Page 55 of Love in Mission City: The Shorts

Breath-stealingly handsome and slightly disheveled.I arched a brow.

“My replacement was late.I raced to catch the bus, raced to catch the ferry, raced to catch the bus, then raced to catch the train—”

I pressed my finger to his lips.“I thought you wouldn’t be here until the New Year.”

He kissed my finger.“That was the plan, but when I was showing the new guy around, he confessed that his ex-girlfriend booted him and he was couch surfing.I asked if he wanted to start early and, to say he was eager is an understatement.”He glanced over my shoulder.“I should’ve called.Except I wanted to surprise you.”

Buddy, who’d been napping on the nice used couch, apparently chose this moment to awaken.He scrambled off the couch and tore across the floor, eventually barreling into Isaac.

My man scooped the excited dog into his arms and allowed himself to be subjected to a barrage of doggie kisses.“Yes, I missed you too.”

“Darling, are you going to introduce us to your friend?”

My mother’s voice pulled me away from the joyous reunion.I eyed Isaac’s one suitcase.

“They’re shipping the other suitcase and my two boxes of books.”He shrugged.“I travel light.”

“You’ll never have to travel again,” I whispered before grabbing the suitcase and wheeling it inside.

Isaac didn’t surrender his doggie shield when he faced my parents, both of whom had risen.

“Mom, Dad, this is Isaac.Isaac, this is Carol and Bob Whitaker.”

My father stuck out his hand, but quickly pulled it back when he realized Isaac wasn’t going to relinquish my wriggling dog.

Had Isaac ever metthe parentsbefore?I couldn’t remember if he had met Dickens’s.Of course, we didn’t spend a lot of time talking about our ex-boyfriends.We did spend a lot of time talking about our future.

“Darling, what’s that smell?”

Oh shit.

I dropped the suitcase and bolted to the oven.I opened it and a waft of crispy-meat smell washed over me.I glanced over at three people gaping at me.The three most important people of my life.

“I hope you don’t mind crispy.”

Buddy yipped.

Make that three people and one canine.

After three hours, my parents took their leave.They secured a promise from Isaac that he’d come with me to their house tomorrow for Christmas Day.I swore my mother got teary when he admitted he had no close family in Canada.Oh well, he did now.

Midnight approached as we slid into our new bed.Here, I’d refused to scrimp.

Isaac was going to pay half the rent and agreed saving up for our own place was a good idea.

My head still spun at how quickly things moved.Phone calls and email whenever he was available.Me making a second trip to Tofino and this time sneaking out to see the lighthouse.We might or might not’ve made love in some interesting places.Given how fucking cold this time of year was…daring came to mind.

“I can’t believe you’re here.”

He opened his arms, and I dove into them.

As he wrapped me in an embrace, I melted.Turned all gooey inside.Reveled in his strength.I pressed my hand to his sternum, running my fingers through his coarse chest hair.“No regrets?”

As he cocked his head, the light from the streetlamps highlighted his features.

We needed to get blackout blinds.

“Regret you?Never.”He said the word with vehemence.“Now, let me show you how much I appreciate you.”

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