged. "I've never had a head for business. You know that."

"No, I don't. And neither do you. You've never even tried."

"Are you saying you think I should?"

Sage hadn't intended to discuss the family business today, but since they were knee-deep in it, there was no reason for her to backpedal. "I think you're a lot smarter and more resourceful than you give yourself credit for. You know everyone in the community. You've invested a lot of hours in raising money for various causes, so you're obviously a good salesperson. I think you could be a great asset to the business."

"What would your father say?"

"I don't know. We could ask him." Sage decided it was time to lay her cards on the table, whether her parents liked it or not. "Here's the deal, Mom. I put my life on hold when Dad had the stroke because you needed me, and I was happy to do it. But I can't and won't do it forever. Either you guys need to get serious about finding a buyer, or you need to share the workload once Dad's well enough because I can't go on doing this forever."

"Did your boyfriend put you up to this? Did he--"

"Wes doesn't even know I'm here. Does he want me to do what makes me happy? Of course he does. And honestly, the dealership doesn't make me happy. It never has."

She sighed. "I don't think it makes your father happy anymore either."

"Then why is he still doing it?"

"Why do you think?" She gestured around her. "This lifestyle comes at a hefty price."

"Then maybe you need to think about changing your lifestyle." Sage had thought that for years but had never been brave enough to suggest it. "Why do you need this big old house and those fancy cars? Not to mention the condo in Florida you hardly ever use anymore and the timeshare in Arizona."

She hung her head. "It is a burden, especially with your father's health problems. He wanted to downsize years ago, but I talked him out of it--what would people say? So he continued busting his tail to keep me in everything I thought I needed, and I have no idea if that stress caused his stroke." She fought back tears as she twisted a large sapphire-and-diamond ring on her finger. "I'm so ashamed of myself. I made money and other people's opinions more important than my husband's happiness and well-being. What kind of person does that?"

"Someone who's confused," Sage said, reaching for her mother's hand. "Someone who's always lived her life a certain way and is afraid of change. That doesn't make you a bad person, Mom. And it's not too late to make different decisions. God spared Dad for a reason. Maybe it's time for you two to sit down and figure out what you really want, what's important to you. Both of you."

"You've given me a lot to think about," her mother said with the first genuine smile Sage had seen from her in a long time. "I promise to talk to your father about it. We'll come up with a plan to help you out at the dealership, one way or the other. You need time to write, after all."

"Thank you." Sage leaned in to give her mother a kiss. They'd had such a good talk she didn't want risk ruining the ground they'd made, but she couldn't leave without telling her about Nick. "I have something else to talk to you about. My son is here. He's spending the afternoon with Wes, and we're all going out for dinner together tonight."

"I see. Your son? That's how you think of him?" Her eyes softened when she said, "I'm not judging you, Sage. I'm really not. I just don't want to see you get your heart broken. That boy has parents who love him, parents who have raised him when you couldn't."

"I know that, and I would never try to take his mother's place. That's not what this is about. I just want to have a relationship with him, even if that means we're just friends. Can you understand that?"

"I suppose I can." She stretched her arms out in front of her, pressing her back into the chair. "I've often wondered about him myself, you know."

"You have?" Since Sage had always been discouraged from talking about the adoption, she assumed her parents had put it out of their minds.

"Of course." Her smile was sad when she said, "We're not monsters, dear. But I'm afraid we may have been misguided parents who thought we knew it all."

Sage had never heard either of her parents admit to being wrong or apologize for anything, so she was a little stunned by her mother's admission.

"The last time you were here..." Her mother sighed softly. "I cried myself to sleep that night because I was terrified we'd lost you for good this time."

"Mom," Sage said, her voice gentle, "it's not that I don't want a relationship with you guys. I do. I just want you to respect my right to make my own decisions."

"I know." She nodded. "And you've earned that right. It's not that you have a pattern of making stupid mistakes. You've been very responsible as an adult, always doing what was right. We're very proud of you, you know."

Sage had given up hope of hearing that years ago. She'd even convinced herself she didn't need her parents' approval. Still, it was nice to hear she had it. "Thank you."

"And if you want to build a life with Wes, we're not going to try to stand in your way."

There was no way they could have, but Sage appreciated the sentiment nonetheless. "I'm glad to hear that."

"And of course we understand why you want to get to know your son. Anyone in your position would."

"Would you like to get to know him, Mom?" Sage knew Nick may not be ready for that given what he'd read about them in her book, but she hoped he would eventually be open to the possibility.

"I think that would be lovely," she said, smiling.

Sage leaned over, and they shared a warm embrace as she whispered, "I love you."

"I love you too, sweetheart. So very much."

# Chapter Seventeen

Wes was making a snack for himself and Nick that would hopefully tide them over until their dinner date with Sage in a couple of hours when Nick said, "Uh, Wes, can I ask you something?"

"Yeah, sure." Wes popped a cheese square into his mouth, followed by a couple of crackers, before passing the plate and a bowl of pretzels to Nick.

"You think it would be okay if I spent the summer here with you guys?"

"Uh..." Wes didn't know how to respond. He'd have loved nothing more than to hang out with Nick for a couple of months, but he had no idea how Nick's mom would feel about that. He couldn't commit to anything until he'd spoken to both her and Sage.

"If you're too busy or whatever, it's cool. I just thought maybe--"

"It's not that I'm too busy. But why don't you want to go up to the cabin with your mom and stepdad? I'm sure there's some great fishing up there. Maybe you could get a little hunting in too."

"And be cut off from my friends for the whole summer?" Nick said, sounding disgusted. "With no internet, no cell service? Ugh. I might as well be in jail."

"I'm sure it wouldn't be that bad," Wes said, chuckling.

