Kata leaned forward and took her hands. She hesitated for a long moment before she finally sent her an empathetic frown. “I understand. I struggled with so many of the things you’re feeling now. I want to ask you a few questions and answer me very honestly, okay?”

“Of course.”

“These won’t be easy questions. First, do you believe in your heart that Caleb would ever want you subjugated and silenced? That he would disrespect or neglect you in any way?”

“No. He would mean well, always. He has a kind heart and good intentions. I know he merely meant to protect me from Gordon, but it is my battle to fight, if I choose to fight it. I did not. Gordon is a rat not worth my time and anger.”

“But he’s a rat who will come back if you don’t put him in his place. Has he tried to contact you since you ran into him?” Kata sent her a knowing stare.

Carlotta flushed. “He called the hospital earlier this week, asking for me, and left a message.”

“There you go. He believes that you’re sufficiently cowed now because you didn’t stand up for yourself. He may even believe that he can bully you into coming back. I don’t know. But I don’t think Caleb had the wrong idea exactly. Sure it might have been nice if he’d talked to you before he threatened the asshole, but honestly, what would you have thought of Caleb if he’d done nothing while Gordon denigrated you?”

The question ripped through her thoughts with quiet destruction. Carlotta had never considered the situation from that point of view. But she knew the answer immediately. “I do not think I could respect such a man. It reeks of cowardice.”

“And that’s something no one will ever accuse the Colonel of having. In his eyes, you were his to care for and protect. He wouldn’t have been treating you properly if he had let Gordon walk all over you without saying a word in your defense. You know what would have happened if Hunter had been with you.”

Yes, her son-in-law would likely have punched Gordon and threatened him with something violent and unrepeatable. By comparison, Caleb had been fairly restrained.

“If one of my ex-boyfriends ever treated me like that—”

“I would show him the sharp edge of my tongue immediately,” Carlotta assured.

Kata smiled. “The instinct of a mother. I’ve heard you and Mari talk about it several times. You didn’t even have to think about what you’d do. You simply knew. What about the instinct of a man in love? You think that’s any less strong when men like Caleb are, by nature, protectors?”

Eduardo had loved her very much. He would have never let Gordon or anyone talk to her that way. Why should she imagine that Caleb would allow such a thing either?

Carlotta’s thoughts tangled, and her head told her that Kata had some very valid points. Her frightened, half-frozen heart kept trying to override her logic, reminding her that her terrible past could repeat itself if she allowed something as foolish as hope to rule her.

“Kata, I…” But she didn’t know how to finish that sentence because she did not know how to feel or what to say.

“Last question,” her daughter assured. “You’re very unhappy without Caleb now. I’m not even going to phrase that like a question because I can see you are. But you’ve avoided being with him because you’re afraid to be unhappy?”

“Surely, this sadness will pass.”

“But why should you feel it at all? When you were with him, before the incident with Gordon, were you happy?”

As brief as it had been… “Very.”

Carlotta sniffled. Goodness, had she allowed herself to create her own misery?

“Do you really think after so many years with Gordon that you would fall back onto the same timid path or that Caleb would be interested in a woman he believed had no backbone?”

No, but… She couldn’t quite find the right words to phrase her worries.

“You’re scared.” Kata summed it up. “I understand. Believe me, I totally get that.”

With precious few words, Kata zeroed in on her issue. She was afraid of being back in that place, of being that person again.

“But do you realize that by being too afraid to move on and be with a wonderful man who loves you, you’re letting Gordon win? Even two years later, even from a different state, even after the divorce, you’re letting him dictate your life to you. You’re giving him your power.”

Kata’s terribly honest words were a blow to the chest. A thousand thoughts all rushed her mind at once, the loudest that her daughter was right. If Gordon knew that he had stirred up enough fear to cause her to leave a man who genuinely wanted to cherish her, he would relish that. The small man would feel big. He would have the last laugh.

“I will not let him win.” Carlotta clenched her fists, determined to get Gordon out of her life once and for all.

“I don’t think you should.” Kata hugged her and smiled. When she pulled back, her eyes danced with mischief. “You know…I think Caleb is due back in Lafayette tomorrow for the holiday. Maybe you should talk to him.”

No maybe about it. She was no longer the timid woman whom she had allowed Gordon to browbeat. She would not let him rule her life now. She would not remain unhappy because of him, not when Caleb was so wonderful to love.

“Thank you, Mija, for giving me a kick. I will.”

On the pretext of visiting Mari and the boys, Carlotta left Kata’s apartment and headed over to the new house. With only two days before Hunter would surprise Kata with this Christmas gift meant to cement their future, she had a lot to do to finish getting the house ready. Her trunk was packed full of gifts for everyone, as well as all the curtains, throw pillows, area rugs, and other accessories she would need to complete the rooms. Hunter would surprise Kata with a night in Dallas tomorrow, some “couple” time before the holiday started. Everyone else would move the furniture in so that when they returned for the party on Christmas Eve, their new home would be mostly complete.

And somewhere in the midst of all that chaos, she would pull Caleb aside, apologize, and ask if they could start over.

A happy little smile lit her face. Hopefully, everything would come together in her life this holiday season. Family, celebration, joy…and finally a man to love, one who not only made her feel cherished, but like a woman.

Navigating the last curve onto the right street, she arrived at Hunter and Kata’s charming new house on the corner. The porch and trim had been painted, as had the detached garage out back. She frowned. But the door to the little building behind the house stood open. Had squatters barged their way in again?

