“Isn’t it obvious?” he asked. “Ever since that first day in the restaurant when you chewed me out for talking too much… That’s how long I’ve loved you. When that creep was pummeling me with his fists but I knew you were safe, it was okay because I loved you. Right now, I love you. And I want to keep loving you forever, as long as you’ll let me. If you’ll let me.”

“There’s no ifs here. I love you right on back, Nolan,” she told him shyly.

Nolan smiled so big at this news that the contraction of his facial muscles caused him a fresh flash of pain. “Worth it,” he said, smiling again just to prove his point.

She chuckled and shook her head. After all this time, after so much worrying, sharing the nature of her feelings with Nolan had been as easy as taking down a breakfast order. It was comforting, familiar, delicious, and exactly what she needed to start the rest of her day—her life—off right.

“You know,” she said thoughtfully as Nolan watched her with a smaller, albeit just as goofy grin. “I’d kiss you now if I wasn’t worried about causing you more pain.”

He leaned in closer to her on the bench seat and whispered, “But it will hurt even more if you don’t kiss me. Right here, and as we both know, that’s the very worst place to hurt.”

He took her hand and placed it gently over his chest. His heart beat wildly, and it was all for her. It had always been for her.

Without thinking twice, she leaned forward and pressed a very light kiss against his swollen lips. It wasn’t the kind of kiss you got in fairytales, but it was real and perfect and just for them.

Chapter 39

Harmony

Three weeks later

Harmony could hardly believe how quickly her life changed after that fateful day in O’Brien’s. Since then, Alan had been arraigned on charges of criminal stalking, domestic abuse, and aggravated assault. The kindly officer from the restaurant had informed her that he’d been unable to make bail and was awaiting his trial date behind bars.

With the immediate threat gone, Nolan and Pancake moved back home, leaving Virginia and Harmony to spend more time developing their close friendship as well. It had been Ginny’s idea to start a ladies craft circle through the church, and Harmony had eagerly agreed to co-lead the group even though she was still very much a newbie herself.

She and Nolan saw each other every day at work and a few nights each week for dates or joint ventures to the dog park. Tonight’s visit was bittersweet, because it would be their last time bringing Muffin. With his work done, it was time for the special little Chihuahua to return home to his brothers, sister, and mother.

Although Harmony would miss her Muffin dearly, she’d already submitted an application to the local rescue expressing her interest in a wiry little terrier mix that had lived more of its life at the shelter than in anybody’s home. She instantly connected with the trembling gray mess of fur that reminded her of a mini Pancake.