Never, came his startlingly simple and devastatingly revealing answer. And then right on the heels of that text came another. No hoops to jump through, either.

She stared at her stupid phone, feeling her stupid heart do a stupid squeeze as she thumbed her reply: That’s good because I don’t exactly excel at hoop jumping.

His answer caused her first laugh of the day: It’s okay, you excel in other areas.

Twenty-two

The next day Darcy was scheduled to work at Belle Haven. She spent the morning at the front desk and the afternoon with Adam in his office.

Adam was a good teacher but he was crap at paperwork for his training classes and cert workshops. Once she’d gotten him all straightened out, she told him about the new husky she needed to pick up.

“You really need that website,” Adam said.

“I know. I was thinking something like CareDogs.com or TherapyDogsRescue.com,” she said. “And people in need of a dog can learn more about what I’m doing and how to get on my list.”

They worked on a design for a few hours before Adam drove her out to pick up and then deliver the husky to his new owner, Ronan. And damn. She knew it wasn’t brain surgery or solving hunger or world peace, but she felt …

Of value.

The minute she thought it, the tightness in her chest spread and she realized it was warmth. She felt good about herself.

And … happy.

She was chipping away at her bad karma one dog at a time.

Back at Belle Haven, Wyatt was waiting for them. He gave Darcy a hug and …

A key to Belle Haven. She stared at the key, and then back to her brother and Adam.

“You’re a part of us here,” Adam said. “And this key proves it. It’s also so that when your brother forgets his key, which he does weekly, he can call you to save him so Emily and I don’t have to make fun of him. Here’s your office.” He opened a door.

“What? An office?” She stared inside. “Um, a supply closet?”

“We’re going to fix it up,” he said, waving a dismissive hand at the racks of dusty shelves. “Use your imagination for now.”

Her chest tightened. “Really?”

“Yeah. CareDogs.com needs a center of command, don’t you think? And there’s no better place than Belle Haven for that.”

She threw herself first at Wyatt and then Adam, hugging the big badass tight. Adam sighed at the display of affection and awkwardly patted her back. Wyatt, well used to her mercurial moods, took the hug with barely a grimace.

When she pulled free, they had an audience. Dell and his wife, Jade, were standing there beaming.

“You’re an official part of our team now,” Jade said.

Darcy had spent most of her life living purposely on her own team, telling herself she didn’t need anyone. But the thought of being part of the team here at Belle Haven gave her a warm glow normally reserved for her rescues and Gummy Bears. “Thank you,” she managed. “You won’t be sorry.”

“Of course we won’t,” Adam said. “Especially if you keep your hugs to any member of the team but me.”

That night Darcy was sitting up in bed staring down at the blank Word doc on her laptop, trying to figure out something to write about. She missed writing about her adventures, but getting out into the world to have a new adventure wasn’t going to happen.

She was still waiting for inspiration to strike, and also wondering how she was going to sleep … and what AJ might be doing … when her bedroom door opened and the man himself slipped into her room.

She stared at him. “What are you doing?”

“Playing Sandman.” He toed off his shoes and stripped down to black boxer briefs, which were sitting dangerously low on his hips, before climbing into bed with her.

“Is this about what I owe you?” she asked hopefully, setting aside her laptop.

“No. No tabs, remember?”

“Damn,” she said with heartfelt disappointment.

He laughed—God she really loved his laugh—and tugged back the covers to look at her. He laughed again as he took in her nightie, which featured Queen Elsa from Frozen.

What could she say, she loved the woman’s ’tude.

AJ tucked her into the same position they’d been last night.

“You keep getting my hopes up,” she said as he reached past her to turn off the light.

He bit down lightly over the back of her neck. “Soon.”

Her entire body broke out in anticipatory goose bumps. “When?”

“When your sister isn’t right down the hall.”

She sighed. “So why are you here if not for all the orgasms?”

“To tell you that Trent left me a message. He’s coming up the day after tomorrow to seal the deal.”

“Oh, AJ,” she breathed, clutching his arm to her chest. “That’s wonderful.”

“It is, and I owe it all to you.”

“No tabs,” she whispered, and fell asleep with him holding her tight.

When she woke up, she was once again stunned and startled to realize she’d slept the night through.

And her Sandman was long gone …

Dammit. She was hot and achy all the time and he seemed so easily able to resist her. What did that mean? She called him.

“Hey,” he said, sounding distracted.

“Hey yourself. What’s with the repeated vanishing act?”

“Had work.”

She waited for more. It didn’t come. “You sure it’s just work?”