The light in his eyes grows, as does his smile. “Got it. All night.”
I don’t want to open my eyes in case this is a dream.
That’s my first thought waking up this morning. The second is the realization that the wall of heat I feel at my back is coming from a man. The same man whose arms are tightly banded around me, whose legs are tangled with mine, and whose lips I feel against my hair.
“Morning, Kitty Kat.”
A smile works its way across my face.It’s not a dream.I twist and roll over to face him.
“You’re here.”
He gives me a sleepy smile. “Yup.” His arms tighten, and he crushes me to his body. “I promised all night. And I’m never going to break a promise to you again.”
My alarm goes off, interrupting what’s already shaping up to be the most perfect morning ever. I stretch over Hunter to turn it off. “I have to volunteer at the shelter today.” His hand comes up and pushes my hair away from my face, and I tilt my cheek into his touch. “Will you come with me?”
His grin grows broader. “You couldn’t keep me away today if you tried. I just got you back, there’s not a chance in hell I’m letting you out of my sight for a while.”
It’s so over-the-top, I giggle. “What about work?”
Somehow, he manages to lift one brow. “I have handcuffs.”
“Oh my God.” I laugh harder now, pushing against him to try and get up. “You’re not handcuffing us together.”
He follows me out of bed, his hands coming back around my waist as he drops a kiss to my shoulder “I’m also not losing you again.”
I turn around and cup his face in my hands. “No, you’re not. Because I love you.”
Our kiss is sweet and soft, but full of everything those three words mean to us. I know we’ve got work to do for both of us to overcome the things that held us back, that trapped us in fear and doubt. But I also know with complete certainty that we can do it together.
“Now c’mon, I don’t want to be late.”
An hour later, we’re on the floor of the Dogwood Cove Animal Shelter with three curious kittens climbing all over our laps. And let me be the first one to say, a big burly police officer holding a tiny purring kitten up to his cheek is just about the cutest thing ever.
“You need a pet,” I say as Hunter puts down one kitten, only to pick up another.
“I would love a dog, but with shift work, I wouldn’t be able to care for it properly. What about you?”
I look down at the little grey cat who’s curled up asleep in my lap. She climbed up there when we first arrived and hasn’t left. “I’ve always wanted a cat or dog. We had pets growing up, but my ex was allergic to pet dander.”
“What’s stopping you now?”
I consider his question, coming up empty. “I honestly don’t know.”
Hunter’s eyes glint. “I mean, do I need to say those three words?”
I glare at him. “Don’t even think about daring me, Hunter Callaghan.” He throws his head back and laughs, and the sound of his happiness fills the room.
“Okay, I won’t. But you should think about it.” He gestures to the kitten purring in my lap. “Princess Sparkles needs a home.”
I arch a brow at him. “Excuse me? Princess what?”
“It’s a good name.”
“It’s terrible.”
Hunter gives a mock gasp. “I’m hurt, Kitty Kat. You’re insulting my name choice?”
We both dissolve into laughter for several more minutes before I realize my shift is over and it’s time to go. I lift the grey kitten up to my face and press a kiss to her perfect pink nose.
