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Alice shrugged. “No, it’s par for the course for your grandmother. Now, I was planning to make homemade mac & cheese. I always crave that when it’s getting cold. Does that sound good?”
“It sounds great. Just tell me how I can help.”
With Alice directing me, we cooked. I discovered she liked to listen to the news, and then she switched over to podcasts, giving me a choice between current topics and comedy.
Once we put the tray of mac & cheese in the oven, she immediately began cleaning up, trying to shoo me away from helping.
“Alice, I like a clean kitchen as much as you do,” I said lightly. “Why don’t you sit down and have that glass of wine you haven’t even touched while I take care of this?”
She shrugged. “I’m used to living alone.” She acquiesced and sat down, sipping the wine and filling me in on how things were going with her vet clinic.
I had everything put away in the dishwasher, the sink cleaned, and the counters wiped down inside of a few minutes. I joined her at the table.
Honey was sound asleep on a bed in the hallway. “Is that her favorite spot?” I asked, gesturing toward her.
“She loves it. At night, that’s her favorite spot. In the daytime, she likes to be in the living room.” Alice gestured to the couch. “She sits up there on the back of the couch and looks out the windows. Dog television.”
I grinned. “She seems settled in with you.”
Alice nodded. “She is. She loves it at the clinic too.”
“Does she do okay with the other animals coming in and out?”
“She does. I wasn’t sure how that part was going to go. We mostly keep her behind the reception desk or with me in the back when I’m between appointments. She’s figured out she’s not allowed in the exam rooms.”
“Makes sense. That would probably be stressful for the other animals coming in.”
“Exactly,” Alice said.
Not much later, she showed me the guest room. She even had fresh towels for me on the dresser. “And you have your own bathroom,” she said, pointing at one of the doors off to the side of the room.
“That’s nice. I didn’t expect that.”
“It’s a small one with one of those tiny stand-up showers, but it’s all yours.” She glanced at her watch. “I’m going to take Honey out and go to bed.”
The chemistry between us was still sparking, as it did whenever I was around her. Even though we hadn’t discussed it, it seemed we both realized it was wise to keep a little distance, especially if I was going to be here all the time.
I lay in bed not much later, listening to the shower running and trying not to think about Alice’s pink and flushed skin from the shower the morning after our night together.
I told myself this was a smart move. My life was complicated enough. I didn’t need to make things messy by getting too involved with Alice when I knew I couldn’t give her what she deserved.
ChapterTwenty-Six
Alice
I fell asleep, restless with my thoughts spinning around Jonah and the ever-present humming desire thrumming through my system. I finally fell asleep, only to wake shortly after midnight. A sound startled me out of my sleep, and I sat up quickly.
I glanced over to see Honey wasn’t on her bed just outside the doorway, but I heard her claws clicking across the floor in front of the guest bedroom. I slipped out of bed, tiptoeing into the hallway and stopping in front of Jonah’s door. I could hear motion and restless breathing, followed by a muffled shout and a cry.
I didn’t even hesitate and opened the door, pushing through. The sheets were tangled around Jonah’s waist, and he kicked a leg when he cried out again. I reached the edge of the bed, shaking his shoulder. “Jonah!” I whispered loudly.
His eyes flew open, and he stared at me blankly for a moment. His skin was damp with sweat.
“Alice?” He spoke slowly as he appeared to register who I was and where he was.
“You were having a nightmare,” I said.
Honey had followed me into the room and rested her nose on the edge of the bed right by his hand. She nudged it and softly nuzzled her head against his hip.
