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“Doc, I’d just be up for the company. The thoughts in my head aren’t kind.”
We make our way back to his home, and true to his word, he makes me breakfast. It doesn’t take long for me to relax, and by the time he leaves, I’ve shaken off the worst of the night before.
Within moments of him leaving, Kyle indicates he needs to go outside. We make the block, and upon our return, we find Layton in the living room, lounging and scrolling through the channels on the TV.
He lifts his head to peer over the back of the sofa, and a grin pulls across his face.
My life is ridiculous.
Out of nowhere, this man I barely know is everywhere.
Kyle rips himself from my hand, leash still attached, and circles the sofa. His tail wags, and his body does too.
“Hey, good boy.” Layton scratches him, snout to ears and back, circling under his chin. “Have you taken care of Mama today?”
Layton’s face looks up to mine. “I thought he’d never leave.”
“Dr. Silverberg?”
“Yeah. I had to move my truck so he didn’t see me.”
I’m sure confusion is all over my face. “When did you get here?”
“Pix.” He says my nickname like I need to be spoken to slowly. “I never left.”
* * *
Layton
“What?” Her disbelieving slow blink makes me wonder what she must’ve looked like as a little girl. The wide eyes. The upturned nose. The freckles.
She’s all woman now, and everything about her makes me want to be more… everything.
More protective. More playful. More masculine. More gentle. More sexual.
She deserves more.
“Baby, I never left last night. You can’t think I’d have left you vulnerable and alone with that fucker.”
She cocks her head before staring at her feet.
“Did you think I’d drive away and not give a damn what happened before the cops got here? Or after? Did you think I went home and didn’t think twice about whether you were safe? Protected?”
She shrugs.
I clench my teeth. She lays me bare and she doesn’t know me at all.
“Did you sleep at all?”
“A little.” Her voice is small. “It wasn’t a good night.”
“Come here, Livy.” I extend a hand, and she walks around the sofa and accepts it. I tug her down next to me as I lay on the couch. I sandwich her so she’s on her side with her face on my chest, her back to the sofa. I draw little circles on her hip and lower back.
Kyle sprawls on the floor in front of the sofa, propping his face on the cushion at my hip. I scratch his head until he groans and wilts onto the floor. His snores come just before Livy’s breathing changes, and her body gets heavy in my arms.
I flip through channels, settling on an old bowl game one of the ESPNs has playing. I don’t think I’ve seen this one, though I remember how it ends. A couple of these guys are in the league now, and I can see why. They shine. Men among boys. Beasts in the making.
Nearly two hours later, Livy stirs and then freezes.
