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Josh touched his lips to Kitty’s, resting them there as their breath tuned into each other.

“Okay then. Is the confessional over?” Josh said, his face serious. Kitty nodded. “Then can we have a try at this? At anus? Even if we do this from miles apart, I still want to know you're with me. I’ll visit when I can, and you can come here too if you can get away. I hear phone sex isn’t bad.”

Kitty’s eyes widened. Josh didn’t know about the job. Thea hadn't told him about her working at Small Oaks full-time!

“Josh, I turned it down,” she blurted. He blinked at her. “I turned down the job. I said no.”

“You said no? Are you serious?”

Kitty nodded. “I’m staying here in Tottenbridge. This is my home now,” she said, finding and curling her hand into his.

Josh shook his head. “What happened?”

“Nothing happened. I just realised that everything I want is right here. You’re looking at the Development Manager and chief poo shoveler for Small Oaks Animal Sanctuary.”

Josh’s soft blue eyes crinkled at the corners. “Really?”

“Why would I leave? I have a great new boss, and I’m even learning to love goats. Besides, I hear the local vet is pretty hot.”

The enormous smile that grew on Josh’s face was all that Kitty could've hoped for.

“And so,” she said, looking up into his soft blue eyes. “You’recompletelystuck with me now. No escape.”

Josh looked back at her, his smile turning mischievous as he gently traced his fingers along the side of her waist and down across her hip.

“I don’t think it’s going to be too much of a struggle.”

The End

EPILOGUE

Kitty satat her desk in the office, re-finalising the run sheet for the day’s activities. She’d poured her heart and soul into the Small Oaks re-launch day. Now that it was here, things were running like clockwork.

All the major donors had arrived and were being suitably schmoozed. They’d announced the results of the contest to name the new donkey, and next on her list was the photo op with Jeffrey, the pig. Thea was with him now, dressing him in a crimson bow tie and top hat. A large queue of kids had already formed by the sheds, ready and waiting for a snap with Small Oak’s most popular resident.

A burst of cool air glanced Kitty’s cheek, and smooth, warm softness brushed her bare skin. She reached her hand down to find Wendy weaving around her legs under the desk.

“Hey baby,” she murmured, stroking the curls at the dog’s back.

“Hello,” a velvety voice sounded behind her.

Kitty closed her eyes and smiled.Josh.

He put a cup of coffee on the desk, then leaned down to thread his arms around her, bringing his mouth to the side of her neck.

Kitty sighed, spun her chair around, and grasped his broad shoulders, their solid, taught muscles moving under her fingers. She smiled as he nuzzled into her, his sweet cologne tickling her nose and tempting her to claim a kiss. The feel of his lips on her skin would never get old.

She let out a low, throaty moan. “Can we just rewind a few hours?” she asked.

A few hours ago, they were locked in each other’s arms, coming hard together, with Josh whispering into her ear how much he loved her.

“I think Thea might notice you’ve gone missing,” he said.

Kitty giggled. Thea would kill her. Not known for her organisation skills, she was already charging around like a headless chicken in the yard. Her reliance on Kitty to manage the farm grew as the months passed.

“Well, if you’re sure I can’t convince you,” she said.

Josh chuckled into her neck. "There’d be no problem convincingme, but I’d have to explain to Barry Johnson why I can’t deliver his foal.”