Nick glared at him. "You think this is funny? This is my life we're talking about! Not that I expect that to matter to you. You've never given a shit about me. Why start now?"

"Nick, that's not fair." If anyone else had blown up at him like that, Wes would have let them have it right back. But Nick had a right to his anger, so Wes was determined to give him a long rope.

"Not fair?" He jumped up, nearly upending the chair. "You want to know what's not fair? That I don't get a say in anything. My so-called parents dump me with strangers when I'm a baby. My old man leaves me with some douche who doesn't even care what happens to me. Did you even think about the consequences before you got her knocked up?"

Wes gripped the edge of the counter, trying hard not to lose it. "You don't know--"

"No, you don't know! You don't know how it feels to have no one want you!"

"Jesus, Nick," Wes said, hanging his head. "Don't think that."

"It's true, and you know it. My mom doesn't even want me anymore. Ever since she got remarried, she's been treating me like an inconvenience. I know she doesn't really want me with them this summer. I'd just be in the way."

Wes cursed when his phone buzzed with a text from Colt asking him to call immediately. It was an emergency. Wes had turned his ringer off earlier, and since Colt wasn't prone to panic, Wes knew it had to be serious. He thought both he and Nick could use a cooling-off period. "I have to make a call in my office."

"Of course you do," Nick said, rolling his eyes. "Isn't that what you do best, walk away from your problems?"

"Look, I get that you're angry, but I won't have you disrespecting me."

"Why should I respect you?" He glared at Wes. "Because you're rich? Because you built some big-ass company that--"

"No." Wes couldn't think of a single reason why Nick should respect him, so instead of continuing the argument, he did exactly what Nick accused him of doing--he walked away.

***

Wes swore a blue streak as he tore around the house looking for Nick half an hour later. The call with Colt had lasted longer than he'd expected after he found out that a manager in one of their retail stores had been selling merchandise off the truck for months.

"Where the hell could he be?" Wes asked himself as he texted Nick, though he didn't expect a response. "It's not like he had wheels. How far could he have gone?"

He jumped in his truck after almost forgetting to lock his front door, though in Vista Falls, that was hardly necessary. He hoped Nick would come back after a short walk, but something told him this was a lot more serious than needing a little breathing space. All of that anger Wes hadn't realized Nick harbored had come pouring out as soon as he felt as if he was being rejected all over again. Not that Wes was surprised. He probably would have reacted the same way.

He kept his eyes peeled on the short drive to Sage's house, but there was no sign of Nick. Since she was the only other person Nick knew in town aside from Rush and his mother, Wes prayed that's where he had gone. Though Nick probably viewed Sage as the enemy right now too.

After barely throwing the truck into park in Sage's driveway, Wes jumped out, his heart beating out of his chest as he ran up the steps. "Please, God, please let him be here."

"Hey," Sage said, smiling at him when she answered his knock. "I wasn't expecting you guys for at least another hour."

"Then Nick's not here?"

Sage's smile fell as her gaze drifted to the truck. "What are you talking about? Of course he's not here. I thought he was with you."

"He was, but we, uh, kind of got into it, and he bailed when I was on the phone."

Sage staggered back, looking pale and shaky. "Where could he have gone? He doesn't know his way around town. Did he even have any money?"

"I don't know, but we'll find him, baby. Don't worry." Telling her not to worry was crazy--he was terrified. "Maybe Rush or my mom have heard from him." Both had given Nick their contact information at brunch, so while Wes knew it was a long shot, it was the only shot he had.

Sage closed the front door as she watched him dial Rush's number. It took only a few words to eliminate that option, and Wes could tell fear was getting the best of Sage.

"He hasn't heard from him?" she asked, running a hand through her hair as her eyes filled with tears.

"No, but I'll try my mom. Maybe she has." They had hit it off, so Wes was still holding out hope that she was the person Nick had turned to since he didn't know another soul in town.

Sage paced in the living room while Wes's mother told him that she hadn't seen or heard from Nick either. She promised to let them know if she did.

"I can't believe this," Sage said, sinking onto the couch. "How did this even happen?"

"He asked if he could spend the summer here with us, and--"

Sage raised her hand. "Wait. What? And what did you tell him?"

"I..." Wes replayed the conversation in his head, realizing how bad the truth would sound if he relayed the conversation to Sage verbatim. "I asked him why he didn't want to go to the cabin with his mom and stepdad. I told him it could be fun."

She narrowed her eyes as though she suspected he wasn't telling her everything. "And?"

"And he blew up. He said no one wanted him, that no one had ever wanted him. And when I told him I had to make a call, he accused me of walking away like I always do."

"I don't believe this," Sage said, dropping her head in her hands. "Why didn't you just tell him that you'd talk to me about it? If you didn't want him, he could have come to stay with me! Now he's out there somewhere by himself, thinking we've abandoned him all over again! What is wrong with you?"

Wes reminded himself that Sage was just upset, that she didn't really blame him for Nick running away. Did she? Maybe she was right. Maybe this whole thing was his fault. He sat next to her, reached for her hand, and she pulled back.

Feeling as if someone had gut-punched him, he said, "Look, there's no sense fighting about this now. We have to concentrate on finding Nick."

"If you weren't ready to be a father, why reach out to him at all?"

"What?" Wes couldn't believe she would even think that. Of course he wanted to be a father to Nick given the chance.

"You knew he'd lost his dad. You had to know he'd be feeling lost and vulnerable. I thought when you reached out to him, it was because you were finally ready to be the father he deserved."

"I am."

"Then why did you reject him like that?" She sniffled, brushing away the tears slipping down her cheeks. "How could you do that? Do you know how hard it must have been for him to ask whether he could stay with us this summer? And for you to react like he was wrong to ask--"

"I didn't imply he was wrong to ask!" Wes knew this wasn't getting them anywhere, but he felt he was being attacked by the woman who claimed to love him. "You're forgetting one thing, Sage--we're not his parents. Not legally. We have no right to make any decisions without checking with his mom first."

