Page 115 of Hero Unbound
Theo had shown her how to trust. Trust love. Trust him. Trustherself.
And he’d been in bed with her every single night. Especially once she’d moved into his house last month. She and the pups spent nearly every night there anyway, so they’d finally decided to make it official.
He’d been willing to come back out to Philly with her this week and wait as she took the exam. But this was one final step she needed to take by herself.
Because it had been her only chance. That had been the board’s stipulation. She would get one opportunity to retake the exam. If she didn’t pass, that would be it. In case that had happened, Eva had wanted to be here on her own to deal with it. To be able to lick her wounds before going back to Oak Creek and figuring out what her new life would be.
The one thing she’d known for sure was that no matter what—pass or fail—Theo would be part of that new life.
He was supposed to stay out in the car to pick her up, but she wasn’t surprised when she saw him waiting for her just past the security gate.
She walked straight into his open arms.
“How’d it go?”
She leaned back so she could look into those brown eyes. He had been the only one to truly see her from the very beginning. “Dr. Dempsey, veterinarian, at your service.”
“I don’t plan on letting you out of bed all weekend, so let’s stop by the Eagle’s Nest and grab something to eat.”
Eva was tired and honestly just wanted to get home to the pups, but Theo had been grinning from ear to ear since they left the airport.
“Okay. Maybe Becky will be there and we can let her know the news. If not, I’ll need to call her. I need to call everybody.”
He winked as he parked at the Eagle’s Nest. “Nobody will be surprised.”
She reached over and kissed him. “When I pulled into the parking lot a little over a year ago, I never dreamed that stopping here would get me everything I ever wanted.”
“You’re going to be a vet,” he said against her lips.
She grinned. “Yeah, I am. Now let’s hurry up and eat. I’ve got plans for you back at home.”
He nipped at her lip. “I’m going to have you for dessert.”
She was so wrapped up in that thought that she missed how quiet it was inside the bar when they walked in.
But she certainly didn’t miss it when a moment later everyone in the building yelled, “Congratulations!”
She nearly stumbled backward at the sheer volume of the shout—Theo had to catch her. Her eyes grew big; it looked like nearly every single person in town was here.
There was even a huge sign reading “Congrats to Oak Creek’s Newest Vet.” And standing beside it wereher parents?
She didn’t understand what was happening or how everyone had gotten all this together so quickly—especially since she hadn’t seen Theo use his phone even once since she’d given him the news.
Becky came up and almost tackled Eva in a hug. “Congrats!”
Eva hugged her friend back tightly. “Thank you. How did you know?”
Before Becky could respond, Eva was pulled into Sam’s arms. “Congratulations, sis! I never had any doubts.”
Right behind Sam were her parents, who both grabbed her for a hug together, tears running down her mom’s cheeks.
Soon Eva was crying too. “I can’t believe you’re here! How did you know?”
But once again, before they could answer, Eva was passed around for more hugs. She stopped trying to figure it out and just enjoyed the moment. Dr. Annie, Mr. Collier, Theo’s parents and sisters…everyone was there.
And everyone was thrilled for her.
It was nearly an hour before she’d been congratulated by everyone. She’d had a couple drinks thrust into her hand as she was passed around, and she was already feeling a little tipsy.