Page 18 of The Geography of Happiness

Terry looked at me with relief stamped on his face. “Right? Precisely. And her health has been brittle the last couple of years. I can’t imagine just letting her go without me being there to call on. But whether I went for a year or four, the issues with my business and everything else still stand. The deadline for accepting the offer is early January, but the way Hannah is acting you’d think I’d already agreed.”

“You can’t postpone it for a year?”

Terry shook his head. “They won’t hold her place and there’s no guarantee she’d get accepted a second time around. If she had a bad year health-wise, she wouldn’t be as competitive.”

I sympathised, “Rock and a hard place, then. Rather you than me.”

He gave a soft snort and worry creased his brow. “Yep. If I let her go and something bad happens, I’ll never forgive myself. If I don’t let her go, I’m not sure Hannah will ever forgive me if she doesn’t get accepted next time around.”

The room fell quiet bar the snuffling of Miller on the prowl for more treats. For a few seconds, the two of us watched him, then I caught Terry’s eye and said in complete seriousness, “It probably doesn’t help, but the fact you’re worrying so much about this is a huge thing and I’m kind of in awe right now.”

His brows crunched. “I don’t get it.”

I couldn’t stop from reaching over to squeeze his arm. “I’m positive that what was best to helpmeattainmyfuture dreams never even crossed my parents’ mind. Hannah is a lucky girl, regardless, and she’ll come to realise that either way. I don’t believe we only have one option for a meaningful future. I believe our passions and gifts can be used in many ways, depending on where life leads us.”

Terry stared at me, blinking furiously. “I, um—” He hesitated, his voice rough. “I don’t know what to say. I believe that too. I kind of have to after becoming a dad so young. I have to believe I’ve got more to give. That becoming a dad didn’t derail me, just sent me down another track. But it’s so damn easy to lose sight of the bigger picture when all I see is Hannah’s desperation for me to say yes to this.” Those blue eyes pinned me in place. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” I squeezed his arm again. “Nothing like feeling better by comparison, don’t you think?”

His mouth twitched. “True. A little callous maybe, but very true. It’s so easy to focus on what we’re doing wrong. It’s good to be reminded of the bits we’re not actually fucking up.”

I snorted. “I love a good low bar, don’t you?”

That made him laugh, and I realised I still had hold of his arm. We locked eyes and a soft smile spread over his face, making him appear so much younger.

“Thanks, Spencer. I really appreciate what you said here.”

The sound of my name on his lips was too fucking nice. “You’re welcome. And right back at you. It was nice to see my parents through your eyes as well, even for just a few minutes.” I chuckled. “I doubt either of us imagined a therapy session when you brought Miller in.”

He laughed and held my gaze. “You got that right. But it was worth every penny.” His gaze lingered on mine for a moment. Then he scooped Miller into his arms and deposited the pup back onto the examination table.

I took it as the end to our conversation, which suited me just fine. I was already reeling from how quickly things had become personal between us, and I figured he felt the same. I couldn’t get a handle on the man. The curious looks. The blushes. The way he left my hand resting on his arm unchecked for so long. The nervous glances. None of which screamed straight to me. Which only beggared the same question I couldn’t get out of my brain—was Terry into guys or was I just wanting him to be?

“So, little Miller...” I slid the pup around to face me and tipped his chin up. “What do you think of your new name?” The pup licked a stripe up my face and I chuckled. “I’m gonna take that as a yes. Let’s get you into your kennel so your good Samaritan can be on his way.”

“I’ll cover the cost of neutering and anything else he might need before you get him to a shelter,” Terry offered.

I held the pup up to my face. “You hear that Miller? We’re going to be paid. Hallelujah.”

Terry’s lips quirked. “Am I gonna need a mortgage to cover the cost?”

I shot him a wink. “Just a small one. Would you like to bring him down to the kennel room?”

Terry quickly agreed and I bundled Miller into his arms, then led them down the hall. Terry settled the dog into the cage Connor had readied with a blanket, water bowl, and a plate containing a small amount of puppy food. Once the door was shut, Terry stuck his fingers through the wire to scratch Miller’s head one last time. Then we stood back and watched the pup chomp down on the kibble like it was the most exciting show in town.

“Well, he certainly looks happy enough,” Terry observed, standing so close I could feel the heat radiating from his body and catch the fresh floral scent of his body wash. “Thanks again for taking him.”

“No problem.” I stepped forward to write something completely unnecessary on Miller’s chart before I did something I’d regret like reaching for the sweet man’s hand. “How about we head to reception so I can take your money before you reconsider and make a run for it?”

He laughed, and I followed him up the hall with my eyes glued to the bunch and stretch of that hella cute arse.

CHAPTER FOUR

Spencer

As we approached reception,Sonja glanced up from her computer and her gaze narrowed in response to whatever she saw on my face. I either totally sucked at the whole poker-face thing or she’d caught me checking out Terry’s... assets.

Either way, she immediately gave the guy an appreciative once-over before returning her attention to me like all her questions had been answered. An impish smirk pulled at the corners of her mouth and her eyes gleamed wickedly. “Having a good morning, Boss?”

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