"His mom," she said, jumping up. "Have you called her?"

"No, I wanted to check in with everyone I could think of here first." He raked a hand through his hair, setting his cell phone on the coffee table. "God, what's she going to think? Our first weekend visit with us and he runs away."

"I don't care what she thinks right now. I only care about making sure he's safe. Maybe he called her and asked her to pick him up." Sage pointed at the phone. "Call her!"

Wes's hand was shaking as he dialed the number. She picked up after the third ring, and he forced himself to take a deep breath before he said, "Mrs. Martin, this is Wes Davis."

"Is everything okay?" she asked, sounding alarmed. "Nick isn't giving you a hard time, is he?"

Oh God, she hadn't heard from him either.

"Um, no. Everything's fine." Wes held up a hand when Sage frowned at him. He had a tough decision to make: worry another woman half to death or try to fix this mess himself. "Nick mentioned something about you guys going away this summer to your husband's cabin?"

"Yes." She sighed. "I'm afraid Nick's not too happy about it."

"I know. He asked if it would be okay if he stayed here with us this summer."

"He did? Oh my, I didn't expect him to do that. What did you say?"

"I kind of put him off. I wanted to talk to you first, find out whether you'd consider letting him do that."

She sighed. "I know you're his parents and all, but..."

Wes thought that so far he'd been little more than a sperm donor, but he wanted a chance to rectify that. "I wouldn't ask unless I was sure it could be a good experience for him. He could stay with either me or Sage, and I could give him a job working for me. It would give us all a chance to get to know each other better."

"Well, I was considering leaving him with my parents while we were gone since he's so opposed to coming with us. I suppose leaving him with you wouldn't be that different."

"We could check in with you once a week, or as often as you want, to give you an update on how he's doing. And of course we'd encourage him to call you. I could even bring him up to the cabin to spend a few days with you midsummer, if that would make you feel better about it?"

She laughed. "That's not necessary. I know he doesn't want to be here. He's made that clear."

Wes wasn't looking forward to broaching this delicate subject, and he questioned whether he should do it over the phone, but he had to put this matter to rest once and for all. "Mrs. Martin, I hope you won't be offended that I brought this up, but Nick mentioned the fact that he's been feeling..." He searched for the right words, not wanting to put her on the defensive. "Like maybe he's been in the way since you remarried."

"I know." She sighed. "He's said that to me before. We argue more than we ever did when his dad was alive. My husband really likes Nick, and they seem to get along well enough. I mean, there's no animosity between them or anything like that. I guess it's just hard. After all, he's not the man who raised him, so they don't have that bond."

"Of course." Wes wanted to make their intentions clear without making Nick's mom feel as though they were trying to take him away from her. "I just want you to know that we think you've done an amazing job with him. He's a great kid. But anything we can do to help, we want to. I haven't had much to do with teens, but I'm guessing they can be a bit of a challenge."

She sounded slightly weary when she said, "You have no idea. You know, I'm turning fifty this year--which isn't old, I know. But sometimes I feel like I'm eighty, especially when Nick and I get into it."

"I can imagine. And I just want you to know that we're here if you ever need us. If you feel like you just need a little break or some time for both of you to gain some perspective or maybe even just a second opinion, we're only a phone call away."

"Thank you. I appreciate that."

"Um, there's one other thing. Would you be okay with me setting up a college fund for Nick?" Wes asked, as he watched Sage alternate between glaring at him and pacing.

She released a long slow breath. "You'd be willing to do that?"

"I'd be honored. I know how hard it can be to finance college, especially if kids aren't eligible for scholarships. The last thing I'd want is for him, or you, to amass debt. Especially when it's not necessary."

"That's very generous of you. Thank you."

"It's the least I can do." The very least. "And if there's anything else I can do, anything he might need, please let me know."

"I'll keep that in mind."

"So if you're okay with him spending the summer with us, I'll give him the good news?" Just as soon as I can find him.

"I'm sure that would make him very happy... and that's all I want for him--to be happy. If developing a relationship with you and Sage would fill a void in his life, I'm all for it."

"Thank you." Wes knew how lucky he was that the woman who'd adopted their son was kind and generous enough to share him with them all these years later, when they were finally fit to be the kind of role models he needed. "I'll have him home late tomorrow afternoon, if that's okay?"

Wes didn't even want to think about the possibility that they may not be able to find him by then.

"That sounds great. Thanks for calling."

"My pleasure. Thank you for giving us a chance to spend more time with him this summer."

Sage's jaw dropped when he disconnected the call. "Wes, how could you not have told her that Nick's missing? She deserves to know that."

"I don't think he's missing. You know how many times I wandered off at his age after getting into it with my folks? You did the same. I'm sure he just needed some time by himself. In the meantime, I'll scour the streets. If I can't find him, I'll pass by the police station. You should stay here in case he shows up."

"Okay."

She walked him to the door but didn't try to hug or kiss him, so Wes wasn't sure if she was still angry with him. He knew it wasn't the time to ask.

"Good luck," she said.

"Don't worry. I'll find him."

***

Nick was sitting on the dock at Rush's inn when his uncle came down to meet him. Rush seemed like a cool guy, and since Nick had no money and nowhere else to go, he'd come back to the only place he knew in town, hoping Rush would help him get home.

"Hey." Rush sat beside him on the end of the dock, their feet hanging just above the surface of the water. "I hear you and your old man got into it."

"He's not my father. He's just..." A deadbeat loser. But he couldn't insult Rush's brother if he expected to borrow some coin or hitch a ride from him. "Some guy."

