Page 26 of Four Money (Ever and Always 1)

“I can’t help it,” Trent said with a smirk as he entered the room carrying a tray heaped with breakfast treats.

“I meant the dog.” She grinned, as eager to see her husband as she was to devour the fluffy pancakes, bacon, and bowls of fruit he set down beside them.

“Ah, too bad.” He nudged the pup from the bed so they could eat without his sad eyes begging for scraps he probably shouldn’t have anyway. Proving Trent wasn’t immune to the pitiful stare, he tossed the dog a slice of banana, which he inhaled without chewing.

“What’s his name?”

“I decided to call him Moose. As a puppy, his paws were so huge they might as well have been hooves.” Trent avoided meeting her gaze when he said, “I hope you aren’t pissed that I didn’t follow through on my promise.”

“Which one?” She tensed, afraid he’d decided not to wire the cash Westford, Armand, and King had fronted them, based on the amount locked up in the trust, to her savings account after all. She wouldn’t blame him or hold him to the contract Kari’s guys and Cooper had drawn up for them the night before if he’d had a change of heart…or wallet.

Regardless, he’d given her one of the best nights of her life, even under unusual and distressing circumstances for them both. For that alone, she was grateful they’d reunited.

“My promise to take him to the shelter.” Trent tipped his head, almost like the dog did as he watched his owner pop a slice of bacon between his lips. “I guess I just never got around to it.”

“Itisthe same dog then?” Her heart expanded a little knowing that he hadn’t been able to give the little guy up. She would have kept him herself if she’d been allowed.

“Yup.” Trent shrugged. “I needed a friend at that point in my life, so I figured I’d give it a try.”

“How the hell did he get so big?”

“He eats a ton.” As if on cue, Moose plopped one of his ginormous paws on her thigh. She snuck him a bite of eggs. After all, Trent had easily cooked enough for the three of them to share.

“Where was he last night?” Holly had been pretty focused on Trent and what they did in bed, but she was sure she would have noticed if Moose had been there at the door to greet them.

“Our neighbor watches him when Lorenzo, Owen, and I work nights.” Trent forked some eggs into his mouth as she plucked a few strips of bacon from the tray. “Although I guess I won’t be doing that anymore unless there’s stuff I have to do to set up the new business I can’t finish during the day.”

“That’s a good thing, right?” She angled toward him to study his expression. He seemed utterly relaxed and even more handsome than she remembered. Maybe settling down, and getting laid, worked wonders for him.

“Yeah, definitely.” He took a sip from his steaming mug of coffee before passing it to her to share. Somehow it seemed unbearably intimate even given what they’d done the night before…on their wedding night.

Holly choked as the repercussions of the past twenty-four hours began to sink in. This wasn’t some extended date or even a pleasant morning after a one-night stand. This was her new reality.

And she was kind of okay with that. Maybe a littletoookay with it.

“Are you freaking out yet?” Trent rescued the mug from her, then slammed coffee like he had his beer the night before, as if he needed the shot of caffeine to make it through this conversation, or maybe the next several months of their arrangement.

“Only a little.” She took a deep, if shaky breath, then nibbled the corner off a slice of cinnamon toast.

“Good, because I keep waiting for the panic to kick in and I’m over here thinking I’m a weirdo because it isn’t happening.” Trent put his hand on her knee and squeezed. “Thank you, for being there for me last night and turning a horrible event into something wonderful.”

“Don’t make me sound like a martyr. You’re returning the favor.” She put her hand on his and rubbed her finger over his ring, which matched hers. “But I’m glad I could be there when you needed me.”

“Same goes.” He leaned in and stole a quick kiss. It might have become something more than that if they wouldn’t have flung food all over his bed and tempted Moose beyond his training.

“So, uh, what’s your last name?”

“Yourlast name is Bellini, if you want it to be.” He smiled at her.

“I like peach bellinis.” She laughed.

“I noticed last night.” He grinned back. No matter what else happened, they’d had one hell of a time. Good, terrible, then excellent…in that order.

They ate in relative silence, having worked up quite an appetite together. She ate an extra pancake, saving some fuel for what she hoped would be a rematch later. But when she’d finished, she couldn’t stop wondering how her mother was doing without her.

Sure, there was a nurse standing guard, and probably their neighbor too, but they didn’t know where everything was or the way Holly did stuff. What if they needed help or couldn’t find something important, like her mother’s medicine?

“Do you mind if I call my mom quick? I need to check on her. I want to tell her the news and get the ball rolling on notifying her doctors, too.”

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