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THE NEXT MORNING WHEN Veronica entered the hospital, she saw nothing but chaos. Two people were arguing about whose appointment was first. Carrie was doing her best to calm them down, but they weren’t listening. Veronica put her fingers to her lips and gave a shrill whistle. Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at her in surprise.
“Who has the first appointment?” Veronica glared at them.
Carrie told her she had tried to explain to the two arguing that the schedule was what she was going by, but they didn’t care. One woman thought, since she’d arrived first, she should go ahead of everyone else.
Veronica walked over to the desk, glanced down at the page listing the day’s appointments, and called one of the names. The other person huffed, and sat down. Veronica had Patsy take the patient back while she headed for the operating room. A cat needed to have part of its tail removed since a raccoon had gotten a hold of the poor thing and bit its tail down to the bone. It was just a good thing the cat had its rabies shot.
So, it’s going to be one of those days.
Veronica chewed her lower lip as she prepped for surgery. As if she didn’t have enough on her plate, she had to figure out what to do about Cameron. She had to tell him it was over between them. It had been coming on for some time. She just hadn’t wanted to admit it to herself or to him. She didn’t love him. She wasn’t even sure if she ever had. Now, she knew she didn’t and never could. At least not as long as she wanted Lincoln the way she did. There seemed to a connection with Lincoln that she knew she’d never have with Cameron.
She had taken her ring off when she got home the previous evening, and hadn’t put it on this morning. She knew it would hurt Cameron but it wouldn’t be fair to him, or herself, to marry him. It was more than her attraction to Lincoln but it was there, and too strong. Cameron wanted things only his way, and it didn’t include her career, or this hospital.
She glanced around at the surgical room, and took pride in knowing it was hers. He didn’t understand that. She knew she had to tell him it was over between them for his sake, as well as hers. Even if nothing ever happened between her and Lincoln, her relationship with Cameron was never going to work.
After finishing the surgery, she entered the waiting room to find it empty. She looked at Carrie with a surprised expression. “Are we done for the day? It’s early.”
Veronica stepped alongside the desk and looked through the appointment book.
“We have a lot for this afternoon. So don’t worry, you’ll be busy enough.” Carrie smiled at her. She laughed when Veronica stuck out her tongue at her.
“I’m going to grab a cup of coffee with Patsy then. Let me know when the next patient comes in.”
Carrie assured her she would and Veronica headed toward the back room to find Patsy. She found her in the last exam room, filling out papers on a patient she’d just seen. She glanced up at Veronica and smiled at her.
“What’s going on?” She stood up from the chair and walked forward to meet Veronica alongside the exam table.
Veronica widened her eyes wondering to what she referred. “What do you mean?”
Patsy put her hands on her hips and her eyes narrowed.
“Give,” she told Veronica. “You look like you have a lot on your mind, and it isn’t work.”
Veronica cleared her throat. She reached back and closed the door. “I’m going to break my engagement to Cameron.”
Patsy’s mouth dropped open. “What? Why?”
Veronica frowned. “I can’t marry him, that’s for sure. I thought we had things in common, but I realize now that it was an illusion. He had convinced me that my life was important to him, and it isn’t. I want this and he doesn’t want me to have it. I hate the idea of hurting him so I’ll have to do it gently. Maybe I can blame it on being apart rather than him turning out to be far more selfish than I knew. I just know I have to do it. Besides, I can’t love him the way he wants, while wanting Lincoln the way I do.”
“You can tell Cameron the truth, about everything, or lie but either way, he’ll be hurt.”
Veronica knew that, but she had to figure out what to do. Should she be honest and tell him how she felt about him and how she wanted Lincoln? No, he’d just tell her it was an infatuation, and convince her it was clouding her judgement. Was it? What if that’s all it really was, infatuation.
Maybe she needed to think this through some more. Maybe she just needed to see Cameron again. That thought really didn’t appeal to her at all though. She’d thought she loved him, once upon a time, but how can you love one man while desiring another? Besides, he needed to understand her life was here. Her career was here. If he loved her the way he claimed, he’d want that for her. She had to call him. She’d tell him she needed to see him.
When Veronica called Cameron, he wasn’t available. He was in a meeting and his receptionist told her he would call her back. She didn’t hear from him the rest of the afternoon. Shrugging, she decided it would happen when it happened. She sat at her desk in her office and dictated notes on her last patient into her recorder. It was good to keep busy because then she didn’t think about Cameron, or Lincoln.
