Page 110 of The Love Shack

“Yes, well...” Betty pressed back, her makeup-free face showing her age more than ever. “Sometimes brawn is better than brains. That fool had neither.” She patted Lawson’s chest appreciatively, then stepped away. “You, young man, have plenty of both.”

“Yes, he does.” Berkley studied him. “When Chad showed up here, I wasn’t sure what to do. I thought about calling you.”

His heart stuttered. “I wish you had.” He’d have dropped everything in a heartbeat.

That little smile appeared again. “You came anyway.”

Tugging her into his arms, he held her close. “Of course I did.” Holding her felt beyond nice. Perfection, even. “You were both fierce.”

“It certainly got my blood pumping,” Betty agreed.

Against his chest, Berkley trembled—probably laughing again, but just in case, he drew his hand up and down her back, before cupping her nape and drawing her face up to his.

Her shining blue eyes reassured him. The quick kiss she gave him helped, too.

She turned her head to see Betty. “You are the most wonderful person I’ve ever known. But please, for my sake, don’t ever again put yourself at risk like that. I already worry about you too much.”

“I know.” Betty primped. “And I’ll admit, I like it. It’s wonderful to be loved.”

“You’re definitely loved,” Berkley assured her. “And appreciated, and valued for so many reasons.”

“Good to know.” Betty started away. “Now, I need to repair my hair, put on my makeup and then take a break. It’s been a trying morning. Come on, Hero and Gladys. Let’s go.” She glanced back at Lawson with a wink. “Carry on.”

“Yes.” Berkley rested her hands on his chest and smiled up at him. “Carry on.”

Mindful that Betty was nearby, they were in a laundry room, and the shelter would soon get busy, Lawson took her mouth in a kiss that, he hoped, was full of promise. He felt Berkley’s small hands fist in his shirt, keeping him close.

Where he wanted to be.

When he finally forced himself to ease up, she put her cheek against him, then whispered something.

Smoothing a hand along her spine, he asked, “What’s that?”

She tilted up her face to see him, and this smile was different, more powerful. “I love you.”

Automatically, his arms tightened. He’d heard the words, saw them leaving her lips, and still he said, “What?”

The gaze softened, warmed. “I love you.” She touched his mouth before he could speak. “It’s real. Unconditional. You don’t have to say anything back. No,” she insisted, when he tried to speak. “Let me finish.”

Reluctantly, he gave a nod, but now his heart was going like a jackhammer, and he was smiling, too.

“I know we haven’t been reacquainted that long.”

“Long enough,” he said, because staying quiet right now was hard.

“I guess, because of our history, I feel like I’ve known you forever.”

“Like we were meant to be.” When her brows lifted, he gathered her close and kissed her again. A hungry kiss.

She drew back to say “Really?”

“You don’t feel that way? Because I do. Almost from the start, I was drawn to you. We share more than most people ever will. An understanding of what it takes to move forward, how important the right people are. What love means. Really means.” He cradled her face in his palms. “I love you, too, Berkley. I love your style, and your independence. How you treat animals and care for them. How you care for people, too.”How you care for me.“I love that you’re humble, but not a pushover. Bighearted but strong.”

“Stop.” Laughing a little, she put her hands to her cheeks, but he still saw her blush.

“When I came here, I thought what I needed was a place to call my own. A nice location to settle so I could put down roots.”

“You have all that now.”

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