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I took one and cleaned up. “Well, after the site went down today from Roz and Sylvia’s debut, I think he realized that.”
“That’s wonderful.” He scooted over to me. “Can we get up and sit in a chair like civilized people?”
“You’re the one who dragged me to the floor, ace.”
He rolled to his knees with a groan. “I’m glad I splurged for the nice rug, but I’m getting too old for this business.” He held out his hand to help me up. “What do you have there?”
I held the frame against my chest. “A little something to say thank you.”
He smoothed my hair over my shoulder. “You don’t have to thank me.”
I looked down at the professionally matted comic strip. “This one won’t be out for probably a year—maybe never.” I brushed my fingertip over the new addition. “When I came up with the idea for Roz and Sylvia, I thought I knew exactly what the comic would be. Then you came along.” I traced the little gray cat’s face in the first box of the strip of illustrations.
His small face was pressed to the window, rain dripping from his torn ear. The little white fox, Sylvia, had the hair on her back up, her face in a snarl. In the next box, her human Roz was opening the window for the three-legged cat, letting it inside their home.
In the third box, the two animals were face to face, with the gray cat bumping his head under Sylvia’s chin, offering affection. He wore a tiny red collar with a bell. Sylvia was giving him some serious side-eye.
In the final box, the cat and fox were curled together in a soft bed, their bodies making the yin and yang symbol.
“At the time, I was fighting against Roz and Sylvia getting another roommate. I dreamed of this nebulous little animal in the window. I resisted it, but it kept on coming back.”
He tucked a lock of hair behind my ear. “Stubborn…cat.”
I pressed my lips together agains
t a smile. “Now I know it was my subconscious trying to let you in. Dreams are weird, especially for a witch. But then when you found Smoky—”
“We found him.” His voice was soft as he covered my hands on the frame.
I huffed out a half laugh. “We found Smoky. And I knew something a little bigger was happening. I really didn’t want to face it. But love has never been easy for me. Even though the universe kept giving me nudges your way.”
“For that, I’m forever thankful.”
“I know you don’t believe in the things I do.”
He raised my chin with his finger until our eyes met. “We ultimately make our own choices, but I would never discount a higher power showing me the path to you.”
“I would be fine without you.” He stiffened and I placed my hand on his chest. “Just let me finish. I would be fine without you. And my comic would have been fine without Smoky.”
His brows furrowed, but he held his tongue though I knew it was killing him.
“But I’m so much better with you.” I dashed away a tear. “My work is richer because of that feisty cat. I’m grateful for you, Preston. And loving you just makes everything better. I’m sorry it took me so long to say it.”
“We’ve been on fast forward since we met. Waiting for you to catch up was worth it.” He lowered his mouth to mine. “Every minute,” he said against my lips. “I’d wait as long as you needed.”
He was so sure. No doubt at all.
It made it easier for me to believe him. To believe the echo of the love he offered and realize it also lived in me—and that it was growing by the day.
I set the frame on his desk and kissed him back. “Oh, and about that assistant position? It’s permanently filled.”
Sooo…
You might be wondering what happened with Ryan’s best bish, Luna. Handily, we’ve got her story right here for you!
We even have a little sneaky peek!
Thanks so much for reading HIS TEMPORARY ASSISTANT. I wasn’t the best student in school, but when I find the hottie teacher next door naked in my bed, I’m ready to put in an all-nighter…
