Whitney hadn’t understood why Jude had been so eager to leave. When he called her to say that he was on his way back, she went out into the yard to wait.

They had the gate open, and she saw him drive up.

He got out of the car and opened the passenger side.

The dog bounded to her as if he’d known her all her life.

Jude came behind, impossibly tall and sexy, his hair falling lightly over his forehead and a grin on his face.

“I thought you were a cat person?” she said.

“Yes, but…I’m in love with a dog person,” he told her. “And, somehow, canines have really grown on me.”

She laughed, threw her arms around him and kissed him. Then she drew back. “Jude, how are we going to work this out?”

“I don’t know,” he told her. “I only know that we will.” He looked down at her for a long moment. “I know that I met you, and my world changed. I changed. I love you. Too soon to say that? I hope not. It’s true.”

She smiled. “What’s too soon?” she asked him. “I love you,” she added softly.

He pulled her close and kissed her. Ruff barked.

And Whitney knew that time and distance would mean nothing. Sometimes, that would be annoying.

But annoying could never interfere with anything this powerful and sure.

They would work it out.