“We might be part of the hunters’ family now,” I said, “but we’re our own little family first.”
“Yay!”Abbi said.“But I’m going to stay here with Hado.”
Lorde woofed and put her paws on the bumper.
Lu scrubbed Lorde’s ears.“You stay here and look after Abbi, okay, girl?”
Lorde wagged her tail.
“In you go.”Lu pulled down the tailgate, and Abbi and Lorde jumped in.
“I’ll put out all the blankets just in case!”Abbi opened the storage bins and dragged out the quilts, sleeping bags, and pillows, shaking them with wild abandon while Lorde barked and nipped.
“That leaves me and you to see if the living situation works.”I took a step.
Lu put her hand on my arm and tugged.
“What…?”
She stepped around and into me, her body pressing against mine, as if I were shelter from a storm and she was freezing.
I wrapped my arms around her.“Hey now,” I said.“What’s this?Are you okay?”
She nodded, then pulled back, her hands on either side of my face.
“I’m fine.How badly are you hurt?Tell me the truth.I thought the storm was going to tear you to pieces.”
“I have a headache,” I said, “but vision and hearing are good.It was a knock on the head, not a concussion.I might have bruised my ass when I fell, but I’m fine, Lula.I’m still on my feet.Still standing.”
“I won’t lose you, Brogan Gauge.I won’t.”She moved just that much more into me and drew my head down.
Then she kissed me, harder than I’d expected, urgent, needful.
I met her intensity, then slowly gentled my embrace, running my palm down her back and up again, threading my fingers in her silky hair.
I gentled my mouth too, easing the kiss, soothing her with slower, softer touches, my breath even and calm.
She relaxed by inches, but did not take her hands off my face, holding me just where she wanted me, keeping me, claiming me.
I tasted salt as her tears caught between our lips.
Finally, finally she pulled back, her gaze searching my face, making sure I was still there, still holding her.
“As if I would ever leave your side.Not even death can keep me from you.”
“I know,” she whispered, “I know.”She released my face and rested her head against my shoulder.
“I love you,” I said.
“I love you,” she said.
“I love pie!”Abbi announced, and I could feel Lula’s smile.
“We’ll find you a carrot,” I offered.
“Yay!I like carrots!”
Lorde barked.
