Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 85743 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 429(@200wpm)___ 343(@250wpm)___ 286(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85743 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 429(@200wpm)___ 343(@250wpm)___ 286(@300wpm)
“So, how are things?” Autumn asks.
“Good.”
“Good. All I get is good? Come on now, I want the dirt.”
“We’ve got work to do. Not to mention, there are people lingering everywhere. That’s the last thing Landon and I need is our sex life plastered all over the papers.”
“Oooh, so there is a sex life. Tell me more,” Autumn quips, and I hear them both chuckle.
“Yes, and it’s amazing and he’s… I don’t know. He’s everything I never knew I wanted. I’m just trying to go with the flow and not worry about the what-ifs.”
“Pfft, there are no what-ifs. I’m telling you, that man’s in love with you.”
She’s not wrong. I should feel guilty for eavesdropping, but I remain where I am just outside their office door.
“He is not.”
“Keep telling yourself that,” Autumn tells her. “Tell me this. If he were to tell you that he loves you, what would you say?”
“Honestly? I’m not sure. I would be in shock. But if that day ever comes, I’d tell him I love him, too.”
“I knew it!” Autumn cheers, and if she says anything else, I miss it.
My feet carry me into their office and take me straight to Tessa. She’s standing with her hands on a box of flyers, but she drops them and turns to face me. I take her face in the palm of my hands and hold her stare. Her green eyes are filled with worry when they should only ever be filled with love.
“Let’s try it,” I say, keeping my voice low. It doesn’t matter. I know that Autumn is hanging on every word.
“Try what?” she asks softly.
“Oh, Tess.” I smile down at her. “I’m in love with you.” Her green eyes widen and grow wet with tears. She opens her mouth, then closes it.
“This is the shock,” Autumn says, helpful as ever.
“I love you,” I say again, and this time, a lone tear trickles down her cheek.
“I-I love you, too. But it’s soon. We’re crazy, right?”
“No,” Autumn and I say at the same time.
“When you know, you know,” Autumn adds. “Trust me on this. Cocky and I fell in love on a road trip with Pinky, and we were complete strangers. It happens when you least expect it. Embrace it. Enjoy it. Live it. You never know when that chance might be taken away from you. In my case, it was my Jeremy, but I got him back, and you can bet your ass I’m holding on tight.”
“What do you say, Tess? You want to hold on tight?” I ask her.
“Only with you.”
“There’s my girl.” I lean in and kiss her, swiping at her bottom lip with my tongue, begging her to open for me.
“As much as I love this, we have work to do. Come on, love birds,” Autumn says as she leaves the room. She’s acting as though we have to go, but I know she’s giving us privacy, hence the reason she shuts the door behind her.
“Did that just really happen?” Tessa asks.
“Yeah, it did.”
“I-I didn’t expect that.”
“I know, but I heard you two talking, and it felt right. It might not have been the most romantic admission of love, but I promise you, it’s with all my heart.”
“I love that it was spontaneous. It’s real. Not that practiced or planned isn’t real, but that’s not life, not really. Very rarely do things go as planned, and it’s definitely a moment I will always remember.”
“A story for the grandkids.”
“Come on, you two.” Autumn knocks on the door.
“I need to get out there.”
“Where do you need me?”
“There are three news stations waiting for you to give them an interview.”
“Do it with me?”
“Landon, I—” I hold up my hand to stop her.
“You are the woman I love, and if I’m going to tell the world we’re together, I want you by my side.”
“Like this?” She looks down at her work polo shirt and khaki shorts.
“Just like this. Come on.” With a quick and final kiss to her lips, I link her fingers with mine and lead us outside to the main entrance of the shelter, where the news reporters and camera crews are ready and waiting.
“Landon, why the interest in Safe Haven Animal Shelter?”
“Landon, any thoughts on tomorrow’s game?”
“Landon, who’s the woman?”
Question after question is fired off. I pull Tess up next to me, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. “One at a time, please.” I hold up my free hand, and the crowd quiets down. “First of all, I want to thank you all for being here. For giving the Safe Haven Animal Shelter some screen time. I can answer two questions at once. “Why Safe Haven and who this beautiful woman is. This is Tessa Deaton, the love of my life.” Girlfriend makes it sound like we’re in high school. It’s freeing now that I’ve told her I love her. I can shout it to the world. “She assists Autumn Baldwin, and before you ask, yes, Jeremy Baldwin’s wife.”