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“Okay.” I give in because I don’t want to fight and scare the kids.
* * *
An hour later we have a new chocolate Labrador that was turned over to July. He’s about a year old and well trained. We also had to get a kitten for Michelle. July Silver and I have met several times now at different functions at either Sydney’s or at the Mayson’s house. She is Asher and November’s oldest daughter and the owner of Beast’s Veterinary Clinic. She laughed the whole time I was trying to talk the kids into one pet. But I couldn’t turn Michelle down when the sweet kitten curled up in her arms. July talked to both kids about responsibility and caring for their animals. She helped them come up with a schedule for feeding that will work with them returning to school soon.
“Mom, Sully is going to love Kodiak,” Micah says from the back seat, where he’s holding onto Kodiak’s collar while he sits on the floor at his feet.
“I think Sully is going to love Princess more,” Michelle adds in her two cents as she wiggles her fingers in the kennel her kitten is sleeping in.
“I’ll take the kids to the pet store to get supplies. I have someone coming to sit with you while you are at the salon,” Krystal says as I pull up into a space near the salon that Sydney suggested I visit. The hairdresser is Jax’s girl, Ellie, who is one of July’s cousins. She was able to fit me in without having to schedule ahead.
A couple of hours later, I’m looking at myself in the mirror, shocked by what I see. It’s my reflection but not. My hair rests just below my shoulders, and I now have magenta, pink, and red highlights. I love it. The look and style remind me of the old me. The girl who colored her hair every few months. I look down my body at the ripped jeans and silky tank top. It’s a perfect blend of the old me and the new.
“I love it. Thank you, Ellie.” I smile at her in the mirror, and she smiles back.
“You’re very welcome. Anything for Sydney. She said you wanted a makeover after a bitter divorce.”
“I can’t thank you enough. I have my first date in a couple of days. He’s going to be shocked.”
“Dating already. You go girl.” She holds her hand up for a high five and I give it to her.
When I step outside, Krystal and the kids are waiting for me. I slide into the passenger seat instead of making Krystal move. They ooh and aah over my hair, and Michelle asks if she can color her hair too. I guess I’ll have to call Ellie back and see if she can fit her in for a wash out color instead of a permanent dye like mine.
CHAPTER11
MAVERICK
Idon’t know why I’m so nervous. It’s not like this will be my last first date. Because it will. I intend to make this woman my wife someday. I’ll give her time to get used to that though.
I pull up to her house. I haven’t been here since Tuesday when I dropped her off after court. I’ve only texted her, because I knew if I heard her voice, I’d want to be with her and the kids. It’s been hard to not see them every day like I had gotten used to. She goes back to work Monday. The kids start at their new school on Monday too.
As soon as my truck comes to a stop, the kids run up to it, excited to see me.
“Rick,” they both yell excitedly. They decided to start calling me Rick, and I didn’t fight it. My dad used to call me that too. He would have loved to be a grandfather to these two. “Come see,” again they both say at the same time.
I’m led up to the house, where they open the door and a bouncing lab almost knocks Michelle over in his excitement. The little guy is still in his puppy stage.
“This is my new dog, Kodiak. Isn’t he cool? Don’t you think Sully will like him?” Micah is so excited and can’t stop bouncing along with the dog.
“Calm,” I order the dog and hold out my hand flat, palm to the floor. The dog instantly calms and sits. I like that he’s partially trained. “He’s a good dog. You need to work on his jumping and excitement when people come in the door. But he’s a pretty boy. Yeah, Sully will teach him, and they’ll get along perfectly.”
“Rick, I have something to show you,” Michelle says in her sweet voice that will sound just like her mother when she grows up. She takes my hand and leads me to the family room, where sitting on the sofa is a small white-and-black kitten. “Her name is Princess.”
“She is a princess. Love her, sweet girl.” I kiss the top of her head.
“Sully won’t eat her, will he? Micah said he would.”
I turn to look at the boy, who has a mischievous grin on his face and is trying not to look at me.
“No, Sully won’t eat your kitten, sweet girl.” I turn back to her and squat down to her level as we both pet the calm cat.
“I was only joking, Misha.” Micah laughs at her. He takes off toward the back door. “Kodiak, come,” he orders the dog, and they take off into the backyard.
“Sweet girl, where is your mommy,” I ask her.
“Right here.” I hear her breathless tone and my eyes zero in on her.
She looks amazing. She’s dressed in a long black silky tank dress that goes to her ankles and is belted at her small waist. Her hair is shorter and has some wild colors in it. I stand and can’t help that I need my hands on her. I move right for her and watch as her breathing increases the closer I get to her. She’s holding a denim jacket and her purse in one hand and her other fidgets with pushing her hair back over her shoulder.
