Abigail kept her tear-streaked face tucked into Delilah’s thick coat while she waited for Luke to wind up the conversation. Now that Delilah’s caretaker had been relieved of another wintertime drive to Montana, he became chatty.

Typical of Luke, he was kind and accommodating. He promised to send pictures of Delilah/Daisy in her new surroundings. The couple didn’t have a computer or smart phones, so he asked for their mailing address. He also got the name of Delilah’s vet so he could find out whether she was current on her shots.

After several minutes of chit-chat punctuated with Luke’s soft chuckle, he bid the old fellow goodbye and disconnected.

Lifting her head, Abigail looked at him. “Want to join us? We’re trying to have a group hug, but I don’t think you can call it a group with two.”

“No, you need at least three.” He dropped to his knees on Delilah’s other side. Then he wrapped his arms around the dog and Abigail. “This qualifies as a group hug.” He gazed into her eyes. “She’s ours, Abby.”

Tears threatened again. “Mostly yours. You found her, and you—”

“You loaned me a scarf to make a leash. You let her come into the bakery. You welcomed her up here.”

“I know, but—”

“You kept insisting she’d end up being my dog when I was afraid to believe it. I’m the one who got her off the highway, but you’ve been her champion from the start. There’s a reason I couldn’t make that call without you.”

She treasured every word of praise from this loving man. “I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.”

“It could have gone the other way.”

“I wouldn’t have missed it for the world, whichever way it turned out.”

His breath hitched. “That’s a powerful lot of support, lady.”

“No more than you’re willing to give me.”

“I’m glad you know that.” He leaned closer, slightly squashing the dog between them. “This calls for a kiss.”

She inched closer, too. Delilah didn’t seem to mind. “Am I kissing you or are you kissing me?”

“We’re kissing each other.”

“That works.” She met him in the middle. A very happy, very warm dog separated them, but Luke’s mouth on hers still gave her a buzz.

Evidently he had the same reaction because he strained to get closer yet. Delilah protested with a whine. Wriggling free, she sent them sprawling.

Abigail got the giggles. Pushing herself to a sitting position, she glanced at Luke, who’d propped himself on his elbows. His happy grin gladdened her heart.

He glanced at Delilah, who’d retrieved the amputated leg of her toy before going on walkabout. “I almost can’t believe it turned out this way.”

Abigail nudged him with her foot. “But it did.”

“My dad is going to love the part about praying over the dog food. I can’t wait to tell him.”

As if on cue, Delilah came out of the kitchen with her food bowl in her mouth.

Abigail laughed. “Has she ever done that before?”

“No, ma’am.” Luke got to his feet and offered Abigail a hand up. “But I think it means she’s settling in.”

“Are you going to change her name back to what it was?”

“What do you think about it?” He walked into the kitchen and the dog followed with her empty dish.

“I’m used to Delilah so I may be prejudiced. But it seems to suit the dog I know better than Daisy. It’s edgier. More complicated. Don’t laugh, but I think she has a rich inner life.”

He smiled.

“See, you’re laughing.”

“Nope. I’m smiling because I agree with you. Stuff’s going on in that brain of hers all the time.” He took the bowl from Delilah. “Isn’t it pup? Always thinking, aren’t you?”

She wagged her tail and gave him her doggie grin.

“Got me figured out, too.” He put food in her bowl and set it on the floor, where it sat untouched as Delilah waited for permission to eat.

He hesitated. “Um, Abby, would you think it was too weird if we—”

“Offered a blessing? I think it’s appropriate after what just happened.” She held out her hand to him. “I’ll leave the wording up to you. You’re the preacher’s son.”

“I see. Pressure’s on.” But he squeezed her hand and began speaking in a soft, reverent tone.

She closed her eyes to better enjoy the velvet sound of his voice.

After giving thanks in global terms, he moved on to specifics, mentioning family members by name. But when he said he was grateful for her, she nearly fell over. He named Delilah next, murmured a gentle amen and the blessing was complete, although he didn’t release her hand.

When she opened her eyes, the dog remained sitting in front of her bowl the way she always had, but she appeared more…settled. “I think she liked that.”

“I think so, too.” Reaching down, he scratched the top of Delilah’s head with his free hand. “Okay, girl. You can eat.”

She began munching away.

“Maybe we should grab some dinner, too,” Abigail said. “There’s leftover—”

“Can I have a raincheck?”

“On dinner?”

“I have something more important in mind.” Tugging gently, he pulled her out of the kitchen. “We need to celebrate.” He led her through the living room and down the hall. “With the door closed.”

“What about Delilah?”

“She has food, a cozy place and her toys. I’ll bet she even knows that she’s with us for good. She’ll be fine.”

With us for good. Dazzled by the implied commitment, she went into his arms the moment he closed the door. Cupping his face in both hands, she gazed into his warm brown eyes. “You mentioned me in the blessing. I didn’t expect that.”

“No?” He smiled. “Then maybe I haven’t been showing my gratitude properly.” He began to undress her, kissing every exposed inch of skin as if discovering it for the first time.

“I’m…” She gasped as he took off her bra and cupped her breast. “I’m grateful…for you, too.” Trembling with anticipation, she managed to unbutton his shirt, but that was as far as she got before he short-circuited her brain with another soul-deep kiss.

