All right, maybe he could buy Bernie and Rusty as stowaways, but Santos? No way could the delivery guy have missed a hulking Saint Bernard in his van.
Alex plunked the parcel on the table and strode back to the open door. A curly-haired blonde in white jeans and a yellow T-shirt knotted under her breasts breezed past him. Her silver belly-button ring glinted.
Alex blinked. Backed up. Lifted his head. And blinked for a second time at the beautiful sight of Nikki’s sparkling blue eyes.
With her animals rolling out the red carpet ahead of her, her appearance made sense... and yet it didn’t.
Why would she come here? And what for?
Maybe she travels light, Hart. Maybe everything she owns is in that parcel, and she’s moving in.
Wishful thinking.
She smiled. “Hi, Alex.” She wriggled her fingers at the Trio. “Good fellas.”
He collected his thoughts, organized his tongue. “I meant to call you.” You’re a lame-ass, Hart.
“I saved you the trouble.” She sailed to the dinette table. “You received my package.”
He closed the door. “It just arrived.”
“I know. I followed the delivery van over here.”
Don’t try to figure her out, Hart. Go with the Nikki-flow.
“You did?”
“Yep. I parked out front.” She plopped her purse onto the crowded table. “I wanted to surprise you.”
The fog slowly lifted from his brain. He tucked his hands into his pants pockets. “Well... you’ve succeeded.”
She beamed. “Good. Alex, I’ve missed you so much! This last month has been awful.”
“It has?” Geez, could you sound any stupider?
“I loved you five weeks ago, and I love you now. Nothing’s changed for me, professor.”
“You’re not confused?”
“I never was.”
“Then why did you wait—”
“Because you were.”
“I was confused?”
“Maybe.” Her lips twitched with another smile. “Or maybe you needed time instead of me. That’s why I didn’t come see you before today. I can’t take all the credit for waiting. It was Violet’s idea.”
“Figures.” Alex chuckled. Then just stood there drinking in the sunshiny vision that was Nikki.
Was she really here? With him? Saying she still loved him?
She had a point about him needing time. He hadn’t understood that while they were at the cabin. Thinking back, though, what she said made a Nikki sort of sense.
In the span of six days, she’d spun his life into so many new and refreshing directions that maybe he’d needed to catch his breath.
Ruts were damn difficult to escape. But he had one foot on solid ground. With Nikki’s help, he’d soar out the rest of the way.
He stepped toward her. “You love me, and there’s no confusion?”
She shook her head. “Nope.”
“Fancy that, Miss St. James, because nothing’s changed for me, either. Nothing to do with how I feel about you, anyway.”
“And what way would that be?” Her head tilted.
“The way I felt about you at the cabin—and still do. I love you, Nik. Every kooky, zany, delicious inch of you.”
“Then stop moving at a snail’s pace, Hart. Scoot your buns on over here and kiss me.”
He obliged. Gathered her into his arms and pressed his mouth to hers. Inhaled her springtime scent, the hope and joy she breathed into him.
When Santos barked, they came up for air.
“Mmm.” Cupping Nikki’s face, Alex kissed the tip of her nose. They had a lot to discuss. But first... “What did you bring me?” At this rate, it wouldn’t surprise him if Lucy slithered out of the parcel.
She glanced at the package. “Two pairs of pants, as promised, to replace the pair I ruined. And my grandfather’s farming journals. They were my excuse to come over here. In case things didn’t work out between us, I planned to leave the journals and take off.”
Aw, hell. He’d caused her as much pain as he’d experienced these last five weeks.
He placed his hands on her shoulders. “You didn’t need to replace my pants, Nik.”
“I wanted to. I forgot to buy the new shirts, though.” Her forehead puckered.
“Don’t worry about the shirts. Tell me about the journals.”
“They’re getting destroyed at the cabin. It’s too drafty, and the lake air isn’t good for them. I’d like to donate them. Do you have any ideas who could use them?”
“Definitely.” One of the colleges that had interviewed him boasted substantial archives. “Are you sure you want to part with them?”
