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I could do that. I started the engine and pulled away from city hall, with Teresa’s hand resting on my thigh as we took the road toward the farm.

23

TERESA

Rauf came out of the barn with sawdust in his hair and a smear of paint on his sleeve. He’d been in there since breakfast, and I’d already made two trips past the door hoping he’d decide it was time to let me in. On the second one, he’d laughed at me.

I hadn’t appreciated that.

“Please tell me you’re done,” I said.

“Come look.”

Finally.

He’d been working on the room for three weeks. I’d seen boards being carried in, heard hammering while I was checking on the goats, and asked so many questions that Drev had started finding reasons to be elsewhere when he saw me coming. Rauf had told me it was a surprise. That had been enough to keep me out for about a day before I’d started trying to get more out of him.

I hadn’t had much luck. My mate was stubborn, and I was learning that finding him attractive didn’t make him any easier to argue with. It just made me lose track of what I’d been trying to say.

He held out his hand, and I took it as we went into the barn. Goataro bleated at us from his pen, but Rauf didn’t stop.

The new door was open. I went through it and stopped, still holding Rauf’s hand.

There was an examination table in the middle of the room, a sink and cupboards against one wall, and a little desk near the window. My bag sat beside the farm’s old veterinary kit on the counter. Everything was new, right down to the chair waiting behind the desk.

“Rauf.” I turned to him, trying to get past the fact that he’d actually done this. “You built me a clinic.”

“You’ll have to get the rest of what you need. I didn’t know what to buy.”

I shook my head. I’d spent years thinking about having my own practice, then trying to forget about it because I couldn’t afford to make it happen.

I could put my name on the door. People could bring their animals to me. I wouldn’t spend the rest of my life wishing I’d had a chance to try.

I let go of his hand and put my arms around him instead. He bent toward me, and I pressed my face against his neck. There was a little sawdust on his collar, too. I’d have to get it out of his hair before we went to bed tonight, unless I wanted to wake up with it on my pillow again.

I didn’t mind. I was getting very fond of sharing that pillow.

“I love it,” I told him. “Thank you.”

His arms tightened around me. “You haven’t even looked around.”

“I can do that later.” I lifted my head and kissed him before he could suggest anything else.

He kissed me back, and I nearly laughed at how quickly he’d given up on showing me the room. His arm went around my waist, and I held the back of his neck as he bent closer, deepening the kiss until I forgot what I’d thought was so funny.

He drew back enough to look at me, and I brushed a bit of sawdust out of his hair.

“I love you,” I said.

He looked at me for a moment, and I put my hand against his cheek.

“I love you, Rauf.”

His words were rough as he responded. “I love you, Teresa.”

I kissed him again. He had me backed against the table before I noticed we’d moved, and when I reached behind me to steady myself, he picked me up and sat me on it.

That was better. I could put both arms around his neck without having to stretch, and he stepped close enough for me to rest my knees against his sides. He kissed me hard, with a low rumble that made me pull him closer. I opened my mouth to him and stopped trying to think about anything except what he was doing.