Free Waiting for You by Heather Huffman

she’d gotten hersel f into.
    Pablo worried about her because she didn’t call often enough. Devon worried about her because she sounded frazzled whenever they did manage to get her on the phone. Karise felt like the biggest jerk on the planet for not making more time to talk to Jane, given that the latest adoption update didn’t sound encouraging.
    As days wore into weeks, Karise felt herself sinking into a depression. She made herself a promise that if she could just make good on her obligation to finish Kate’s house, she’d retreat to Ecuador to lick her wounds and figure out next steps. Maybe heading up Devon’s expansion department wasn’t the worst idea after all.
    Just when she was certain her head would explode, the wheels of the project began to turn – slowly, but they were turning nonetheless. The final model was approved, the builder selected, and suppliers lined up. When a groundbreaking date was set, Kate announced it was time to celebrate. Karise happily agreed to dinner out. She didn’t care where they were going as long as it was away from her cottage. She was in danger of becoming a total recluse otherwise.
    When they didn’t head into town but instead found themselves winding down a picturesque driveway lined with fields, Karise sighed ruefully. She’d never been to a goat farm, but she began to wonder if she was about to. Maybe she should have pinned Kate down on where exactly they would be eating dinner. Her suspicions were confirmed when she saw Aidan’s truck sitting in front of the house. She wasn’t sure if the other cars in the driveway provided relief or made her more nervous.
    Curiosity overrode irritation. She soaked in her surroundings, ever amazed by each new layer of his personality as it was revealed. The house was a simple white farmhouse with an oversized covered porch, complete with a hanging swing. Beyond that, there was nothing about the home that stood out particularly. If anything drew attention, it was the big red barn sitting in the background. Two enormous dogs barked from behind a wooden fence: one cream-colored with short hair, another coal-black with enough fur for ten dogs. Neither looked like it was playing, and Karise wondered if the fence was enough to hold them in.
    At Aidan’s appearance, both dogs stopped barking. Their tails began to wag and their tongues lolled, too large for their mouths. The speed of their transformation was impressive. Karise couldn’t totally blame them. Her own tongue was tempted to loll at his appearance, too. The weeks apart hadn’t cooled the burning in her belly whenever he was near. If anything, it flared to life with new intensity now that he was close enough to touch. Maybe it was time to consider a new approach.
    She didn’t have time to fully explore that thought because he was greeting her with a warm hug. She hoped he didn’t notice the deep breath she took while briefly in his arms. He smelled as good as she’d remembered.
    “I’m glad you’re here, Karise.” He released her, stepping back to flash that engaging grin at her. “I’m curious, though—did you come of your own free will or did Kate trick you?”
    Karise smiled at how well he knew his friend. “She only omitted a few things.”
    “This is nothing. You should have seen the shenanigans my friends pulled to get me in the same room with Gavin in the beginning.” Kate had no sympathy for Karise.
    “Some friends,” Karise retorted.
    “I like to think it worked out for her.” Gavin was defensive.
    “They’re here tonight, actually.” Kate’s grin was mischievous.
    “Yay.” Karise’s voice was flat. The last thing she needed was more women trying to set her up with Aidan. He was hard enough to resist all on his lonesome.
    “They were at Jonathan’s party,” Gavin said.
    “So was half of Northern California,” Karise reminded him.
    “Not half,” Kate pouted.
    “Is Zoe here?” Karise asked – partly to change the subject but mostly