Parking on the street as dusk gave way to night, she was grateful for the streetlamp that lit the path in front of her. She walked toward the garage carefully to investigate, clutching her phone. When she reached it and peeked into the darkened space, she didn’t see anyone, just a familiar truck.

Caleb’s.

He is here! Nerves suddenly fluttered in her stomach, and she drew in a shaky breath. It was probably a very adolescent reaction, but he often tied her up in so many knots that she behaved like that shy, uncertain girl again. When he kissed her though, all that slid away until she felt only flushed and needy and…like she was in the best hands possible.

Carlotta turned and darted back toward the porch, climbed the steps, then tested the front door. It was unlocked. The latch lifted in her hand. She stepped inside the house and gasped. Everything had been transformed—every surface painted or gleaming, all the light fixtures hung.

She wandered through the bedrooms and bathrooms, marveling at the new tile. Caleb had even replaced the vanity in the master bath with something that looked more custom and high end—and had double sinks. The frosted shower door with brass accents had been replaced with something sleek and frameless. The fiberglass tub had been torn out. A new clawfoot sat in its place. Caleb had done a magnificent job.

But she did not see the man himself. As lovely as everything looked, she yearned to see him, talk to him…touch him.

As she walked into the kitchen, the cabinets all fit perfectly, their countertops glossy and sleek. New appliances sat snugly in their appointed places, ready to cool and heat great food.

Suddenly, she heard a clink behind her and noticed the door ajar, leading to what he’d told her was the attic. A sigh followed, then a soft curse.

Caleb!

Grabbing the knob, she tore the door wide open and scrambled to the steps. Then insecurity hit her. What if his patience had run out? What if he had decided not to give her another chance? She nibbled her lip. She would convince him. She would do whatever she needed to prove that she was ready to move on, open up, and love him with all her heart.

She scampered up the wooden stairs, her heels clicking with each one. About halfway up, Caleb killed the light in the rest of the room and ambled into view. Shadows clung to his rugged face and bare chest as he blocked the top of the stairs. His gaze latched onto her, unreadable. Blue eyes could seem so cold, but never his. They were especially hot tonight, intense as he looked her over thoroughly.

“Lottie, what are you doing here?”

Carlotta didn’t stop running, she merely reached the top of the stairs and launched herself at him, her skirt hiking up her thighs. Caleb caught her with a grunt and held tight, so she wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her lips to his with a little cry. He was damp with sweat and smelled like musk. Above the faint mustiness of the attic, the scent of leather hung in the air.

He staggered back a step or two until he had his balance again. But he didn’t kiss her in return. Instead, he palmed her waist and set her on her feet, then anchored his hands on his hips. “What’s this?”

“I was wrong and I am sorry. I refuse to let Gordon continue to dictate my life. You were trying to protect me, and I overreacted. And I love you, too.”

Now that she had blurted everything straight from her heart and off her tongue, Caleb watched her in unblinking silence. The seconds ticked on. Anxiety knotted her up again.

She reached out, touched his bare shoulder, ridiculously relieved when he didn’t pull away. With a caress over his taut skin, she reveled in his heat and hardness. “Caleb? Say something.”

His lips pressed into a tense line. “What made you change your mind?”

“I missed you terribly, so much that it stunned me. I tried to shield my heart from you, close myself off, but you still managed to take up all the space inside. I talked to Kata earlier. She pointed out that I was letting my fear lead my actions, not my love. And my love is far bigger. Please tell me I am not too late.”

Even the thought of this beautiful man turning away from her made her eyes swim with tears, her chest buckle. Every time he had tried to forge something with her, she had allowed her doubts and her fright to dictate her actions. She was still scared, but she would rather be brave and take a chance on being happy than be alone and trapped by her past.

“You’ve run out on me twice.”

She had, and he must feel somewhere between angry and hurt, maybe even rejected. “Never again. I promise.”

“I won’t apologize for telling Gordon off.”

“I would not want you to. I should have done it myself and saved you the trouble. I am strong enough to stand on my own two feet.”

“I know that, Lottie.”

“I want him to know it, too.”

Caleb shrugged. “Who gives a shit what he thinks? But you have to know that I’m always going to defend you. I’m always going to take care of you. I’m probably always going to be a little overbearing and overprotective. But it never means that I think you’re incapable or that I want to suppress you, just that I refuse to see you suffer. Understand right now that I would never want to take away your identity like he did.”

“I know. It was not you I failed to trust. It was me. It was my strength.” She sidled closer and braced her palm against his whisker-roughened cheek. “It was my heart. But I have searched it now enough to know that it is yours.”

Shadows grazed his strong cheekbones and the hollows around his eyes, making him look big and dark and dangerous. Carlotta’s heart pounded as she waited for him to say something…

But Caleb only proved that he was a man of few words. He wrapped his arms around her and brought her crashing against his hard chest. Her head snapped back, and he swallowed her gasp as he covered her mouth with his own. Parting her lips, he surged inside, possessing her with a single kiss.

Carlotta stepped on her tiptoes to get closer, give him more, moaning as his hands roamed her back, pressing her in tightly, before he cupped her backside. Caleb fitted her directly against his male flesh, thick, hot, and erect against her moistening folds.

He ignited her as he rocked between her legs and fueled a fire so hot, only he could put it out. She wriggled against him, silently pleading.

Digging his hands into her hair, he tugged, pulling her head back. His lips hovered over hers. “Your heart is mine, you say? I want it, Lottie, along with the rest of you. I want to spend the night inside you.”