Page 66 of The Love Shack

A few of the dogs barked as she and Gladys went by, and it broke her heart anew. They all deserved forever homes, damn it. If she had to see one more designer dog, or another TV show on breeders, she’d scream. There were enough dogs in the world. They only needed to be seen.

Thank Godthisdog had found her person. And what a person she was.

Berkley whispered sweet words to the animals as she passed them, and she vowed never to do this again. It wasn’t fair to them. To her heart, it felt like every dog was watching, and wishing they were the special one.

Gladys still seemed confused as Berkley reset the security system, left the shelter and locked the doors. Then the dog spotted Betty’s car, and her ears shot up. Betty and Lawson were at the back door waiting, but Betty stepped out and suddenly Gladys was jumping around in joy. She and Betty met halfway to the house, and they were both ecstatic.

Despite the makeup Berkley had so carefully applied, she felt tears gathering. Happy tears, of course. She laughed as she brushed them away. “Gee, I think you two were meant to be.”

“Yes, we were,” Betty said in a teasing voice to the dog. Gladys licked her face in agreement. “I’m taking you home, Gladys. We belong to each other now.”

Berkley pressed a hand to her mouth.

Lawson, bless his heart, took over for her. With a kiss to her forehead, he said, “Let me help while you say your goodbyes.” She nodded agreement, so he relieved her of Gladys’s things and put them into Betty’s car. Then he ensured Cheese was in the house, took Hero out one more time to use the bathroom and grabbed her purse for her. After he secured the house, he returned to help Betty and Gladys into the car.

To Berkley, he asked, “Would you like to follow Betty home to ensure she gets everything inside?”

God love the man, could he be any better? “Great idea.”Hewas a great idea. “You’re sure you don’t mind?”

After pressing a kiss to her forehead once more, he whispered, “I think you need that, right?”

Drawing in a shaky breath, she nodded. Having someone know her so well was unsettling, but in a good way. As if, after all these years, she was finally being seen.

Their date had definitely gone awry. By the time they’d finished getting Gladys settled, it was much later than they’d anticipated.

Lawson held her hand as he drove to Saul’s restaurant, his thumb constantly coasting over her knuckles.

Watching his profile, she said, “I’m okay, you know.”

The corner of his mouth lifted. “You’re far better than okay, lady.”

Even though she wasn’t sure what that meant, she found herself smiling, too. “I’m thrilled that Gladys has a forever home. Betty will be so good to her.”

“And Gladys will be good for Betty—but you’ll still miss her.”

“Yes.” She missed every animal that found a home.

“And worry about her.”

“Yes, only because, as Betty said, she’s getting older. Gladys has gotten used to our routine.” To people coming and going throughout the day, to other dogs and cats, with regulated feeding times and—

“I bet she’ll adapt quickly.”

“She will.” Berkley knew that. “I’m being silly.”

“No, you’re not. You give your whole heart to these animals. Letting go isn’t easy. I get it. So does Betty. That’s why she told you to feel free to check up on Gladys whenever you want, but she also promised to bring her with her whenever she visits.”

Turning her hand over, Berkley gripped his fingers. “Saul’s will be closing soon.”

“I know.” He pulled into the parking lot, which had already emptied out significantly.

“I wouldn’t mind ordering takeout. We could eat it on the beach.”

Lawson turned his head to look at her. “That sounds great.”

Berkley felt the reverberation of her heart beating, as it drummed harder than usual. It wasn’t nervousness. More like...sizzling anticipation. “Or,” she said, “we could eat at your house.”

His gaze locked on hers.

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