Page 8 of Alistair

“I’m not sure if that was all you or dog slobber as well.” Alistair could only laugh. “I’m going to Philly to take Rose to a conference. I’ll wait for her and bring her home. I should be back this evening. Late dinner?”

“I’ll be waiting,” he said, pulling her tighter against the fence as he kissed her again. He released his hold on her, and she stepped back, nibbling on her lip. “What’s wrong?”

“I like you, Alistair. I really, really like you. Are we exclusive?”

“Damn right, we are. And for the record,” he said as he hopped the fence, grabbing her, “I like you too, but more importantly, I’m falling in love with you.”

This time, Alistair kissed her with such passion she couldn’t breathe. When he set her feet back on the ground, she actually wobbled for a moment. He steadied her shoulders, smiling down at her.

“I-I’m good,” she grinned.

“See you tonight.”

“Are you and Clark going with everyone to The Well tonight?” asked Garr.

“I think so, as long as she’s back in time. She’s flying back from Philly. She took Rose up there for a conference on human rights and benefits for the elderly. She said Rose lit ‘em up,” he laughed.

“Man, she’s found her calling, and I’m thrilled for her.”

“Same. I’m just hoping that Clark decides to stick around. She’s still on her probationary period. She and Autumn are good friends, and Autumn said for a while she wasn’t sure that this is where she belonged.”

“Change her mind, brother. That’s how you make her stay. Change her mind.”

“Says the man without a girl beneath his arm,” smirked Alistair.

“All in good time, Alistair. All in good time.” Alistair stared at his friend, the sad look on his face giving him concern.

“Hey, I meant nothing by it, brother.” There was a strange look on Garr’s face, and Alistair couldn’t, for the life of him, put a finger on what it was. He didn’t know of anyone that Garr had been seeing, either while in the service or at home.

“I know. It’s not a big deal.”

“Alistair! Alistair!” yelled Evie, running toward him with Joseph, Liffey, and Dalton.

“What’s wrong?”

“Clark’s chopper went down! Come on!”

“Down where?”

“Somewhere over West Virginia. We’ve got her signal. Let’s go.”

CHAPTER FIVE

“Are you sure, Rose?” asked Clark.

“I’m positive. I’m going to stay a few days with Baptiste, and we’ll be driving down to D.C. to meet with some of the lawmakers. We’ll contact everyone when we’re ready to come back. But there’s no need for you to stay. You go ahead and get home. I’m sure there’s someone there you’d rather be with,” smiled the woman.

“You know?”

“Honey, everyone knows everything at Belle Fleur. Alistair is a great guy, and you two are a beautiful couple.”

“It feels so fast,” she said, shrugging her shoulders. Rose could only laugh.

“Listen to me, Clark. Love doesn’t have a time or date stamp. It happens when it happens. Sometimes, it’s like a bolt of lightning that shoots you out of your seat and right into the arms of the man you’re supposed to be with for your entire life. Sometimes, it’s slow, like a lazy train traveling across winding tracks. At Belle Fleur, well, it’s more like a high-speed Mach 10 jet,” she grinned. Clark laughed.

“That is what it feels like. But it also feels normal. Like this is how it should be.”

“Then go with it, honey. You won’t regret it.” Baptiste walked toward them, his massive body pushing crowds aside at the convention center.

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