“But I also have Romeo and the clinic,” I explain.
“Romeo can stay with me.”
My brow arches. “Really?” I’m shocked as I know he tolerates the dog, but I wouldn’t peg him as a superfan.
“For you? Yeah, really.” It comes out soft before he kisses my cheek.
Still I’m reluctant. “I don’t know,” I hesitate.
Lucas moves his hands to cradle my face. His look turning serious. “Abby. Remember how we both said that we finally got to have the things we wanted because we got divorced from our exes?”
I nod my head.
“This was something you wanted. You should have it. We learned from our mistakes; we didn’t do the things we really wanted when we were married. We had to wait for a divorce to get them. That’s not us. We aren’t going to block each other, not from the things we want.”
This man is unbelievable. He is putting me in front of his needs. Selfless, right? That’s Lucas Kade. It makes me love him more, my aching for missing him already beginning and I haven’t even made a decision.
My mouth lands on his from pure emotion. I don’t want to talk anymore. I want to feel him and enjoy every waking minute with him, store every second in a jar that I can take with me to open when I need a fix of Lucas Kade.
“Lucas, I don’t know what to say. But I need to be with you right now,” I beg as my palms find his chest and my fingers crawl to the buttons of his shirt.
His lips twitch as his hands find my arms, and he answers me with a kiss. We say nothing as we find our way to my room before entering an intensified tryst of two people trying to find solace in the sudden change of plans in their relationship.
* * *
Jess looksup from her cup of tea at me with a long face. Her thumb plays with the rim of the mug. “You’re really going then?”
I nod as I look around my living room. “Yeah, I think so. Lucas seems to think we can do this, and it will be a great opportunity.”
“I get that. Just thought that you were pretty happy. I mean, having your own practice at your age is an accomplishment.” She tries to flatter me or maybe persuade me; I haven’t figured it out yet.
My head tilts to the side as I take a sip of my tea. “It was also luck. Small town and the last vet was retiring.” I try to be modest.
“Maybe. But you enjoy your house, your dog, and hopefully your friends too.” She nudges me in the arm as we both lean against the back of my sofa.
I smile slightly. “True. I do have some good friends here.”
There is a pause.
“I have Lucas here.” It comes out gently from my mouth.
“A year is a long time,” she reminds me softly and touches my arm delicately.
“True. But we have video calls, and hopefully I can still fly back a few times or Lucas can come visit me if he doesn’t have Theo,” I say, but something sour turns in my stomach. The mere words physically affect me.
Jess doesn’t blink her eyes, but when she does, I see tears. “Youwillcome back, right?” she hiccups.
Immediately, I put my mug of tea on the coffee table. Of all the people, I wouldn’t expect Jess to get emotional. She is more the type of person to kick you to the curb with her feistiness.
“Hey, of course I’ll be back. I definitely don’t plan on living in Alaska,” I try to reassure her.
She looks at me and wipes away tears. “I’m pregnant.” She bursts out with fresh tears. Well, I wasn’t expecting this… at all.
Quickly, I pull her into a hug and let her get a few more tears out. When she calms, I retreat back just a little to look at her.
“This is, uh… this is big news.” I am truly shocked, and I admit a little lost. “I didn’t know there was someone.”
“He-he isn’t in the picture… not now, anyhow.” She sobs and it comes out almost comical. “I was going to ask you to be there with me for the birth,” she manages to say through her tears.
