Wild Open Hearts (Bluewater Billionaires) - Kathryn Nolan Page 0,73

made sure she’d gotten in the front door safely, and then rode home with the dopiest grin on my face. A grin that was still on my face.

Wes and Jem had been giving me shit about it all day.

Elián, however, had clapped me on the back and said, “I’m happy for you.”

Nothing had happened. It was one date. One kiss. One orgasm.

And yet it felt, to me, as if everything had happened.

This morning Luna had also posted the picture of her and the cheeseburger. She had that hopeful-happy-compassionate look on her face. The caption read: Hey there Wild Heart fans: You might have noticed the internet has had some choice words to say about me and my values over the past few weeks—especially about one of my deepest-held values: the rights of animals. I cannot begin to tell you the extent of my regret for our involvement with Ferris Mark and I remain dedicated to ensuring a mistake like that never, ever happens again. But on a personal note, I’ve been a dedicated vegan since I was eleven years old. Yesterday, disparaged and hopeless, I took a stab at eating this burger and abandoning my beliefs: giving in to the absolute worst of what people have said about me.

I couldn’t do it. Regardless of my mistakes, that value cannot be taken from me—not by trolls or mean commenters or trashy media or hurtful gossip. This is what lives in my heart and it is mine and mine alone. Please don’t give up on me—and please don’t ever give up on your values. Treasure them.

A friendly reminder to go donate to Lucky Dog when you have a chance. It is a truly special place. And if anyone on this page says another WORD about Beck Mason that isn’t positive, I will block you. Love and light—Luna

It was the growth I’d seen Luna going through these past two weeks. But she’d also defended me. It didn’t feel like a post that was using me or my nonprofit—but embracing my past, for better or worse.

It was dangerous—this hope that what she and I had could be real.

As I stirred chocolate, I kept glancing out the window—which meant I saw Luna first, floating through the campus. She stopped at Penelope’s kennel for more than fifteen minutes. I could see her lips moving, watched her stick one finger through the bars and gently stroke Penelope’s nose. Saw the way that beach mutt stared at Luna like she understood she was her rescuer. Luna was dressed in a long skirt with blue flowers and a white tank top. White flowers were braided into her hair. And when she burst into the admin trailer, my team admired her like she was royalty.

“My people,” she exclaimed, throwing her hands into the air. Jem giggled and let Luna pull her in for a hug. She kissed Betty, then Veronica, and then gave Wes a kiss on the cheek that had him blushing.

“Wes, what if I told you I booked us a tour of the Bachelor in Miami house?”

“Shut up,” he said. “You didn’t. Jimmy is gonna flip. Can I bring him?”

“Of course,” she said. “Or anyone else here or at Lucky Dog or in your life that you’d like.” Jem was carefully mixing the final pieces of the peanut butter bars, so she missed Luna nodding her head and winking at my mohawked-staff member.

“Oh,” Wes said. “Um… yeah. Lemme think about who I’d bring and I can let you know?”

“Sure thing,” she exclaimed. “And please tell me these pups are going home today.”

“My buddy Jimmy is coming by in a bit to adopt them.”

“Beautiful,” she said, finally allowing her dark-eyed gaze to slide my way. “Hello, Beck.”

“Hello, Luna,” I said.

She ran a hand through her hair, and the heat in her expression sent blood rushing to my cock. “What are you making, boss?”

“Jem helped me cook this dessert for you,” I said.

She glanced down into the pan. “Beck Mason, did you bake me chocolate peanut butter bars?”

“Yes,” I said simply.

Her arms slid around my waist. It startled me, this public affection. But hadn’t she hugged and kissed everyone else in the room?

I wrapped my arms around her and let my lips fall on top of her head.

I didn’t miss the bug-eyed look that passed between Wes and Jem.

“Thank you,” she said. “They’re my favorite.”

I winked at Jem over Luna’s head. “I might have had an inside source.”

Luna pulled back, but not very far. She leaned against the counter and