Page 53 of At the Heart of It (The Can’t Have Hearts Club #4)

“ H ow soon do you think we’ll see them?”

Jonah glanced over to see Kate squinting at the finish line. She wore a black cotton sundress that reminded him of the one she’d worn the first time they met. Fondness flowed through him, as familiar as his own pulse.

“Relax,” he said, sliding an arm around her. “We’ve got another ten minutes at least.”

Kate tilted her sunglasses up on her head and smiled up at him, giving him a flash of those toffee-colored eyes that had been melting him for almost a year now. “Bike racing is kind of a tough sport to watch,” she said.

“It’s not a race, exactly,” he pointed out. “Just a fun ride. We’re easing in slowly, remember?”

We meaning Jossy and her new knee. He and Kate weren’t taking things all that slowly anymore.

They’d moved in together four weeks ago, with Kate still commuting to LA a few times a month.

For the most part, she spent her time in Seattle, where they’d just started filming the second season of Relationship Reboot with Dr. Viv .

Season one was currently the most-watched show in its time slot, with a primetime Emmy nod for Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program. Even Chase Whitfield had grudgingly admitted they’d made the right call keeping cast and crew intact.

Kate peered back at the bike course while Jonah admired the sun-slashed glints of mahogany in her hair. “Before I forget,” she said, “I invited Pete and Viv over as soon as we finish unpacking all the boxes.”

“Given how many boxes it took to hold all your stuff, that’ll be somewhere around the time their baby enters kindergarten.”

Kate gasped and looked up at him. “Are you serious? They’re pregnant?”

He laughed and planted a kiss on her forehead. “Not yet, but isn’t it just a matter of time?”

“I know they’re trying,” she said, making Jonah do a little shudder. “What?”

“ Trying ,” he repeated, giving one more shudder for dramatic effect. “That phrase makes me think of them grunting and gyrating like farm animals.”

“Thank you for ruining the beauty of procreation and childbirth for me,” she said. “And the sweetness of that relationship.”

“I don’t think anything could ruin the sweetness of that relationship,” he pointed out. “The two of them together are like a teddy bear cuddling a jar of organic wildflower honey.”

“I’m just glad they’re happy.”

So was Jonah, honestly. Part of him had expected Viv’s second chance at love to come in the form of someone powerful or pretentious or sophisticated. Someone like Chase Whitfield, maybe. But in the end, it had happened with a guy who looked like the human equivalent of a hug.

Jonah could appreciate that.

Kate turned back to face the race course, glancing once at her watch. “I hope she’s okay,” Kate said. “I know Jossy was worried about the last part of the course. Something about technical terrain or hills or something.”

“Will you relax? She’s fine.” Jonah gave her another squeeze, aware that he was reassuring himself as much as he was her. Despite Jossy’s new independence and new leg, he still hadn’t stopped feeling protective. He’d probably never stop.

A clang of cowbells drew their attention to a bend in the road as the first pack of cyclists swooped into view.

Jonah scanned the crowd, looking for his sister.

Good Lord, how many bike racers were there?

Big, burly guys with thighs the size of hams, and women who were almost indistinguishable from the men, aside from the pink and purple racing jerseys.

Suddenly, he spotted her. Jossy wore a yellow top, black bike shorts, and a grin so wide he could see it from two hundred yards away. As she surged ahead and then whizzed past, Jonah saw the Clearwater Animal Shelter logo on the back of her jersey.

He stuck his fingers in his mouth and whistled. “Way to go, Joss!”

“Woohooo!” Kate called. “Nice work, Jossy!”

His sister sped through the finish line in a blur of color and big smiles, then stopped to accept slaps on the back from her teammates and the crowd. Jonah’s chest felt too big for his shirt as he watched his baby sister beaming.

Beside him, Kate slid an arm around his waist and smiled. “She looks so happy.”

“Yeah. She really does.”

As the crowd began to thin, Jossy broke away and ambled toward them. Her limp was still there, but barely noticeable now. If Jonah squinted, he might not see the scars at all.

“Wasn’t that awesome?” Jossy gushed. “Did you see how I passed that guy at the end?”

“I did.” Jonah wrapped his arms around her and squeezed so hard he thought he might crush them both. “Nice work.”

“That was incredible,” Kate said. “I know it wasn’t a race, but if it had been, you would have kicked some serious ass.”

“Thanks!” Jossy stepped back and wiped her forehead on the shoulder of her jersey, then took a drink of water from a bright-red bottle. “It’s too bad you’ll miss the race next month in Tacoma.”

“You decided to sign up for that one after all?” Kate said.

“Yeah, but don’t worry—I promise I’ll still be an attentive pet sitter for Marilyn. Maybe I’ll bring her with me when I check in on the kitties at the bookstore. It’ll be like homecoming for her.”

“Oh, she’ll love that,” Jonah said. “Car rides are her favorite. They rank right up there with bath time and getting feline press-on nails.”

Jossy laughed and took another swig of water. “Okay, maybe she’ll stay home.”

Beside him, Kate tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Are you sure it’s no trouble? We could find another pet sitter if you?—”

“Please,” Jossy said, waving her off. “Now that I have help at the shelter, I’ve got extra time on my hands.”

