Fallon nodded at her mom.“Thanks for the call, Sunny.Be careful.”
“I will be.Both of you too.Love you.”
“Love you too.”
The screen went dark and Fallon blew out a breath.“So much for the zen of gardening.”
A short while later, Fallon filled in Crew on what happened, then went to wake Avi.She knew he’d want to know about Sunny’s call.
“That fucker,” Avi said, rubbing his eyes with the heels of his palms.
“The good news is that Otto believes Mom and I are at the park, otherwise he wouldn’t have bothered to threaten the park shifters.”
“He’s clearly looking for you, though,” Avi said.“Both youandyour mom.”
“Mom’s pretty upset since he mentioned her to the park shifters too.She’s worried he won’t give up and someone will get hurt.”
“We’re a step ahead because he doesn’t know where you are,” Avi said.“That’s what matters.You’re both safe here.”
She looked at him for a long, quiet moment.His blue eyes were intense, framed by thick, dark lashes, and his hair was deliciously mussed after sleep.
Cupping his face with her hand, she leaned over to kiss him.
“One of these days, we’re going to look back on all the crazy stuff that happened with Colton and Otto and know that we’re so lucky we found each other.When it’s all over, when the herd is safe and the park is safe, we’ll have each other and our family.Because that’s what I want with you.Quiet mornings on the farm, coffee cakes, Daisy trying to eat my shoelaces.”
He smiled so sweetly her heart ached.“I want that too.I can’t wait.”
Friday morning, Avi stared at the way the sun rising made golden shadows on the ceiling of the bedroom.Fallon was in his arms smelling like sweet dreams, and he never wanted the moment to end.Things were peaceful and perfect, and he always wanted to have that with her.
As he stifled a yawn, Fallon stirred next to him, making a quiet, contented murmur as she woke.
He turned gently and held her close, inhaling her sweet scent.He pressed a kiss to her forehead as she yawned something that sounded likegood morning.
“Good morning, sweetheart.”
She rolled to her back to stretch, the light blanket slipping down her belly as she squeaked lightly and wiggled on the bed.
“Hello,” he whispered with a grin, leaning over to kiss her navel.
She let out a low giggle and slipped her fingers into his hair.“Mornings are the best.”
“Oh?”He slowly kissed his way up her belly, nuzzling her breasts with a low hum.
“Yeah, it’s just you and me, everything is quiet and peaceful.”
He flicked his tongue over her nipple and she inhaled softly.“I was thinking the same thing a little while ago.I love any time with you, though.”
In fact, he loved her.Completely.He just hadn’t told her yet.He wanted the timing to be perfect.
He pushed himself up over her, planning to continue his trek up to her lips, when he noticed a faint flush on her collarbone.It looked sunburned and freckled.As he studied it, he realized it almost looked like…jaguar spots.
“Did you get sunburned yesterday?”
“What?No.Why?”
“You’ve got a flush on your collarbone, but it’s kind of splotchy.And you’re going to think I’m nuts, but it looks like jaguar spots.”
He moved off her as she sat up, her fingers touching her collarbone.
