???
They were back in the helicopter and halfway back to Eliot when Sabrina’s phone started blowing up with texts and missed calls. “Oh, no.” She muttered, her brows furrowed as she skimmed through the messages.
“What’s wrong?” Cesare demanded, immediately looking over to her.
“I’m part of a marine rescue, and there’s a seal pup caught in some netting. It was found on the beach by a group of college students. It sounds like some of them have been touching the seal pup.” The last part came out as a groan as she closed her eyes.
“Baby seals. Those are cute and not poisonous, right?” Cesare asked.
“They are.” Sabrina nodded. “They’re the cutest thing in the world, but if they smell like humans instead of mom, when they’re reunited, they’re rejected. The moms get confused by the new scent and can attack the babies.”
“That sucks. What happens when dispatch calls in a baby seal?” Cesare asked.
“I’m signed up to respond this weekend. If I can’t make it, Walter normally goes, but he’s in the middle of the ocean on a lobster boat at the moment.”
“Which beach?” Cesare asked.
“York Harbor.” Sabrina bit her lip.
“Sounds like we’re going to York Harbor, then.” Cesare nodded.
“Wait, are you serious?” Sabrina asked, slightly stunned.
“Of course. Why wouldn’t I be? What do we need?”
“I’m texting Travis to bring supplies. He’s good at the logistics piece, but handling animals isn’t his thing. I don’t mean to rope you into this. You can totally drop me off and it would be fine.”
“Nope.” Cesare popped the end of the word with his wide lips as he looked over. “You can’t dangle putting the rescue of a baby seal in my repertoire and then rescind the invitation.”
Sabrina’s shoulders relaxed as her hopeful smile turned into one of relief and she fired off another text.
“Who’s Travis?” Cesare asked.
Sabrina looked up at his purposefully casual tone and narrowed her eyes. “He’s a friend.”
“Have you ever kissed him?” Cesare asked.
Sabrina shook her head, eyes beginning to sparkle with mischief. “I haven’t kissed you either.”
Cesare nodded wordlessly as his eyes smoldered. “This is true, but I will be kissing you very soon, Sabrina.”
“Hmm. Is that so?” She teased back.
“It is.” He nodded matter-of-factly.
Sabrina narrowed her gaze contemplatively. “Are you going to be a caveman, Cesare?” She murmured with amusement.
“No.” He shook his head with a grin. “But you are a beautiful woman, and I protect what’s mine.”
Sabrina gave him an amused side-eye. “For someone who says they aren’t a caveman, that sounds an awful lot like a caveman. But I like you. A little bit, not a lot.”
Cesare reached out, his large hand wrapping around her bare knee, and moving up just enough to squeeze her inner thigh possessively. “A little bit, not a lot.” He grumbled good-naturedly. “I think you like me more than that.”
“Hmm. We’ll see.” She murmured, doing her best to look unaffected, but betrayed by the red flush on her cheeks.
Cesare moved his hand a little higher, fairly positive it was too soon to threaten her with the myriad of enjoyable things he had in mind for her sass. “Oh, I intend to.” He rumbled, pleased when his pretty girl blushed in response.
“Let’s go save a baby seal.” He grinned.
