Sanctuary

drowning in mud. “It’ll take weeks to clean them out, save what can be saved and start again.”
    “Is that what you want to do?” Nathan asked her. “Save what can be saved and start again?”
    She glanced over. The bandage Kirby had applied to his temple was shockingly white against his skin. His eyes were deeply shadowed, still exhausted.
    She wrapped her arms around herself, turned in a slow circle. The sun was radiant, the air stunningly fresh. She could see the wreckage—the toppled trees, the broken pottery that had been the little fountain, the now roofless smokehouse. Branches and leaves and glass littered the patio.
    Above them, Giff and Lexy worked on prying off the protective plywood, and opening the windows to the light. She saw her father and Kate at the edge of the trees, then with wonder and amazed joy, saw him drape an arm around Kate’s shoulders.
    “Yes, I’d like that. I’d like to stay a while longer, help them put things back. It won’t be exactly as it was. But it might be better.”
    She shielded her eyes with the flat of her hand to block the sun and see him clearly. “Brian asked to see you.”
    “I went in to see him before I came out. We put things back. They might not be the same.” He smiled a little. “But they might be better.”
    “And you spoke with my father.”
    “Yeah. He’s very glad his children are safe.” He slid his hands into his pockets. He hadn’t touched her since the night before, when Kate had whisked her off for a hot bath, whiskey-soaked tea, and bed. “He thinks it took courage for me to kill my brother.”
    “It took courage for you to save my life.”
    “It had nothing to do with courage.” He walked away from her, down the muddy path. “I didn’t feel anything when I pulled the trigger. He was already gone for me. It was nothing but a relief to end it.”
    “Don’t tell me it didn’t take courage. You were hurt, in every way it’s possible to be hurt. And you fought your way through it, and through that storm for me. You faced what no one should ever have to face and did what no one should ever have to do. When the police get here, I’m going to tell them you’re a hero.”
    She laid a hand on his arm. “I owe you my life, the lives of my family, and the memory of my mother.”
    “He was still my father. He was still my brother.” His eyes were dark with the truth of that as he looked down at her. “I can’t change that.”
    “No, you can’t. And now they’re gone.” She glanced up, hearing the distant whirr of the helicopter. She wanted it said and settled before the ugliness came back. Before the police got there, with their questions, their investigations. “You said you loved me.”
    “I do, more than anything.”
    “Isn’t that what you’d call a foundation? I’d think a man with your talents would be good at seeing what needs to be dug under, what can be rebuilt, what has to be reinforced to make it stand. Do you want to save what can be saved, Nathan, and start over?”
    “I do.” He took a step toward her. “More than anything.”
    She looked back at him, held out a hand. “Then why don’t we get started on the rest of our lives?”

Nora Roberts & J. D. Robb
    REMEMBER WHEN
     
     
     
    Nora Roberts
    HOT ICE
SACRED SINS
BRAZEN VIRTUE
SWEET REVENGE
PUBLIC SECRETS
GENUINE LIES
CARNAL INNOCENCE
DIVINE EVIL
HONEST ILLUSIONS
PRIVATE SCANDALS
HIDDEN RICHES
TRUE BETRAYALS
MONTANA SKY
SANCTUARY
HOMEPORT
THE REEF
RIVER’S END
CAROLINA MOON
THE VILLA
MIDNIGHT BAYOU
THREE FATES
BIRTHRIGHT
NORTHERN LIGHTS
BLUE SMOKE
ANGELS FALL
     
     
     
     
    Series
     
    Circle Trilogy
    MORRIGAN’S CROSS
DANCE OF THE GODS
VALLEY OF SILENCE
     
    Key Trilogy
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    Gallaghers of Ardmore Trilogy
    JEWELS OF THE SUN
TEARS OF THE MOON
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CHESAPEAKE BLUE
    In the Garden Trilogy
    BLUE DAHLIA
BLACK ROSE
RED LILY
     
    Three Sisters Island Trilogy
    DANCE UPON THE AIR
HEAVEN AND EARTH
FACE THE FIRE
     
    Born In Trilogy
    BORN IN FIRE
BORN IN ICE
BORN IN SHAME
     
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    DARING TO DREAM
HOLDING THE DREAM
FINDING THE DREAM
     
    Anthologies
    FROM THE HEART
A LITTLE MAGIC
A LITTLE FATE
MOON SHADOWS
    (with Jill Gregory, Ruth Ryan Langan, and Marianne Willman)
     
    The Once Upon Series
    (with Jill Gregory, Ruth Ryan Langan, and Marianne Willman)
    ONCE UPON A CASTLE
ONCE UPON A STAR
ONCE UPON A DREAM
ONCE UPON A ROSE
ONCE