Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 96641 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 483(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96641 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 483(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
“I’m not sure. It could be a couple of weeks.” He looked up, his gaze intense. “Are you sure you’re still okay with that?”
“With your job? Yeah. You’re good at it, Aiden. I would never ask you to be anybody other than who you are. I’ll miss you, but you text and call when you can. That’s all I ask.”
He leaned over and kissed me. I knew he worried when he was gone because of some of my cases, but how often did a friend of mine get accused of murder? It really didn’t happen too often. “I promise I’ll take lame contract cases while you’re gone,” I said.
“Ha. I doubt that. Do you want your present?”
“I do.” I loved presents. “But first, here’s yours.” I reached beneath the sofa and drew out his gift, which was in a bright pink box.
“Pretty in pink,” he murmured.
“I also have an outfit for you later,” I said.
His gaze warmed. “An outfit that you’re wearing or I’m wearing?”
I laughed, feeling safe and happy. “That I’m wearing.”
His mouth curved into a smile. “That’s what I was hoping to hear.” He opened the box and then grinned. “These are gorgeous.”
“Do you like them?” I held my breath. I’d bought him Celtic knot cufflinks. He had to wear a suit occasionally for work, and he’d need one for Tessa and Nick’s wedding. “I figured they’d bring you good luck.”
“They’re beautiful.” He kissed me again. “Thank you.”
Aiden was tough to buy for, so pleasure filled me.
A knock sounded on the door and I pulled free. “Who would bother us on Valentine’s Day night?”
“I think it’s your present.” Aiden stood. “Stay here.”
My present arrived via a knock on the door? That was interesting.
He crossed around our new sofa. I heard muffled voices, and then Aiden returned with the cutest dog I’d ever seen.
“Sit,” Aiden said. The dog instantly sat, and I swore he smiled at me.
My heart exploded. “He’s adorable.”
“Anna, meet Brickhouse. Brickhouse, meet Anna.”
“Brickhouse?” I asked.
The dog held out a paw. I shook it. He was beautiful with a dark black coat and lighter brown markings around his jaw, chest, and paws. “He’s perfect.”
“He’s a two-year-old Rottweiler created for protection work.”
Oh, I loved him. “Can I hug him?”
“Release,” Aiden said.
The dog instantly bounded toward me and licked my face. I giggled and held him close. “He’s perfect. I’m not sure about Brickhouse, though.”
“It’s his name. You could probably rename him, but he’s two years old,” Aiden said. “He’s a good search and rescue dog but is too easily distracted, so he won’t make it with a police force. However, he’s an excellent protection dog, and now he’s yours.”
Aha. So this was what Aiden had meant when he’d said things would change. The dog licked my face again, and I giggled, rolling around on the floor with him. “I love him.”
“He can go to the office with you. He’s very well-behaved,” Aiden said. “We’ll get a dog bed for a corner, and I have instructions for you. You need to keep up with his training, and I’ll help you, but I’ll sleep better knowing he’s here when I’m gone.”
“So will I,” I said.
“He’s not sleeping on the bed with us,” Aiden said.
I snorted, kissing the dog. “We’ll see about that.”
“I’ll be right back.” Aiden disappeared into the still-unused bedroom and returned with a dog bed, bowls, and some toys. “I had these hidden in there. Was hoping you’d be too busy to look. However, I would’ve rather you looked and not been shot.”
I laughed. “Aiden, he is a perfect gift.”
“Yeah,” he said. “I thought so, too.” He reached down and plucked me off the ground. “Now, I want to see that outfit you mentioned.”
I snuggled into his chest and kissed his neck. He made me feel safe and cherished every day. “You know…” The words caught in my throat, but I cleared it. “I do love you.”
He chuckled and kissed me. “I love you, too.” He leaned back, grinning. “The words just don’t seem like they’re enough, do they?”
I laughed, relieved that he understood. “No, they’re just words, and I feel almost silly saying them, but I was ready.”
“I’ve been ready for a month,” he said. “But there’s so much more that I feel than that.”
“Yeah, me, too.” I kissed his neck again.
The dog followed us, and Aiden paused. “Bed.” The dog dropped to his haunches and looked at me with his big, soft doggy eyes. Aiden growled.
“Yes, bed,” I said sadly.
The dog sighed and then moved over to sit on his bed.
“See, he’s already yours,” Aiden said, kissing me again.
“So are you,” I murmured.
“That I am, Angel. Always.”