Lynda looked up at him, deeply touched by the gesture. “You made this yourself?”
Matt nodded with a hint of shyness in his expression. “I used to enjoy woodcarving. After Maria died, I couldn’t pick up a knife. But recently...” He glanced at the carving in her hands. “Recently, I’ve felt inspired again.”
The simple admission brought unexpected tears to Lynda’s eyes. This wasn’t just a memento of the puppies. It was Matt sharing part of himself, part of his past, and how he was moving forward.
“Thank you,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I’ll treasure it.”
Matt stepped closer, his hand coming up to gently brush away a tear that had escaped down her cheek. “I’m hoping it will remind you of Sapphire Bay,” he said, his voice warm with affection. “And give you even more reasons to come home to me.”
The gesture undid her careful composure. Lynda hugged Matt close. His arms wrapped around her, strong and comforting, as his chin rested lightly on the top of her head.
They stayed that way for several moments, saying without words what neither was quite ready to articulate aloud. When they finally separated, Lynda felt both steadier and somehow more vulnerable than before.
“I should go to the shelter next,” she said, reluctantly stepping back. “I need to talk to Carol about rescheduling the workshop.”
Matt nodded. “I’ll walk you out.”
As they passed through the reception area, Brenda looked up with concern, clearly sensing the shift in mood. “Everything okay?”
“Lynda’s heading back to Denver for a couple of weeks,” Matt explained.
Brenda’s face fell. “Oh no! What about the puppies? They’ll miss not having you around.”
“I won’t be gone for long,” Lynda promised. “Matt’s promised to send me plenty of photos.”
Brenda came around the desk and hugged Lynda. “Take care. It’s amazing what you’ve done for us since the pups arrived.”
Lynda smiled. “I’ve enjoyed being here.”
Outside, the morning had warmed further, promising another beautiful day in Sapphire Bay.
Matt walked Lynda to her car. “Can you call me when you land? I’d like to know you arrived safely.”
“I will,” Lynda promised. On impulse, she rose on her toes and pressed a soft kiss to his lips. “I’ll miss you.”
Matt caught her hand as she began to turn away. “Lynda,” he said, his voice low and serious. “I’ll miss you, too, but I meant what I said the other night. There’s no pressure, no expectations. Take the time you need in Denver.” His blue eyes held hers. “I’ll be waiting here for you.”
The simple promise, offered without demands or conditions, affected Lynda more deeply than flowery declarations or passionate pleas would have. Matt understood her sense of duty, her need for independence, and her cautious approach to change. And he was giving her the space to honor all those parts of herself.
“I’ll see you soon,” she said, the words feeling somehow inadequate for the emotions swirling within her.
As she drove toward the animal shelter with the wooden wolf on the passenger seat beside her, Lynda realized she was falling in love with Matt. It should have terrified her, given everything that had happened with Ray, but it felt like the most natural thing in the world.
Holding the steering wheel tighter, she made a promise to herself. She’d spend two weeks in Denver. Then she’d return toSapphire Bay—to the shelter, to her friends, and to Matt. Not for a visit this time, but to begin the next chapter of her life.
CHAPTER 17
Lynda stared out the window of her Denver office, watching the morning traffic crawl along the busy street below. A week into her return, and the city still felt strangely foreign to her—too loud, too crowded, too disconnected from the natural rhythms she was used to in Sapphire Bay.
Her desk was cluttered with resumes from veterinary technician candidates, interview notes, and patient files that required her attention. The staffing crisis that had brought her back was gradually resolving itself. She’d already hired two experienced vet techs who would start next week, and the exotic animal specialist was recovering well from his pneumonia. If his health continued to improve, he was scheduled to return part-time in three days.
Efficiency had always been Lynda’s strong suit, and she’d approached the clinic’s problems with her usual methodical focus. Yet even as she worked through the practical issues, a part of her mind remained firmly anchored in Montana, alongside a certain silver-haired veterinarian and five wolfdog puppies.
As if on cue, her phone chimed with a message notification. Lynda reached for it with an eagerness that would haveembarrassed her just a few months ago. The screen displayed a photo from Matt. Star and Helena were playing tug-of-war with a rope toy, their growing bodies showing the lean, powerful build they’d inherited from their mother.
Star has decided she’s the boss now,Matt’s message read.She now outweighs Baker as of this morning’s weigh-in.
Lynda smiled, studying the image of the once-frail puppy who’d nearly died that first night. Star’s white chest patch was more prominent against her thickening silver-gray coat, and her amber eyes held the confident gleam of a healthy young animal.