Later, as she sat in her living room, she couldn’t help but think about Lincoln. The man knew how to kiss that was for sure. Cameron’s kisses had never gotten to her like that.
Stop! You can’t keep comparing the two men. She sighed in frustration.
Patsy and Carrie had gone to a movie and had asked her along, but she’d declined. Maybe she should have gone anyway, but then a movie just didn’t sound good right now. She glanced at the time before picking up her cell phone. She dialed Cameron’s number, again.
“Hi babe,” he said in what had become an irritating way of answering.
“I’ve left messages for you, Cameron. Why haven’t you returned my calls?”
“I’ve been busy. Business is good.”
“So good you can’t pick up the phone and call me? I am your fiancée, you know.”
“Veronica, we both lead busy lives. What’s so urgent?”
“Urgent? I’ll tell you what’s urgent...this relationship. I don’t think it’s going to work.”
“Are you breaking our engagement?”
Veronica sighed. “I don’t see how it’s going to work. We live apart, never seeing each other, and obviously, too busy to even communicate with each other. I’m not leaving Dry River and you won’t leave Phoenix.”
“A lot of couples live apart...”
“Well, I don’t want to be one of those couples, Cameron.”
“So, that’s it, huh? Not even going to give it a chance?”
“We have given it a chance! Good Lord, you can’t even return my calls because you’re too busy. Yes, it’s over. I can’t do this.”
“I love you, Veronica.”
“I’m sorry, Cameron. I’ll send the ring back to you. Goodbye.” She hung up and placed her hands over her face, but no tears fell. She really didn’t feel anything but relief that it was over. She glanced down at the phone expecting it to ring. When it didn’t, she shook her head. He didn’t even call her back to fight for her...for them. She was right to have ended it.
She jerked when it did suddenly ring. She picked it up, but didn’t see Cameron’s name. She answered it, and was surprised to hear Lincoln’s voice.
“I’m sorry to bother you, Roni, but one of the horses is down. It may be colic. Can you come out here?”
She wasn’t sure she wanted to see him but she couldn’t let a horse suffer. “I’m on my way.”
She gathered her things, hurried to her van and climbed in. She had to make good time because colic wasn’t good. It could kill a horse. Especially if the horse was down on the ground, and started to roll. The intestines could twist and the horse could die.
Steering into Lincoln’s drive, if asked, she’d have to admit she was a little nervous. She hadn’t seen him since she left him the day she kissed him. She groaned. Now was not the time to think about that. She had a job to do. Parking alongside the barn, she shut the vehicle off, grabbed her bag, and climbed out. Lincoln met her at the barn entrance.
“The men are trying to get him up, but it’s rough going.”
“How long has he been down?”
“Since just a few minutes before I called you. This isn’t one of mine and I’d really hate to call the owner and have to tell him his horse has died.”
“I’ll do what I can,” she said as she entered the stall. She kneeled down beside the horse and put her stethoscope around her neck. She leaned forward to listen to the horse’s stomach. It was rumbling and the horse kept trying to nip at his stomach. Sitting back on her heels, she withdrew a syringe and administered an antispasmodic medicine. She looked up at Lincoln.
“Please try to get him up. The shot I gave him should work quickly, but we can’t take a chance he’ll try to roll. His stomach is really bothering him.” When she began to get to her feet, the horse moved his head around and clipped her shoulder, sending her backwards. She would have fallen if Lincoln hadn’t caught her. She laughed. “Thank you.”
“Perks of the job, huh?” He smiled at her then looked to the men waiting to help. “Let’s get him up.”
Veronica stood back and watched as the men lifted using a strap hooked under the horse. After a few tense minutes, the horse finally stood. She glanced at Lincoln and smiled when he winked at her. She pushed at her hair with her left hand but stopped when she noticed Lincoln looking at her hand. He strode forward to stand in front of her.
“Where’s your ring?” He whispered the question near her ear. She saw the other men leave the stall.
“I took it off,” she whispered back.
“Just took it off?”
“Permanently. It’s over, I broke things off.”
He jerked her against him and took her mouth in a deep kiss. He pulled back from her. “I have to have you, Roni or I’m going to go insane.”
“Yes, Lincoln.”
