He smiled and it sent a shock of warmth straight through me. “That’s the other thing. Here.”
“What’s this?” He’d handed me a key. “I don’t get it.”
“That’s a key to one of the climate-controlled outbuildings on my granddad’s property. I’m going to be living in the ranch house with him. He’s been wanting to move home for a while now, but Char hasn’t been able to swing it. There’s plenty of room out there for you to set up the shelter.”
“You’re kidding.” But one look at his face told me he wasn’t.
“Plenty of room in the house for you and Zeb, too, if you want to be close to the dogs.” He lowered his voice and stepped closer. “And close to me.”
“Are you asking me to move in with you?”
He nodded.
“And my brother and your granddad?”
He winced and nodded again.
“I believe that’s the most unromantic offer I’ve ever had.”
“Really?” His nose nuzzled into my hair, and his lips pressed against a sensitive spot behind my ear. “I make fantastic breakfast quesadillas.”
“Oh, well, if there will be breakfast quesadillas, I might consider it.”
“There’s one thing I’m even better at than making breakfast.”
“Is that special talent part of your offer as well?” I knew what one thing he was referring to and even if I hated his guts and never wanted to set eyes on him again, I’d still have to admit how good he was at that.
“It can be.”
“Well, I think we’d have to negotiate that into the arrangement. How long will that offer stay open?”
He leaned down and put an arm behind my knees, sweeping me off my feet and into his arms. “There’s no expiration date. It’s good for a lifetime.”
“A lifetime?”
He nodded, his gaze meeting mine. Love shone through. He was telling the truth. I might not have seen it coming and probably would have run the other way if I had. But somewhere over the past several weeks I’d fallen hard for Alex Sanders. He’d changed the way I looked at the world, changed the way I looked at myself. And most of all, he’d taught me that a love like ours was worth a second chance.
I smiled at him, the kind of smile that an amazing man like him deserved. “A lifetime sounds good. I think we can definitely start with that.”
EPILOGUE
ZINA
Eight Months Later
I racedalong the walkway leading to the entrance of the aquarium. I should have been there fifteen minutes ago, but I’d gotten caught up in traffic after stopping by to check on one of the puppy mill pups who’d been settling in with her new family just outside of Houston.
Alex was going to strangle me if I missed the dedication for the new penguin habitat. Especially since it was the first time we’d get a chance to visit with Thelma, Louise, and the rest of the Ido dozen who’d been part of the Munyon wedding. I shook my head as I thought about what a crazy mess that had been. Over seven months later and I could still remember how it felt to think my whole life was over because he’d spooked.
Since then Lacey and I had worked with over a dozen brides to give them the weddings of their dreams. Well, mostly me since Lacey was still pushing herself too hard and the doc kept putting her back on bed rest. But today wasn’t about weddings or events or pit bulls. It was all about Alex.
He’d been invited to participate behind the scenes this week and help move the colony into their new habitat, so it was just as easy for me to meet him there. Plus he’d promised me dinner at the exclusive Cattleman’s restaurant after the quick dedication ceremony. I’d be a fool to turn down that kind of an offer.
The aquarium had gone all out with the holiday decorations. Christmas was still over a month away, but as I entered the front door and made my way to the penguin exhibit, twinkle lights sparkled overhead. Alex had warned me it would be a pretty small affair. The public dedication would be happening the next day but since he’d been instrumental in coordinating the makeover, the aquarium had extended an invite to their private ceremony. I hadn’t seen much of him since he’d started the veterinary program at the University of Houston in September. Even though he’d arranged all of his classes, so he only had to drive into the city a few times a week, I was ready for the holiday break, so we’d have more time to spend together.
My heels clicked on the tile as the first strains of music drifted from the sound system down the empty hall. The low hum of chatter made me think the party might be bigger than I thought. I smoothed a hand over the skirt of my dress, suddenly wondering if I should have worn something nicer.
As I turned the corner, eager to get my first glimpse of the new exhibit and even more excited to wrap my arms around the man who’d made it possible, I stopped in my tracks.
