by Sara Hubbard
“Hello?” I call out as I open the door.
A dog sits in the foyer, staring at me. He’s a mutt, maybe a cross between a wolfhound, a mastiff, or a Dane. He’s massive, at least ninety pounds and full-grown. Or at least I hope he is. All I can think of is that my plastic bag isn’t big enough to clean up after him. And now I understand his name.
“Hi, House,” I say.
The dog tips his head to the side and stares at me.
I want to make him think I’m not intimidating, so I lower myself to the floor and roll over on my back.
The dog’s head tips even farther to the side as if he’s trying to look at me upside down. I think he’s smirking too. Uh! What the hell am I doing?
“Are you waiting for him to rub your belly?”
Sawyer’s voice stills me. There's the constricting pain again, right in the middle of my chest like I’ve had the wind knocked out of me. After a deep breath, I roll over to sit on my bum. Sawyer is in the entryway to the living room. He’s barefoot in pajama pants and a ratty old t-shirt that has a picture of Garfield on it.
“Um…my boss said you wouldn’t be here.”
“Did she? I don’t think I was clear about that.” His face is stony. I hate when he looks at me like that. Why is he so hard to read?
“Did you know I work for her?”
He shrugs. “Dane mentioned it after I got House last week.”
House trots over and stands in front of me. I drag my fingers down his belly and he licks me, making me laugh. “He’s beautiful. Cute name, too.”
“I thought it suited him.”
“Yeah, it does.”
“So you wanted me to walk him?” Pause. “Why?”
“Who else would I trust to let themselves into my house?”
I pat House on the head and push myself up to stand. All I want is to reach out and wrap my arms around Sawyer’s neck. His face is still bruised, and his nose has a little bump on the ridge. But he looks healed for the most part and I’m glad for it.
“Sawyer…I can’t do this. Come to your house, walk your dog. I just…It’s too much. One of the other girls can do it.”
“Wow. That’s too much to ask? And to think, I was going to ask for more.”
My mouth opens just a little bit. “I don’t understand.”
“I pushed you away. I know that.” He takes a step forward. “And you let me.”
“You were testing me! Why would you do that? Is this a game to you? Playing with my feelings is just one big game!” Don’t cry, Molly. Don’t do it.
“No. I mean, I didn’t mean to. I’ve pushed people away before and they stay gone. I guess they decide it’s just not worth it. That’s how I know I was right to do it. But you…when I saw you at the fight. I needed you there, and you came. Just when I thought it was over…I was over you…you show up when I need you the most.”
“I can’t play push and pull with you. Either you want me, or you don’t. I told you I loved you. Didn’t that mean anything?”
“It meant everything to me. And I wanted to say it back, but I couldn’t. I’ve never said it to anyone before. I had to be sure you wouldn’t turn your back on me. We go down this path, and it’s forever. I won’t ever let you go.”
“I love you, Sawyer. When I said it, I thought you understood I wasn’t going anywhere.”
He sighs and steps forward. I take a step to meet him. I look up at him; his eyes are sad and glossy. I pull him close and kiss the bump on his nose.
“I want forever,” I whisper. “I thought I knew what love was, but I was wrong. I never really loved someone until I met you. I want forever, and I want it with you. You can push and pull and try to make me hate you, but I won’t ever stop loving you.”
He closes his eyes and tips his head so our foreheads are touching. I close my eyes and savor every second of it. It seems like forever since we touched like this, but now he’s let me in again and all the pain of the last few weeks seems to evaporate.
“Move in with me and House,” he whispers.
I smile. “You want my services for free?”
He chuckles. “I want you. Just you.”
“Yes. The answer is yes! ”
He wraps his arms around me and lifts me up, spinning around the room with his lips locked onto mine.
The End.
…the beginning.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This book would not have been possible without the unwavering support and love of my husband, Scott. I appreciate you more than you will ever know. Thank you to my children for understanding when mommy is hugely distracted. Also, thank you to my writing group, Romance Writers of Atlantic Canada, for your support and guidance. My writing has improved so much since I joined your ranks. Hugs and sloppy kisses for my friend Nancy Cassidy for shop talk and for kicks in the ass when I need them—which is often—and also for my editor, Rhiannon Morgan, because she is magical. Like purple unicorn magical. And a huge shout out to my readers: I never imagined others could enjoy reading my books as much as I enjoy writing them. You’re the best.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sara Hubbard is the author of young adult and adult books. Her debut novel BLOOD, SHE READ released fall 2012 and was a NEORWA Cleveland Rocks winner and a RCRW Duel on the Delta finalist. Her Forever Fae duo, BY FORCE and BY CHOICE, released in 2014. Sara lives in Nova Scotia, Canada with her two children (four if you count her husband and her needy labradoodle) and works as a registered nurse with the military.
Connect with Sara on social media:
Facebook
Goodreads
Pinterest
Twitter
Website
BOOKS BY SARA HUBBARD
Young Adult Urban Fantasy
Blood, She Read
New Adult Fantasy
By Force (Forever Fae: Book I)
By Choice (Forever Fae: Book II)
Adult Contemporary
Beautiful and Broken
Set Him Free (Coming December 2014)
Table of Contents
Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten
Eleven
Twelve
Thirteen
Fourteen
Fifteen
Sixteen
Seventeen
Eighteen
Nineteen
Twenty
Twenty-one
Twenty-two
Twenty-three
Acknowledgements
About the author
Books by Sara Hubbard