Kitty leaned down to lift the still-frantic Sweetums into her arms. She hoped an hour had been long enough. The look on Jericho’s face when she left hadn’t been encouraging. But she couldn’t wait any longer.
She opened the door and stepped inside, then cupped her hand around Sweetums’s muzzle. “Now hush up, you. Jericho will have your furry little head if you don’t hush.”
“I may do that anyway.”
At the low, mumbled words, Kitty started. She looked up, then frowned at the sight that greeted her. Jericho was covered in dirt and dust. “What happened to you?”
“I met you.”
“Ha ha.” She unclipped the leash from Sweetums’s collar.
His brows lifted, taking with them a strand of clinging spider web. “You think I’m kidding?”
She reached out to pluck the spider web free. “Never mind. Did you find the sock?”
He held out the sock, which was dirty as could be but seemed none the worse for its journey down the vent. Sweetums uttered a delighted yap and jumped from Kitty’s arms, then ran to jump up on Jericho’s legs.
“Do you know the term ‘drop kick,’ doggie?”
Kitty plucked the dirty sock toy from his hand. “Don’t be such a sourpuss.” She dropped the sock down to Sweetums.
“No! Wait—!”
She jumped at Jericho’s yell. What on earth?
Sweetums grabbed the sock toy and bounded up the stairs.
“Stop him!”
Kitty scrambled to obey the bellowed command, but the little dog had too much of a head start. He hit the top of the stairs and paused just long enough to look down at Kitty and Jericho as they bounded after him. But the moment they were within reach, the dog spun and darted to his room.
“Come back here, you little rat!”
What was wrong with the man?
They chased Sweetums to his room, entering just in time to see the terrier standing at the edge of the still uncovered floor vent.
Sudden understanding hit Kitty between the eyes. “Oh, no!”
Jericho looked at her. “Wanna bet?”
As though he understood their every word, Sweetums held the sock over the vent. And let go. Kitty and Jericho stood there, staring at the now joyfully yapping dog and listening to the toy bounce its way to the depths of the heating ductwork.
Kitty bit her lip, afraid to look at the man beside her.
It started low, and then grew. Deep, rich laughter, filling the room. Kitty turned and found Jericho leaning against the doorjamb, laughing so hard now that tears ran down his face, leaving little trails in the dust on his cheeks.
Then it hit her too. Laughter that rose from deep within, joining his to fill the room.
He held out a hand to her. She didn’t hesitate to take it and let him draw her into the circle of his arms.
He cradled her against his chest, and when she met his eyes there was such tenderness there it took her breath away. His hands cupped her face and then, as though it was the most natural thing in the world, he leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to her lips. And just like that . . .
She was lost. And found.
Lost in the wonder of all Jericho was. Found with all he’d brought back into her life. Of renewed love and rediscovered joy.
When he drew away, her knees had gone so weak she had to grip his shirt to keep from falling. His deep chuckle warmed her, as did the hand that caressed her face.
“I love you.”
His simple words were an explosion of joy inside her. She looked up at him, and said the first thing that came to her dazed mind. “Please tell me this isn’t an April Fool’s joke.”
He laughed. “The only joke was in me thinking I could walk away from you. But you’re stuck with me, woman. Like it or not.”
“Oh”—she let her love shine in her gaze—“I like it. It’s always nice when the man you love loves you back.” She sighed and rested her cheek against his chest. “It finally happened, didn’t it?”
“What’s that?”
“The walls came crashing down.”
He didn’t even ask her what she meant. When she looked up at him, she could see in his eyes that he knew.
“I did everything I could to keep you out, Kitty. But there was no resisting you. And God. And all this crazy, wonderful chaos. I’m well and truly in love with you, Kitty Hawk. And I’m going to marry you. We belong together, now”—he caressed her face—“and for as many days as God gives us.”
“Oh,” she breathed the word out on a sigh, “that’s what I want. And I don’t even mind.”
“Mind?”
“That you’ll make my name more outrageous than it’s even been.”
She felt his chuckle, deep in his chest. “It’s only fair, considering what you’re going to do to my nice, ordered life.”
He kissed her again, and she knew. God had given her everything she’d been missing, restored everything she thought she’d lost.
Even April Fool’s.