Just One Wish (The Kingston Family #4.5)(26)

“Is he up for adoption here?” Axel asked.

“He’s taken,” she said, carefully watching Axel’s face. He didn’t seem to understand yet, and she couldn’t torture him another second. “Baby, open the crate and take out your dog.”

His gaze swung to hers. “You…?”

She nodded.

“What about Dakota? Will they get along?” he asked, his body vibrating with contained happiness.

“Well, I’ve had them play together a couple of times this week, and I even brought Walter home to make sure there were no immediate territorial issues.” When Axel had been in the studio with the band, rehearsing. “They got along great. So go get your dog!”

Axel’s gaze swung from Walter, who was still pawing at the crate, to her, as if unsure of who he should hug first.

“Go!” She waved a hand toward Walter.

Axel let his new dog out of the crate and dropped to his knees, Walter immediately nuzzling his head into Axel’s stomach.

Tara stepped behind the makeshift tables and booth and pulled out a leash from a box. Walking over to her man and their dog, she clipped the leash onto Walter’s collar, one she’d already gotten for him.

“My mission here is complete,” she said, handing him the leash.

Axel rose to his feet. “But mine isn’t. I told you I have a surprise, too, remember?” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a key.

She wrinkled her nose in confusion.

“In case you think I don’t listen, you need to know that I do. You wanted stability. A house. Kids. A future. I don’t know about you, but I want to have you to myself for a bit before we have kids. I plan to marry you, so don’t worry about that. But I refuse to live in your mother and stepdad’s gatehouse, and my rental isn’t right for us. So I took it upon myself to change our living situation.”

She narrowed her gaze. “You did … what?”

“I bought a house that you’re going to decorate. Or get help decorating. Whatever. In other words, I also took care of our stability situation.” He grinned, obviously pleased with himself.

She flung her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek over and over.

“You don’t care that you didn’t see it first?” he asked warily.

“I trust you, remember? It’s not my parents’ house, it’s not your empty house…”

“It’s on the beach on the other side of Xander’s.” His grin widened, and she couldn’t help but chuckle.

Xander’s reaction would be something different, she was sure. “How did you manage this in under a week?” she asked.

Laughing, he said, “Let’s just say I made the owner an offer he couldn’t refuse. And they were so happy, they agreed to move out by this weekend.”

Her eyes opened wide. “That must have been some offer.”

He waved a hand through the air. “It’s just money. I have it, and I can spend it. And now we have everything we ever wanted,” he said, pulling her close.

“All I ever wanted was you.” She was just glad she’d realized it in time.

“Back at you, baby.”

Walter nosed his way between them, seeking attention, and they both leaned down to give it to him. Tara had a feeling this would be a permanent way of life from now on. And she couldn’t ask for anything more.





Also from 1001 Dark Nights and Carly Phillips, discover Dare to Tease, Sexy Love, Take the Bride, and His to Protect.





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DRAGON UNBOUND by Donna Grant

A Dragon Kings Novella



NOTHING BUT INK by Carrie Ann Ryan

A Montgomery Ink: Fort Collins Novella



THE MASTERMIND by Dylan Allen

A Rivers Wilde Novella



JUST ONE WISH by Carly Phillips

A Kingston Family Novella



BEHIND CLOSED DOORS by Skye Warren

A Rochester Novella



GOSSAMER IN THE DARKNESS by Kristen Ashley

A Fantasyland Novella



THE CLOSE-UP by Kennedy Ryan

A Hollywood Renaissance Novella



DELIGHTED by Lexi Blake A Masters and Mercenaries Novella



THE GRAVESIDE BAR AND GRILL by Darynda Jones

A Charley Davidson Novella



THE ANTI-FAN AND THE IDOL by Rachel Van Dyken

A My Summer In Seoul Novella



A VAMPIRE’S KISS by Rebecca Zanetti

A Dark Protectors/Rebels Novella



CHARMED BY YOU by J. Kenner

A Stark Security Novella



HIDE AND SEEK by Laura Kaye

A Blasphemy Novella



DESCEND TO DARKNESS by Heather Graham

A Krewe of Hunters Novella