~ ~ ~
“How is she?”
Gray turned and saw Paige standing in the living room doorway. “Still sleeping.” He held out his hand. “Come here.”
Paige joined him, slipping her hand into his. “What pleasure do you get from staring out a boarded-up window?”
“You know what I’ve been doing.”
She squeezed his hand. “You’ve been doing it since you saw Julianna standing in the aisle of the plane. Wrestling with yourself is wearing, Granger.”
“You know I care about you, don’t you?”
“I do.”
“Then you also know I wouldn’t hurt you for anything.”
“I know that, too.”
“I can’t marry you.”
“I hate to be redundant, but I also know that. I think I’ve always known it.”
He turned, putting an arm around her to draw her close. “I’m sorry.”
Paige laid a cheek against his shoulder. “Be glad that in the long run you saved us both from more heartache. This way we’ll stay friends.”
He held her for a long moment. “Why aren’t you more upset?” he asked finally.
She laughed and squeezed him hard before letting him go. “Did you want tears, Granger?”
He grinned sheepishly. “No.”
“I’m bruised, but not broken,” she said, and for a second he thought her eyes darkened with pain. “This is right.”
“And now you’re free to find the man you really need.”
Her smile was crooked. “Better get your own life straightened out before you start trying to marry me off.”
“Easier said than done.”
“Julianna will come around, Granger. She’s had very little time to put all this together. Ten years is a lot to overcome.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I’m going to check property we own in New Zealand as soon as I can get a flight out.”
“Business as usual?”
She nodded. “Business. Healing. My mother’s family came from New Zealand, although they’re strangers to me. I think I’d like to go back to my roots for a while. Maybe I’ll figure out who I am,” she added wryly.
“I know who you are.” He kissed her lightly on the lips. “One of the finest women I’ve ever known.”