by Cranford, B.
She huffed out an amused breath. “I don’t know, what?”
“Comet.” He raised both eyebrows and waited for her laugh.
She didn’t let him down. It was loud, like he’d known it would be. From the moment the little girl—who’d brought in a pregnant hamster that she claimed was a boy—had told him the joke, he’d known that it would be one that his Rosie would love. He’d filed it away in his mind and was glad that he had.
Because now, all trace of sadness was gone. In fact, she was still laughing when they finally said goodbye, promising to talk again soon.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Two Months Later
Rose stared at the paperwork on the desk in front of her. Forms and letters and printed-out emails relating to her visa application.
Re-application, actually.
Way more than she really needed, given that it had been approved and the instructions for what was required upon entry made clear. She hadn’t wanted to chance it, though, so she’d collected every single sheet of paper that she thought might be important.
Better to be safe than sorry.
“Can you please tell me the purpose of your trip to America?” The no-nonsense looking man behind the desk was considering her over his glasses, having surveyed her paperwork and her passport.
“Work.” She offered a small smile, refraining from telling him that Liam was the purpose of her trip. She didn’t want to be hauled away by Homeland Security. “I have an E-3 visa,” she added, even though he’d clearly be able to see that in the multitude of documents he was holding.
A fleeting thought that maybe all the additional paperwork made her look like she was trying to pull the wool over their eyes was discarded when he nodded and waved her on after he was satisfied that she’d met all the requirements . . . and then some.
She continued to make her way through customs, checking her watch to be sure she had plenty of time to make her way across LAX to the domestic terminal and on to the remaining flight, which would take her all the way back to where she wanted to be.
With Liam. And Wilbur.
She hadn’t exactly liked lying to him over the past couple of months about going on job interviews. However, she’d been determined to make this a surprise.
Hopefully, a welcome one.
No, not hopefully. She knew, she knew, it would be welcome, because he never failed to tell her he loved her and that he missed her and that he couldn’t wait for her to be in his arms again. The man had a knack for saying the right thing. All the swoony, romance hero-ish things, which only made her more certain of her choice.
Going back to America.
I never should have left, she thought fleetingly, knowing that it wasn’t as simple as that. Ultimately, Rose had needed to see her home again, to visit her favorite people and places and finally close the door on the past. She needed to fill herself up enough to last another couple of years away. Because, if she was going to be gone for two more years—at least—then she’d needed to be sure that her choice was the right one. She’d needed the chance to explain it to her parents—her mum, in particular, who had completely understood.
Rose still wasn’t quite sure why she’d ever doubted that she would.
All the while, she’d loved knowing Liam was waiting for her. Over the course of their time apart, she’d seen and done all she needed to do to ease her heart’s need for a connection to her home. And interspersed with that were the daily—sometimes bi-daily—conversations with the man she loved more than anything (except maybe Wilbur) where they talked about their future.
Not in specifics, of course. She’d played her cards close to her chest, telling him when she’d booked her flight that the trip was just a quick one, rather than what it truly was.
The one that would reunite them. Not just for a little while.
Forever.
* * *
There was a crowd of people at the baggage claim carousel that Rose had texted to say was the one where she’d meet him, and Liam had no doubt that not a single one of them was as excited as he and Wilbur were.
“Do you see her yet, bud?” he asked the squirmy puppy in his arms, who was looking all around, just exactly like someone looking for their person might. “She has to be here soon, right?”
Wilbur yipped—his version of a yes—and Liam laughed at the way the dog’s floppy ears wiggled around as he tried to climb Liam’s shoulder in case Rose was planning to sneak up on them.
But then the yip became a bark and the wiggling became more and more intense, until Liam was sure that he’d lose hold of the animal. Turning, because that reaction could only mean one thing, Liam’s heart stopped when he saw the same dark-haired woman who’d captivated him from the first time he’d caught a glimpse of her.
“Rosie,” he breathed, unable to speak loudly for the rushing of blood to his ears—and other places—and the emotion jamming his throat.
She’d gotten more beautiful, which he would’ve sworn was impossible when she’d left. Her eyes were lit up, as if her happiness to see him and Wilbur shone right out of her and her cute, upturned nose was just begging for him to press a small kiss there.
But first, he’d kiss that perfect mouth and tell her how much he loved her and how much he’d missed her and how he didn’t care what it took, he’d sell his business—something he’d tried to talk to her about more than once only to be shut down—and move to the middle of the bloody Nullarbor if that’s what it took to ensure they didn’t have to be apart anymore.
Listen to you, sounding like an Australian already.
He laughed, a mixture of amusement at his own wayward thoughts and in happiness and relief as he swept his Rosie into his arms and held her and Wilbur tightly to his chest, like he didn’t want to ever let go.
Because he didn’t want to ever let go.
“Oh, my God. I thought I’d never get here.” Her lower lip trembled as she pulled back from the hug, only to lean in and press their lips together. He fell into the kiss immediately, savoring the way her soft mouth ceded to his own as he took over, coaxing her into opening to him and sweeping his tongue inside to taste her.
