He turned and left abruptly then, weaving quickly around Jared as he passed him in the hall.

Kimberly met her lover’s eyes. He stared back at her in surprise, his lips quirking in sudden amusement.

“Your father has issues,” he said with all seriousness.

She shook her head, a smile curving her lips as he came to her, his arms wrapping around her.

“You’re worth every sacrifice, Kimberly. He only realized that,” he said as he pulled her to his chest a second before her tears flowed again. “Every sacrifice. And trust me, dealing with that pious father of yours is going to be a sacrifice…”

She laughed tearfully at the teasing tone of his voice, because there had been nothing pious about her father. Nothing self-righteous. He had made a sacrifice she had never expected.

She held onto Jared tighter, realizing the gift she had been given in his love. The acceptance, the patience and sheer depth of emotion that now bound them. There had been no sacrifice. Even if she had never seen Briar Cliff again. This, this moment in his arms, was worth losing it all.