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“I think you’re going to be very happy when you hear what I have to say,” he called as she came towards him. Her eyes were wary as she headed past him, giving him a wide berth like she was afraid to accidentally touch him. He caught a whiff of her scent as she sped by him and smiled when he realized she had used his shampoo.
She surveyed each of the dog pens, making sure they were okay before she inspected the cats. She was checking nothing had gone wrong while she was out and that he’d done what she asked.
“I’m not even going to comment on how much you’re checking up on what I did, I’m just glad you’re back because-”
“What have you done to the storeroom?” Her tone was frigid.
“I tidied it, considering it can now be used for actual storage.”
She spun to face him, her eyes sharp. “But I didn’t ask you to do that.”
He paused. “True, you didn’t. But I just thought it would help.”
She pursed her lips but didn’t say anything, just grabbed a blanket. “I need to set up Parfait, the vet said she’s due over the next couple of weeks.”
“Wow, really? I’m going to get to see the kittens being born?”
“Unlikely, she’ll probably have them when it’s quiet and she’s alone. Or at nighttime, when you definitely won’t be here.”
A muscle ticked under his eye at the comment. “Where are you going to put her?”
“I’ll put her in the crate.”
“What crate?”
“The one in the storage room.”
“There isn’t a crate in the, now newly tidied, storage room.”
She spun to him. “What?”
He held up his hands. “No crate. It went to Oscar.”
She cursed and popped her hands on her narrow hips. He could see her brain working at what to do next.
“I don’t have anywhere.” Her tone was laced with defeat and her shoulders slumped on a big sigh. He stepped towards her, wanting to put his arm around her but remembering she said she didn’t like being touched, he held off.
“It’s going to be fine, Rebelle. I’ll go and buy-”
“No! I don’t need you to swoop in and save the day, William!” she snapped and fuck if her full naming him didn’t have his throat running dry and a slither of awareness shooting down his spine. Had he ever liked being called William before? He didn’t think any woman had ever called him by his full name before, not even his mom. But he liked it whenthiswoman did.
He shook off the arousal that began unfurling inside him. “Okay, if you don’t want me to buy anything then let’s put her in the trailer. That way she’s comfortable and it’s quiet. She can nest.”
Rebelle’s eyes narrowed on him before her mouth relaxed. “Yeah, okay. That’s actually a good idea.” Her expression suggested she was struggling to admit that, and he bit back a smile.
“Come on, let’s take Parfait home.”
Rebelle rolled her eyes at his exuberance and he took the box holding Parfait from her and headed out towards the home. The closer he got, the more his excitement waned as he realized he didn’t think he could actually go inside the home, too many bad memories from his childhood overwhelmed him. When they walked up the steps to the little deck by the front door he stepped back and offered Parfait to Rebelle.
“I thought you were excited to get her settled?” Rebelle glanced at him quizzically, her dark eyes catching on his mouth before shifting to meet his stare.
“I think you’ve got it from here. Three’s a crowd.” He gestured to the box and Rebelle took it from him, their fingers gently brushing. She shook her head at him and went inside. He hovered before heading back to the shelter, annoyed at himself.
Back inside, he noticed Bryan at the front of his kennel, his head hanging over the door, a hangdog expression on his face.
Will stroked his head. “You missing her?” He’d seen the way the hound watched her and followed her around. He stepped back when Rebelle came back into the shelter.
“Didn’t you have something you wanted to tell me?” she asked Will.