“Well, it is Marilyn,” Kate pointed out. “She can be kind of demanding.”

“I love that I have that in common with my cat-niece,” she said. “Besides, we have fun together. We’ll sit around talking about owls and thinking judgmental thoughts about Jonah.”

Jonah grinned and reached over to thwack the side of her helmet. “Maybe you could teach her another word. Something besides owl .”

Jossy laughed and wiped her forehead again. “Did you guys decide yet where you’re going?” she asked. “Where’s the big, romantic getaway gonna be?”

Kate smiled at Jonah, and he smiled back, hoping his face gave nothing away.

He forced himself not to glance at Jossy, afraid she might spoil it by accident.

He’d picked up the ring just this morning, and had it in his pocket right now.

Not that he planned to propose at a bike race, but he hadn’t had time to run home yet.

Jossy had gone with him to help choose it, and he’d asked for her input on how to propose. “Don’t say anything dumb,” she’d coached. “And don’t look at her boobs.”

“Thanks, Joss,” he’d muttered, ruffling her hair. “What would I do without you?”

“Fine, smartass.” She’d given the idea some thought. “Do it on vacation. Some special getaway just the two of you.”

Perfect. He couldn’t wait to set the plan in motion. Kate might be surprised, but not shocked. They’d talked about marriage, and they’d even discussed rings.

But this would be his chance to blindside her just a little, and in the best way possible.

Kate slid an arm around Jonah’s waist and looked at Jossy. “We haven’t picked a vacation spot yet,” she said. “We talked a little bit about Utah. I’ve wanted to see the Anasazi ruins for a long time.”

“They’re definitely beautiful,” Jonah agreed, remembering her words in Ashland. About the importance of reclaiming special places for yourself.

“We also talked about Portland,” Kate said. “The culinary scene there is really hot, and I’m scouting for talent for a new cooking show.”

Jossy made a face. “Because nothing says ‘romantic getaway’ like turning it into a work trip.”

Jonah laughed. “I’d be cool with it. Endless fine dining on Kate’s company budget? Sign me up.”

“That’s a perk,” Kate admitted, shrugging at Jossy. “But maybe not urgent. Rumors keep flying that Chef Melody might be retiring, so we’re on the hunt for the next big talent in TV chefs.”

“No kidding?” Jossy grinned. “I’ve watched her show for ages. You’ve got someone in mind from Portland?”

“Not exactly.” Kate shrugged. “It’s a Pacific Northwest town with an epic culinary scene, and that’s trendy right now, but there’s no rush.” She looked up at Jonah and smiled. “We can go someplace else.”

“I hear Sunridge Vineyards is nice,” he said. “Their wine is fantastic.”

“It is,” Kate said. “And their cabins are adorable, but I’ve been there before, for a documentary.” Her copper eyes flashed in the sunlight, making Jonah’s heart gallop. “Maybe we should try someplace new. Someplace that can become special for the two of us.”

He liked the sound of that. He liked it a lot. “I hear Ponderosa Resort is nice,” he said mildly. “The Oregon high desert?”

Kate grinned wider. “I visited once, for a friend’s wedding.” She sounded a little bit wistful. “I never even got to stay the night.”

“It sounds lovely,” he said. “Wild rabbits hopping around at sunset.”

Her smile got a little bit broader. “Coyotes yipping and the smell of sagebrush in the air.”

They delivered their lines with perfect timing. So different from how they’d uttered the words all those months ago in Ashland.

Everything now felt fresh and new, and Jonah couldn’t wait to start their next chapter. With an engagement ring burning a hole in his pocket, he slid an arm around Kate. His heart felt so full he thought it might explode.

“That vacation sounds epic,” he said. “Let’s pick that one.”

“Yeah?” Kate smiled into his eyes. “You’re sure?”

“Positive.” Jonah felt more certain than he’d ever felt in his life. “I’d vacation in hell, as long as I got to be with you.”

Laughing, she wrapped her arms around his waist. “Let’s stick with Ponderosa Resort for now.”

“Perfect.” And it was. So was Kate, or at least she was perfect for him. “I can’t wait.”

His sister shot him a knowing look. “Happily-ever-after couldn’t have happened to a nicer couple.”

“I think so, too.” Jonah kissed Kate, so damn grateful he’d found her. “Come on. We should get out of her before the next wave of cyclists comes through.”

“I’m feeling festive.” Kate looked from Jossy to Jonah. “Who wants to go out and celebrate?”

“Me!” Jossy bounced on her heels, glancing at Jonah. “How about you, bro?”

“I do.” Jonah looked at Kate, his heart overflowing with love for his two favorite women on earth. “I definitely do.”

***

Congrats to Kate and Jonah on their happily-ever-after! Fun fact: Ponderosa Resort is the setting of one of my most popular rom-com series, and I’ll give you a peek at it in just a sec.

But first, I’d like to offer a glimpse at the very last book in the Can’t Have Hearts Club. Keep reading for the first chapter of Now That It’s You , a 2017 RITA Award finalist!