Fuck. He’d missed it, the way their lips danced. It was so right and so familiar and in that moment, he couldn’t believe that he’d gone so long without it.
Slowing the kiss only so he could talk to her, tell her all the things he wanted to say, he broke the connection only to drop a quick peck to her nose, earning him a giggle.
Wilbur, who had all the while been licking at Rose, was still locked securely in his arms between them, wagging his tail so fast that Liam could feel it drumming against his stomach. “Can’t believe you’re finally here.”
“Hello, little man. Hello, baby.” She smiled at Liam, before leaning in to put her cheek next to Wilbur’s, both of them seeming to sigh at the contact. “I missed you, Wilby-man. Did you miss me too?”
Wilbur yipped his answer, Liam adding, “We both did, so much, Babe.”
She turned back toward him, leaning into him, bringing one hand to rest on Wilbur’s side, as if she couldn’t bear to not touch him. “I have something to tell you.”
Concern skittered through him briefly, but the way she smiled, the way her enjoyment and excitement glowed around her told him he had nothing to worry about. Told him that whatever she had to tell him was something he wanted to hear.
Stepping back—he let her do so reluctantly, only because he was suddenly desperate to know what she was about to share—she held out her passport and a folded piece of paper. “There’s something I didn’t tell you.”
He passed a still-wiggling Wilbur over to her, taking what she was offering. Unfolding the paper, he saw all he needed to see in the first glance. Still, he flipped open the passport to view the visa stuck and stamped within, tears threatening to form and fall.
“Rosie?” he asked, needing to hear her say it. Needing to hear her confirm that she wasn’t just there to visit. She was there to stay. At
least for long enough for them to decide what came next.
Together.
“I filed it the same day I arrived back home.” In her gaze, he saw a mirror of his own reaction to the news she was sharing with him. Tears filled those whiskey-bright eyes, making them even more beautiful as they showed him how much she loved him. “I knew the minute I left you that I wanted to come back. Not to America, but to you. It’s you, you’re my home. And I was homesick all over again.”
His hands shaking, he reached out to grab her by the hips, pulling her closer. She looked up at him, continuing, “You could live in Timbuktu and I’d go there with you. I just needed”—she took a deep breath—“I just needed to be there for a little while, to see everyone and everything. And then I got this notion to surprise you. But maybe that was a bad idea? Maybe you wish I’d told you right from the start?”
Lifting his thumb to free the lower lip she’d caught in her teeth, he shook his head. “This is perfect. You are perfect. I love you so much.”
“Not hardly. You’re talking to the ‘grown-ass’ adult who was so homesick she had to leave.” Her smile was self-deprecating and he laughed with her, questions piling up in his mind. “And I love you, too.”
Suddenly, only one of them needed to be answered right away. The one that was driving the need that warred with the endless happiness that he felt. The rest? They could wait until later.
After.
Leaning down to press his forehead to hers, he made sure he had her complete attention—which meant waiting for her to get a couple more licks from Wilby, before the puppy settled into her arms, right where he belonged. Then, he asked the one question that needed an answer.
“Can I take you home now?”
Epilogue
Two Years Later
Liam looked around his office, noting the small changes that had crept in as it transitioned from his office to Noel’s.
Gone were his framed qualifications on the wall and the photos that Rose had brought in to prop on the bookshelves and the corner of his desk. The pen cup no longer held his favorite type of pen, but those of the man who was taking over the day-to-day running of Pupp’s.
It was bittersweet, knowing that although he’d remain a silent partner, he’d no longer be practicing in the clinic that he’d started his career in—long before he’d even had a career.
“You okay?” Noel walked in, sliding his glasses off and using the bottom of his grey T-shirt to wipe them off. It was a gesture that Liam knew meant that Noel was a little uncomfortable—he was doing the right thing by asking, but Liam didn’t think Noel would know what to do or say if his answer was “No.”
So, he simply smiled and nodded, holding out a hand to Noel for a shake. “I’d better get out of here. Thanks for . . .” He trailed off. What did you say to the man who was essentially taking your place in your life as you moved onto the next stage?
“Hey, man. No problem.” Noel slid his glasses back on and accepted Liam’s handshake. He looked like he wanted to say more, though he ultimately didn’t, stepping back and staying silent.
At least until Sasha walked in and leveled him with a glare. “You’re late.”
He rolled his eyes at her. “No, I’m not. And even if I was, since I’m the boss, that’s my prerogative.”
Liam hid his smile by turning away, ostensibly checking one more time for anything that he might have forgotten, but really just wanting to be able to enjoy the show without Sasha laying into him for encouraging Noel.
Seemed like she had a bee in her bonnet about him, and Liam was almost sorry that he wasn’t going to be around to watch what happened.
Except, he had a better offer. A new start with the love of his life, their dog and a small vet clinic about thirty or so minutes from where Rose had grown up outside of Melbourne, Australia.
“Being the boss doesn’t mean you can just swan in whenever you feel like it, Noel.” Sasha spat his name out like it was a curse word. “People make appointments for a reason. So, you know, they don’t have to wait forever for their pets to get five minutes of face time with you.”
