Page 60 of Impurrfections

“Serious as the grave.” I said lightly, then winced. “God, that’s an awful saying. Although the previous owners are dead. Yes, I’m serious. That venue’s been standing useless and empty. It’s yours. I can’t wait to plan the remodel.” I realized that was the truth. I wanted to be part of turning the place to a good use. Between Shane and Mimsy, Foxy and Arthur, the looming horror I’d felt around that building was being transformed into a new purpose.

Arthur murmured, “I don’t know what to say.”

“Say, ‘Give me the name of your lawyer, Theo.’”

Arthur laughed and repeated my words. I went one better, caught Wynn between appointments and pulled him into a three-way call. By the time we were done, he’d begun laying out a plan with Arthur to make the Safe Haven Animal Rescue of Gaynor Beach a reality. I left them talking over legal stuff, put my phone away, and headed back inside.

Shane had rolled over so he was facing the back of the couch, still wrapped up in that blanket. I wished I’d walked him inside twenty feet farther so he could’ve crashed on the bed. Then there’d have been room for me too. I could only see tufts of his hair above the blanket, but the way he curled up tight, knees to his chest like he was protecting himself made me want to hold him.

It was a wide couch. Maybe we could both fit.

Gingerly, I eased myself onto the eight inches of seat cushion at his back. When I wrapped myself around Shane, he jolted awake, almost dumping me on the floor.

“Wha’?”

“Shh,” I murmured into his hair. “No news yet. Let’s sleep for a bit.” I nudged his legs straighter so my ass didn’t hang off the edge as far.

I could tell from the tension in his body he was awake, but he didn’t turn or resist as I worked an arm under his neck and wrapped the other across his chest.

“I’ve got you,” I murmured. “Foxy’s safe, in the best hands. You don’t need to do anything for a while. You can rest.”

Slowly, moment by moment, his wire-tight muscles softened against me. He’d been breathing silently, and the first fluttering snore made me chuckle. He snorted and woke immediately.

“You’re fine,” I told him, hugging his back to my chest through the blanket. “Let’s sleep.” This time, I kept quiet as his breathing slowed and deepened. I’d rarely slept with Rob. That was one way he’d kept his young men from getting too attached, or at least tried to. As I held Shane close, listening to him breathe and treasuring the way he let me hold him and protect him, I decided Rob had been right. Having Shane trust me enough to sleep in my arms meant more than any sex I’d ever had.

Shane had taken care of me when I’d word-vomited my emotional baggage. I loved that I could take care of him now.

CHAPTER15

SHANE

I woke with a jolt,struggling against iron bands that locked me into place?—

A thud and “Ouch!” brought me back to my senses.

I rolled over, fighting my way out of an entangling soft blanket, and peered at Theo looking up at me from the carpet beside his couch.

“Shit.” I sat up, dragging my sleeve across my eyes. “Did I hurt you?”

“Nah, just landed on my butt.” He stood, rubbing his fine ass with one hand, and held the other out to me. “Up you get. Shower or breakfast?”

“I have to choose?” I could’ve gotten up on my own, but I didn’t hate having his fingers wrapped around mine as he pulled me to my feet.Since when do I take comfort in a man’s simple touch?

“Just decide which comes first.”

“Nothing from the vet yet?”

Theo released my hand to pull out his phone and I missed the contact immediately. “Nope. You?”

I checked mine and shook my head. “You think that’s a bad sign?”

“It’s only been two hours, and they didn’t seem worried.”

My stomach rumbled loudly. I’d eaten nothing since dry cereal from the box last night. “I could eat.” Knowing Foxy was with people who could help her was an enormous relief. I’d felt so inept, watching her struggle hour after hour.

“Me too. Come on.” Theo led the way into his kitchen, turning on the water at the sink to wash his hands.

Mine were dog-hairy and gross, and I stepped up beside him, sharing the sink. Warm water cascaded over my fingers next to his, and his hip bumped mine. That couch blanket had smelled comfortingly of Theo’s skin and his cologne. His face inches from mine carried that scent faintly to my nose and I inhaled, letting his presence soothe my worries. Then I coughed and stepped back. “Sorry, I’m being weird. I’ll wait my turn.”

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