Free Chill Out by Jana Richards Page A

sure you get home safely.”
    “You don’t have to do that. I’ll be fine.”
    “I’m following you, Renata. I won’t take any chances—ˮ He left the sentence unfinished and turned away. “I’m following you to the city.”
    She stared at him, confused. “If that’s what you want. I should leave in a few minutes.”
    “I’ll be ready.”
    Renata started her car and let it warm while Noah saw to Spike’s needs. When she stepped back into the cottage to retrieve her bag, he came in through the patio doors with the dog.
    “Are you ready to go?” he asked.
    “Yes. So, I guess this is where we say goodbye.” She couldn’t make herself look him in the eye.
    “I guess it is. Renata…”
    “Yes?” Please tell me this isn’t really goodbye.
    He pulled her into his arms and kissed her hair. “Drive carefully, okay?”
    She swallowed back tears of disappointment and clung to him, wondering if this would be the last time she ever touched him. “Okay.”
    He held her for a moment before stepping away and clearing his throat. “We should go.”
    She nodded and walked to her car while Noah locked the door. She backed out of the driveway and headed for the highway. When she looked in the rearview mirror, Noah’s SUV was right behind her. He stayed close all the way back to Winnipeg, and she felt comforted knowing he was nearby.
    When they reached the edge of the city, Noah pulled next to her car at a stoplight. They stared at each other, and though Renata’s heart was breaking, she couldn’t look away.
    Someone behind her honked his horn when the light turned green. She gave Noah a tight smile and choked back tears before driving south while he went west.
    Never to meet again.
    ****
    Noah found Dylan’s house in River Heights without any trouble. It was an attractive older home in a pretty neighborhood full of beautiful trees. Dylan had done well for himself.
    As he stood poised to ring the doorbell, his emotions were all over the place. Joy at seeing his brother again mixed with apprehension. Dylan had said he was glad he was home, but until he actually saw his face, Noah still had fears. He rang the bell.
    The door opened almost immediately. His brother grabbed his arm and pulled him inside. After closing the door, he wrapped Noah in a hug.
    “God, it’s good to see you.”
    “It’s good to see you, too.”
    Noah clung to Dylan, barely able to keep his tears in check. Seeing Dylan again, combined with saying goodbye to Renata, was enough to overload his system. He took a deep breath before pulling away.
    “I want to apologize for the things I said before I left,” he said. “They were ugly, cruel things, and I never meant them.”
    “You were hurt. We both said things we regret now. Can we move past them to be brothers again?”
    Noah nodded in relief. “I’d like that.”
    With those words, all the anger and heartache drifted away, and he had his brother back.
    “Noah, Kendall is here. She wants to see you. Do you mind?”
    “No, of course not. I’d like to see her, too.”
    Dylan left the room for a moment and came back with Kendall. He looked into the face of the woman he’d once loved and felt nothing. No jealousy, no sadness, no regret. After being with Renata, his relationship with Kendall felt inconsequential in comparison.
    “It’s good to see you again, Noah.”
    She stood a few feet away, an uncertain look on her face. She was hugely pregnant, but as beautiful as ever. Noah grasped her outstretched hand.
    “You look wonderful. How have you been feeling?”
    She smiled. “You sound like my doctor.”
    “Occupational hazard. But seriously, how’s everything going with the pregnancy?”
    “Everything is perfectly normal,” she said. “We’re thrilled about the baby, but there’s been a black cloud hanging over us for two years. I want you to know I’m sorry. I should have spoken to you. I should have told you I was falling in love with Dylan.”
    Dylan was at her side