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“Yes, you can. I know you don’t want to love things because you’re scared, but how would you feel if someone adopted him?” The fire in her eyes was all the answer he needed to know he was right. “I’ll get him settled at home and change the kennel ready for the new arrival while you go and get them.”
“Fine,” Rebelle conceded.
“See, sex isn’t affecting this, look at that teamwork!” He beamed at her and she rolled her eyes but he could see the smile that she was struggling to contain.
“I now own a dog thanks to you, stop smiling at me,” she grumbled.
“Why are you resisting it? Didn’t you hear that it’s-”
“Award-winning? Yeah, I heard. You’re such a goof,” she snorted as he eased closer to her. She tried to leave but he pulled her back and dropped a kiss on her unsmiling lips that tasted like raspberries. She opened wide for him and he slid his tongue inside, seeking out hers and rolling them together, his stomach clenching when they touched. Heat and somethingmorestirred in his chest at the way she melted against him, like she surrendered.
Maybe it was the fact that he knew everything now, that she didn’t like people and didn’t trust anyone and yet here she wasevery day taking a chance on him. He was chosen. Him above anyone. He’d never felt more worthy.
Will pulled away before things started getting X-rated in front of the dogs and contractors. She gave a final nibble to his bottom lip which had him nearly dropping to his knees. Her dark eyes, cloudy with lust, had male satisfaction roaring through his veins.
She cleared her throat. “Right, well that’s settled then. I’ll be back shortly.”
His perma-smile remained while he situated Bryan at the home. The old boy immediately inspected all of Parfait’s kittens and curled up at her feet while she held him down with a paw and washed him. Confident they would become one big happy family, Will returned to the shelter and began readying the kennel for the new arrival when a familiar scent had him pausing.
He turned toward the door and saw his mother standing there, looking around her with an unpleasant twist to her lips.
“Darling!” she called when she spotted him.
He greeted her with an uneasy smile. “Mom? What are you doing here?”
“Well, you did sound so very attached to the place when we spoke last night so I thought I’d come down and see what all the fuss was about,” she said, stepping forward on her sky high heels and clutching her white, hopefully faux, fur coat around her. The dogs looked at her like she was Cruella de Vil and Will nearly laughed, he’d have to tell Rebelle that when she was back later.
Diane peered into each kennel, pausing longer at Chihuahua brothers, Bruiser and Beast and cooed at them before she reached Will and hugged him. The simple touch took him from client to son and he felt her relax against him before she set him away and refortified herself. His disappointment at her professionalism surprised him. He usually didn’t mind her ‘momager’ persona but too often lately he’d yearned for therelationship he had with young woman he remembered from his early days. His mom, sans manager.
She hooked her arm through his. “Aren’t you going to give me a tour?”
He obliged, leading her around the shelter and introducing her to all the animals, Betty and Veronica took a particular shine to her. Oscar chose that moment to noisily investigate his undercarriage. Will showed her the new cattery under construction and took her outside to show her the land.
“Rebelle’s got it all planned out. Once the cattery is completed, we’ll move onto the next phase.”
His mother’s cool stare landed on him. “This woman, Mrs. Black-”
“Rebelle,” he interrupted firmly, feeling his temper already stretching and yawning to life.
“I did some research into her. She’s completely broke, Will.” Her mouth flattened. “How much money has she asked you for?”
He laughed. He could see exactly where this was going and couldn’t believe that he hadn’t picked up on it sooner. “Not a cent, Mother, not a single fucking cent.” It gave him great pleasure to say that.
His mother cocked her head, the only physical sign of confusion as her dermatologist was clearly incredible at their job. “Are you not bankrolling all of this?” she gestured around them.
He rocked forward on his heels. “I sure am.”
Diane tutted. “Will, darling. She’s taking you for a ride, I thought you were smarter than this. You’re clearly enraptured by her and I’m not really sure why, shabby chic isn’t really your style and-”
His good mood only stretched so far, even with his mother. “I think that’s enough visiting for one day, don’t you?” He turnedand began walking back to the shelter and could hear the shuffle of her heels in the dirt as she followed him.
“I don’t mean to hurt your feelings, darling, but she’s just another gold digger.”
He laughed again, this time picturing Rebelle’s horrified expression each time he tried to offer her money. She was the furthest thing from a gold digger that he’d ever seen.
He whirled on her. “Yourresearchcan’t tell you everything. Belle hasn’t wanted a single thing from me except to leave her the hell alone and I wouldn’t even do that! She has worked on this place entirely on her own and-”
“Are you in love with her?” Her shrewd gaze cut right through his argument, and suddenly he was a kid again, and she’d caught him red-handed stealing candy. His mouth floundered and in lieu of answering, he hurried back to the shelter. Because he couldn’t say he was, but his heart also couldn’t deny it.
