Page 87 of Colton's Wilderness Rescue
“Especially then.” He tightened his arms around her. “Though I’ll admit, watching you outperform everyone in the room does have its appeal.”
“Good.” She relaxed against him. “Because I plan to crush the K-9 division certification course next month.”
“I’d expect nothing less.”
Their comfortable moment was interrupted by Dancer’s sharp bark. The lab had moved to the window, ears perked toward something outside. Ripley joined him, both dogs suddenly alert.
“Must be the delivery guy with our new training equipment,” Noah said, reluctantly releasing Sabrina. “Though it’s pretty early for deliveries.”
She moved to the window, peering out. “It’s Jacob,” she reported, already heading for the door. “And he looks like he’s got news.”
Noah followed, doing his best to tamp back his excitement. Jacob rarely made house calls unless something significant had happened. The Annie Ross case had been proceeding slowly, hampered by dead ends and little information.
“Morning,” Jacob greeted them as Sabrina opened the door. His brother looked tired but energized, the way he always did when a case started breaking. “Sorry to drop by unannounced, but I figured you’d want to hear this in person. The woman from the fire? She’s awake.”
Noah felt Sabrina tense beside him, her body practically vibrating with the same anticipation coursing through his veins.
“What did she say?” Noah asked. “Does she know Annie?”
“Don’t know yet,” Jacob replied, a rare smile crossing his features. “That’s why we’re having this conversation. If you want in on this, I’ll give you a ride to the hospital.”
Sabrina was already reaching for her jacket. “Give us five minutes.”
As Jacob waited in his car, they moved through the familiar choreography of grabbing gear, securing the dogs, locking up. It struck Noah how seamlessly they operated now, anticipating each other’s movements, sharing space like they’d always done it.
He’d even told Sabrina how weird everything felt knowing his dad was dating again, how it had colored his memories of his parents together. They’d talked long into the night about it a few days ago, and he finally felt okay about it. Okay about a lot of things, even the possibility of never traveling the world again as an investigative reporter.
Why would he want to leave when his whole entire world was right here?
“Ready to chase a lead, Officer West?” he asked as they stepped onto the porch.
“Always, Mr. Colton.” She grinned, that competitive spark lighting her eyes. “Race you to the car.”
“You know I’ll let you win.”
“And you know I don’t need you to.” She brushed a quick kiss across his lips. “That’s why we work.”
As they headed toward Jacob’s waiting vehicle, the morning sun breaking through the clouds, Noah felt that bone-deep certainty again. They had a case to solve, a story to uncover, a life to build, and they were doing it all together, step for step, at full speed, no apologies.
Hurricane Noah had finally found his match, a force of nature just as wild, just as powerful and every bit as unstoppable. One day, he’d ask her to marry him, but on her schedule. When it felt right for both of them.
Meanwhile, the investigation wasn’t over, the story wasn’t finished, but they had all the time in the world to write the ending. Together.
* * * * *
