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“No. I’m not hungry, but thanks Hudson. I mean it. Thank you for everything.” She squeezes my hand. “You certainly didn’t sign up for all this drama.”
“Hey. None of this is your fault. I signed up to be with you, no matter what that entails.”
She gives me a small smile and then looks out the side window as we drive down the almost completely empty road. I can hear her small sniffles. She’s crying and it’s breaking my heart. I tug her hand to get her to look at me. “Hey, no tears, okay? At least not while I can’t hold you.”
She wipes her tears with her other hand. “Okay.”
I speed up a bit to get us to her house faster. She needs me and I want to be all that she needs when she needs it.
We finally make it to her driveway, and Wilbur is sitting on the front patio.
“Honk. Honk. Honk. Honk.”
We climb out of the truck and Pepper runs up to Wilbur. “Bark.”
“Both of you, shush. It’s too early in the morning for all this noise.” Kate scolds them as she unlocks the front door. “I’m sorry I’m so late, Wilbur. You must be hungry.”
“Honk.”
Kate fills up his bowl with food and we both watch Wilbur waddle over to the bowl and eat like his life depended on it while Pepper watches and drools.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t have any dry dog food, but I do have a can of wet dog food. I bought it for a stray that was wandering the neighborhood a few months ago, but he stopped coming by, so I’ve been holding onto it.” Kate holds it up. “You can use one of my plastic bowls.”
“This is perfect. Thank you.” I take the can, open it, and place the plastic bowl on the ground next to Wilbur’s bowl.
We watch them both eat, and they both seem to be perfectly happy. It takes mere seconds for them to finish their food. Wilbur waddles to a small bed on the floor in the living room and Pepper makes herself comfortable on the couch. They’re both asleep in no time.
“I think they’ve got a good idea.” I look at Kate as she’s leaning against the opposite counter from me in this tiny kitchen and staring off into space. I reach over and pull her to me and into my arms, and to my delight, she comes willingly and quickly. Almost like she was waiting for me to do it.
“I’m so sorry this has happened. We’ll find out who did it and press charges. Did the insurance company say how long it will be before they process the claim?”
She only shakes her head.
We stand there just holding each other and I’m delighted to have her in my arms, but she’s not used to being up for over twenty-four hours like I am. Working as a firefighter paramedic trains you to function on little to no sleep. Not so for bagel shop owners.
“Hey. Let’s get you to bed. You must be exhausted.” I squeeze her tighter and then attempt to let go, but she doesn’t. “Kate?”
I tilt my head down to look at her as she looks up at me. “Come with me.”
My body reacts immediately. “What?”
Her eyes are full of desire as she pulls away from our embrace, but doesn’t let go of my hands. She pulls me down the hall to her bedroom.
“Kate. Are you sure about this?”
She closes the door so that the animals can’t come in. When she turns around, she pulls me down to her to kiss me. Her lips are so soft, and they taste just like honey. I take advantage of her lips parting to deepen our kiss.
“Are you sure, Kate? You’ve been through so much today.”
“Shh. I’m sure, Hudson.” She pulls me into another kiss. “I want this with you. Please.” She kisses my ear and then down my neck.
“I don’t want to take advantage of you. We have all the time in the world for this. Are you sure you’re ready?”
“Hmm.”
“I need to hear the words, baby.”
Kate pulls out of my arms and backs away from me. “Is this clear enough?” She pulls off her shirt. “I’m okay, and I want this. With you. I want this with you, Hudson.”
