Page 84 of Chasing Shelter

She let out another bleat in answer.

“Yeah, I’m calling bullshit on myself, too,” I grumbled as I stared up at the top of the garden shed. The article had said airflow was important. Maybe this next step would help with my sexual frustration. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Henderson,” I muttered as I went in search of the handsaw I’d seen in the garage.

After much cursing and effort, Goaty had some vents under the eaves of the shed that should let air get through without allowing too much cold in. “What do you think, baby girl? Fit for the queen you are?”

Goaty hopped up into the shed, sniffed around, circled, and then plopped down. I grinned, a surge of pride filling me. I might not have had the rest of my life together, but at least I was giving Goaty and Gremlin good ones.

“I’ve got to come up with a better name than Goaty,” I mumbled. She just started snoring.

I laughed and then snapped a picture with my phone, sending it to Sarah in New York.

Me

I have officially entered my country-girl era.

Sarah

Is that a GOAT?! Should I be calling for an intervention?

Me

Let me live in my blissed-out state of delusion that I am actually a cowgirl.

Sarah

Yeehaw?

Another laugh bubbled out of me when she sent a GIF of a woman on one of those mechanical bulls. Then I cursed as I caught sight of the time on my screen. “We gotta go, Grem.” I quickly cleaned up my supplies and got Gremlin settled. Before long, I was in my SUV and on my way to Kye’s gym.

The only problem was that the short drive gave those words a chance to swirl in my mind all over again.“Maybe I’m the one underyour spell.”They were the same words that had kept me up for half the night, making my skin too hot and every nerve-ending stand at attention. The fact that I could still feel Trace’s lips pressed to my temple didn’t help either.

Trace was haunting me. Awake or asleep, it didn’t matter. The echoes of him were everywhere.

Turning into the small parking lot outside Haven, I looked for a spot with the most room. Pulling into one at the end of a row, I opened my door to survey my parking job.

Epic fail.

My wheels had overshot the white lines completely. Pressing my lips together, I backed up and tried again. When I opened the door this time, it was a lot better. Not perfect, but good enough.

Turning off the engine, I hopped out and headed for the front door. A genuine smile tugged at my lips when I saw a familiar face. “What are you doing here?”

Arden smiled, and her massive dog, Brutus, thumped his tail. “Freigeben,” she told the beast in German. Brutus instantly made a beeline to me for a rubdown. “Kye told me you were coming for your first lesson. I had to be here for moral support and to cheer you on in kicking his ass.”

I laughed as I scratched behind Brutus’s ears. “A true friend.”

“I try,” she said with a smile.

“How are you feeling?” I asked, dropping my voice as if someone might overhear. “I’m so happy for you guys.”

Arden’s smile turned soft as she pressed a hand to her belly. “Mostly tired. A little nauseous. And craving all the french fries and milkshakes.”

“I bet Linc is thrilled with that last one.”

“He is far too smug that the babies love his favorite combo.”

“I bet,” I said, giving Brutus one more pat.

“You ready?” Arden asked.

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