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fought the panic running through her veins.
    He closed his eyes. “I’m sorry. I didn’t want to blurt it out
like that.”
    “You...you’re an...” Cat clutched a hand to her throat.
    “Well, look who we have here.”
    The booming, jovial voice came from behind Jay, making Cat
jump. She snapped her gaze over his shoulder, her heart pounding. George. Oh, God, not now.
    Trembling from the shock of Jay’s admission, she forced a wide
grin onto her face. “George. What are you doing here?”
    He opened his arms. “Well, I work for Jay now. His father is
off around the world enjoying his retirement, so Jay here makes good use of me
instead.”
    “I don’t believe it. You’re Jay’s handyman now?”
    His expression changed to feigned insult. “Of course. Do you
think this boy could find anyone else to match my caliber? I think not.”
    Cat forced a laugh, words lodging in her throat as tension
hummed on an invisible cord between her and Jay. George was clearly oblivious to
the shockwaves ricocheting from the walls around them. She glanced at Jay and
his eyes lingered on hers for a heartbeat before he turned and moved away to
stand at the fireplace.
    She snapped her gaze back to George, her smile wobbling. “It is
so good to see you.”
    He beamed. “Little Catherine.” He stretched his arms wide.
“What a sight for sore eyes you are.”
    Cat stepped into his embrace and closed her eyes. It had been
far too long since she smelled George’s comforting combination of tangy,
old-fashioned aftershave and the mint lozenges he perpetually had tucked into
his cheek.
    Nausea burned hot in her stomach while fondness for George
swelled her heart.
    Jay was a recovering addict.
    Her blood boiled hot in her veins as confusion, hurt and
disappointment rushed through her heart and soul, branding her with Jay’s
betrayal.
    George pulled back and held her hands at arm’s length, an
expression of soft adoration on his face, tufts of silver hair shining at the
sides of his otherwise bald head. Whenever she’d spent time at Jay’s family
home, George was her summertime guardian, a man who made her feel just as loved
as her father had. She forced a smile once more. “You look wonderful. You
haven’t aged a single day.”
    He chuckled. “Well, you have.”
    She pulled her face into an expression of mock offense. “Don’t
you know it’s rude to say that to a lady?”
    He immediately reddened. “Oh, no, I meant you’re all grown up
and not the girl running around with her hair hanging out of its ribbons all the
time.”
    Cat laughed and cupped her hand to his jaw. “I know what you
meant, silly. It’s great to see you looking so well.”
    His blue eyes sparkled. “You, too. I couldn’t believe it when
Jay told me you were coming back home for a while.”
    Warmth furled in Cat’s stomach. He called Templeton Cove her
home in the same easy way Jay had. She glanced at Jay. “I’m not so sure about
the Cove being home, George.”
    She turned back and George’s smile faltered as he looked from
her to Jay and back again. He opened his mouth to say something and then shook
his head. “Hmm...well, whatever you might say, you know as well as I do this is
where you belong.”
    They lapsed into silence and the tension permeated the room.
After a time that must have been moments but felt far longer, George cleared his
throat. “So, how’s Julia?”
    Cat stared. “Um...fine. She’s fine.”
    He cocked an eyebrow. “Just fine? The woman I remember was full
of life, running around after you and Chris but always managing to look so damn
glamorous.” He sighed. “Yes, a gorgeous woman who should never have been left a
widow at such a young age.”
    Cat swallowed as tears lodged in her throat. “She’s carrying on
as she always did. You know Mum, strong as an ox and just as stubborn.”
    He laughed. “She had to be, with you lot trying to run circles
around her. I remember the time you swore you never pinched that makeup