When he glanced at Angie, her eyes shone with something that made his hopeful heart beat faster and warmed him all over.She broke the connection, her face flushing an attractive shade of pink, and placed the kittens into a single cage.
“Are they all from one litter?”
“Yes.”She faced him and softly said, “Sam, whydidyou come here?”
“I came for you, Ange.”
She blinked.Rapidly.Then she frowned.
“Babe, I have no right to ask, but I’m doing it anyway.I don’t know what kind of money I’ll pull down or for how long—it’s all still being worked out—but whatever’s coming, I don’t want to face it without you.I made that mistake once, and I’m not making it again.”
She seemed flustered and reached for the kitten on his arm.
Sam shook his head.“I’m keeping him.Her.Whatever.”
“What?”
“I’m getting a house with a backyard.It’ll be great for pets.”
“A house?Where?”
“In Raleigh.That’s in North Carolina.I’ve looked at a few and have two more to go, and I really need you to pick it out.”
Confusion swirled in her pretty blue eyes.“W-why?”
“Because I’m hoping you’re going to live there too.”He looked to the acoustic-tiled ceiling before leveling his gaze back on her.“I’m totally screwing this up.I had this whole speech planned about why you should come with me.Only I was going to convince you to leave your job … but now that you don’t have a job … I mean, that makes it easier, right?You can find one there.I’ve already talked to a few people who say there’s a demand for physical therapists.”
“Sam, I was fired.No one’s going to hire me.”
“Sure they will.The reason they let you go doesn’t wind up in a database, does it?”
“No, but they’ll probably ask me if I’ve been fired for cause.I’ll have to answer honestly.”
“Okay.Then look at it this way.Nothing’s tying you down.”He brightened.
Her mouth swung open, and devastation flooded her eyes.He wanted to kick himself.
“Shit!I’m so bad at this.Because I’ve never tried,” he rushed to add.“But with you, Iwantto try.I want to be that guy who supports you, no matter what you choose to do.If you want to work as a PT or a barista or a lawyer, I’m your biggest fan.If you want to sit around all day eating bonbons, I’m good with that too.I justwantyou in my life.Always.”
She sniffled.“What about hockey anddistractions?”
“Iwantdistractions.And they’re not distractions.They’re what I want in my life.See, I found something more important than hockey, and that’s you.Us.A home for us and this guy.Girl.”He lifted his arm, and the kitten protested the jostling.“And I want you to get that dog you’ve always wanted.
“Angie, I need you more than I need hockey.Can you forgive twenty-year-old me and give us a chance to start fresh?New town, new house, new … everything?I’m scared shitless of these changes, but I’m more scared of losing you.If you’re with me on this ride, I know it’s gonna work out, no matter what.You keep my life sane, Ange.You make me whole.I want things I’ve never wanted before, and that includes getting us a house and having you fill it.I want to give you everything.”
Tears brimmed in her gorgeous blue eyes, and he felt a fist close around his heart.“I’ll tell Herb to make it a one-year contract, even a two-way, if you don’t want to move.A one-year contract means I’m away nine, ten months tops.And we can see each other during those months I’m gone, catch a few days together here and there.Whatever you want, I’ll make it happen.”
A tear rimmed and spilled down her cheek.She placed her hand over his heart.“That’s one heck of a soft, gooey center you’ve been hiding.”
“You must bring it out in me.”He cradled the side of her face in his free hand.“There’s no going back, and there’s nobody else for me.I’m in love with you, Angie.”
If the warmth inside Angie’s chest hadn’t reached every nook and cranny, Sam’s final words finished the job.
“You want me to move to Carolina with you?”
“Absolutely, yes.Fly back with me.I leave at nine tonight on the red-eye.”
She gaped at him.“You mean you just flew out here for the day?”