"Hmmm." Rush slipped his sunglasses in place. "He's a pretty good guy, you know. For the record."

"Maybe to you. You're his brother."

"And you're his son." Rush raised a hand before Nick could argue. "I know it doesn't feel that way. You barely know him. But I know that's the kind of relationship he wants with you, a real father-son connection."

Nick bit his lip, trying to keep a lid on his emotions. All he wanted was for the almighty Wes Davis, business icon, to deem him worthy of his time and attention. "He should have thought of that before he sent me away again."

"You want to tell me what happened?"

"You already know, don't you?" Wes had obviously called Rush whenever he'd figured out that Nick had taken off.

"He didn't go into specifics with me. Why don't you tell me what happened? Maybe I can help."

Talking to him sure as hell couldn't hurt. "You know what it feels like to lose someone you love?"

Rush cleared his throat. "Yeah. My dad was my idol. I still think about him every day."

Nick nodded. "My dad and I probably weren't as close as you were with your dad, but it still hurt to lose him."

"I bet it did."

"And then everything started changing all at once. We moved back to Brock. I had to start a new school, make new friends. All in the same year, I lost my dad. It sucked."

"I'm sure it did. But you had to know your mom was only doing what she thought was best for both of you. I'm sure she was hurting too."

"Yeah, I know she was." She'd tried not to cry in front of Nick, but in the tiny house they shared, it hadn't been hard to hear her crying through the paper-thin bedroom walls. "I thought things were finally going good for us. But then she met my stepdad and--"

"Everything changed again."

"Yeah." Nick smoothed his thumb over a protruding screw in the dock. "I know it sounds selfish, but if she wanted to get remarried, why couldn't she wait 'til I went off to college?"

Rush chuckled. "You can't always decide when you fall in love, buddy. Sometimes it just happens when you least expect it. Maybe that's what happened with your mom. She wasn't looking for it, but it found her."

"Maybe." Nick shrugged. "I guess it doesn't matter now. He's in our lives, and he's not going anywhere."

"Would you want him to?"

Nick considered whether he would want it to be just the two of them again. "No. He makes her happy, and she deserves that."

"From everything I've heard about her, your mom is a great lady."

Nick nodded. "Yeah, she is."

"But?"

"I don't know." He felt guilty for even thinking it, much less saying it out loud. "It might be kind of cool to live here with Sage and Wes. Not that it'd ever happen. They don't want me around."

"What makes you think that?"

"I asked Wes if I could spend the summer with them, and I could tell he wasn't into it."

"He told you that?" Rush asked, sounding surprised.

"Not exactly, but he didn't have to. I could tell he wasn't stoked about the idea."

"Wes is one of those guys who keeps his feelings under wraps, kid. It's not easy to read his mind even when you know him as well as I do. It could be you read him wrong. Maybe if you give him a chance to explain--"

Nick turned around at the sound of gravel crunching beneath tires. "I can't believe you ratted me out, man. I thought you were cool."

"I am cool." Rush put Nick in a headlock, making him laugh as he gave him a noogie. "That's why I'm forcing you two to hash this out--because I care about both of you."

Wes walked slowly toward the dock, his keys in his fist. He nodded at Rush as they passed each other. "Hey."

Nick looked away, pretending to watch two fishermen in a small aluminum boat wrangle a smallmouth fifty feet away.

"I'm glad I finally found you. I was worried." Wes claimed Rush's spot, hanging his head. "You gonna go on giving me the silent treatment, or you think we can talk about this?"

Nick had already stated his feelings. He didn't think there was anything left to say.

"I'm sorry I didn't react the way you wanted me to when you asked if you could spend the summer with us." Wes threaded his hands, looking down. "It's not that I didn't want you to. I did. But I had to talk to your mom and Sage about it before I told you it was okay."

Nick glanced at him out of the corner of his eye, trying to decide whether Wes was telling the truth or just trying to cover his ass because he'd pissed off his girlfriend. Assuming she knew or cared that Nick had bailed. "You talked to my mom?"

"Yeah, I just got off the phone with her before Rush texted to let me know you were here."

"Did you tell her that we got into it?"

"No, I wanted to talk to you first, see if we could work this out."

Nick didn't know what to expect, so he held his breath waiting for Wes to say something. When he couldn't stand the sound of the birds chirping any longer, he said, "And...?"

"Your mom's okay with you spending the summer with us."

"She is?" Nick didn't know whether to be hurt or relieved. Apparently she didn't want him around, but he wasn't sure Wes and Sage did either. So where did that leave him?

"Yeah, but I don't think it was easy for her. She's gonna miss you, you know."

"Maybe," he said, shrugging. "But I doubt it."

Wes pushed his glasses back on his head, glaring at Nick. "Let's get something straight, Nick. We may not have been mature enough to raise you, and I'm sorry about that. Believe me, you'll never know how sorry. But your mom was there for you when we couldn't be, and we all owe her a debt of gratitude for that."

"I know, but--"

"I'm not done."

Nick swallowed, wondering what it would be like to be the guy who'd crossed Wes Davis. "Okay, I'm listening."

"From everything I've seen, she's a good woman. Can you tell me I'm wrong?"

"No, but--"

"She was there for you when you were growing up, when your dad died. And I'm sure she was going through her own hell, but that didn't prevent her from supporting you, did it?"

"No, sir." Nick suddenly felt as though he was talking to his school principal, not the guy who gave him up for adoption.

"And when she met your stepdad, she asked you how you felt about her dating again, I'm guessing?"

"Yeah, she did."

"And? What did you say?"

"I told her I was cool with it. I didn't want her to be sad anymore."

"Is she happy now, with your stepdad?"

"Yeah."

"So when did her happiness stop being important to you?"

