She cleared her throat. “Did you all just arrive?” Please, let them have just walked into the kennel area.

Laughter filled Jake’s eyes. “I think we caught most of the show.”

Footsteps sounded behind her, and Duke appeared.

“Duke.” Jake’s voice chilled. “Go out the back. Your rudeness to Ms. Kuras eradicated the courtesy of a quick paycheck. It will be mailed.”

Duke opened his mouth, thought twice, and left.

Rainie gazed at her lover. Was it tacky that she found Jake’s anger—at someone else—to be totally hot? Stop. Stop now. Jake’s mom stood right there, observing how Rainie was perving on her son.

Rainie flushed. As the door slammed behind Duke, she straightened her shoulders. Hopefully Jake’s parents wouldn’t be rude to her in front of him. She no longer thought he’d dump her if they disapproved—he had too much character for that—and he loved her. He showed her that every single day.

But she’d hate to cause friction between him and his family. “Mr. and Mrs. Sheffield, I’m sorry you had to witness that unpleasantness. If you’ll excuse me, I must arrange for another attendant to cover tonight.”

And Jake could leave with his family, and—

“We’re here to take you two out to eat, honey.” Jake’s mother linked arms with her. “I’m Elaine, and I’m so happy to finally meet you. I can see you’re just as wonderful as told.”

Rainie stopped dead in the hallway, pulling Elaine off stride. “What?”

Jake’s mother burst into laughter. “Oh, everyone has been telling us about the woman our son’s fallen for. Madeline Grayson. Zachary and his Jessica. Saxon. Such glowing reports.”

Glowing reports? But…

But if these people discovered who Rainie was, what she came from, they wouldn’t be so nice. And Rainie couldn’t deal with waiting for them to be disillusioned.

She gritted her teeth and manned up. Jake had taught her that hiding her past from loved ones was a mistake. “Mrs. Sheffield, you should know, my parents abandoned me. I ran away from foster care. I’m not—”

“Jake told us.” Jennifer stepped forward to take Rainie’s free hand and squeeze. “But, hey, we were in school together, remember? I just wish… Back in the day, I’d kinda hoped to be friends. Maybe we can now?”

“But…” Jake’s family knew? And still, they came here, wanting to go out to eat. Wanting to be friends. Despite the radiance filling her, she made one final try. “I-I have a bad background. On the streets and—”

“Yeah, I bet that’s why you could stand up to the dumbass back there.” The sister linked arms with Rainie on the other side and started them walking down the hall. “I would’ve wussed out. You were awesome.”

“She was, wasn’t she?” Elaine sounded…proud.

Rainie’s breathing hitched, and she stopped dead, frantically blinking back tears.

“Whoa.” Hard hands closed on her shoulders, and Jake pulled her away from the women and into his arms. “She’s the toughest woman I know, but she falls apart if you’re too nice to her. Be warned.”

“Got it,” Elaine said. She smiled at both Rainie and Jake, gathered her husband and daughter with a glance. “We’ll wait for you in the front.”

And as the footsteps retreated, Rainie heard Elaine whispering, “She’s a total keeper, all right. Saxon was correct.”

“You suppose Jake’d let me borrow her?” Mr. Sheffield asked. “That new secretary of mine could use some mentoring and—”

She was getting Jake’s shirt wet, she realized, about the time she felt his chest shaking. He was laughing.

Laughing.

She pulled back to glare at him.

“Fuck, you have the cutest mean look,” he said, kissing it right off her face. “You know, if you show me you love me, baby, I might—might—let you eat supper with us tonight.” His grin flashed white in his tanned face; his hands were strong on her shoulders, his eyes filled with his love.

She had to clear her throat before she reached up and held his face in her hands. “I love you so, so much. More than I ever can tell you.” She pulled his head down to hers.

And she knew, through all the years they would live, the kiss she shared with him then would rate as one of the most loving of all kisses…ever.

His smile lit her heart like a candle tucked inside.

“Mmmhmm.” He pulled her tighter into his arms, as if he couldn’t bear the few inches separating them. “That works, buttercup. That definitely works.”

The End