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"My son is begging for a puppy, and look at how cute they are," I tell her. "I'll file the paperwork tomorrow; just make sure to let Kathleen know."
"Gotcha," she says. "Which one?"
"The little girl with the mopey eyes," I laugh. "We have a connection."
Jenny helps me get her set up, and I walk her out on a leash, the puppy bounding across the gravel and wagging her tail.
"I'll see you next week," I say to Jenny as Evan and I load our backpacks and the dog in my jeep. The van will stay here, and it feels good to be back in my own car. "Thanks for everything."
"Of course!" she calls as we pull away.
Then I'm left alone--with Evan and a puppy.
And it's like, after only a few days, I'm ready to start a new life.
Chapter eight
Sam
Iknowit'sbeena matter of days--really, hours--since I met Evan Hart. But I can't shake the feeling that I'm bringing someone home to meet my family...or,hisfamily?
This whole thing is weird.
"Before we get there," I say quietly, "can we talk about what's happening between us? If...if there's anything."
Evan's hand finds mine on the center console, squeezing softly. "Oh, there's something."
I laugh, biting my lip. "Okay. In that case--what is it?"
He shrugs. "You're a beautiful woman with a big heart and a damn fine work ethic. I've been wanting to kiss you since the moment I laid eyes on you. We kissed. And now..."
I glance over at him. It's hard to keep my eyes on the road as I wait for his next words, wondering what it is he's going to say.
"I guess it's up to you," he says. "What do you want to happen?"
Wow. Not an easy question to answer. I chew on my lip until I taste blood, realizing only then how anxious this is making me.
"I want to feel it out," I say. "Evan, I have...well, to say I have baggage is an understatement. I had a whole life planned out around someone who's gone."
"And I respect that," Evan says. "I respecthim."
My heart twists and my eyes dart to my wedding ring. It's just a plain gold band--David and I couldn't afford anything else when we got engaged--but I thought it was perfect.
"Thank you," I whisper, willing myself not to start crying again. "I want to be clear about this--I haven't been with anyone since...you know. And I don't really remember how to do it. Before he passed, we were together for...well, a lifetime. All the way back, high school sweethearts. I might be too much for you to deal with--"
"You're not too much," Evan interrupts.
"But for something casual, it might be," I tell him. "I'm not sure if you've noticed, but I'm bad at playing it cool. I kind of wear my heart on my sleeve."
"And I wouldn't have it any other way," he says. "No point in not being honest."
I look over at him. "So what do you want out of this?"
Evan inhales deeply, then sighs it out like he's counting his breaths. Or maybe that's just me--counting the seconds until I can be alone with him, when I should be thinking about all the things I need to do when I get home.
"Well," he starts, "my plan is to visit for a couple weeks and then head back out on another trip for Hopeful Hearts. I know things are complicated with your kid; I don't want to mess with that."
I nod, even though my heart twists at the way Evan casually puts a time limit on what's happening between us. "Right. The last thing I want to do is confuse Alex."