Nick knew what Wes was getting at, and his questions were hitting their mark. "It is important to me, but sometimes I feel like she doesn't care whether or not I'm happy."

"Are you happy?"

Nick rubbed his eyes when they became blurry with unshed tears. He wouldn't cry in front of Wes. He was too old for that shit. "Most of the time, I guess."

"Then I'd say you're better off than most teens." Wes smirked. "God, I remember that being the hardest time in my life. I was so confused about everything. I didn't know where the hell life was going to take me or even where I wanted to end up."

"Guess you figured it out, huh?"

"Yeah, when Sage told me she was pregnant, I think that's when I finally realized it was time to grow up."

"In her book, Sage said you wanted to keep me," Nick asked, his voice cracking. "Is that true?"

"It sure is." Wes shook his head. "But I'm not sure that would have been the best thing for you. I didn't know a damn thing about being a parent. At that time, I couldn't even take care of myself. But I vowed if I ever found myself in that position again, with the opportunity to be a father, that I would do right by my kid." He looked at Nick. "You may not realize this, but I wouldn't be where I am without you."

Nick swallowed, cursing the burn in his throat. "Really?"

"Really." Wes sighed. "I didn't want that sacrifice to have been for nothing. I wanted to make something of my life so if I ever had the opportunity to meet you, maybe, just maybe, you'd be proud of me."

Nick closed his eyes before dropping his head. He'd bragged to all the guys at school that the Wes Davis, owner of Backwoods Outdoors, was his biological father. Half of them didn't believe him until they saw Wes at the football game in Brock. "I am proud of you."

"You mean that?" Wes asked, disbelief echoing in his tone.

"Come on, man. You can't be surprised to hear me say that. You're like the richest guy I know."

Wes shook his head as a fish broke through the water. "No, I'm not, Nick. I'm sure you know guys a lot richer than I am."

"No, I--"

"My dad was the richest guy I knew. People loved him. He had a lot of good friends, a wife who adored him, kids who looked up to him, his faith..." Wes drew in a deep breath, running his palms over his denim-clad thighs. "He'd be the first to lend a hand to someone in need. He may not have had much money in the bank, but he was rich in all the ways that mattered."

"I guess I get what you're saying, but you can't deny you are rich. By most people's standards, I mean."

"That's only because most people don't get it. They figure if you've got a few millions bucks in the bank, you've got it all. That's not true." He wiped sweat off his brow before leaning back on his palms. "I came back to Vista Falls to see if I could build real wealth here. I'm not talking about my business now. I'm talking about the relationships that mean the most to me."

"You mean Sage?"

"Sage. My mom. My brother. You." He smiled. "My sister's halfway across the country, but her too. I have a lot of good friends here, people I left behind when I swore I'd never come back."

"So that's why you came back, 'cause you were missing everybody?"

"I came back because there was a void in my life. A huge void. I had some idea that void was tied to you and Sage, but I didn't know for sure until I had both of you back in my life."

Nick smiled slightly, honored to be a part of the group who meant the most to Wes.

"I'm happier than I've ever been since getting to know you, Nick," Wes whispered, glancing at his son. "And it would destroy me to lose you now."

Nick didn't know what to say. Though he loved his adoptive parents, he'd never told them so. He didn't think he had to. He just assumed they knew. But listening to Wes made him question whether it was better to say it.

"I'm glad you're in my life too. I've wanted this for a really long time." When they shared a smile, Nick said, "I'm sorry for acting like a d-bag earlier."

Wes laughed. "So am I. I could have handled things a hell of a lot better than I did. But I'm new at this, and I'm going to need you to be patient with me while I figure it out. You think you can do that?"

"I think so." Nick felt better than he had in a really long time. Something told him that everything was going to work out the way it was supposed to.

"Good. So about this summer..."

"Don't worry about that. I know it was a lot to ask. We don't know each other all that well yet."

"I can't think of a better way to get to know each other." Wes grinned. "Can you?"

"You mean you really want me to come stay with you?"

"Of course I do."

"And Sage is okay with it?"

Wes chuckled. "She was ready to smack me upside the head when she found out I didn't agree to it right away."

Nick was glad to hear that. "Cool. And my mom's really okay with it? You don't think she's just saying that?"

"No, I don't. But will you do me a favor?"

"Sure." Nick didn't even have to ask what it was. "What?"

"When you go home, give your mom a hug. Tell her you love her and that you appreciate everything she's done for you."

That was something he should have done a long time ago. "Yeah, I can do that."

# Chapter Eighteen

When Sage and Wes took Nick back to Brock together, their son had done most of the talking. Wes had been uncharacteristically quiet, which made Sage nervous. She had to apologize for the way she'd gone off on him earlier, so when he walked her to her front door, she invited him in for a drink.

"I should probably get home." Wes hooked his thumb over his shoulder. "I'm dealing with a bit of a work crisis, so--"

She grabbed the front of his shirt, pulling him in for a passionate kiss. "I know you're pissed at me, and I'm sorry."

He flattened his palm on the door above her head, leaning in until his body was brushing hers. "I'm not mad. I guess I'm just a little hurt that you assumed I didn't want our son around. I know I didn't handle the situation very well--"

"Neither did I." She sighed as she rested her hands on his chest. "But we're new to this whole parenting thing. We're bound to make mistakes, right? Especially with a teenager."

Sage would never admit it, but she was nervous about having Nick with them all summer. She didn't want to say or do anything that would hurt her relationship with him, but she knew that was inevitable unless they intended to let him do whatever the hell he wanted all summer, which was not an option.

"Yeah, I guess."

She threaded her hands through his hair when he dropped his head. "And that's not the only thing I'm new at, Wes. Relationships have always been hard for me. I haven't had a lot of experience. Ever since you left..." She diverted her eyes, almost afraid to admit the truth. "Well, I haven't really had much of an interest in anyone else."

