New Leash on Life(93)
She laughed. “Then all you need is a collar and a leash, and I’m yours.”
“Let me go get one.” He pushed up. “I’ll be right back.”
“Okay.” She barely noticed he was gone, leaning over to rub her head against Ruby’s. She smelled like the shampoo Chloe had used on Daisy, and the scent of oatmeal gave her the first pang of true love. The way she’d felt when she’d cleaned Daisy after a roll in something disgusting and they’d sit on the sofa together and she’d tell Daisy how much she was falling for Shane.
“We’re going to be good friends,” she promised the dog.
Ruby whimpered and let out a soft, shuddering sigh that somehow expressed exactly how Chloe felt at that moment. Content. Home. Normal. Well, as normal as being this in love could possibly feel.
Across the grass, she spotted Shane in the training area, talking to some of his family. She hadn’t noticed them all out there before, but Liam and his shepherd, Jag, were intently listening to Shane, and Molly came over with their father. Garrett was there, too, with Jessie, and a minute later, Darcy came bounding out from the grooming building, darting to join them all. Marie was right there in the middle, with Daisy watching.
Daniel put a hand on Shane’s shoulder, guiding his son away from the others to talk to him. Chloe watched as the man they called the Dogfather spoke to his son, too far away to know what the subject was, but close enough to see Shane looking into his father’s eyes, and nodding.
After a moment, the two men embraced and Daniel patted Shane’s shoulder, then whispered something in his ear that made them both laugh. Shane turned toward Chloe, grinning, then pointed behind her to the house.
There, she saw Gramma Finnie standing on the back patio, gazing out at the big yard.
They must have all come out to see if she’d fall in love with the new dog, she thought with another jolt of love and joy. No family had ever cared about her happiness like that, and she was suddenly a little overwhelmed by it, folding over again to transfer that happiness to Ruby.
“We’re kind of both being adopted,” she whispered into a silky ear.
Shane left his family, carrying a long red leash, and Chloe finally stood. She curled her hand around Ruby’s collar, not certain how she’d act if another dog came bounding out.
“Here you go.” He handed her the leash, and when she took it, he snagged her hand. “Are you sure?” he asked.
“Oh, completely. I am one hundred percent positive this is love.”
“So am I.” He pulled her closer. “This is definitely a forever, once-in-a-lifetime, lightning in a bottle love.”
She kissed him, used to the exchange now, but not completely used to the thrill of the feelings they shared. “Yes, it is.”
“Leash her up,” he said.
She bent over to flick the clasp of the leash on to the collar…and her whole body stilled. There was something hanging on that leash. Something small and silver…no, that was platinum. And sparkling in the sun.
“Shane.” She simply breathed his name, slowly standing up, holding the clasp in her hand.
“Oh, look at that. Ruby comes with a diamond.” He took the leash from her shaking hands. “What do you think of that?”
“I think…” She pressed her hand to her chest, unable to speak. It was so unexpected, but not. It was so Shane. It was so perfect.
Behind her, someone hooted, and Molly hollered, “Do it right, Shane.”
“On one knee, laddie!” Gramma called from the patio.
“Just like I told you, Son.”
He laughed. “It’s kind of a package deal with Kilcannons.”
“I love that package,” she whispered.
“Good, because they love you. And so do I.”
Chloe’s next breath caught as Shane followed Gramma’s order and got down on one knee.
“Chloe Somerset,” Shane said softly. “You really are perfect. I knew it the first time I saw you, and I know it today, and I’ll know it when I breathe my last breath. I love you with my whole heart and soul. Will you marry me and raise a family of many two- and four-legged babies we can love forever?”
“Oh, Shane.” Tears welled up and fell as she blinked. “I love you, too.”
He took the ring off the clasp of the leash and held it up like an offering. “Please say yes.”
“Yes,” she breathed the word. “Yes, I will marry you. Yes, yes, yes.”
He slid the ring on her finger and stood, not taking his eyes from hers as he kissed her. She heard the dogs barking and the family clapping and the beautiful, glorious sound of her heart beating with joy.