He finished undressing her the same way he’d started, as if she were a long-awaited gift. Then he laid her gently on the bed, moved back and gazed at her while he stripped off his clothes.

“We have light this time,” he murmured. Climbing in beside her, he cupped her face and brushed his thumb over her cheek. “I’ve missed it. Missed being able to see you. Mostly your eyes.”

“My eyes? Really?”

“Yes, ma’am. They’re pretty all the time, but when I’m inside you they turn a gorgeous dark green, like…like a forest at twilight.”

“Wow. That’s beautiful.”

“No, you’re beautiful.” He brushed a kiss over her mouth. “That’s what I’m trying to say, but words don’t do you justice. I can’t—”

“Then show me.”

“Great idea.”

Words don’t do you justice. He’d given her a dizzying high that wouldn’t wear off anytime soon.

He retrieved a condom from the bedside table drawer and put it on before sliding effortlessly into her throbbing channel. She moaned with pleasure.

Holding very still, he gazed down at her. “So special.”

“Mm-hm.” The hot intensity in his eyes stole her breath. But more than passion filled those brown depths. Caring, acceptance, respect—each touched her heart with a gentle caress, soothing the lonely ache she’d steadfastly ignored since her parents’ death. Safe.

Slowly he began to move, his gaze never leaving hers. “Let the celebration begin.”

“I like the way you party.” She grasped his hips and matched his steady rhythm.

“Good.” The glow in his eyes grew stronger. “How I love looking at you. You get all pink. Your cheeks, your breasts…” He subtly increased the pace.

“All because of you.” She gasped as he rotated his hips, then did it again. “Luke.”

“Like that?”

“Yes.” She began to pant as he continued his devastatingly effective motion. “And I don’t want to come yet.”

“Why not?”

She trembled, resisting the urge to surrender to her climax. “I don’t want it to be over.”

“It won’t be. Let go, sweet Abby.”

She had no choice. He bore down and she erupted. Then he continued to move, taking her on the rollercoaster a second time.

He loved her so thoroughly that she lost track of where her body ended and his began. He became part of her and she a part of him.

His eyes darkened and he pushed deep. “Abby.”

She ignited. Gasping, he shuddered in the grip of his release as they plunged over the edge...together.

So much pleasure. She closed her eyes in gratitude. When she opened them, he was gazing at her with a soft smile.

I love you. She drew in a breath, heart beating fast. It was time. Time to say the words.

A soft whine at the door drew his attention. He glanced toward it. “I guess she misses us.”

Maybe not the time, after all. “I’ll bet she does.”

He leaned down and kissed her gently. “That was wonderful.”

“Sure was.”

“I’d better go check on the pup.” He eased away from her.

“Ready for some dinner?”

“You bet.”

After he’d pulled on his jeans and a shirt and she’d slipped into her robe, he opened the door and greeted a very happy Delilah.

The dog curled up in a corner of the kitchen with a chew toy while they put together a quick dinner of leftover meatloaf, salad and steamed veggies. Then she carried the toy into the dining nook and settled there when they sat down to eat.

Luke glanced toward the corner where she gnawed on her toy. “The uncertainty is over, but I still can’t quite believe it.”

“You will. Might take a few days.” His happiness brought her such joy.

He picked up his fork. “After we eat, I’ll call my folks and Kendra.”

“Great idea. They’ll want to know.”

“Which reminds me. Mom invited you to have dinner on Sunday night when Hayley comes home. Would you like to?”

Her breath caught. If his mother wanted to include her in a family event, her status had changed.

“You look a little freaked out. If you’d rather not, then—”

“No, I want to. I just…we haven’t talked about where we go from here, after my files are organized. Maybe we should.”

He put down his fork. “Okay.”

“I love having you here, but meanwhile you’re not spending time in that house you wanted so much.”

“I know.” He reached over and took her hand. “But I can’t ask you to drive out there and back every night, either, especially this time of year.”

“How about a compromise? I’ll spend Saturday nights at your house and you can spend two nights here, maybe Tuesday and Thursday.”

“Three nights. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. That leaves only three nights we’ll be apart and four we’ll be together.” He squeezed her hand. “Better ratio.”

She smiled. “I won’t complain about having an extra night with you.”

“But I’ll probably complain about the nights I’m not with you, so be prepared.”

“We’ll just enjoy each other even more because we won’t have every night together.”

“Go ahead and rationalize if you want, but I’ll miss you like crazy. So will Delilah.”

“I’ll miss you, too,” she said gently. “But this makes more sense than you staying here all the time.”

He sighed. “I’ll accept that for now. Just know that I’ll be working on alternate solutions. Can we start the program this Saturday night?”

“Love to.”

“If you bring a change of clothes, we can go from there to my folks’ house for the family dinner on Sunday.”

“Sounds great.” Their relationship was becoming more defined, and that in turn had inspired the most amazing idea. She wouldn’t bring it up tonight, though.

Instead she’d let it simmer, perhaps refine the concept. Then she’d present it to him Saturday evening while they sipped wine in front of a crackling fire. He was going to love it.