He grabbed her bag, and then her hand. He tugged her along through the barn, and she couldn’t help but wonder what the men standing nearby were thinking. Especially, when they reached the barn entrance and Lincoln scooped her up, and carried her to the house. Once inside, he kicked the door shut, set her on her feet, dropped her bag to the floor, and cupped her face in his hands.
“Are you sure?” He stared into her eyes.
“I can’t have you going insane, can I?” She smiled.
Lincoln laughed. “I think I will either way.”
“I’m sure.” She let out a little squeal when he picked her up again, and took the stairs from the kitchen two at a time.
He carried her into the bedroom and placed her on the bed then he stepped back and stared down at her. She raised herself up on her elbows to look at him. “Lincoln? I thought you wanted this.”
“I do. I just can’t believe you’re really here.”
“I am. Come here.” She held her arms out to him.
Lincoln lay down beside her and pressed his lips to hers. When his tongue entered her mouth, she moaned and thrust her fingers through his hair. His hand ran down her over one breast to the bottom of her T-shirt. He pulled it up over her head and hissed in a breath when he saw her black demi-cup bra.
“You are so beautiful,” he said against her lips. “Do you have any idea how long I’ve dreamed of this?”
“How long?”
“It seems like all my life.” He pressed his lips to hers as his hand moved to the snap of her jeans.
Veronica ran her hands all over him, from his hair, down his back to his tight butt. She squeezed him and felt his body shake with a chuckle.
“You have a great ass, Lincoln.”
“I thought the same about yours the day I took the dogs to your office and followed you down the hall.”
She pulled back. “Seriously?”
“Yep. Now kiss me,” he growled.
She laughed. “Yes, sir.” She pressed her lips to his, and then he took over. He moved his lips to her neck where he nibbled sending delicious shivers over her.
“You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever known, Roni.”
Her eyes filled with tears. Good Lord, what’s wrong with you?
She ran her fingers through his hair as he moved his mouth down her body pressing hot kisses against her stomach then slowly removed her jeans and panties. He kissed his way up her legs, and then moved his tongue through her curls. She groaned louder than she expected.
Lincoln sucked gently on her clitoris. He complained earlier that he thought he’d go insane, well she was going insane now. She panted hard as she bent her knees to allow him better access. The flutter in her stomach grew stronger and she cried out when she came against his mouth. She felt him grin against her oversensitive body as she floated back down from her orgasm.
Lincoln moved up her body, spreading hot kisses along her quivering skin, until he reached her mouth where he kissed her long and deep. She tasted herself on his lips and it thrilled her. He pulled his clothes from his body with such fervor that she didn’t really get a chance to enjoy the unwrapping. After sheathing himself in a condom, he entered her slowly, inching into her, until she gasped. He moved against her slowly. It was making her crazy so she wrapped her legs around his waist making him moan. She met his thrusts with eagerness so he started moving harder and faster against her.
“Roni...I want you to come with me,” he whispered in her ear, her name nearly a sigh. Then he growled low in his throat. Veronica moaned and knew she was close again.
“I love feeling you clench around my cock,” he whispered against her lips as she came again. He groaned her name and she could feel him throbbing inside of her as he came too. He collapsed on top of her, and then kissed her cheek. She could feel sweat rolling down her temple into her hair.
Lincoln rolled to his side.
“I can’t believe what I’ve been missing,” she whispered while smiling so hard, she thought she’d never stop.
“What do you mean what you’ve been missing?” Lincoln propped his head in his hand and looked down at her. She shook her head, her smile waning and looked away from him. It was too embarrassing.
“Roni?” He put his hand under her chin and turned her face back so she had no choice but to look at him.
“I...uh, I never had orgasms with Cameron.”
Lincoln flinched as if she’d slapped him. “What? As sensual as you are? And sexy?” He shook his head not believing her claim.
“You think I’m sexy?” She grinned.
Lincoln glared at her. “That’s a given. He’s just an idiot.”
“I thought it was me for a long time.”
He busted out laughing so she punched him. “What’s so funny?”
He looked at her grinning, and stroked a finger along her cheek then across her lower lip. “Trust me, honey, it isn’t you.”
