“No, I told you.I came to get you.That’s the whole reason for my trip.”
“But you must have so much to do back there!”
He glanced around the room as if contemplating.“I do, but bringing you back with me is the most important thing on my plate right now.”His fingertips stroked the side of her face, his touch featherlight.“What do you say, Ange?”
Angie was a planner.She laid out her life in six- and twelve-month chunks.Leaving with Sam right now would be the most irresponsible, reckless thing she’d ever done.Impetuousness wasnother.
And this was Sam.
The man who’d already walked away once.
She shook her head, even as her chest tightened.“You don’t get to blow back into my life and ask me to leave everything behind.”
Panic sparked in his eyes, and he pulled in an extended breath.When he spoke, his voice was barely above a whisper.“I know I don’t deserve a yes from you after what I did.But I’m not that guy anymore—and I’m not asking you to blindly trust in just what I’m saying here.I’m asking you to come with me and see what I want to build … with you.”
No job.No plan.No guarantees.Just him.
She was officially lost in a mental asteroid field, and she stared at him while she fought to find her bearings.
His eyes locked on hers, hope and apprehension warring in their navy depths.
Tears strangled her voice.“Sam, you had me at the bear spray.”
Those navy blues lit up.“So you’ll go with me?Tonight?”
She nodded, her tears flowing freely.“Yes, I’ll go with you.Someone has to make sure you pick a place with the right setup for pets.”
He laughed as he pulled her against him.“So I had you at bear spray, huh?Is that because I gave you a way to get rid of me?”
She curled into his solid warmth.“No, but that’s not a bad idea.Think I’ll sleep with it under my pillow.”
He parked his chin on her crown.“Not when I’m in bed with you.And FYI, I plan on being in bed with you every night.”
“Except when you’re on the road.”
“Who knows?Maybe even then sometimes.And if I am away, I’ll feel better knowing you’re keeping it handy.”He held her at arm’s length.“You’re mine to protect now, Angelina Rossi.”
“I love you, Sam Durbin.”Her heart was wide open again, the shields melted away.There would be no turning back for her either.
After securing the rest of the kittens, they emerged from the cat house.Nearly the entire shelter crew greeted them with hoots and claps.
Dora clasped her hands together.“I have a feeling we’ll be losing our best volunteer, but I couldn’t be happier.”She leaned in and gave Angie a fierce hug.“You deserve this.”
“I promise to keep up my work wherever we end up.”
“And they’ll be lucky to have you.”
Sam’s brows hit his hairline.“That reminds me.We still have an event to do for the shelter.”
Dora patted his arm reassuringly.“The Blizzard’s PR person—Serena—has been in touch, and everything’s arranged.We hope you can both make it, but if you can’t, I think we’ll get along just fine without you.I guess a lot of the players are animal lovers, and we have more volunteers than we need.Should be a very successful event, thanks to you.”
Sam gave Angie a look overflowing with love and pride.“Thank Angie.She’s the one who’s devoted herself to the cause all these years.I just tagged along at the end.”
Back at Angie’s house, she packed her bag while Sam sprawled on the bed, watching her.“You don’t have to pack much.I can always take you shopping.”
She glanced at his grinning face.“Is your new contract so huge you’re the big spender now?”
“I don’t know yet, but it should be a bump.”