Liam’s shoulders shook, so he took another moment to rein in his amusement before turning and cocking an eyebrow at the two of them. “You know that this”—he pointed back and forth between the two of them—“is never going to work if you don’t find a way to get along, right? I might as well have sold the business to a complete stranger than let you two buy in as partners if this is how it’s going to be.”
It had been a careful decision, and one made with Rose’s help and expertise when it came to finances. With the money he received from Noel and Sasha both investing in Pupp’s—thereby taking over the business, with him as simply another name on the accounts, for all intents and purposes—Liam was able to plan for their big move.
Not waiting for either of them to respond, not that he thought they would, what with the way their gazes were locked in a stubborn game of chicken, he added, “We’ll be out of business in less than two weeks.”
Finally caving, Noel turned to him, a tight smile on his face. “At least you’ll be away from the fallout.”
“For the most part,” Liam muttered, watching as Sasha opened her mouth to say something else, only to close it and storm out of the room.
“No goodbye for you, man. Sorry about that.” Noel rubbed the back of his neck in a sheepish gesture.
“I’ll see her on the way out, it’s all good.”
“Right. Yeah.” Noel cleared his throat, lifting his hand to his glasses a second time before seeming to realize what he was doing and dropping it back to his side. “Good luck. I–ah–hope it works out.”
Nodding, Liam grabbed the small box of things he’d set on the desk—the final load of things that he’d take to Kassi’s place to either be stored or sold when the time came—and walked from the office, heading to the front desk where he could hear Tanzi and Sasha talking.
Well, Sasha complaining about Noel and Tanzi listening, far more tolerantly than Liam would’ve been able to. He didn’t know what the deal was with Sasha and Noel, and he didn’t honestly care. At least, he didn’t care beyond wanting his business to stay afloat—not just because he was still a financial investor, but because it was special to him.
Just not as special as Rose and Wilbur were.
Smiling at the thought of them waiting for him back at Kassi’s place, he stepped up to the two women and waited for them to notice him.
Sasha was at the tail end of a complaint about Noel—“. . . he just doesn’t care about anyone but himself.”
Tanzi tsked. “That’s not true. He’s wonderful with the patients and their owners, and you know it.” She turned to Liam and winked, clearly sensing what he did, too.
Sasha and Noel had a come-to-Jesus scheduled.
And it was going to be intense.
“Whatever,” Sasha grumbled, obviously too worked up to cede the point that Noel was, in fact, amazing with the animals their clients brought in for care.
“Okay, so I’m out of here,” he interrupted when Sasha looked like she was gearing up to say something else. “Anyone want to give me a hug? Sash?”
She turned right into him, wrapping her arms around his waist almost before he got the chance to open his to her. “I’m going to miss you,” he murmured quietly to her.
“Same.” She looked up at him, her smile wide in a way he felt like he hadn’t seen in . . . Shit, in years. Since before things fell apart with her dickhead ex-husband, Tucker. “But I’m so happy for you and Rose. And I can’t wait for the wedding to come visit!”
His arms tightened around his sister involuntarily. It was the mention of his and Rose’s upcoming wedding—it created a perfect storm of excitement, happiness and nerves swirling around inside him.
He couldn’t wait to make her his finally, officially. But before that could happen, they had to finalize their move. And an international move was no joke.
“Book your flight soon, okay?”
he reminded her, knowing that she probably already had a list of flight prices and costs written out, and was checking it daily to make sure she locked in the best deal.
“I will. Love you.” She reached up on her tiptoes to give him a kiss on the cheek, then let go and turned to walk away before he could add anything else. He was wondering why when Tanzi’s hand landed on his arm.
“Leave her be. She’ll be okay.”
It wasn’t until he heard the concern in Tanzi’s voice that he realized that Sasha had left because she didn’t want him to see her cry. “I guess I should’ve realized, huh?”
“Probably. But then again, she hides it well. She’ll be fine.” Tanzi’s eyes twinkled with mischief. “I’m going to get Noel to do something to rile her up right after you’re out of here, and that’ll distract her into forgetting she’s sad.”
Liam laughed. “What’s up with that?”
“If you don’t know, then I can’t help you,” was Tanzi’s response, though her raised eyebrow and mocking smirk told him all he needed to know.
“Keep me in the loop, okay?” he requested, wrapping an arm around her shoulder and dropping a kiss on the top of her head.
“You betcha. Now go. Don’t want Rose thinking you’re never coming back.”
Laughing, because as if he’d pick anything over his woman, he nodded and released Tanzi, grabbing his box once more. “See you later,” he called, walking around the desk and out the employee door, waving as he pushed through the front door and out into the parking lot.
Coming to a stop, his mind drifted to his last patient—a dog named Skye, who’d looked awfully familiar.
“She’s got a history of running away—we lost her a couple of years ago for a while, but she’s always come home.” Skye’s owner smiled ruefully at her pet. “I should’ve called her Houdini instead.”
Liam had been intrigued by the story of Skye’s escape, sure that she was the dog he’d seen at the same march where he’d met Rose. He almost couldn’t believe how life-changing that day had turned out to be, but as he turned back to have a final look at Pupp’s, to drink it in and feel one last surge of pride, he could.