She blinked. Tried to think. “I thought . . . I thought we agreed that we’d be casual since you were going back to Alaska.”

“Am I in Alaska, baby?” He got up from the chair and moved toward her. Stalked, really, like she was his prey and he was a predator on the hunt. It was . . . really damned sexy.

She shivered. “No.”

“I don’t like casual,” he said, approaching her. “In fact, I hate casual. I hate the thought of anyone thinking you don’t belong to me. I hate the thought of someone else touching you. I hate the thought of you and me not being a thing. Of it not being important. Because it’s sure as hell important to me.” Hank gestured at the puppy. “That’s why I wanted to do something big for you, show you how much I cared. Because I can’t do this casual shit, I really can’t. I’m not a casual man.”

Joy swelled inside her, and Becca clutched at her chest, as if a touch could contain the pounding of her heart. “I don’t want to be casual, either. I’ve never wanted that.”

Hank gave her an exasperated look. “Then why the hell did you say it?”

“Because I thought that was what you wanted! I know I can get clingy. I worry I latch on entirely too fast for a normal relationship. I wasn’t sure if you wanted that.”

“I’m fine with fast.” His words were low, sweet music to her ears. “Real fine with it.”

“I am, too,” she told him, and then added, “I’m on the pill.”

His brows went up. “We moving that fast, then?”

“Why not? I want you, and you want me . . .” she said boldly, and then her bravado failed her. “Don’t you?”

Hank’s look grew utterly intense. “You know I do.”

She wanted to ask him about Alaska. Wanted to ask him what happened to her—to them—when he moved back. But that was months away, wasn’t it? And he’d pointed out that he was here right now. This wasn’t a marriage proposal. This was being exclusive with someone and seeing how things shook out.

Alaska was far off in the distance.

Hopefully.

So she bit her lip and gave him a smile. He moved toward her, closing the distance between them, and she sidestepped, scooping up the puppy. “Lock the door to the salon, please,” Becca whispered. “I’ll take this little girl next door and get her settled so you and I can be alone.”

His mouth curved in a hint of a smile, and he gave her a look that devoured her. “Hurry, then.”