“It went fine. I didn’t sleep well without you though.” I still don’t get much sleep even with her, but away from her it’s nearly impossible. Therapy is helping, but nothing makes it better than the feel of her warm body next to mine.
She nods, smiling.
“I will always make your safety my number one priority. You believe that, don’t you?”
“With all my heart. I always feel safe with you.” She pushes up onto her toes to plant a kiss on my lips.
From inside the house, we hear music pouring out of the speaker system I had installed last week. A country tune starts to play, and I grasp her hand in mine.
“May I?”
She smiles. “Of course, Mr. Bradshaw. If you insist.”
KATE
SIX MONTHS LATER
The photographer’s camera flashes in my eyes one last time before he lowers it. Tommy’s arm is around my shoulders, an enormous smile plastered on his face.
Behind us, the oversize exhibit of sea turtles at the Dallas Sea Life Aquarium provides a unique background well suited for the event.
Our first book signing and reading.
Saving Specklesis an illustrated children’s book, written by Kate Dawson and Tommy Flint, illustrated by me. It’s about a tiny sea turtle running away from home and ending up on a farm under the ocean, where he restores the vitality of their seaweed crop by breaking an age-old curse.
Tommy sits down on the beanbag in the center of the circle of children, who are all on their own beanbags. He opens the book and begins to animatedly tell the story with unique voices for each character.
I’m standing outside the circle, smiling at the enraptured faces full of awe. My dad was supposed to be here, but he had a bad episode this morning, so the staff at Memory Care said it would be better not to bring him today. I spent the first half hour holding in tears over it, but I plan on taking him his own copy ofSaving Speckleslater. The fact that he’s still here with me is enough.
A hand reaches around my waist, gently pinching me.
“Hello. I was wondering if I could get an autographed copy ofSaving Speckles.” Luke’s deep voice purrs over my skin.
“I don’t know. We might be out of them. Are you willing to pay extra?”
“Hmm . . . name your price.”
“You probably couldn’t afford it.”
He laughs, nuzzling my neck right below the ear. “I might surprise you with something very unaffordable soon.”
I jerk my head around, my gaze meeting his. “What do you mean?”
Surely, he’s not hinting at what I think he is . . .
He smiles, winking at me. “You’re just going to have to wait and see, Miss Dawson. By the way, we have a plane on standby for us.”
I narrow my gaze at him. “A plane to take us where?”
He can’t help but spoil me with impromptu dates and weekend getaways across the globe, and the lavish lifestyle he’s accustomed to still feels unnatural to me.
“Do you really want me to ruin the surprise now?”
Another voice cuts in, “You guys are way too compatible. It makes me sick. Kate, the book is perfect! I’m sending one to all my friends with kids.”
I turn to see Fallon. She smiles as she pulls me into an embrace. Her perfume smells expensive, and she’s dressed to the nines in something I would definitely classify as designer.
“I’m so glad you could make it! How was the flight?”
