Chapter 10
TEN
Pearl
Wells shields me with his body as he pulls me back into his office. “I’m sorry, Pearl. I’m so sorry. What do you want to do?”
I stare at him, my heart pounding so hard that I’m pretty sure everyone in the clinic can hear it.
The whole lobby was frozen.
Claire pretending not to stare from behind the desk, Kathy suddenly very invested in a clipboard she was holding upside down, and Holly standing like a statue by the printer as if no one would notice her if she didn’t move.
And Wells… God.
He’s looking at me like he’s bracing for the worst. His jaw is tight, his shoulders are tense, and his beautiful green eyes are locked on mine as if he’s terrified I’m about to run.
Again.
I should probably still be panicking. A few minutes ago, I was. The knowing looks from everyone sent me spiraling. I saw it all flash before my eyes: the gossip, the judgment, the whispers that I was sleeping with my boss. Every insecurity I’ve ever had came roaring back.
But then Wells saw it and tried to protect me. Of course he did. Because he sees me.
“I never want you to be uncomfortable,” he says, his voice low and rough. “I never want you to be scared. If you want to keep pretending, we will.”
Pretending.
I look at him now, and something inside me… settles. Because why am I pretending? Why am I fighting this? This man loves me. Maybe he hasn’t said those exact words yet, but he’s shown me in every possible way. He moved here for me. He gave up Seattle, his job, everything,
because he saw me, messy ponytail, scrubs, probably covered in puppy pee, and decided I was worth changing everything for.
Who does that?
Wells Bennett does.
He would do anything for me, anything to make me happy, anything to keep me safe, and the truth is…
I love him too.
The realization hits me so hard it nearly steals my breath.
I love this grumpy, possessive, ridiculously intense veterinarian. I love the way he watches me like I’m his whole world. I love the way he remembers my favorite queso. I love the way he’d probably fistfight a delivery driver over me. I love the way he makes me feel precious.
I’m done pretending. I’m done hiding.
My pulse races as I step closer to him.
“Pearl?” Wells asks carefully, his voice soft now. “Angel, are you okay?”
I don’t answer. I grab the front of his shirt and pull him out of the office. Rising on my toes, I kiss him right there in the middle of the lobby.
Someone gasps.
Wells makes a deep, startled sound against my lips, like I’ve completely knocked the air from his lungs, before his arms come around me.
One hand cups my jaw. The other slides around my waist and hauls me flush against him, and wow.
Apparently, public kissing Wells is just as addictive as private kissing Wells.
He kisses me like he’s been waiting his whole life for this, like I’m something precious, like I’m his.
My hands clutch his shirt tighter as I melt into him, and when we finally break apart, I’m breathless, terrified.
I slowly turn my head, bracing for disaster.
Instead…
Claire grins so wide I think her face might split in half.
Kathy throws both hands in the air. “IT’S ABOUT TIME!”
Holly snort-laughs. “I owe Claire twenty bucks.”
“What?” I blink.
Claire shrugs. “We had a betting pool.”
“Oh my god,” I whisper.
“I told them months ago,” Kathy says proudly. “A man doesn’t glare like that unless he’s in love.”
I look up at Wells. His whole face has softened, and for maybe the first time ever, my grumpy vet actually looks… embarrassed.
“Were you all seriously discussing my personal business?” he growls.
“Yes,” Holly says immediately.
“Absolutely,” Claire agrees.
“Every day,” Kathy adds.
I burst out laughing. All that fear, all that panic, is gone. No one looks disgusted. No one looks judgmental. If anything, they look relieved.
Wells sighs like he’s surrounded by chaos, then his hand squeezes mine. When I look up at him, his expression is so tender that my heart nearly explodes.
“All right,” he grumbles, tugging me against his side. “Everyone, back to work.”
The staff immediately scatters, though not without grins and a few whispered comments.
“Finally,” Holly says again under her breath.
Wells shakes his head, but I can feel his chest rumbling. He’s trying not to smile.
“You,” he says, looking down at me.
“Me?” I ask innocently.
“Yes, you. Office. Now.”
“Oh no,” I tease. “Am I in trouble, Dr. Bennett?”
His eyes darken instantly. “Keep calling me that, and yes.”
I laugh as he guides me back into his office, shuts the door behind us, and immediately turns serious.
His hands cup my face. “Are you okay?” he asks quietly, not possessive, not demanding, just… Wells.
“I am now,” I whisper.
His forehead drops to mine. “I meant what I said. If this is too much, if any of this is too much, I’ll slow down. I just… fuck, Pearl. I love making you mine, but I need you happy.”
There it is. Those are the words I needed to hear. They’re not dramatic or flashy, but the words still hit me like a freight train.
I blink up at him. “What did you just say?”
He freezes. For the first time since I’ve known him, Dr. Wells Bennett looks nervous.
“I…” He clears his throat. “I said—”
“You love me,” I whisper.
His stare burns into mine. “Yeah,” he says roughly. “I do. I fucking love you. I think I probably did the moment I saw you.”
My eyes sting instantly. “Oh,” I breathe.
“Pearl—”
“I love you too.”
Silence.
Wells just… stares.
Then he kisses me. Not wild, not frantic. It’s slow, deep, emotional, like this kiss means something bigger. Like it means forever.
When we finally part, I’m smiling so hard my cheeks hurt.
“Well,” I murmur, “this has been a pretty big day.”
“You think?” he asks dryly.
“We’ve publicly announced our relationship, exchanged I love yous…”
“Basically married.”
I snort-laugh. “Wells.”
He shrugs. “I’m just saying.”
I grin, tracing my fingers down his chest. “Is it too soon to talk about moving in?”
His eyes widen, then narrow. “Are you joking?”
“Maybe?”
“Pearl,” he growls, gripping my hips and hauling me closer. “I have been trying not to ask you that since day one.”
I burst out laughing. “Okay, okay. Maybe not too soon.”
“Definitely not too soon,” he mutters.
I bite my lip, suddenly thinking of something else. “Okay… but if we’re talking future…”
Wells stiffens slightly. “What?”
“What do you think about adopting a dog?”
His whole expression instantly softens, and my gorgeous man smirks. “Percy.”
I blink. “What?”
“The dog’s name,” he says simply.
I stare at him. “Wait… how do you know that?”
He looks entirely too pleased with himself. “Because every night when you thought no one was listening, you’d sit with him and call him Percy.”
My mouth falls open. “You knew?”
“Pearl,” he says, like I’m ridiculous. “I know everything about you.”
I honestly might combust.
“So,” he says, reaching for his office phone, “I’ll tell Claire to start the paperwork.”
“Wait—you mean—”
“He’s ours.”
Tears instantly spring to my eyes. “Wells…”
“You love him,” he says softly. “So, we keep him.”
That’s it, that’s the moment.
I launch myself at him, and Wells catches me easily as I kiss him with everything I have.
When I finally pull back, he’s grinning, actually grinning.
“Careful,” he murmurs. “Keep kissing me like that, and we’re not getting any more work done today.”
I smile. “Maybe I’m okay with that.”
“God,” he groans, kissing me again. “I’m definitely marrying you.”
“Good, because I love you, you impossible, perfect man.”