Page 17 of Heart Strain

“You didn’t have to.”

Rolling my eyes, I change the subject and try my best not to let my mind wander back to Jameson and his sexy, plump lips that I really fucking want to taste.

* * *

As I slideinto the car, I grin at Jameson and say, “Thanks for picking me up.”

“No problem. It makes more sense so we don’t both have to pay for parking, anyway.”

“Are you sure you don’t mind coming back here around lunchtime so I can let Peanut out?”

“I don’t mind at all. We’ll just do the all-day parking pass and be good to go.” He shoots me a grin, and I can tell he means it, so I nod.

“Thank you.”

“You know, now you got me thinking about getting a pet. I even had a dream about having a cat and a dog, but then they ran at me or something and I had to hide in my bedroom, I dunno, it was weird.”

I crack up at that. “Aww, were you scared of a little cat and dog?”

He chuckles and pushes my shoulder with his big, warm hand. That tiny amount of contact is enough to cut off my laugh and make me gasp as goosebumps pop up from my shoulder and run down my arm. He’s oblivious to my reaction, though, because he continues talking as if he didn’t just rock my world with a tiny touch. “Shut up, it was just some stupid dream, but I guess I was thinking about it when I went to sleep. I really want a pet, and even though you don’t approve, I think I might get a cat this week.”

Shaking off the strange feeling he left behind, I grin at him. “You’re a total cat person.”

He sends me a smirk. “Does that mean we can’t be friends?”

“That’s a good question, Jameson, and I don’t think I have an answer for you.” I try to sound serious, but his eyes widen and it makes me laugh. “Jesus, your face is adorable.” My eyes widen at that and my heart jumps into my throat. Shit! I shouldn’t be complimenting my brother’s partner.“I mean, you know, uh…” I clear my throat. “Yeah, we can be friends, Foxy—I mean, oh my god. I meant like Fox-y because of your last name, you know, Fox. Duh, of course you know what your last name is. Foxy like your last name, not because you’re, you know, Foxy, even though you are obviously—aaannnd I’m going to stop talking now.”

He chuckles at my awkwardness, and says, “Good to know.”

A little bit of my tension releases, and I decide that since it’s out there, I may as well keep going with it. “So, Foxy, are you going to rescue one?”

“You sticking with that nickname?”

“Definitely.”

He laughs again, and the sound warms me up like it always does, so much so that I can’t remember what I asked him when he answers, “I’d like to, yeah.”

It takes me a second to go over our conversation before I can reply. “There’s a really great shelter I used to volunteer at when I was a kid. I could take you there, if you want.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. But don’t feel like I’m pressuring you to get one. Make sure you’re ready to make your home a forever home for him or her.”

He glances at me with a small smile. “I’ve been thinking about it for months, and now seems like a good time since I’m not working at the moment.”

I nod. “Awesome. I’ll call the shelter tonight. What day do you want to go?”

“Today, tomorrow, whenever. I’m kind of eager, but I might need your help getting supplies.”

“Why don’t we go to the store tonight after the hospital to get you set up? And maybe we can go to the shelter tomorrow?”

“Perfect.”

I smile at him as he pulls into the parking garage. When we get out and walk toward the elevator, I catch myself checking out his ass—it’s a nice ass. But it’s also off limits… something I have to remind myself a million times throughout the day.

* * *

I holdthe door open for Jameson, and when he brushes past me, I suck in a breath and will my dick not to fill from such small contact—it doesn’t listen, so I close my eyes and take a deep breath. Only, Jameson is close enough that I can smell him, and that only makes my cock plump further. Holy hell.

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