“A little over two years ago.” Sabrina answered, suddenly looking self-conscious. “I don’t live at the rescue the way Walter makes it sound, but sometimes I’m taking care of animals late enough and then early enough that sleeping there makes sense.”
Cesare nodded, listening carefully. “Who helps you? If Freckles wasn’t there, and there were no emergencies happening, who would help?”
“Walter comes by every night he’s not on the boat.” Sabrina answered.
“So Walter comes by once a night if he’s on land, but everything else is you?” He asked.
“My parents ran this place together.” Sabrina shrugged. “Their friends stepped in to help the first year. There was so much help the first year. But then Brooke deployed, and volunteers started to just fade away. Travis helps with social media but he’s there because he’s a good friend, not because he’s comfortable taking care of animals. If I stop now, there’s nobody else to pick up the slack. And loosing the rescue would be like losing my parents all over again.”
Cesare kissed the back of Sabrina’s hand in response, clasping it gently in his grip until they arrived at her home. He thought he did a fairly good job of pretending not to be a stalker when he casually asked which house was hers.
Sabrina made the most delicious little sound when he kissed her on the porch, and when they finally made it inside, he put her bag on an entryway table that led to a very long, very dark hallway.
Cesare frowned. “Why are your lights not working, tesoro?” He asked, switching a panel of light switches off and on with no result.
“Oh.” Sabrina shrugged with a dismissive hand. “I keep meaning to replace the lightbulbs, but something else always comes up.”
“How long has it been since your hallway light turned on?” Cesare asked suspiciously.
“I don’t know, and it’s none of your business.” Sabrina answered with a light but firm tone.
Cesare stared for a moment, his hand itching once again to spank her for her sass, but simultaneously appreciating it. He grunted. “I want to fix these tomorrow.”
Sabrina cocked her head. “Are you asking or telling?”
Cesare grinned. “I’m asking you by telling you.”
“The jury requires further time to deliberate.” Sabrina pursed her lips.
Cesare leaned down, placing a light kiss on her neck, nuzzling the deliciously sensitive skin just behind her ear. “What will it take to convince the jury?”
“Will it be you or a hired crew?” She asked, the brush of his lips sending tingles down her body.
Cesare gave her a look of consideration. “I have meetings all day Monday that I need to prepare for tomorrow. Tuesday morning I’m meeting with some clients, but I think I could come by in the afternoon.”
“I’ll be at work.” Sabrina frowned.
Cesare kissed her neck once more. “Yes, but you’ll come back to a house with working lights.”
Sabrina hummed. “The jury finds this to be a worthy proposal.”
“We can turn it into an early dinner.”
“Even better.” Sabrina smiled.
“It’s a date.” Cesare smiled back.
Sabrina looked down at the sight of their hands, clasped together. Her fingers looked so small and slender next to Cesare’s. She furrowed her brow, looking up to meet his gaze. “What did Walter mean back at the rescue?” She asked. “Why are you looking into Tommy Crawford?”
Cesare made no move to answer, instead eyeing her silently.
Sabrina frowned at his silence, and waited.
“How do you know Tom Crawford?” Cesare asked, his tone intentionally light.
“Answering a question with a question isn’t an actual answer.” Sabrina admonished, lips pursed.
Cesare shook his head. “It would help me know how to answer if I knew how you know him.”
