I type in the code for the alarm and then reset it as I close the front door behind me.
The sun is softly rising on the horizon, and I breathe in the fresh morning air. Fuck, it’s good to be alive.
Aspen stops every few meters to sniff, her nose twitching at whatever scent she’s picked up, and I smile.
“It’s going to be one of those walks, is it?” I say to her.
As soon as we reach the field, I open the gate and usher her through, making sure to close it behind me and check the area before taking her off the lead. This one doesn’t have a bridle path, which is good as Aspen can be a bit skittish. She’s still training but doing so well.
Her recall is so much better now too.
I pause to pull out my phone and take a few pics. Aspen begins to circle, and I already know what’s coming next, so I stuff my phone back in my pocket and pull out a bag.
If someone told me I’d be standing here picking up after my dog a couple of years ago, I would have laughed.
But now I can’t imagine not having her, she’s part of our family. And if it wasn’t for her being so pushy when it came to my chest, I know things could have ended up very differently.
Chapter Fifty-Six
NOAH
Straightening my tie, I make my way into the living room where Caleb is waiting, adjusting his cufflinks.
“Fuck, my husband is handsome,” I say, approaching him.
He gives my body a slow appraisal, causing the hairs on the back of my neck to stand on end.
“As do you, and I look forward to helping you undress later,” he says, gripping the nape of my neck and pulling me in for a kiss.
I get lost in his addictive taste. Kissing him and Jessica never gets old.
“Room for one more?” our wife asks.
We pull out of our kiss, looking towards her, she looks a vision in her floor length dress.
Caleb holds out his free hand, the other still on the back of my neck.
“Come here, beautiful.” She flushes and steps towards us as he takes her hand in his.
He tugs her into us and leans in to kiss her, before pulling back and allowing me to do the same.
“Stunning,” I say, pulling out of the kiss.
There’s something different about her, but I can’t put my finger on it.
“Have you done something different to your hair?” I ask.
She shakes her head.
“Your makeup?” Caleb asks. I glance at him then back to her.
“No, nothing,” she replies, clearing her throat, averting her eyes and licking her lips.
I look at Caleb and he shakes his head, because we’re both clearly on the same page, there’s definitely something different about her.
“Right, shall we go?” he asks instead, looking at his watch. “Don’t want to miss our reservation.”
I hold out my arm for Jessica, and she smiles as she links hers with mine. I lead her outside as Caleb locks up behind us. Even though our property is gated now and we have more security than the town house, it’s something we were not prepared to skimp on. Even with Curtis no longer being a threat, you just never know who might be lurking in the shadows.
