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Chapter Twenty-One
Aria
Three months later . . .
The move down to Virginia Beach was made much easier with Zoey’s help, despite us having four dogs in our care. Zoey had adopted the little fawn and blue puppy, Tess, and I couldn’t let go of Turbo with his cute white face and handsome blue fur, so now I was officially his mum, as well as Mama’s.
The rest of the puppies had found their forever homes, all except poor little Ghost. It seemed no one was interested in the runt. If it came down to it, he would stay with me because as long as I was around, no animal ever would go without a home.
Zoey stood in the centre of the room and curled her bare toes into the soft fibres of the blue, grey, and brown abstract rug in the centre of the living room and took a look around. “This place is really beginning to get some character about it.”
“I’m so glad Logan told me to get down here and make the place as homey as possible. It’s pretty cool that he trusted me.” I held out one of the mugs of coffee I carried over to her from the kitchen.
Zoey rolled her eyes as she took the mug. “Of course, he trusts you, babe. He’s going to marry you. Besides, only a woman can make an unlived-in home homey in a single weekend.”
My eyes travelled the room, taking in the blue bookshelf full of my veterinary medicine books and the blue artworks, one featuring sea animals and the other blue gumnuts and gum leaves—an ode to home—that now adorned the walls.
“It’s beginning to feel real.” I glanced down at the shiny ring on my finger. “I’m moving down here, I’m getting married, I’m starting up my own mobile veterinary business with a glowing recommendation from my former boss. And you’ll be up in New York all by yourself. I’m both happy and sad.” I sniffled.
“Hey, don’t be sad about me. I’m about to start an awesome new job withCadence & Pitch Magazine. I have my fur baby to keep me company, and I have loads of friends all around. No one like you and Lily, though, I’ll admit.” Zoey gave me a one-armed hug.
I slid one arm around her and took a sip from my coffee. “Have you heard from Lily and Joe?”
“Lily and I communicate daily. Joe joins in when he can, but his training is full on. We’re giving the long-distance thing a red-hot go.”
“I have faith in you three.”
We moved into the front living room where we had decorated for Thanksgiving and Christmas at once. Mama had made herself comfortable on her cushiony dog bed beside the Christmas/Thanksgiving tree, while her pups rough and tumbled with one another on the Moroccan-style rug.
“He’ll be back in time for the holiday season, Zoey. My first one in America.” I’d barely finished my sentence when we heard a car pull into the driveway.
Zoey craned her neck to look out the front window. “I think that’s him now.”
“Oh crap!” I set my drink down and smoothed down the black top I was wearing. I quickly discarded my frumpy pink cardigan and brushed my fingers through my hair.
“Whoa, Aria, settle.” Zoey grabbed my wrists and steadied my hands. “Logan isn’t not going to care what you look like. He thinks you’re sexy, and sexy doesn’t mean perfect, trust me.”
“I want things to be good for him.” I felt my voice shake.
“They are,” Zoey said with a smile. “Let’s go and say hey.”
I nodded once and left the house with her.
Logan took his duffle bag from the back seat of the car and watched Liam back down the driveway. With a few deep breaths, I ignored the hammering of my heart and calmly walked over to him.
Logan was less careful with his emotions. He dropped his bag to the ground and released a long, languid sigh. Unshed tears shimmered in his eyes. “Boy, it’s good to see you.”
His lips landed on mine, and I felt his hands in my hair and on my body as his tongue led mine in a dance that I didn’t ever want to end.
“Zoey and I got the house ready for you,” I murmured.
Logan looked up at his house. “I can’t wait to see it. Maybe now that you’re here it will begin to feel like a home.”
“It will, especially once we begin to make memories here.” I draped my arms around his shoulders and nuzzled his neck.
I felt him smile against my temple. “I can’t wait to make you my wife.”
“Well, I guess that’s my cue,” Zoey said as she marched out of the house with her puppy on her lead.
