Page 101 of Fun and Games

"The reason I was afraid I'd find you gone wasn't just because I wanted to apologize," he said. "I needed to tell you something else."

My heart jumped.

He pulled back to look me in the eyes. He brushed my hair away and tucked it behind my ear.

"Mason, I—" I started to say, but he put a finger to my lips.

"Let me say it first." He placed a soft kiss on my lips. "I love you."

"I love you, too," I breathed into his mouth.

And then we were kissing, clutching each other, lips moving together with a desperate yearning. We barely parted for breath as hands roamed and tongues tangled. I whimpered into his mouth and he groaned into mine.

Finally, we had to break away, but stayed in the circle of each other's arms, not letting go.

"I'm sorry I made you doubt my feelings for you," I told him.

"I understand," Mason said. "I understand that you loved David, and a part of you always will."

"I'm not leaving my love for him behind," I said. "But I'm embracing the future, and my feelings for you." I leaned my head against his chest. "My love for David doesn't take away my love for you. It makes it stronger. Because I know what loss feels like. And I know what love feels like. I understand just how precious our time is together."

"I'm so sorry I made you cry," he replied. "I promise, I'll never give you a reason to cry, ever again."

"What if it's tears of ecstasy?" I teased.

"That's an exception," he replied.

We both let out contented sighs as we held each other.

My phone rang. My sister, trying to call me back.

"I kind of hung up on her," I said, chagrined. "She's probably worrying."

"That's what big sisters do, right?" Mason replied. "I'd like to meet her one day."

I rested my head on his chest as an idea came to me.

"Since I'm taking a permanent position, I won't have as much time to travel as I used to," I said. "But I do have one last short trip I need to make." I lifted my head to meet his eyes. "Would you like to come with me?"

"I'd love to," he said. "As long as it's not another dog sanctuary. I can't afford to fall in love with another puppy. Lucky is costing me an arm and a leg as it is."

"You really did give him an appropriate name," I said. "That dog is lucky to have you."

"No." He pressed his lips to my forehead. "The lucky one is me."

Thirty-Nine

"It'sa good thing the little guy seems to enjoy road trips," Mason said.

I looked into the backseat. Lucky was sitting there, strapped into his puppy seatbelt harness, with his nose pressed against the window. He'd been a very good dog this whole way.

"Thank you for coming with me," I told Mason. "I know you had to arrange time out of your schedule."

"One last trip before settling down," he said.

"I hope not," I replied. "I managed to negotiate a good vacation package for my new job. I'll still be able to travel."

I looked down at the memento box in my lap. It was time to come up with a bucket list on my own.