Page 46 of Crossroads of Innocence
A hoot of laughter shot from his chest. “You’re something all right. And last night was amazing. For so many reasons. But mostly, because holding you in my arms just makes sense. Feels right. Puts all the craziness in our path on another planet. I don’t want to give that up.”
Her eyes widened. “Maybe that’s something we need to think about, once this weird limbo place we’ve landed is over.”
“Okay,” he said, but he didn’t need to think about a damn thing. He wanted Jude and no one else. There’d never been anyone else for him but her.
“Hey, you two. Get your asses inside before you and that little dog freeze to death.” Tucker stood on the small porch outside the kennel.
Jude’s eyes grew impossibly wider. “Tucker?”
Wade grinned. “Yeah. I thought you might want to see an old friend and maybe sit in a pile of friendly dogs.”
“Sounds like heaven. Come on.” She tugged him toward the building that resembled a miniature lodge where Tucker stood by the doorway and waved an arm over his head.
He followed along, Jude’s statement ringing in his ears. She was right, but with only one small change. Anywhere he could be with Jude sounded like heaven to him.
19
Jude hugged Tucker tight, her head reeling from all the this-is-your-life moments that kept sending her back into the past. Tucker played a part in her memories just as much as Chet and Wade, and damn, she’d missed him.
“Holy hell, Jude. I can’t believe my eyes.” Tucker gripped her biceps and studied her from head to toe, a wide smile on his handsome face. “Come inside and get out of this wind.”
She gladly followed him, instantly charmed by the dog kennel and she couldn’t even see the pups yet. A half door separated the front area from the rest of the building. Framed photographs of the dogs decorated the room. A computer monitor and keyboard took up most of the narrow counter jutting from the wall along with a photo of a beautiful woman with a beaming little girl sitting on her lap. She picked up the picture. “Who’s this?”
The smile that took over Tucker’s face spoke of pure joy. “My family.”
“You’re married?” she squealed.
“Will be soon,” Wade said. “Can’t wait for the wedding, man.”
“You and me both, brother.” Tucker slapped a hand on Wade’s shoulder and laughed. “I love Audrey like my own, but I can’t wait to legally adopt her. Being her daddy’s been the biggest kick of my life. You’d love her, Jude. She’s smart and funny as hell.”
His happiness was contagious, and she grinned. “I’d love to meet her. And your wife-to-be.”
“Does that mean you’re staying in town?”
Before she could answer, a big black dog shot through the doggy door and spared her a small bit of attention then hurried to Macey.
Macey’s tail wagged wildly.
“Come on, Otto. Leave her alone,” Wade said. “I swear these two are best buddies.”
“Might as well let her off her leash,” Tucker said. “She won’t like being held back once we get the rest of the pups out.”
Wade unhooked the leash from her collar, and she pranced to the little bed behind the counter and laid down. Otto followed like a love-sick dog and laid in front of her on the hard floor, his nose pressed against the soft bed and eyes on Macey.
Jude chuckled. “I can see who holds all the cards in that relationship.”
Tucker snorted. “Usually how it goes, isn’t it? The men just follow behind and hope for a scrap of attention.”
Jude chanced a quick glance at Wade, who’s smirk told her he agreed with Tucker.
She didn’t see the parallels, but maybe that was because she hadn’t said more to Wade’s earlier confession than mentioning they should discuss it further. She didn’t want him trailing after her with his tongue hanging out of his mouth. She wanted an open and honest conversation about how a relationship would work between them. Her time with him had ignited the flames of emotions that had smoldered for years, but was that enough?
“Anyway,” Tucker said, drawing out the word as if sensing the tension. “Do you want to see the rest of the dogs?”
“Yes!”
“Otto is mine, but he comes to work with me and thinks he’s the boss.” Tucker pushed open the half door then kept a grip on it to let her and Wade pass through. “The others belong to the retreat.”
