Chapter Fifty
The sun finally broke through the heavy, gray clouds that had suffocated the compound for a week, casting a brilliant, golden light across the rain-slicked gravel of the courtyard. I woke up early, the lingering chill of the empty bed instantly forgotten the moment I realized what day it was. Today was the day. By noon, the heavy iron gates would swing open, and Jake would ride back into my life.
I spent the morning in a flurry of happy, nervous preparation, determined to make everything perfect for his return. I practically scrubbed the kitchen in his quarters raw, erasing any trace of the cold, lonely week I had spent hiding under his blankets. I took extra care with myself, taking a long, hot shower to wash away the stress and exhaustion of the last few days. I brushed o