She nodded. “I adored my grandfather, but I carry his memory with me.” She patted her chest, above her heart. “Right here. Same place I carry you.” Her soft smile filled him with a warm glow. “When I watched you reading the journals, I realized Gramps would have loved the thought of donating them. But you have the connections. I don’t.”
He slid a hand down her arm, fingers gliding along her smooth skin. “Um, yeah. Nikki, I have to tell you something.”
Her gaze remained glued to his. “What? Don’t worry, whatever it is, I can take it. I won’t crumple into a ball and die.”
He believed her. “I’m leaving Seattle,” he said, rubbing her arms. “You were right when you said I’m not happy at PU. I submitted my paper, and I’ll teach the second summer session because I made the commitment. But after that I’m moving closer to Idaho and taking a posting at a small college. At least, that was the plan, until you showed up. Now I don’t know if I want to follow through with it.”
Her gaze brightened. “Alex, you have to follow through! How close to Idaho are you moving?”
“Probably Pullman, if everything works out.”
She wiggled. “Perfect! When do you leave?”
Now she wanted him to leave her? He’d never figure her out, but he’d love to spend his life trying.
“Summer session ends the beginning of August, so sometime after that.”
She laughed. Bright, tinkling bubbles that started both dogs barking—and Rusty meowing.
“I’m moving in August, too!”
Come again? “You’re moving?”
“Yes! You said I needed to think about what I want to do with my life, and so I did. I stayed at the cabin a few days, set Lucy free, and just thought. Well, and fished with Willie. The answer came to me nearly right away, but I wanted to ‘make sure,’ like you said, so I kept fishing, drank tons of tea with Violet, returned to work at the vet clinic, and then thought some more.”
Alex smiled. “Where did all this thinking lead?” He slid his hands up and down her arms again.
“Vet school. I’m really going, Alex! I’m checking out a number of schools, but I’m hoping for Washington State in Pullman. The admission deadline for this September has passed, but applications for next fall will be online in a few months. I’m visiting the campus next week and finding an apartment.” She bounced in his arms. “My boss introduced me to a friend of his there. Not for the apartment, for a job. I’ll work at her clinic until I start WSU next year. Isn’t that exciting?”
He nodded... through another daze. She’d knocked him for a loop. Again. And he never wanted her to stop.
Without Nikki, his life crumbled like dry bread. But with her, through her, he’d learned how to feed his soul again.
She fed his soul.
She was a precious gift, and he didn’t want to lose her.
“What did your parents say?” he asked.
“Oh Alex! You won’t believe this. I hardly believe it myself. I went to see them the same night I saw Royce. I wanted to return his ring first... and give him some stale brownies Violet baked.” She giggled. “Then I went to Mother and Father and told them—note, I didn’t ask their permission, I told them—this is what I’m doing. Ditching that cheating slime Royce and becoming a vet. If you love me, you’ll stand by me.”
“No kidding.” She’d asserted herself with her family and lived to tell the tale. Without pulling stunts, without pretending she majored in Art History, without wrapping the senior St. Jameses in duct tape and kidnapping them, she’d done it. “And?”
“They approved! It took a lot of talking—poor Karin waited in the van for an hour before we could go out and celebrate—but all this business with Royce has changed things for my parents and me. Once Father realized how dishonest Royce is, he said, and I quote, ‘The pimple will never get my vote for partner.’” Her nose scrunched. “I don’t think Royce counted on that. He thought he had Father in his back pocket. And he did, but not now that Mother and Father understand how much he hurt me.” She laughed. “Who knows? Maybe connecting with Gillian isn’t far behind.”
“Nik, that’s wonderful.”
“All four of us have made mistakes. Not only my parents and Gillian. Me, too. But my parents are willing to work at being a real family, and so am I. In fact, Mother felt so bad about pushing Royce on me that she urged Father to pay for my schooling. To make up for not supporting my choices years ago, she said. I want to do this on my own, though, so I told Father I’ll apply for a student loan. And no hard feelings.” Her finger skipped down Alex’s shirt buttons. “That’s where you come in.”
“Hey, I’m far from rich, but I’ll help however I can.”
