Page 113 of Carver’s Craving

He waved me off. “You really want to disrupt the puppies?”

Swear to God, Walter cuddled closer. “Uh no, I guess not.” I stroked his silky ear.

“So I’ll do this. Then I’m thinking soup and grilled cheese.” He gave me a pointed look. “Then we both need a nap. We can set an alarm. Okay?”

“Taking care of me?”

“Forever.” He rose. “I think we should do something more formal.”

“Oh?” I squinted. “I’d say this is pretty formal.”

“Sure. But if you marry me, then I can put you on my insurance. I can set up my will with you as my beneficiary. I can make everything official.” He shrugged, then sauntered off to the door.

I sat. Completely stunned. Then I turned to Poppin. “Did he just propose?” I was quite certain she rolled her eyes. She laid her chin on my other thigh. “I’m scared.”

Walter placed his paw on my thigh. As if to reassure me.

“I’ll make him happy. I’ll do everything. And—” I swallowed. “I’ll be your other daddy.” That meant almost as much as the thought of marrying Carver. “Who’d have thunk it?” I laughed quietly. “Okay…I’ll tell him I accept.”

Then I petted each dog and sank into the happiness.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Carver

Ihadn’t known what to expect when Seth had told us that Baxter had been recovered, alive, and was headed for the hospital. So many emotions had washed over me. Ninety percent directed at Baxter.

Ten percent worries about my boyfriend.

Okay…now my fiancé.

Maybe I’d been a bit nuts, proposing like that, offhand, and then running away. Rummaging through the van after saying those words, I’d had all kinds of second thoughts, not about having proposed, but the stupid way I did it. Except when I’d brought the electric guitar inside, Styx had been waiting for me. And said “Yes.” Simple. Certain. With a smile that lit the entire cabin. However inept I’d been, the result was joy. For both of us.

I hadn’t had the chance to buy rings. Low priority because we weren’t getting married until the spring. I’d made precisely two phone calls—Lorcan and Foster. I’d given them permission to tell everyone. Why hide? I wanted the world to know I’d found the love of my life.

“That was some party.” Styx stretched in the passenger seat as I drove up the driveway. Taryn had cleared it for me. “I can’t believe the snow stopped long enough for us to get into town. What a clusterfuck.”

The snow that had fallen from the twenty-third until late into Christmas Eve. Still, roads had gotten plowed.

I hadn’t wanted to go to Lorcan and Cody’s party.

Somehow, Baxter got wind of it. He ordered us to go. Said he needed time on his own.

Styx gently suggested I listen to his friend.

I worried, though, leaving Baxter home alone.

Baxter was fragile. No two ways about it. He put up a front—but he was nowhere near back to his old self. He needed to put on some weight. He needed to recover his jovial nature and wicked sense of humor. If that was even possible.

I hoped he’d cuddled with the dogs and found some comfort while we were out. “Yes, hell of a party. Your marshmallow chocolate logs were a huge success.”

While Styx had been soaking up the praise, Cody had taken me aside. He had space on his counseling calendar and would be happy to see Baxter at no charge, using part of their discretionary fund for folks down on their luck. No pressure—just that I was free, if the moment presented itself, to put forward his offer to Baxter.

I’d pressed my hand to my heart to thank the psychologist. At one time, I’d envied him. He and Lorcan were so damn happy. With their rescue dog Mei and her feline brother—the three-legged Trifle.

Now, I no longer envied that happiness. I’d found my own.

The men had served sparkling apple juice—sourced from a local apple grower—and everyone had toasted Styx and me.