Page 119 of Most Likely to Fear Love

With a chuckle, I stood, waiting for Michelle to do the same. “Thanks for everything. It would have been so much harder to get through all of this without you.”

“Straight back at you.”

Moments later, I slid into the driver’s seat of the sleek electric Mercedes Harle had gifted me last Christmas. It was smooth and silent as I glided out of the parking lot.

My thoughts turned to Harle, as they always did when I had a quiet moment. My lips curved in a soft smile. Two years of waking up to his gorgeous face, his quiet strength, his gentle teasing, his absolute devotion. Two years of building a life together.

I’d decided I wasn’t ready for a baby until after I’d had a proper go at therapy, so we’d compromised by getting more animals. Two more dogs, a few more goats, and two pigs. What a turn my life had taken, and all because of Harle.

Finally, I pulled up in front of the cabin. I killed the engine and sat for a moment, giving myself a few moments to calm down. Then grabbed my purse and stepped out.

Harle was already at the door, leaning against the frame, his arms crossed. The moment my eyes met his, his face broke into that slow easy smile that never failed to make my stomach flip. “Hey.”

“Hey yourself.” I replied, closing the distance between us.

I slid my arms around Harle’s neck, my fingers brushing the soft hair at the nape. Before I could lean in, he crooked a finger under my chin, tilting my face up to his. His blue eyes searched mine, intense and unreadable for a moment, before something softened in his expression. He knew exactly how hard Brian’s court case had been on me. I loved that his first thought was to check on me. Satisfied, he closed the distance, his lips meeting mine in a kiss that was deep and unhurried, the kind that made my knees weak and my chest ache in the best way.

When we finally pulled apart, I was breathless, my heart pounding. I rested my forehead against his for a moment, then smiled. “I could do with a walk. How about you?”

He brushed a strand of hair from my face, his thumb lingering on my cheek. “Sure, if you like.” His voice was low and warm, skittering across my skin in the most delicious way.

I stepped back, threading my fingers through his. “Let’s go, then.”

We walked through the house, and out the sliding door on the back deck. Harle whistled sharply, two quick notes that carried across the yard. Max and Buddy, plus the new additions of Merle and Stanley, came bounding from the trees, their long legs eating up the distance, tongues lolling as they skidded to a stop at Harle’s feet.

“Good boys,” he murmured, scratching behind their ears before we started down the dirt track that wound around the lake. The dogs trotted ahead, noses to the ground, tails wagging. The sun filtered through the trees, dappling the path with light, and the lake shimmered with breathtaking beauty.

What a perfect day. It could only get better from here.

We walked for a while, the only sounds our footsteps and the occasional rustle of the dogs in the underbrush.

Then Harle’s phone pinged, sharp and loud in the quiet.

My heart leapt in anticipation, then dropped again, when he just kept walking. Oh, he was being polite. Cute and nerve wracking. It pinged a second time.

“You can check your phone, if you like.”

“Nah, it can wait.”

Fuck. He wasn’t going to make it easy. “Harle. Check your phone.”

With the most adorable frown, he pulled it from his back pocket, shooting me a confused look when he realized it was a message from me.

“Open it.”

My heart was pounding as he swiped the screen open, clicked on my message, then on the Craigslist link I’d sent him.

The way his whole body tensed when he realized what the link was. Oooh boy.

“Darlin’.” His voice was rough, that deep timber that always made my toes curl.

“Just read it first.” I tried for casual, but my voice trembled slightly. After two years together, you’d think I’d be past getting nervous around this man. But here I was, palms sweating, heart racing, while he read the words I’d spent weeks perfecting.

Title:ISO: Rugged Handyman with a Heart of Gold (Must Love Dogs and Lakeside Sunsets)

Description:Hi there! I’m in the market for a husband who meets the following criteria:

Essential Requirements:

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