Page 104 of Carver’s Craving

“Right.” Seth cut the call.

I nearly dropped the phone.

Carver grabbed hold of it and, when I released it, he put it down on the coffee table. Then he pulled me into his arms again. “Okay. So now you can breathe. Do you want to get changed? I need to put on clothes—”

I managed a laugh. “Man, I’m ready to get in the SUV and just…go.”

“Let me get dressed. And you might to put on something fresh. We need to take Walter and Poppin out. Then we can leave them for a while. If necessary, I can come home later.”

“How far is Abbotsford Hospital? Why didn’t they take him to Mission?”

“Mission’s small and limited. Abbotsford is the big regional hospital. Always busy, but I’m certain he’ll get the very best care.” He kissed my lips. “Let’s go. We can charge our phones on the way.”

“Right.” I rubbed my forehead. “I hadn’t told anyone else he was missing. Because…I dunno…I guess I thought he’d show up and I didn’t want to worry anyone. His aunt’s dead, his dad doesn’t deserve to know wouldn’t give a shit anyway, and Marta’s really sensitive and—”

Carver put a finger to my lips. “Let’s get going.”

“Right. Of course.”

Twenty minutes later, Poppin and Walter were munching on chewy bones as Carver and I slipped out of the house.

Only when we were settled and heading down the driveway did I smile. “They’ve only been away from me for an hour or so these past few weeks.”

Carver chuckled as he turned onto the street. “They’ve been pampered.”

“I don’t want to leave them any more than I have to.” I pressed a hand to my chest. “I sort of feel like they’re my children.”

“Because they are. You’re their other daddy.”

For the umpteenth time tonight, tears filled my eyes. “Yeah?”

“Yep.” He signaled to turn onto the main road. “Look, it’s a half-an-hour drive. Why don’t you try to rest? You’re in for a long night.”

Involuntarily, I yawned. “So are you. And you worked hard all day.” Still, my eyelids grew heavy. How can you possibly sleep now? Possibly because the adrenaline was draining away. I’d been on heightened alert since Carver mentioned thinking he’d seen Arlene. How did Seth rescue Baxter in just, what, five hours? Or something like that. I owed him.

Everything.

“Sleep, sweetheart. I’m stopping at Timmie’s for a coffee. You want one as well? I can ask for extra-hot so it’ll still be warm when we get to the hospital.”

Again, I yawned. “I love you.”

He pressed a hand to my thigh. “Same.”

By the time we hit Mission City’s outskirts, I was down for the count.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Carver

Iwoke Styx as I pulled into the Abbotsford Hospital parking lot. “Can you wait until I’ve paid for parking?”

He rubbed his eyes. “I figure five minutes isn’t going to make a difference. I can’t believe I slept. Oh God, did I snore?”

“Only a little.” I smiled. As I found a parking spot. “Coffee’s waiting. I bought a twelve pack of Timbits and a cruller for you.”

“You remembered?”

I put the SUV in park and shut off the engine. “Of course, I remember.” I reached across the console and caressed his cheek. “I remember everything.” Or at least I’d do my damnedest.