“At last!” he exclaimed, and reached out to grab her around her waist and hoist her against his chest before he planted a solid, impatient kiss on her mouth.

As usual, the natural spark between them exploded. Carson wrapped her arms around him, starved for his kisses. She hung on, still kissing, as Blake walked her into the room, tottering as he reached out to close the front door. Hobbs barked excitedly beside them, pawing to get their attention.

Blake tore his mouth away to growl at his dog, “Hobbs, get down!”

Hobbs grunted and went to his bed and settled with a disappointed thump.

“This one’s all mine,” Blake said against her lips, his eyes gleaming, and claimed her mouth again.

Giddy, laughing, kissing, they stumbled into Blake’s bedroom, kicking off shoes en route to the bed.

Later, lying naked in Blake’s arms, Carson wondered at the red-hot quality of their passion. Undressing and getting into the bed was a blur, all part of one seamless, hungry, relentless kiss that demanded more. It was often like this with him, she thought as she let her finger slide lazily up and down his arm.

She played with the soft, dark hair of his chest, thinking how she’d driven twelve hours home from Florida, slept in her own bed, reconnected with Mamaw and her sisters. Yet only now, in Blake’s arms, did she feel truly home again. It was a new sensation for her, as confusing as it was pleasant.

She leaned back to look into his face. “I missed you.”

He laughed in that satisfied, ego-laden manner men sometimes did. “I could tell.”

She smirked and gently, teasingly tugged at his hair.

“You done good with Delphine,” he told her.

She smiled against his chest. The subject of Delphine’s accident was still a tender subject between them. She knew, despite his spoken forgiveness, some part of him was still angry at her for drawing a wild dolphin to the dock with food and attention, so this praise fell sweet on her ears.

“Lynne told you?”

“She called after you left. Actually, it was kind of a thank-you call. She told me how Delphine turned the corner after you visited. She was very pleased. And impressed.”

Carson felt warmth bloom in her chest. “I felt badly leaving so quickly and on such short notice.”

“She understood. It was a family emergency. Besides, she thought it might’ve been for the best.”

“Really? Why?”

“Your bond with Delphine is so strong. If she’s got any hope to be released to the wild, she can’t continue to seek out humans. Especially not you.”

Carson turned on her back and looked at the ceiling. The fan’s blades slowly stirred the air above them. She still couldn’t imagine a world without Delphine in it. A small pang of sadness pierced her insides whenever she thought about it. Yet she knew if she truly loved the dolphin, she had to let her go.

“I want that, too.” She moved to sit up on the bed, comfortable with her nakedness. “I need your advice on something,” she began.

Blake moved to put his hands under his head. His dark eyes gazed at her with full attention.

“It’s about Nate. We’re worried about him. He’s having a hard time getting past Delphine’s accident. Harper did research about dolphin programs for children with special needs and wondered if a program like that wouldn’t help Nate get past his guilt over what happened with Delphine.”

“Could be.” Blake’s brows gathered, a signal she recognized that he was considering the question. “I don’t know anything about the benefits of dolphin programs with special-needs kids. It’s not my area.”

“But you know the Dolphin Research Center.”

He raised his brows.

“That’s the program we’re interested in,” she explained.

“And it’s no coincidence that the DRC is also the place they’re thinking of moving Delphine.”

Carson smiled conspiratorially. “I figured, why not check out the facility while I help Nate out.”

He raised himself on one elbow. “You’re going to take Nate to the DRC?”

She shrugged. “Me or Harper, or both of us. It’s still up in the air.”

He gave a little groan. “I can’t see Dora letting you or Harper take Nate.”

“It’s complicated.”

“I think I can follow.”

Carson reflected on the long family meeting earlier that day. They still hadn’t presented the idea to Dora. That would come next.

“In a nutshell, Dora’s pretty fragile right now. She had, well, kind of a meltdown the other day. With that on top of her health, Mamaw wants Dora to take some time to heal without worries or responsibility. So Harper and I thought if we took Nate to this program, it would provide both Dora and Nate time to heal. I think it’s a win-win deal. So I’m asking if you can help me make arrangements for Nate at the Dolphin Research Center?”

“You’re asking me to help you to leave again.”

She licked her lips, knowing it was a tender point. “Yes, I suppose I am. But not for long.”

“That’s what you said last time.”

“And I was gone less than a week.”

“And now you want to leave again.”

“It’s not about leaving,” Carson said with a hint of frustration. “I’m taking Nate to Florida for a weeklong program. Hey,” she said brightly as a new idea emerged, “why don’t you come with us?”

“I can’t. I took time off to go to Florida the last time. With Delphine. Plus I’ll be out in the field for a week gathering samples. I have to be here for that.”

She looked up at the ceiling again.

Blake said quietly, “Like I said, I don’t know much about the special-needs program but I’ve met Joan, the woman who heads it up. I like her and I hear she’s a great therapist. She tailors the program to meet the students’ needs.”

Carson felt a glimmer of hope. “So, you think it’s a good idea?”

“It can’t hurt.” He begrudgingly smiled. “Yeah, I think Nate will do well there.”

“You’ll help us get an appointment?”

“I’ll give Joan a call and explain the situation. That’s all I can do.”

Carson leaned over to kiss him, filled with gratitude. “Thank you, Blake.”