Olivia chewed on the inside of her cheek as she looked around. Gabe’s place had called to her from the first time she stepped inside. From the tall ceilings to the molding and brick, it had amazing bones. All it needed was bit of a homemaking to really shine.

Finally, she gave a giant shrug. “You moving out for your dog, me moving in here for a bit with another dog—it’s a touch nontraditional, but I like it. And so long as we consider still doing that weekend thing we’ve been talking about, I think it could be just what I need right now.”

He wrapped both hands around her hips and pulled her close. “Thank you for telling me. For trusting me.” He kissed her, holding nothing back. Just when he was becoming seriously tempted to lift her to his counter, he stopped. After honesty like that, this wasn’t something he wanted to rush. “How about you grab that dog and I’ll fill the Kong? And I’m pretty sure I have a few candles shoved in a drawer around here somewhere.”

Olivia pressed her body even closer just long enough to get his blood boiling. “It sounds like we’ve got a plan.”

Chapter 30

The sky was partially overcast with puffy, dark-gray clouds racing across and revealing patches of brilliant blue behind them, making it a bit unclear whether it would rain as forecasted. Knowing all the supplies she and her seventh-hour students needed to haul into the shelter, Olivia was hoping it would hold off for another half hour at least, ideally longer since she’d been told at least one of her students’ service-hour activities would be outside.

She’d settled in for the bus ride in the seat behind the driver, an older woman who wasn’t very talkative. This gave her time to savor the drive from Westbury Middle to the High Grove Animal Shelter in relative quiet. The fourteen kids who’d been able to attend were scattered around the middle and rear of the bus, and some of their conversation—borderline inappropriate at times as it seemed most middle school conversations tended to be—floated up as far as where she was sitting. Thankfully, the kids were sticking with crude humor and a bit of flirting, but no bullying or anything that she needed to call them on.

Feeling her phone vibrate in her purse beside her, Olivia pulled it out to find new texts from both Ava and Gabe, who were headed to the shelter separately. Ava was on her way with Morgan, and Gabe was ducking out of his office for an hour after getting Yun to cover a few of his appointments.

Olivia sent off a text to her sister first.

Hope my baby boy wasn’t much trouble today.

Then one to Gabe.