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“You don’t have to drive me to the animal shelter.” Lila pulled her hair into a ponytail.
I took a left out of the parking garage. “I’m not. I’m driving us for our shift.”
“Did you change your day this week?”
I nodded. “And next week. And the one after that.”
She scoffed. “Seriously, it’s been weeks since that night. You don’t have to be my protector every minute of every day. If you’re that worried, then you should have sent the bodyguard like you did every other time I went out. Which is getting really annoying, by the way.”
“You’re my queen. We don’t have any imminent threats at the moment, but I won’t take stupid risks. The bodyguard stays. I even agreed to keep him outside the clinic while you work when I really wanted him to stay glued to you every minute I’m not there to protect you. Even during your sessions. I’m willing to make concessions, Lila, but I will keep you safe. No matter what.”
She placed her hand on my thigh and squeezed. “I know…and thank you. But I don’t want you to feel like your whole life should be about watching over me. You have other things to do too. I don’t want to keep you from living.”
“Kitten, you are my life. Everything I do is for you, for us. Our life together.”
I took the on-ramp and sped up. “But that’s not why I’m driving you today. You’re busy at the clinic all week. I’m busy doing you know what. I thought it’d be nice to have our volunteer shifts together.”
Shit! I screwed up again. I punched my steering wheel. “But as usual, I took the choice away from you. I made the decision for both of us. Next week, I’ll go back to my Sunday shifts.”
She leaned in and planted a kiss on my cheek. “I love you, Hawk.” She kissed me again. And again. Melting away my anger.
“And I love that we’re going to do our shifts together,” she said. “The rescue means so much to both of us, and it’s something we can share. A part of our life we could actually do together. Thank you so much.”
The pride that welled within me made me puff out my chest like a moron. But I didn’t care. My woman was happy…so I was happy.
***
We walked into the reception area, hand in hand.
Simone grinned at us. “Hawk, did you change your shift?”
I nodded.
“Did you alert the volunteer committee?”
Not this again. “Yes,” I bit out.
Lila skipped over to Simone. “We’re doing our shifts together from now on.”
Simone eyed me suspiciously. “Hmm. Well, if it’s what you want, Lila.”
Her tone implied she was talking about much more than the volunteer shifts. She didn’t trust me, and her instincts were right to be apprehensive of me. But she was a good friend to Lila. Protective yet respectful of her choices. Simone would never approve of me, and that was fine.
I only needed Lila’s acceptance.
And her love.
We walked into the dog kennel. The dogs barked their hellos, and Lila grinned from ear to ear. This was her happy place too. I pressed my lips to hers. “I love you.” But there was no way she could’ve heard me over the barking.
Her gaze flitted to my mouth, and her cheeks turned pink. She pressed herself against me and kissed me. She may not have heard me, but she recognized the words formed by my lips.
She went up on her toes and said close to my ear, “I love you, Hawk.”
I gave her ass a squeeze before letting her go and bringing my attention to the dogs. “Hi bubbas,” I said. “Auntie Lila and Uncle Hawk are here.”
***
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