‘What about the animals? The rescues?’
‘They’ll have you and Libby, Diane and Wendy—’
‘You said you had options,’ Jack interrupts harshly. ‘What are the alternatives?’
‘My great-aunt has left me a substantial inheritance, enough to pay off my debts, which means I’m not under pressure to find a job that pays me a living wage just yet, so …’
‘You don’t have to leave?’ Jack finishes for me.
Shaking my head, I lean into him as his arm creeps around my waist.
‘Please, don’t leave,’ he whispers. ‘You’re very special to me, Tess. I’d do anything for you, absolutely anything, walk over hot coals …’
‘Wouldn’t you put them out first?’ I say, my heart beating faster. ‘You are a firefighter, after all.’ And a lifesaver, I think, remembering how he led me through the choking smoke in the kennels on the night that the Maddockses kidnapped Apache.
‘Since I found out how Nathan and Katie were treating you, and saw how sad you were when you first came to the Sanctuary, all I’ve wanted to do is rescue you, Tess,’ Jack goes on, pausing when I make a show of gazing into the distance, as though I’m searching for something. ‘What are you doing?’
‘Looking for the shining steed, the chainmail and the lance,’ I say with a small smile. ‘Jack, I don’t need rescuing.’
‘I know that. You can stand up to anyone,’ he says ruefully. ‘Let me put it in a different way. I don’t want you to leave. Talyton Animal Rescue needs you, the animals need you.’ He takes a deep breath. ‘I need you. Tess, my darling, I love you. I’ve always loved you. I’ve made mistakes, but I’ll never let you down again. I promise.’
‘Jack—’
‘Sh,’ he says. ‘Let me finish.’ He leans in and touches his nose to mine, gazing softly into my eyes. ‘I want to make you happy. Will you let me …?’
‘Yes, Jack.’ Unable to restrain my joy, I slide my hands around his neck and press my lips to his. ‘You know, I can make a special exception for you. You can rescue me any time …’
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Copyright © Cathy Woodman 2012
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This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance between these fictional characters and actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental
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First published in Great Britain in 2012 by
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ISBN 978-0-099-55163-8
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