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“I’m not going without you and Ellie. We stick together, kiddo.”
    She scoffed. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
    “It means you and El are stuck with me, like it or not. And I’m stuck with you. Where I go, you go. I promise.”
    Her lip wobbled some more. “Promise?”
    He nodded, even as he wondered how he could keep a promise like that. Eventually, he’d be back in Alaska, and the girls—
    Well, he’d find a way to make sure they were okay.
    He chucked his daughter under the chin. “So go get ready and let’s go to the geezer gorgefest.”
    Jenny stared him down a moment longer, defiant, strong. Then the ice in her eyes thawed a bit, and she got out of the chair and headed over to El. “Come on, Elephant. Let’s find your shoes.”

Five

    Luke draped his arm around Olivia’s waist, the move now as natural as breathing. How his life had changed in six months, in ways he’d never expected, never dreamed. Running the shelter with Olivia, getting engaged, regaining his sight and his health.
    Everything was different now, thanks to one stray dog, one determined woman, and one grandma’s not-so-subtle matchmaking. Chance, that stray dog, once near death, was now running around the yard, as exuberant as a puppy, while Olivia’s bichon, Miss Sadie, made a vain attempt to catch the golden’s tail.
    Luke’s fiancée—Lord, what a beautiful word that was—stood beside him, looking amazing in a pale blue sundress that offset her blond hair and wide green eyes, and kept his gaze focused on her bare arms and shoulders and incredible legs. Okay, on every inch of her.
    “How long until everyone goes home?” he said into Olivia’s neck, laying a kiss along the delicate warm skin. She fit against him like two pieces of wood dovetailing, something that still amazed him, even now. He loved her light floral fragrance, loved her flirty dresses, loved the way she had her hair up in a messy bun today, which gave him direct access to the tender valleys of her skin.
    She laughed, a merry, light, sweet sound. “Mike hasn’t even arrived yet. At least let the man eat before you kick him out.”
    He kissed her neck again, peppering a path along the soft edges of her hairline. Her perfume teased at his senses, reminded him of her waking up in his arms this morning, warm and sweet, and how wonderful it had been to ease into her body, into that feeling of home he found every time Olivia was near. “I hope he eats fast. I don’t want to wait that long to make love to my fiancée.”
    Another laugh. “Again? Already?”
    “You’re lucky I ever let you out of that bed.” He grinned.
    “Say it again, Luke.”
    “What? That you’re lucky I ever let you out of that bed?”
    “Not that.” She gave him a light swat. “The fiancée part. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of hearing that.”
    He chuckled, then leaned in to whisper against her ear, the heat of his breath mingling with the heat of her body. “If my fiancée wants to hear me call her my fiancée a hundred times a day, I’ll gladly oblige. Because I am madly in love with my
fiancée
. Enough?”
    Olivia giggled, and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “It’s a start.”
    “You two better get married quick,” Diana said as she strode across the lawn, looking like her older sister’s twin today in a pale peach dress that swirled around her legs and complemented the strappy gold flats she wore. Luke rarely saw Diana in a skirt or dress. Was it the barbecue or the guest list that had her dressing up? “You’re making all us single people jealous as hell.”
    Olivia laughed as she broke away from Luke and crossed to hug her sister. “Does it help that I made chocolate trifle?”
    “Definitely.” Diana grinned, then handed a big plastic bowl to Olivia. “I made salad. That should balance out the trifle.”
    “Of course. It’s the Diet Coke and large fries theory of counting calories.” The two sisters walked toward the picnic table, their heads