Begin Again - Jennifer Probst Page 0,51
you to have that job.”
“I don’t want to mess up again, babe,” he finally said. “I can’t lose you, and I’m afraid you may eventually get frustrated with this type of living. You deserve a fat apartment, and designer clothes, and five-star restaurants on a regular basis. You deserve to stay home without struggle if we decide to have a baby one day. You deserve everything.”
The release of his secret fears gave him a rush of lightness. He practically slumped in the chair with shame and relief, but then suddenly, she was sitting on his lap. Her warm, curvy body wrapped around him and she cupped his cheeks, forcing him to look at her. “Look around you right now.”
“I can’t, you’re holding my face.”
“Okay, you don’t need to look. Want to know my dream? To get up every day and have a job that makes a difference. To be passionate about what I do and have my goal worthy.”
“You already have that.”
“Exactly. That was the first portion. The second is you. Having the man I love, fighting side by side for the same cause, loving me for who I am without ever asking me to change.”
“You have that, too.”
She smiled, and her scent filled his nostrils and he fell headfirst into ocean blue eyes that captured his very soul. “Exactly. I want dogs.”
“You have Gus-Gus and we can get more.”
“Yes. I think that covers it all. Money means nothing to me, Owen. I want us to love each other and be true to who we are—that’s what I truly need.”
“Then this was all in my head? You think I’ll always be enough?”
She made a fierce sound and then she was kissing him, her tongue plunging between his lips to make her own claim, and he gave her all of it, holding her tight against him. “You’re the man I love, Owen Salt. I love you with everything I am. The moment we danced that first time, my heart was never truly mine. It was just waiting for you.”
The words ripped him open and made him whole. He lifted her up and carried her into the bedroom, stumbling around Gus-Gus as he wove in between him, desperate to follow. He lay her on the bed, taking in her spectacular naked glory, and deposited the puppy outside the door.
“The things I’m going to do to you are too dirty for him to see,” he said with a low growl.
“Do them.”
And he did.
Epilogue
Chloe stepped back from the crowd, squinting in the flashing bulbs that exploded around her. A reporter jammed a mic at her, rattling off question after question as she walked down the steps of the courthouse and took her place by his side.
Owen was already speaking. “…proud of the verdict in a clear case of animal abuse and neglect. Hopefully, this will set a precedent for many other cases where we need to protect the helpless and be their voice.”
“Chloe, are you getting married?”
“Chloe—will you be working with Mr. Salt on further abuse cases?”
“Chloe—what designer will you be wearing for the Met Gala?”
Owen looked down at her and grinned, his hand firmly in hers. She gave her public dazzling smile she’d learned years ago. “One day; yes; and a vintage dress I scored at the Second Chance thrift shop. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to get back to fighting for the animals, but I’m sure Mr. Salt will be happy to answer more questions.”
With a saucy wink, she squeezed Owen’s hand and made her exit, eventually spilling into the sidewalk crowd and losing herself in the city she loved and her father would always fight for.
It was nice for Owen to be in the spotlight for a change, and his work had been receiving a large amount of press, instituting a new wave for not-for-profit volunteers, interns, and employees. They had big plans, but today was special. It was the first stop in a long journey that would always end up with the man she loved.
Owen Salt.
She walked into the jewelry store where the portly man behind the counter rushed over to greet her. “May I help you?”
“I’m Chloe Lake, I have an appointment to look at rings.”
His face lit up. “Yes! Come this way, Ms. Lake, I have the most amazing ones to show you. Can I just tell you it’s so refreshing to see the number of women who are now proposing? About time the world realized there’s no reason to wait when you finally found the