Veronica grinned with delight. She believed him. She put her head on his shoulder and her arm across his waist. She snuggled against him as he wrapped his arms around her and laid his cheek on the top of her head. Being with Lincoln, it felt right, just so right. She’d dreamed of this for so long, but she wondered if it was real. After all, she didn’t really know Lincoln, not the man he was today. Of course, she thought she knew the bad boy he once was and it seemed she’d had the wrong idea about him then so it was possible he was just who she thought he was now. A good man...she hoped, not a man like Cameron, who only wanted to dominate and control her. She would take her time finding out just whom Lincoln Cole was.
Together, curled against each other, they fell asleep, neither wanting to move.
****
A FEW HOURS LATER, they were in the kitchen when they heard a vehicle pull up outside. Linc walked to the door and looked out. He glanced back at her. “Well, we’re in for it now. It’s Storm and Dakota.”
Roni got up and ran for the stairs in the kitchen. Linc caught her before she got too far.
“Why are you running? Are you ashamed of being here with me?”
Roni’s mouth dropped open. She punched him. “No! What a stupid question. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m wearing your T-shirt and nothing else.”
Linc wiggled his eyebrows at her. “Oh, I noticed but you’re right. They don’t need to notice too. Go put something on.” He smacked her on her ass when she turned from him.
She spun back around. “You’re gonna pay for that, Cole.”
Linc grinned. “Can’t wait.”
She laughed and ran up the stairs just as Storm and Dakota entered the kitchen. Linc leaned against the doorjamb, folded his arms across his broad chest, and glared at two of his best friends.
Dakota stopped in his tracks. “What? We’re going to the Fireside since it’s my last night in town and thought maybe you’d want to go.”
“I think Linc has plans to stay in tonight,” Storm said. “Don’t ya, buddy?”
Linc sighed and moved to a chair at the table pulling it out. He sat down and ran his hands over his face. He loved these two men like brothers, along with the other three members of the so-called bad boys of Dry River, but sometimes he liked to be alone. Right now, he only wanted to be alone with Roni. He watched as Storm walked to the door and looked out. He turned back to Linc, still grinning.
“So, is that the Dry River Animal Hospital van out there?” He looked around then back to Linc. “Where’s Roni? Working on a horse in the barn?”
Linc was sure Storm knew damn well she wasn’t in the barn. Linc glared at him. “Fuck you.”
Storm burst out laughing. “That hurts, Linc. It really does. So where is she?” He teased.
“I’m right here,” Roni said as she strolled into the kitchen. She walked up to stand behind Linc’s chair and wrapped her arms around his neck from behind. He felt the softness of her body against his back, the warmth of her breath alongside his cheek and it made him happy. He reached up to caress her arms while watching as Dakota reacted like a fish out of water, his mouth opening, and closing in surprise, while Storm continued to grin.
“How? When?” Dakota stuttered.
Linc waved his hand. “Doesn’t matter, it’s none of your business.”
Dakota pulled out a chair, turned it around, and straddled it. “The hell it isn’t. You’re like a brother to us, Linc, yet you don’t tell us that you and Roni are together?”
Roni leaned down and kissed Linc’s cheek. “That wasn’t very friendly of you, Lincoln.” She laughed softly in his ear.
Linc continued to glare at his friends. “Okay, now you know. You can leave.”
Storm and Dakota laughed. Linc’s mouth twitched, and then he started laughing too.
“About fucking time, you two,” Storm muttered.
Linc looked at Dakota. “I thought you were thinking about staying? Did you change your mind about running for D. A.?”
“No. I want to do it. It will take a little while before I can though. I have cases to close and then there’s Megan. I want to make sure she’ll come back with me.”
“You shouldn’t have a problem with that, Dakota,” Roni said.
Dakota shook his head. “I don’t know. She has a brother she’s taken care of since they were both young. That’s the only thing that worries me. If he doesn’t want to move here, she might not want to either.”
“Isn’t he old enough to take care of himself by now?” Linc asked him.
“He’s twenty-two, but they’re really close. I can’t see Megan leaving him behind.”
“If she loves you, she’ll come here for you, Dakota,” Linc remarked thinking of Roni’s dentist. He hadn’t made any effort for her.
“And if her brother loves her, he won’t stand in the way of her happiness,” Roni added.
Dakota sighed. “I don’t know. I kind of mentioned living here to her and I could tell by the look on her face, she wasn’t keen on the idea.”
“Do you love her?” Roni asked him.
