Olivia Graham was twenty-two when she started a whirlwind romance with charismatic Jakob overseas.
By age twenty-five, Liv was back home and checking off the widowed box on paperwork. With zero plans, Olivia and beloved dog Snuggles find themselves...
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Snugs and I wander toward home an hour later. Lights flashing red and blue are a beacon as we turn the corner. My heart rate takes off at the squad car parked in front of my house.
With cautious footsteps, we approach the lawn. I don't understand what is going on or who the uniformed officer is on my darkened front porch.
Cocking my head to the side, I recognize the officer visiting me almost daily for the past month. "Sean?"
At my voice, his wiry frame spins, speeding toward me, hands cupping my face before kissing my forehead. "Oh, thank God! I panicked for a moment there."
Clutching his forearms, I take a second to catch my breath. "What's going on?"
"Your security system triggered. Rollins knew I was nearby and asked me to check in."
I wet my dry lips and tighten my hold on Snugs' leash. "Should I be worried?"
Eyebrows pinched, he touches my shoulder. "Why don't you punch in the code to let me in and let me do a sweep first, okay?"
The lump in my throat grows as I swallow hard before punching in the code. Sean disappears from sight while I convince myself a raccoon is the culprit.
Silence looms in the yard until a guttural sound rises in Snuggles' throat.
"Shit! Shit, Shit!" Snuggles lunges forward, pulling tight on her leash, and I backpedal toward the house. "S-Sean!" I whisper yell.
Frantic footsteps pound the porch deck, Sean bounds down the steps, ordering me behind him like an action hero. The gun glints in the moonlight, and I phantom feel the cool steel in my hand. One I loathe and am all-too familiar with.
"Unclip her leash," he mutters.
Is he insane? This is my baby.
"Olivia, unclip her."
Vision blurring in front of me, I swallow hard and drop the leash. She books toward a row of trees, Sean in close pursuit, gun drawn. The dewy grass soaks my legging as I I fall to my knees, panicked about possible injury to either of them.
An eternity passes while I wait for an update, relief flooding through me when Snuggles gallops through the tree line, sniffing my face as if asking if she did a good job.
"Oh, god," I mutter, placing a kiss on her snout. I can't lose her, too.
Relieved waterworks spring from my eyes, trying to avoid hysterics and failing miserably. I never deal with my emotions, and I'm going to have a breakdown someday soon.
Gun holstered, Sean strides back, jaw set, and commanding eyes glittering in the dim light.
"Inside," he directs, holding out his hand. His fingers wrap around my wrist and in one fluid motion, Sean yanks me off the ground and inside, flipping the lock behind us.
