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As he started racing over to us, my heart, and if I was honest, my vagina, both started to flutter.

CHAPTER FOUR: GAVIN

Absolute and total fear sent my heart pounding so hard in my chest I feared it was going to burst out and flop onto the pavement. Ignoring the pain and focusing in, I pushed and shoved my way through the crowd, shouting Owen’s name.

And then I spotted his face resting against some stranger’s shoulder as tears streaked down his cheeks. Even though my knees buckled in relief, I pushed myself to get to him. I didn’t think I would ever make it.

It was probably a good thing that it was taking me longer. It helped me to rationalize that Owen wasn’t crying because some stranger had snatched him up to kidnap him. Instead, the woman was comforting him because he was lost.

At the same time, it didn’t stop me from snatching him out of her arms. I didn’t think I drew a breath from the time I started sprinting over. I wheezed out a shaky breath. “You’re okay. Thank God, you’re okay.”

“Yous squishin me,” Owen protested.

“I’m sorry. I’m just so glad you’re all right. You know not to run off like that.”

When I pulled back to stare into his eyes, he had the audacity to grin at me. “I pets the doggy.”

“Doggy?”

Owen pointed behind us. When I whirled around, I didn’t see a dog. Instead, the most stunningly beautiful woman stood before me. In my panic and worry, I hadn’t even clocked her face. I couldn’t have told you if she was young or old. My focus had been solely on Owen.

But fuck me, I was seeing her now. It wasn’t just her looks that had me dumbstruck. Although I had to admit, my cock was already responding to her curves.

As hokey as it sounds, it was her aura that was so stunning and bright. Like someone you see and you just know they’re a good person. Throw in the fact she cared enough about some stranger’s kid to comfort them, and that made her fucking breathtaking.

When I finally blinked, my gaze dropped to her left hand. No ring. While she might not have been married or engaged, she still might’ve been in a relationship. To my horror, the thought of her being taken made me crazy.

I smiled at her. “How can I ever begin to thank you for helping my son?”

She returned my smile. “You don’t have to thank me. After all, it was my dog who distracted Owen enough to run away.”

My gaze dropped from her face to her side, where a golden retriever sat grinning while wearing lederhosen. “Well, I can’t say I’m too surprised you were able to lure Owen away. Not only does he love dogs, but you’re too cute for words.”

“It’s the only thing that saves him,” the beauty mused.

“Wats hims name?” Owen asked as he patted the dog’s head.

“It’s Oswald, but we call him Ozzy.”

It was then I realized that in all the craziness, I hadn’t introduced myself. Taking one hand from Owen’s back, I extended it towards her. “I’m Gavin Mulvaney.”

“Mina Hansen,” she replied, as she slid her hand into mine.

The moment we touched it felt like I’d been zapped with electricity. I hadn’t experienced that with anyone, not even Claudia. It was so fucking surreal. I wasn’t one to believe in fate and all that other romantic bullshit. But I couldn’t deny what I was feeling.

At the same time, I couldn’t help wondering if I wanted to feel it. Sure, I’d just bought condoms to prepare for a hookup, but I wasn’t focused on sex at the moment. Okay, fine, that was a lie. My long-suffering dick was very, very on board with sex with Mina.

But deep down, I knew I wanted to get to know her. That I wanted more with her.

Like something long-term.

Like the R word.

A relationship.

And I know you’re thinking, Jesus, Gavin, you just met the woman for fuck’s sake. She could be boring as hell or some weirdo who collects dolls.

Even worse, she could be a Canadian hockey fan.