“Yes, but I want to do this. I’d like to have a life with her here. If I make D.A., or even if I don’t, if I open an office here, I can work with Nathan and on the ranch.”
“You’ll work it out. If she wants to be with you, she’ll be here with you.” Roni smiled at him.
“Come on, let’s go and leave these two alone,” Storm said as he moved toward the door.
Dakota stood and grinned. “Have fun. We’ll see you later.” He followed Storm out the door.
Linc pulled Roni onto his lap. He nibbled on her neck making her laugh then he stood, and carried her back upstairs to the bedroom.
****
WINTER QUICKLY MOVED in on Dry River, and Veronica and Lincoln were rarely apart these days. She hadn’t heard from Cameron even after sending the ring back to him. Lincoln seemed happy about it, but she still wasn’t sure where this was going between them. There hadn’t been any discussion about the future, and other than the fact that they spent most of their free time together, she wasn’t even sure they were exclusive. She hadn’t asked him about other women, mainly because she feared the answer. What if all she was to Lincoln was a passing fancy...a fling?
One evening, they were sitting in his living room while the snow piled up outside. Lincoln had made a fire in the fireplace in the living room. The smell of burning wood had filled the room making it feel cozy and safe. The orange and blue flames flickered around the logs, and the crackling sound lent to the romantic atmosphere. They’d spent most of the afternoon watching old movies. When Lincoln’s phone rang, he reached for it and answered. She watched him as he just listened for a moment. He turned away from her slightly. “Uh no, not tonight, I’m busy.”
She saw him glance at her and she narrowed her eyes. He laughed. “Sorry, can’t make it then either.”
After a few minutes, he hung up and leaned back, putting his arm around Veronica to bring her closer to him. She stiffened with reproach. “Who was that?”
Veronica wasn’t sure if she had the right to ask him, but she wasn’t going to ignore it either.
“Just an old friend.” When Veronica snorted, Lincoln looked at her. “No one you need to worry about, honey. I used to take her out and since I haven’t for a while, she called to ask me out.”
“Did you have sex with her?”
Lincoln burst out laughing. “I’m a man, she was willing.” When she frowned at him, he pulled back slightly. “What do you want me to say, Roni? That I’ve never been with any woman but you?”
She stood and put her hands on her hips. “I’m not that naïve, but it would be nice if you let me think so instead of flaunting it in front of me.”
He pulled her down onto his lap. “Oh, come on...am I your first?”
“That’s not fair, Lincoln. Cameron and I were engaged, you know that. You weren’t thinking you were, were you?”
“No, but we can’t dwell on each other’s pasts either. We’re adults. I know you had sex with the idiot you were engaged to, but I don’t let it get to me. You were going to marry him. I wish I had been your first, darlin’.”
He kissed her lips, nibbling on them when she didn’t respond. She sighed against his lips, and then she opened her mouth to him. They lay back together on the couch and continued watching movies.
Veronica couldn’t help but let the conversation replay in her head. She hated the thought that he’d been with other women, but she was realistic. He was thirty-three years old now and she’d known back when he was in his early twenties, he’d already had sex with probably more than a few women. That was why he’d scared her when he wanted to go out with her. He knew so much more and she knew nothing. She hadn’t even learned much of anything from Cameron. He’d never cared about her being satisfied or not. He’d roll off her, saying, ‘that was good, babe.’ What a joke. Good for him maybe, but not particularly for her. She’d never gotten anything out of it. He didn’t even kiss her while he was enjoying himself. She’d try to get him to kiss her but he was only hell-bent on satisfying himself. There wasn’t even much in the way of foreplay.
She glanced at Lincoln from the corner of her eye. He definitely believed in foreplay. He took his time to make sure she was enjoying it before he went any further. The things he did in bed were things she’d only read about. He definitely knew how to please a woman. The things he would whisper in her ear made her blush. She loved him so much.
Had she just admitted to herself that she was in love with Lincoln Cole? Was it possible she had fallen in love with him? The idea scared her somewhat. What if he didn’t feel the same way about her, and all this was just about having fun. Making up for lost time when she’d turned him away. She didn’t want to think about that. She snuggled against him, and he wrapped his arm around her tighter. She would be satisfied with what she had until she knew otherwise. The warmth of the fire and his body made her feel sleepy. She closed her eyes.
She moaned when suddenly something roused her from her sleep.
