Page 53 of Vienna's Valentine
“Okay?” Vienna’s forehead wrinkles in confusion as she unwraps the second gift. Beneath the wrapping is another black box, just a little larger than the first. She takes off the lid and pulls out a nylon collar. “What’s?—”
Then she sees the tag attached to it. Engraved in the metal is one word.Zeus.
Her mouth drops open. “Caleb? What’s this?”
“We would put the address on the back of it. Our address. If we adopt him.”
“Adopt him?”
“No one came to claim him,” I explain. “So he’scleared for adoption. Or fostering. I talked to Rory, and she said we could take him if we wanted. Adopt him. I know you love him, and you said you’ve always wanted a dog?—”
“We would adopt him? Adopt Zeus?”
“I know adopting a dog is a big step for a couple. So he could be yours. But I would take care of him, too. Help train him. I would put up a fence so he could play outside safely. We could take him on hikes and trips…”
“Caleb.” The tears in Vienna’s eyes overflow. “Yes. Oh, yes. I would love to adopt him. But are you sure? Having me and a dog living with you? That’s a lot…”
I pull her into my arms and kiss the tears from her cheeks. “It’s not. And I’m sure. More sure I’ve been of anything in a very long time.”
She looks down at the keychain sitting on her lap, then at the collar in her hand, and finally, back at me. “These are the best gifts…” She swallows hard. “I never had a real Valentine’s Day before. With gifts and a man who really cared about me.”
“You will now,” I say. “Gifts and a man whodefinitelycares about you. Who’s falling in love with you. Not just on Valentine’s Day. But every day.”
Vienna flings her arms around me and kisses me hard. Then she draws back to meet my gaze. Her eyes are pink and teary, but bright with happiness. “I hoped coming here would be a new start. But I never dreamed…”
My heart swells with the same joy I see in her eyes. “It’s a new start for both of us.”
And it is. A new start I didn’t think I wanted. One I never would have looked for. But now?
I don’t want to be alone anymore. Not when I have Vienna.
Lifting Vienna into my lap, I press a soft kiss to her lips. “Happy Valentine’s Day, Vienna.”
Her hand comes to my cheek as she kisses me back. “Happy Valentine’s Day.”
And it really is.