"What about that guy who proposed to you?"

"I never really gave that relationship the time and attention it deserved, but then neither did he. I guess that's why it didn't work."

He nodded, looking lost in thought. Perhaps he was thinking about his past, about all of the women who hadn't been able to hold his attention.

"But I do want things to work with you," Sage whispered, brushing her lips against his. "I want that more than I've wanted anything in a really long time." Except for getting to know Nick... she wanted that as much as she wanted another chance with Wes.

Mrs. Banks spotted them as she was taking her trash bins to the curb, prompting Wes to stand up straighter and take a step back from Sage.

"Evening, Mrs. Banks," Wes said, nodding. "Nice night, isn't it?"

Sage admired his ability to pretend they hadn't been in the midst of a potentially life-altering conversation because it took her a lot longer to hide her frustration with a fake smile.

"It sure is." The petite, white-haired lady who had known both of them since they were kids laughed as though she knew a joke and didn't intend to let them in on it. "I knew this would happen when I heard you were moving back to town. I told your mama that, Wes. That this here girl was the reason you were coming back, though you were probably too bullheaded to admit it."

Sage had always gotten along well with her opinionated but well-meaning neighbor, but tonight, she didn't have the patience for the woman's meddling. Not when her future with Wes was hanging in the balance.

"She was a big part of the reason," Wes admitted with a half smile. "Though you're right. I don't think I even admitted it to myself at the time."

Mrs. Banks folded her arms, shaking her head. "I don't know what's wrong with you boys today. Back when me and Martin were courting, there was never any doubt we'd get married. It was just a question of when, not if. We didn't waste our time pussy-footing around, waiting to see if there was someone better out there. We trusted our hearts. And I can only speak for myself, but I never regretted doing that."

Wes glanced at Sage briefly before he said to Mrs. Banks, "You're right. Sometimes we can take too long to figure out what's right."

"But it's not too late." She smiled, her satisfaction evident. "You're both here now and obviously as in love as you were when you were teens. So what's stopping you from making an honest woman of her?"

Wes chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck while Sage felt heat creeping up her neck as she grabbed Wes's hand before fitting her key into the lock.

"If you'll excuse us, Mrs. Banks, we were right in the middle of something. I'll see you at the church fundraiser on Wednesday night if I don't see you before." She hauled Wes inside, giving him only enough time to wave at her neighbor before she slammed the door and pressed her forehead against the cool wood. "God, I'm so sorry. I can't believe she put you on the spot like that."

"You have to admit she made a good point." He stroked the stubble on his chin. "I remember my dad used to say the same thing to me. 'When you meet the right one, don't waste time questioning it--just go for it.'"

Sage laughed, trying to hide her nervousness as she made her way around him. As much as she wanted this conversation to mean the beginning of something wonderful for them, she didn't want to rush into anything because he felt pressured. That was the reason she wouldn't consider marrying him years earlier--because she hadn't wanted him to feel as though he had to marry her.

He grabbed her around the waist from behind, burying his face in her neck. "Hey, why're you trying to get away from me? Are you getting nervous with all this talk about marriage?"

Her heart was pounding so hard she was sure he could hear it. "I'm not nervous. I'm just..." She couldn't tell him that loving him made her more scared and vulnerable than she ever had felt, but it was true. "Trying to make sense of what you're saying."

"What you said on the porch about wanting this to work, did you mean it?"

"Of course I did."

"So how do you see this working? What's your ideal scenario?"

Was he crazy? They'd just started dating again, and he expected her to talk about marriage and babies and every other wonderful thing she'd ever fantasized about sharing with him? "Well, um, I'm too old to be wasting time with someone who doesn't want the same things I do, so I guess it makes sense to make sure we're on the same page."

"Right. So let's hear it. What do you want from me, Sage?"

She removed his arms from around her waist, needing a little breathing room to collect herself. She walked into the living room and sank into an armchair while he followed her into the room. "I want us to spend more time together, to get to know each other all over again."

He set his hands on his hips as he stared at her intently. "You said you loved me the other night at the inn. You sure about that?"

She'd told him dozens of times since then too. How could he doubt that? "You have to ask?"

"Yeah, I do." His response was clipped. "Because the way you've been acting today makes me wonder where the hell I stand with you."

Sage panicked as she felt him slipping away again. "Loving you is the easy part." She tucked her legs under her and took a deep breath, mentally rehearsing the words before she blurted out, "Figuring out how to keep you happy is the hard part."

He frowned as he leaned against the doorframe, watching her. "It's not your job to make me happy."

She tried to hide her hurt when she asked, "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Sage, I've built my life around doing the things that make me happy. I'm lucky 'cause my job happens to be one of those things. Spending time with you and Nick and my friends and family makes me happy too."

"But I'm just a small part of it?" She knew everything he said made sense. He had taken the time to get to know himself and build a life he loved on his terms. Just because she hadn't done the same didn't mean she should resent him for not needing her in order to be happy.

He walked slowly toward her and sat on the coffee table in front of her while his eyes met hers. "When I left here years ago, I thought I'd never be happy again. That's when I realized I couldn't make my happiness so dependent on another person."

She swallowed, folding her arms. "Right. Makes sense."

"You have to understand how broken I was before you can begin to understand how hard it was for me to pick up the pieces of my life. I know your story, how you felt after I left, because I read your book. But you don't know my story."

"Tell me," Sage said, feeling her heart opening to him as she imagined the pain he'd endured with only his best friend to see him through it.

"I felt physically sick all the time, especially the days leading up to your delivery." Resting his elbows on his knees, he curled his hands over his mouth. "I couldn't eat or sleep. I just... cried."

Sage took his hand, feeling his pulse on his wrist with her thumb. "You weren't the only one."

