Page 53 of Shadows of You

“Pirate just got carried away. She’s sorry. Aren’t you, girl?” I asked.

Pirate butted her head against my chin.

“I’m not taking any chances. Where are my shoes?”

Roan let the blanket drop, revealing that he had been shirtless underneath it. My mouth went dry as I took in his broad shoulders and muscled chest. A dusting of hair covered his pecs, trailing to a line down his abs and below.

Roan stood, bringing us face-to-face, just a breath apart. We both stilled. It was as if the world went quiet around us, and there was only him and me. So close it would only take the barest of movements to know what his lips tasted like.

Pirate swiped out with her paw, smacking Roan right across the face.

“What the hell?” he barked.

She leapt from my arms onto the couch and then darted down the hallway.

“You scared her,” I chastised.

“She could’ve taken my eye out,” Roan snapped.

“You need some cereal, Mr. Grizz,” Cady said around her bite of Cap’n Crunch. “You’re hangry.”

I pressed my lips together to keep from laughing. “What do you think, Mr. Grizz? Would some cereal help?”

Roan scowled at me, and then a look of interest filled his face. “What kind do you have?”

“Cheerios and Cap’n Crunch.”

“I haven’t had Cap’n Crunch since I was a kid.”

I grinned. “Captain it is. Pirates are partial to you, after all.”

The scowl was back on Roan’s face. “I’m going to get cleaned up.”

He headed down the hall. I chuckled to myself as I headed back to the kitchen and made Roan a bowl of cereal.

“Mr. Grizz is funny,” Cady said, still munching away.

“He is.”

A few minutes later, Roan emerged dressed in a fresh Fish and Wildlife uniform that accentuated his shoulders and chest. I instantly dropped my gaze to my cereal.

The chair between Cady and me slid out, the legs dragging against the wood floor.

“Are you gonna help more animals today?” Cady asked.

“I’m not sure yet. Maybe,” Roan said as he took a bite of cereal.

I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye. His light brown hair was a little wild, swooping across his forehead. My fingers itched to get lost in the wavy locks.

Cady peppered Roan with question after question. He never lost his patience with her or got annoyed. Instead, he asked what her favorite animals were and if there were any she wanted but didn’t have.

An ache settled in my chest as I watched the two of them. I wanted this for Cady. But it wasn’t something I was sure I could ever give her.

“All done,” she chirped.

Her voice snapped me out of my swirling thoughts. “Teeth and outfit time. You want some help?”

Cady shook her head. “I can do it. Can I wear my glitter boots today?”

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