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It’s more than that though. He’s so sweet to me, always making sure that I have everything that I need and checking in with me throughout the day. He lets me pick dinner every day and sends me lunch on the days that he can’t come to the shelter and bring me something.
He’s so protective of me too. He walks close to me whenever we go out and makes sure that no one jostles me. We spent one night early on talking and he told me about his time in the Navy and how he decided to get out and start his own security company with his friend. Now it’s one of the biggest in the country, with a waitlist and government contracts. I told him about my tumor and growing up in the foster system with Aspen.
The way he treats me turns me on but watching him with the puppies is what caused me to fall in love with him. He’s so patient with them. I know that having eight puppies running around and barking is a lot but he seems to take it in stride. He never complains about having to take them to work every day. I know that if I said I wanted to keep them all, he wouldn’t even hesitate. It’s like he lives to make me happy. How could I not fall for him?
The only problem is he hasn’t tried anything. Sure, he holds my hand and kisses my cheek or head. He dotes on me and I’ve never seen him so much as glance in another woman’s direction, but he hasn’t tried to take things further between us.
Aspen got back from her honeymoon last night and I’m headed over there today. Maybe she’ll have some advice for me.
CHAPTER 14
Lincoln
I hatethat Aspen is back. I know that’s selfish. She’s Adeline’s best friend, her family, but now I have to share my girl. Adeline is across the street right now and I’m at our house with the puppies. I keep pacing in front of the window, trying to catch a glimpse of her, hopefully when she’s headed back to me.
The puppies are chewing on toys and wrestling in the front room. They only have a week left before they’ll be old enough to eat regular puppy food and then Adeline will be leaving me.
I’ve been trying to go slow with her. To show her that we’re perfect together and meant to be but she’s a hard one to read. She lets me touch her and hold her hand or cuddle her when we’re sleeping or watching TV on the couch. I’ve kissed her cheek or her head but she hasn’t given me any sign that she wants to take things further.
I’m starting to go insane and I know most of it is just panic at her leaving but I don’t know how to get through to her. I would do anything, be anyone, if she would just love me. I want to tell her that I’m in love with her so bad. Every morning when I wake up with her next to me, I want to tell her. Every night when she scoots closer to me and sighs as I wrap my arm around her before we fall asleep, I want to tell her. There are a million different times during every day that I have to hold myself back from blurting it out.
My pacing is interrupted by the front door opening. I see Adeline walk in with a smile on her face and I’m next to her in a second.
“You’re back.”
“Yeah, Roman and Flynn got home and couldn’t keep their hands off Aspen so I took that as my cue to leave.”
“How is everyone?”
“Happy. In love. Tan.” She finishes with a little laugh.
“I’m glad they’re back. I know you were missing Aspen.”
“It’s still weird being away from her and I think that was the longest we went without talking.”
“You two texted while she was gone though.”
“Yeah, but it’s not the same as seeing her face to face and talking. She’s so happy and she deserves it. Although, I will admit I’m a little jealous of her tan. I would kill to go to some tropical island for vacation.”
“Name the place and I’ll take you there, love.”
The image of Adeline running around in just a swimsuit, smiling at me as we lay in the sun together flashes in my head. Sounds like the best vacation ever to me. She just smiles at my offer.
“How are the pups doing?”
“Good. They’re running around like little maniacs.”
Quiche chooses that moment to scamper in and jump all over us. He is Adeline’s favorite and I already know that I’ll be keeping him. Hell, if she wants all of the puppies, then we’ll keep them all.
“Hey there, buddy!”
I watch as Adeline leans down to pet the dog and he wastes no time licking her face.Lucky dog.
“It’s almost time to switch you guys to puppy food.”
My smile drops from my face as I think about our time together being almost over.
“We should pick up food for them soon.”
