Page 79 of Heart Strain

28

Holden

As soon as I shut the front door, Peanut jumps up on me, so I scratch behind his ears as I unload my keys and wallet onto the nearby table. Giving Peanut a kiss on his snout, I mutter, “Uh oh, is Foxy cooking?” The air is filled with a spicy scent I don’t recognize, but it smells good.

Jameson pops up at the end of the hallway in a light green t-shirt, sweatpants, and bare feet with a spatula in his hand. Somehow that man always looks sexy; seeing him relax makes me elated—and does things to my libido—since he’s so comfortable with me. Peanut runs to him, licking the fingers of his free hand. Jameson grins at the dog and asks him, “Are you excited that Daddy’s home?”

A big smile spreads on my face and I say, “I think he’s more excited to lick sauce or whatever it is off your fingers.” He knows I’m teasing him about being messy because he’s always messy and I’m always giving him shit about it.

Jameson narrows his eyes playfully, but a grin tugs at the corner of his mouth. “Watch it or you won’t get any dinner.”

I laugh and walk into his embrace, humming happily when his arms automatically wind around me. Eagerly kissing his lips, I say, “Thanks for cooking.”

He tightens his hold on me. “I wanted to do something nice for your first day. How was it?”

“It went well, I think. The staff seems really laid back and nice, so hopefully it’ll be a good fit. One of the techs asked me if she could sit in on my first bird appointment in a few days because she wants to learn more about birds, so that’s cool. We ordered food for lunch, and I got to hang out with one of the other doctors for a little while.” With my arms over his shoulders, I run my fingers over the back of his scalp. He’s been keeping it short for work, so I can only rub over it, but I kinda love the way it feels.

“I’m glad you had a good day.”

“Me too, but I’m glad I’m home.”

He smiles softly and pulls me in for a sweet kiss, holding me against him like he’s afraid I’ll pull away—how doesn’t he know I’m right where I want to be?—until the kitchen timer goes off. With a peck on my cheek, he releases me and walks into the kitchen.

I scoop up Nala when she trots by and pull her to my chest to give her a kiss on top of her head as I call out, “Do you need any help?”

“No! Don’t even think about coming in here.”

I laugh and walk into the living room with the cat. Peanut followed Jameson, probably begging for—and receiving—food. He spoils him rotten and it’s one of the many sweet things my boyfriend does. Sometimes I’m still surprised I have a boyfriend. I’d never really planned on it, but I have to say that it’s amazing. Even when he drives me a little crazy, I know he’s here for me in a way that no one’s ever been. As close as Gav and I have been over the years, this is different. It’s new and amazing and precious and something I’m going to fight to keep for as long as Jameson will let me.

Not wanting to sit yet, I walk to the bookshelf that’s filled with books, movies, knickknacks, and a few pictures. One of my favorites is a picture of Jameson and Hendrix when they were still in the police academy. They both have huge smiles on their faces and my brother has his arm over Jameson’s shoulders, pulling him to his side. Drix looks young and carefree, and every time I see the picture, I can’t help but wonder if I’ll ever get to see that side of him again. He’s been so damn angry and mean-spirited lately that sometimes I’m afraid he’ll never be that same goofy, ridiculous, fun guy again.

Nala rubs her face against my cheek, so I coo at her for a moment before I notice a new picture on the next shelf up. My eyes widen as I pick it up and I carry it to the kitchen.

“Hey, no peeking, Holds,” Jameson says when he notices me in the doorway.

I hold up the framed photo. “Where did you get this?”

Jameson glances over his shoulder at me, and when he sees what I have, his cheeks pinken immediately. “Oh, um… I took it, uh, when you weren’t looking, obviously.” He shoots me a smile, but it looks unsure.

Glancing down at the photo, I take it in. It’s a picture of me with Peanut on my lap, Simba pressed to my side, and Nala wrapped around my neck. The kittens look so little I know this has to be from a while ago.

Jameson walks over, takes Nala from me to set her on the counter beside us, then wraps his arm around me, pulling me into his side so he can look at the photo, too. He kisses my temple and mutters, “I was going to give it to you when you found a new place, so… when you moved here, I figured I’d set it out since this is your home now.”

I set the picture on the counter so I can drape my arms over his shoulders again and look into his eyes. “Jameson, this is the first place that’s felt like home since I came back.” He smiles and kisses my lips, but I lean back so I can continue, “That’s not because of this house, though; it’s because of you.” His eyes search my face. “You are my home, Jameson Fox.”

His mouth crashes into mine so hard, I moan against his lips, but then he pulls away just as suddenly and mutters, “If I wasn’t afraid I’d burn your dinner, I’d throw you over my shoulder and carry you upstairs.”

I glance over his shoulder at the meal he’s cooking and suggest, “Turn off all the burners and we’ll come back down afterward?”

He only stares at me for a few seconds before he whirls around, turns everything off, then comes back, bends over, and hauls me over his shoulder. I crack up laughing as I hold on for dear life and he carries me up the steps and throws me on the bed.

* * *

“I can’t believeyou stole my shirt!” I yell into the phone.

“It looks better on me anyway,” Gav says back with what I’m sure is a shit-eating smile.

“I’ve been looking for that shirt all week! I even told you I couldn’t find it.” His laugh reaches my ears, and I can’t help but smile. Still, I huff because he deserves it. “You could’ve told me you had it instead of posting a picture of yourself in it.”

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