“Roni, the electric is out. We need to get some blankets and stay here in the living room by the fire tonight,” she heard Lincoln say.
Veronica shivered and looked up at him. “I’m already cold.”
Lincoln stood above her with a flashlight. “I’ll be right back. Stay here.”
She watched him walk off with just the beam of the flashlight showing her where he was. She heard him go upstairs and a few minutes later, he came back with two sleeping bags and pillows. He unzipped the sleeping bags so he could use one on the bottom to lie on and one to cover them. After getting them just right, he folded back the top layer and sat down on the bottom one. He patted the space beside him. Veronica went to him and cuddled against him because she was still shivering. Lincoln settled in alongside her and pulled the top sleeping bag over them. He pulled her close to him, trying to warm her up. It was working. In fact, she was more than warm, she was getting hot, and she didn’t mean just on the outside. She looked up at him. He gave her a sly grin.
“It would certainly warm us up, wouldn’t it?” He chuckled and waggled his eyebrows seeming to read her thoughts. Veronica blushed but nodded in agreement. Their joint idea had them warmed up in no time.
****
THE ELECTRIC DIDN’T come on until nearly four in the morning, but they kept warm. Lincoln kept the fire going making sure she was warm after they’d put their clothes back on. She lay across his chest and he had his arms wrapped tightly around her. He liked this. He liked having her here in his house, and his life.
What in the hell was he going to do if she left him? How would he make it without her in his life after finally having her? Shit! It had all happened so fast, as if in a dream. What if he was just the rebound guy, just taking up the space left open by her ex-fiancé. He hoped like hell that...dentist didn’t try to win her back. Would she go, he wondered.
“Are you awake?” He whispered against her ear.
“No.”
Linc chuckled. “Yes, you are.”
Roni sat up and then rolled to lie down on top of him. She stretched her legs over his. He held her to him, running his fingers through her hair.
How long he’d wanted this, just to hold her to him and keep her close. He’d fallen in love with her ten years ago, and he had to suppose that he’d never stopped loving her. He was afraid of the future though. Would she want to be a part of it? He hoped so but then, she’d agreed to be another man’s future too and changed her mind. She’d even worn his ring yet almost overnight, she changed her mind. Would she do that to him? His father had thought his mother wanted to be a part of their futures too, but she’d left without looking back. He wouldn’t survive going through that again.
When Roni pushed his T-shirt over his head, while she kissed his chest before moving down along his stomach, Linc stopped thinking. She unzipped his jeans and pulled them down. His skin quivered as she ran her tongue down toward his dick. He groaned when she wrapped her hand around him, and slowly moved it up and down his growing cock. She touched her tongue to the head swirling the tip around it then down the length of him. When she moved her tongue back up, she put her mouth over him and sucked on him while pumping the shaft with her hand. He moaned and clenched his fists in her hair. She continued to suck on him. He was too close too soon. He gritted his teeth trying to hold back.
“Baby, you have to stop,” he whispered.
She moaned against him, and it shot right through him. “No.”
“I’m too close...,” he groaned out. She licked his cock while she pumped her hand, and then sucked him into her mouth again. “Roni...baby, I’m too close...” he repeated then stiffened, groaning deep in his chest, and came hard. She didn’t stop sucking on him until he lay spent. She kissed her way up his stomach and chest to his lips.
“Are you all right?” She smiled at him kissing his lips.
“No. I’m dead.”
Roni laughed and kissed him again. She laid her head on his chest and he wrapped his arms around her. He kissed her hair and closed his eyes, thinking how much he loved her.
Linc realized just then that he was very much in love with her. But he had to wonder about her, how did she feel about him? Was there even a chance that she could love him? She admitted she’d been afraid of him when she was young, but what about now. The thought that he was merely a rebound guy came into his head again. What would he do if she decided he wasn’t enough for her? After having her for himself, he wasn’t sure he could go on if she didn’t love him or want him anymore. Admittedly, they were good together in, and out of bed. All he had to do was think of her and he wanted her, desiring nothing more than to be buried deep inside her and love her, but was it enough for her. He knew he wanted a future with her.
Linc peeked down at her beautiful face. Her eyes were closed and her breathing even. He could tell she’d fallen asleep. He smiled. This was what he wanted. He would be her pillow forever, as he knew how exhausting her workweek was. He closed his eyes too and allowed sleep to capture him.