"I know. I thought I was losing my mind." He shook his head. "It took a hell of a long time for me to feel normal again."

"Me too." If anyone understood the way he felt, she did.

"So I distracted myself, first with school, then building the business. That made me happy... sort of. At least I felt like I had a purpose."

She nodded. "Yeah, school did that for me too. So did my writing."

"I'd been so dependent on you to make me happy. I didn't realize that until you weren't in my life anymore, 'cause without you, I was so miserable. I mean, for the longest time, it was like a physical ache that wouldn't go away." He gripped his chest, tugging his shirt. "It wasn't healthy. I knew that. But I didn't know how to make it stop. I couldn't be with you anymore, not after everything that happened. But I didn't know how to be without you either."

Sage didn't say anything. She didn't have to. He was telling her story too, and she sensed he knew it.

"Then slowly, day by day, I started to find pleasure in the things that used to make me happy: fishing, hunting, hanging out with friends, talking to family, playing sports... I started to remember what it felt like to be whole again."

Sage wasn't sure she'd ever felt whole, not since before she'd learned she was pregnant.

"I kept women at arm's length because I didn't want to build my life around another woman only to be let down again. I know that was a coward's way out, and I'm not proud of it, but it's the truth."

"I can understand how you felt. I did the same thing."

"So you see, sitting here today, admitting the truth... that you contribute to my happiness--you and Nick both--is scary as hell. Because I'm giving you so much power."

Sage had never considered that before, how unhealthy it was to depend on someone else to make her happy. She'd just assumed that was what everyone in a committed relationship did, but hearing Wes's perspective made so much sense.

"If either one of you walks away from me, it would be a hell of a blow." He took her hands and rested his forehead against her knuckles. "But I can't make my happiness all about you, Sage. Or Nick either, for that matter. I worked long and hard to be my own man, and that's the only reason I can tell you now that I finally believe I'm ready for you." When she couldn't speak past the lump in her throat, he whispered, "What about you? Can you honestly say that you're ready for me? For us?"

She thought she was, but hearing him talk about that time after their breakup was like reopening an old wound. She remembered how weak and desperate and scared she'd felt, and she never wanted to experience that kind of pain again. She couldn't. She didn't know if she'd survive it this time.

"Before you answer that," he said, obviously sensing her hesitation, "what made you decide you were ready for Nick to be a part of your life?"

She frowned, withdrawing her hands when her whole body felt as though it was trembling. "How could I not want him in my life? I love him."

"I get that. So do I. But weren't you scared that he might hurt you, reject you even?"

"You know I was." She didn't understand why he was asking that when she'd already told him meeting Nick had meant putting her heart on the line.

"Yet you still did it. You were willing to take that kind of risk. Why?"

"Why?" Her disbelief echoed in her voice. "Why? How can you ask me that? If I hadn't taken the chance, I would have had to go on living with the pain of regret. I wasn't going to go through that again no matter what."

"I see." He leaned back, resting his palms on his knees as he regarded her carefully. "And you and me, no regrets there, huh?"

"You know I have a mountain of regrets where you're concerned."

"Then isn't it worth it to take the same kind of chance on me you were willing to take on Nick?"

She hadn't thought about the similarities until he pointed them out, but now that he had, they were undeniable.

"Sage, what's the worst thing you think could happen if you put yourself out there and told me what you really want for us?"

"I guess I'm afraid you wouldn't want the same thing. Or maybe you'd want more than I feel capable of giving." She pressed her fingertips into her temples as the stress of trying to sort everything out continued to mount. "I'd put too much pressure on you or the relationship or..." She shook her head. "I don't know. I'm not making any sense, am I?"

"Because you're overthinking it." He moved to the couch, reaching for her hand and stretching her legs over his. "You're not willing to open up, tell me what's in your heart." She heard the hurt in his voice when he asked, "Since when do you hold out on me? I remember a time when we could tell each other anything."

She smiled at the memory of all their silly teenage fantasies. "We were going to buy some land overlooking the water."

"So I could fish every day." He chuckled. "And you were going to have a vegetable garden."

"We were going to ride our bikes--"

"Because you thought we'd need the exercise." His eyes darkened when his hand traveled under her shirt. "But I promised you we'd get all the exercise we needed after the lights went out."

"I remember." She smiled, looping her arms around his neck. "You were going to build the house by hand--a log cabin, you said."

"I thought my dad and brother could help. Colt too. I didn't realize my dad and Colt would be gone before I made my dreams come true."

"That's not true." She kissed him. "Colt will always come back to you, and your dad got to see plenty of your dreams come true. He was so proud of you. You have to know that."

He leaned into her, nestling his face between her neck and shoulder. "He didn't get to see us make our dreams come true though."

"No, he didn't." She held her breath as his fingers, still under her shirt, found the clasp at the front of her bra and released it. She closed her eyes when he dropped open-mouthed kisses below her jaw.

"Tell me your dreams." His voice was deep and thick with emotion as he popped the buttons on her fitted black sleeveless blouse, spreading the material open. "Let me see what I can do about making them come true."

She watched him circle her breast with his lips before his tongue darted over the rosy peak. "I want this. I want you. Every night." Sleeping without him last night had made her realize she preferred sleeping with him. She wasn't afraid to be alone, but she felt safer wrapped in his arms.

"Mmmm." He blew on the moist trail he'd left over her breast as he moved to the other.

"I want to watch you build a relationship with Nick."

He was already kissing a path down her stomach when she lifted her hips so he could slip off her white denim shorts to reveal sheer white panties. "What else do you want?"

She realized she hadn't asked what he wanted, but looking into his eyes, seeing how much he adored her, made it easier for her to jump without looking for a net. "I want to be your wife someday."