She grinned. “I don’t need a loan from you, Alex. I need a roommate. The salary at my new job is as pathetic as the one I’m leaving. Rent in Pullman isn’t as outrageous as Seattle, but I can’t afford a place alone, and my roommates have no plans to leave.”
He gazed at her. Living together was a huge step. He was ready, but was she?
“Is money the only reason you need a roommate?”
“Never.” She kissed him. “I want a roommate I love, Alex. Preferably someone who loves me, too. And who’ll put up with my animals.” A beat passed. “Do you know anyone?”
Wrapping her in a hug, he kissed her. “I sure do, Nik. But I’d rather be your husband.” The words tumbled out before he could stop them.
Her eyes twinkled. “Patience, Dr. Hart. We haven’t known each other very long.”
“I don’t give a rip. I love you, Nikki, and I want to marry you. I don’t care if it happens tomorrow or next year. I can’t think of anything that would make me happier.”
“Then the answer’s yes. Yes, yes!” She kissed him. An instant later, she pulled away. “Um, I mean...” She cleared her throat. “We can discuss marriage another time, after we’ve lived together awhile.”
He smiled. “Gun-shy?”
“Just trying to make mature, rational decisions.”
After her experience with Royce, he couldn’t blame her. “Rationalize this.” Tugging her back into his arms, he planted a hot, wet, juicy one on her. As she moaned, he thrust in his tongue. The kiss grew deep and passionate, and his groin stiffened.
“Oooh,” she murmured against his lips. “Now that’s the kind of thing I can rationalize over and over.” A pink flush washed her face. “I believe I’m in the mood to make a little history with you, professor.” She glanced at the Trio. “As much as I love the fellas, being alone with you sounds incredible.”
“Ask and you shall receive,” Alex replied, having grown fond of folk sayings.
“Then let’s make love while the sun shines. Heck, while the moon’s shining, too.” She clasped his hand. “Quick, future fiancé, where’s the bedroom?”
Epilogue
Ever After
Lake Eden
May, Eleven Months Later
NIKKI YAWNED AND stretched in the queen-sized bed that, three weeks ago, had replaced the two ancient double beds at her cozy lake cabin. Correction: her cabin and Alex’s. She no longer thought of the romantic get-away as belonging to her grandparents. They’d passed it down to her, however, over the last year, she and Alex had made the place their own.
Speaking of Alex... She glanced at his empty spot in the bed beside her. As promised following their midnight arrival at Lake Eden after enjoying dinner with Karin and her new boyfriend in Seattle, he’d allowed her to sleep in. Lately, work had been kicking her butt. It seemed everyone in Pullman had decided to spay or neuter their cats all at once. Alex was busy, too, teaching Western Civilization and Pacific Northwest History at a small college a short walk from their rented townhouse with the tiny fenced yard for Bernie and Santos. And Rusty. And their new bunny, Betsy—the only female in their household other than her.
Alex was busy, but not overworked. Axing his obsession about achieving tenure had renewed his enthusiasm for teaching. During his summer break, he planned to continue improvements to the cabin, including repairing the dock and building an eco-friendly, composting outhouse. Then, in the fall, she’d begin vet school at Washington State U.
Nikki wriggled beneath the covers. Who knew that listening to her heart would lead her in the right direction? Toward a career she loved, with the man she loved—Alex Hart, man of her heart, forever and ever.
She couldn’t imagine life without him.
Fighting another yawn—they’d made love into the wee hours of morning—she crawled out of bed in her lacy negligee and padded to the bathroom to brush her teeth. The scent of freshly brewed coffee permeated the air, but no animals greeted her. While Alex adored their menagerie as much as she did, a friend at the vet clinic had taken Betsy and the Trio for this special weekend.
One year ago today, Nikki had hogtied her handsome professor and spirited him away from his stuffy life. Aside from the miserable weeks they’d suffered apart while each had “made sure” they loved the other, they’d enjoyed at least a portion of every day together.
