Page 105 of The Love Shack

“I like this. Us, I mean. Thank you for being in my life.”

“There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.” It was where he hoped to stay—forever.

16

Each time Berkleyleft the shelter, she relocked the door. Until Erin arrived, she didn’t want to risk leaving it open. Most people now knew her hours, but that didn’t mean someone wouldn’t drop in, and with cats still in the building, including the mother cat and her kittens, she continued to use precautions.

It was a pain, leading Hero back and forth, but then finally he was ready for a nap. She now had laundry going at the shelter and in her own laundry room. Double duty, necessary because she’d put off her own personal chores to spend all her free time with Lawson.

He was a new priority for her, but then so was Betty, and Lark, and the town itself. The tea group had been so much fun, she now looked forward to the next. Ditto on the town council meeting, especially since Lark had declared it would be their official “double date” night. Actually, everything was more fun with new friends... And Lawson. Thinking of the coming night, she decided he was the most fun of all.

Today was one of the days for Betty to visit, and Berkley expected her later in the morning. They had many chats while caring for the dogs. Betty called it Gladys’s playtime, where she got to visit with her friends and meet any newcomers.

Occasionally, she and Lawson would take dinner to Betty and stick around for a short visit. She wanted Betty to know that she valued her friendship, and it also gave her a chance to make sure the dog wasn’t too much for Betty.

So far, she and Gladys were in perfect sync, napping together, walking together, sharing meals and watching evening shows snuggled together on the couch.

Berkley was down the hall putting away some clothes when the knock sounded on her front door. Hero came awake with a loud, startled bark, followed by a serious racket as he made his displeasure at the unknown visitor obvious. Betty wasn’t due yet, and she never used the front door. Apparently, Hero didn’t like this unexpected twist any more than she did.Everyoneknew to use the back door closest to the shelter.

Everyone local, anyway.

That realization sent dread squirreling up her spine. Ducking into the guest bedroom, she peeked through the window, but at first all she could see was the side of a body. When the person shifted, a wave of horror shocked her system.

Chad is here.

A thousand emotions seemed to slam into her at once, making her stomach and heart sick in equal measure. Alarm vied with indignation. She couldn’t do this. She shouldn’t have to do it.

She’d left this—him—behind long ago. When he’d called, she’d made her disinterest clear. She’d flat-out told him to lose her number. That should have been the end of it.

This was hernewlife, her better life.

Her life with Lawson.

She was different, damn it, and she’d been working hard to move on.

A little voice in her head called her a liar. Sure, she’d let Lawson in—but only so far. It was a big step for her, but not the biggest. She needed to leap.

Seeing Chad on her doorstep made it all crystal clear.

She’d once thought she’d loved him, and it had almost ruined her life. But he was nothing like Lawson. Not even close.

Lawson would never hurt her like that.

While she waged that internal battle, Hero continued to go ballistic, and Chad did not retreat. No, he started around the house, likely to try another door.

Thoughts in turmoil, she belatedly remembered that she’d left her phone in the laundry room. She slipped away without bothering to try to quiet Hero. With any luck, his vicious barking would send Chad on his way.

Fortunately, the blinds on the laundry room windows were still closed. She grabbed her cell phone, ready to call Lawson... Yet a second later she changed her mind.

Before she imposed on Lawson that way, she needed to admit to herself, and to him, that she loved him. Real love. Forever kind of love. Not the wimpy infatuation she’d once felt for Chad.

Using one man to save her from another was not the answer.

A second, brisker knock sounded on her laundry room door, and she stepped back in a rush. Hearing it, Hero came charging in, skidded across the floor and stationed himself in front of her. “Shh,” she said to him, not to silence him, but to let him know they were okay.

Lawson would have opened his shop by now, and Erin was already scrambling to rearrange her schedule to fill in for Whitley.

She’d be alone here for a little while yet.

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