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"From how you talk about her, I can tell Bailey is a good person. I have a feeling she's going to need her best friend when all this mess is over. Don't give up on her just yet."
I pull Andrea onto my lap, placing a few kisses on her neck. "Thank you. Thank you so fucking much."
Her head shakes, and her eyebrows squint with confusion. "For what?"
"For not running. For helping me fight my dark clouds. I know you are on a journey to revive yourself, and you're spending most of your time helping me."
"Don't ever thank me. I'm here because I want to be. Every time I leave to find myself, the universe leads me back to you. That has to mean something, right?"
"I hope so." I kiss her. Hard. I may not always be the best with words, but I do not want Andrea to question how much I want her with me all the time.
"So now what?" she asks when we pull apart.
"I don't know. The feds warned me that we're dealing with dangerous people."
"Daniel, I'm scared."
"I will never let anything happen to you. I promise with everything I have. Nothing will happen to you.” I pause, considering how best to keep her safe. “You know what? I have an idea. Get dressed. We're outta here in ten minutes."
Chapter Twenty-Four
Andrea
We've been driving for over thirty minutes, and Daniel still will not tell me where we are going. He keeps telling me he can't wait to see the smile on my face, but as we get further back on this windy mountain road, I can't even fathom what he has up his sleeve.
"Here we are," he says, pulling into what appears to be an old ranch property.
"Okay, I've seen this in a horror flick." I laugh, but I'm kind of serious at the same time. "It never ends well for the girl."
"This is Mecca Animal Rescue, owned by a couple I used to tattoo. When we were at The Waffle House, I noticed you hadadopt a dogon your list, and I know these ladies always have hordes of dogs needing adoption."
"Are you serious?" My smile is plastered ear to ear as I bounce up and down with excitement.
"There's the smile I've been waiting to see—the best part of my day. And even if you don't connect with the right dog, what could be better than spending a day in the mountains playing with puppies. Come on, Macy and Georgia are expecting us."
Seeing the old barn house, I feel like I'm walking into an old episode ofLittle House on the Prairie, but as we get closer, I can see that it's anything but. The patio is perfectly manicured to give an old western vibe.
"Rome! It's so great to see you!" Two stunning women greet us at the door with exuberant hugs and kisses. "Hi. I'm Macy, and this is my wife, Georgia. Welcome." The women hold their hands out to greet me. Rome tells us you're interested in adopting a dog. "
"I am. Honestly, I've never had a dog, so this is like a lifetime dream coming true," I sheepishly admit.
"You've never had a dog?" Daniel questions.
"My dad was severely allergic, even to the hypoallergenic dogs. And my ex-husband didn't like dogs." I shrug.
"Well, we're about to change that!" Georgia grabs my hand, pulling me up behind her. "We have big, small, old, and baby dogs. Any idea what you are looking for?"
I laugh with her contagious excitement. "I have no idea."
"Well, I have an idea that may help you decide. This area is the Pooch Playground, our version of a dog park. Why don't you two hang out here for a while," Macy suggests. "Get a feel for what you're looking for."
Hand in hand, Daniel and I walk to a bench, watching the dogs play with each other.
"My mom used to say, ‘You can't pick out a dog; a dog will pick you out’." He grins sheepishly.
"Sounds like a smart woman. You never talk about your family." Hoping he'll share with me, I meet his gaze. “I feel like as much as you are trying to run from your Rome identity, that’s all I know.”
“Growing up, it was just my mom and me. My dad walked out when I was five, and I never saw him again. She worked two jobs to make sure we had what we needed. I never had to worry about a roof over my head or food on the table. When I was around eleven, I realized I could draw anything I set my mind to. I began to sell my art for the things I wanted, and by the time I was fifteen, I was commissioning enough pieces that my mom was able to quit her second job."