Humming as she left the bathroom, she walked across the plank floor she and Alex had painted a cheerful apple green this winter. In the kitchen, she fetched a mug. A note beside the coffeemaker declared, Happy anniversary, my love.
Her smile broadened. Twelve months ago, Alex had considered her a nutcase. His sole goal had been to run as fast and far away from her as possible. Now, he still liked to run, but only in the mornings, for exercise before work.
He was probably on his run right now.
She filled her mug. She loved having her coffee at the picnic table in front of the cabin, usually with the dogs nearby while Alex ran. Santos was too old for jogging and Bernie couldn’t keep up. She wasn’t keen on flashing other lake residents during these brisk May mornings—actually, not at any time—so she retrieved her love’s cotton housecoat and tied it over her sexy nightwear. She stuffed bare feet into her grandmother’s comfy old slippers and stepped outside with her mug.
As she rounded the path to the picnic table, her gaze drifted along the grassy slope to the lake, glittering in the morning light. At the pebble-strewn shore, a few feet from the dock, a man facing away from her rocked on his heels, hands stuffed in the pants pockets of a superb charcoal suit.
She blinked. Uh-oh. She recognized that suit. A few months ago, she’d helped Mr. Fashion Plate pick it out.
“Alex?” Her voice squeaked, little more than a whisper.
He didn’t turn.
Heart racing, she repeated louder, “Alex?”
This time, he turned. A wide smile split his handsome face as he removed his distance glasses and tucked them inside his jacket. When his hand emerged, he held a tiny box.
Nikki’s hands flew to her mouth. The mug clattered onto the wood-chip path. By some miracle, the hot coffee didn’t soak her slippers.
“Alex Hart, you have a weird sense of timing,” she called. He looked like a movie star, and she hadn’t yet showered or done her hair or—
Thank Cupid she’d brushed her teeth!
He laughed. “Did you get my note?”
Their anniversary! The brilliant man.
She raced across the dewy grass in her cushioned slippers, dodging sharp stones and twigs. Careening to a halt in front of him, she grabbed the box. “Is this what I think i
t is?”
He nodded. “We’ve waited long enough.”
She popped open the pink velvet ring box. Somewhere in the cobwebby recesses of her mind, a snotty voice lectured that she should not, under any circumstances, grab and pop open a ring box. If she practiced a teensy bit of patience, in another moment Alex would drop onto a knee and profess his love.
Screw that.
Breath catching, she gazed at the beautiful peridot-and-diamond ring in an old-fashioned setting—her grandmother’s engagement ring. Although Nikki and Gram, both August babies, had shared the light green birthstone, during the annual high-society St. James New Year’s bash, Nikki had learned that her mother had inherited the ring. Then—huge shocker—her mom had stored the ring in the safe in her parents’ panic room. Like a treasured valuable.
Alex’s hands covered hers around the box. “Your mom gave me the ring in secret in February,” he murmured.
“And you kept it all this time?” Alex and her mother got along famously. Apparently, he appreciated Charlene St. James’s wit.
Before he’d entered her life, Nikki hadn’t realized her mother possessed a sense of humor, let alone wit.
Then, at Easter, Gillian had yanked the steel rod from her spine long enough to offer Nikki a long, tight sister-hug. They weren’t best buds, but they were working on their relationship. Their parents, as well, were focusing on their marriage, including private counseling sessions and date nights twice a month.
Nikki and Alex had spent Christmas with his family in Idaho. She adored his parents and sisters. But she’d been going crazy wondering if he’d ever propose again.
“Alex, are you sure?” She looked up from the ring. His hazel eyes shone with love, and her heart pumped like a rapidly inflating balloon. “Come September, I’ll be hitting the books hard. My cooking skills will deteriorate. You’ll have to walk Santos and Bernie alone sometimes after your run.”
He shrugged. “I walk them half the time, anyway, when we can’t go together.”
True. Santos followed him everywhere, and Bernie’s hyperactivity had decreased to a five out of ten on the Chihuahua scale. Rusty loved kneading Alex’s chest at three a.m., which, in Siamese terms, spoke volumes. And Betsy’s bunny nose twitched when Alex stroked her soft fur.
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