The color of the sky in the west had Gabe wishing for a view not blocked by buildings and tall trees. From what he could see of it, the western sky was a wash of brilliant oranges and soft reds. He remembered camping with his family as a kid of about nine or ten in Grand Canyon National Park, watching the sun sink below the horizon from the South Rim. He’d been bored and fidgety and not interested in hanging around for half an hour to see the sunset. But even at that age, his hands sore from spinning in circles around the metal railing as he waited, there was a moment when the sun finally dipped below the horizon and everything got quiet—and he felt a sense of awe wash over him he’d never experienced before.

Wisps of that same feeling had been returning these last few weeks; it had just taken this sunset for him to make the connection. It rushed him when he least expected it—threatening to sweep him away the same way the river had. It was strongest in the quiet moments after making love when the intense rush of an orgasm was fading and what remained was a quiet awareness that he was one piece of something bigger than he could comprehend.

Would she believe him if he told her how certain he was that everything in his life had been leading him to right here, right now—to this career, to that store next to the shelter, to her?

The server approached, carrying their entrees on a tray, and Morgan, who’d been showing the first hint of relaxing, bolted to all fours and let out a single woof.

He wasn’t the only dog on the patio that was crowded with diners, but he was the biggest and clearly the most out of place. Thankfully, they’d been able to snag one of the tables in the corner where it was quieter. Even so, Morgan had drawn his fair share of attention with his powerful build, big ears, striking coloring, and sable eyes.

The two other dogs were a Maltese who never left its owner’s lap and a lively Boston terrier named Gus two tables away who had a—thankfully—broken squeaky toy that provided him seemingly endless amusement once he determined that Morgan was not going to come over to play.

The server approached with their food and, seeing that Olivia was attempting to get Morgan’s attention and asking him to sit at attention, paused a few feet away. Morgan eventually realized he was being beckoned by the one human he had clear and continuing interest in. He stopped huffing at the server and sank to his haunches, looking between Olivia’s closed fist indicating “sit” and the hand at her side that he sensed held a treat.