He smiled while hooking his thumbs into her panties and sliding them down her legs. "I like the sound of that. Go on."

"I want another chance to be a mom."

His eyes softened before he pressed his lips to her belly, inhaling deeply. "God, I so want to give you that. Do you know how much it killed me to admit to myself and you that I wasn't man enough to take care of you and our baby?"

She sat up on her elbows, battling outrage on his behalf. "What are you talking about? You were just a kid. We both were."

"I was man enough to get you pregnant. I should have been man enough to do right by you. Signing those goddamn papers was the worst experience of my life. You know why?"

She bit her lip, trying to suppress tears as she shook her head. "No. Why?"

"Because I could see how disappointed you were that I caved. I was so tempted to tear them up, to swear to you that I'd find a way to take care of you both, but then reality came crashing down on me. I heard your old man's voice telling me that we'd end up living out of my old beat-up truck." He sat back, running a hand through his hair. "I couldn't risk it. I couldn't risk messing up your lives that way. I loved you too much."

"I hate that my father made you doubt yourself," she whispered, reaching for him. But she'd been no better. She'd doubted herself and him too. She'd let her parents get inside her head and convince her they only had one option.

"None of that matters now." His eyes raked over her body. "What matters is that I'm gonna do it right this time. We're going to have the biggest goddamn wedding this town has ever seen."

"I don't need that." Though exchanging their vows in front of everyone who'd thought they'd never make it, that their love wasn't real, would be nice.

"And this time when you get pregnant"--he reached for the hem of his gray T-shirt and peeled it over his head before he went for his belt--"I am going to be the happiest son of a bitch alive. No fear this time. Just excitement and pride."

As he stripped off his jeans, she thought it couldn't get much better than this until he reached into his pocket. She assumed he was looking for protection, but instead he produced an engraved white gold ring with a modest diamond.

"No." She half laughed, half cried as she reached for the throw on the back of the couch.

"No?" He curled the ring into his fist. "But I thought you said you wanted--"

"You can't propose to me here, like this," she squealed. "I'm naked."

"Believe me, I noticed." He tried to tug the blanket away, laughing when she gripped it tighter. "What?"

"What are we going to tell our kids when they asked how you proposed to me?"

"We're going to tell them the truth." He smiled. "That I waited for just the right moment."

"This is the right moment?"

"I can't think of a better day than the anniversary of our very first date, can you?"

"Oh my God." Her hand flew to her mouth as she scrambled to remember what day it was. He was right--eighteen years ago, he'd asked her out on her very first date. "I can't believe you remembered that."

"Baby, a man doesn't forget the day he finds the girl he's going to spend the rest of his life with."

"Wait." She gestured to the ring in his hand. "You'd planned to do this all along? Today? Tonight?"

He laughed, rolling his eyes. "No, I carry my grandmother's ring around all the time just in case I feel like popping the question."

She knew none of this mattered now--the only thing that mattered was the man she loved wanted to marry her--but she had to say, "But you weren't even going to come in. You were upset with me--"

He kissed her, threading a hand through her hair. "Silly girl. You really thought you could get rid of me that easily?" His grip tightened, his expression fierce as he whispered, "Never again, Sage. You and I are never going to be apart again."

She kissed him, letting the blanket slip down when he pressed her back into the cushions. When she moaned and tried to draw him closer, he pulled her arms from around his neck with a laugh.

"Oh no, you don't. I've got something to say, and you're not going to distract me," he said.

She rolled onto her side, propping her head in her hand as she tried to hide her smile. She still couldn't believe he was down on one knee, in his boxer briefs, ready to present her with a family heirloom. It meant more to both of them than any other diamond he could have given her.

His paternal grandmother had lived in Vista Falls all of her life. She'd been a staple at every town event for as long as Sage could remember, and she'd treated Sage like family even long after she and Wes broke up. Wearing her ring would be an honor.

"So here's the thing." He cleared his throat. "When, um, my grandmother got sick and I came back to spend some time with her before she passed, you were away at school, finishing up your degree."

"I remember." She'd hated to miss the funeral, but she'd been cramming for exams. And she'd been afraid to face Wes again.

"I went to visit her in the hospital, and she gave me this ring." He held it up, pursing his lips as though he was fighting back tears. "I'd never seen her take it off, so I was stunned."

Sage couldn't remember ever seeing her without it either. Her husband had died years earlier, yet she'd continued to wear the ring he gave her, vowing to wear it till the day she died.

"She told me that this ring carried good luck because it had seen them through a lot of tough times. She said they'd made it even though everyone said their relationship was doomed."

Sage smiled, remembering how many people had said the same thing about them years ago.

"She wanted me to have it as a reminder that sometimes things work out even when we think they won't." He drew a shaky breath before kissing Sage's hand. "She knew I'd never really gotten over losing you. I guess because every time she called me, I'd hang on every word she had to say about you."

"Really?"

"She was the only one brave enough to mention your name to me." He grinned. "You know she was fearless."

"Yeah, she was."

"She told me that it was never too late to make things right and maybe this ring would help guide me back to the woman who was meant to wear it."

Sage felt a tear trickle onto her hand.

"And it did," he said.

He held the ring up as she sat up, heedless of the fact that she was naked as the blanket slipped down around her waist.

"It led me back to you, back to the life we were supposed to have. Sage, will you give me another chance to give you the life you deserve?"

"Yes!" She threw her arms around his neck, nearly knocking him back into the coffee table. "Yes! Yes! Yes!"

He laughed as he slipped the ring on her finger. "Now that we've got that out of the way, I believe we have a little unfinished business."

Sage squealed when he picked her up, cradling her against his body. He carried her to her bedroom, his lips against hers.

"I love you," he whispered. "Can you believe it? You're finally going to be Mrs. Davis."

"It's about time."

# About the Author

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