Page 38 of When Annika Met Thom

“It’s not that.”

“What then?”

“I won’t be living here.”

“Why not?”

“Apparently, Leo sub-let from some other guy who’s coming back. He only told me yesterday that I have to find a new place to live soon.”

“With a huge dog.”

“I’m not leaving her behind,” Thom said with heat.

Annika smiled. “I know. You wouldn’t.” Her eyes twinkled in the way that messed with his resolve. “See? I know more about you than you think I do.”

“That’s not much. Everybody worth knowing loves their dog.”

She sat back, apparently taking that as a challenge, and began to count things on her fingers. “You’re neat. You clean up after yourself.”

“No one else is going to do it.”

“You take care of people and dogs, and ferrets. You’re protective. You’re responsible and try to find a solution for everyone, even when a situation isn’t your fault. You’re kind, although you try to hide it. You have a sister named Tessa and have invested a fortune in tattoos, which means they’re important to you.” She smiled, a brilliant smile that made her radiant, and he felt a bit dizzy. She took another slice of pizza. “And I think, Thom, that you’re a really, really nice guy.”

“Don’t spread that news around,” he said gruffly and she laughed.

“I also think you’re really hot.”

Thom blinked. She didn’t seem to be lying, and that was a pretty distracting thing.

She tilted her head to study him as if she hadn’t said anything important at all. “Who broke your heart?”

“No one you know.”

“But someone did, so you keep everyone at arm’s length. What if you miss The One because you were being all prickly and unapproachable?”

“I’m not prickly and unapproachable…”

“Don’t underestimate yourself,” she countered with a smile.

“I don’t believe that there’s one person for everyone, like a perfect match just waiting to be discovered.”

“No kismet in your world?”

“It makes no sense. I think everyone can make it work with a lot of different candidates. Believing in The One is often an excuse not to even try.”

“Oh, that’s interesting,” Annika said, pouncing on his words like a ferret sinking its teeth into wiggling toes. “Tell me more.”

“Why?”

“Then just explain.” She smiled. “Please?”

Thom sighed that he was unable to resist. “Every woman I’ve ever known who believes that she just has to find The One has never been prepared to work for a relationship. That includes both of my sisters. They just expect a great relationship to appear in their lives and everything to be perfect in every moment from that point onward.”

“And if it isn’t?”

“They throw the guy back and tell their friends he wasn’t The One.”

“And in contrast you think…”

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