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“Sure. Did you know we’re expanding? Things are taking off and we’re adding a cattery at the moment. It’s very exciting.” Rebelle felt her cheeks flush. She wasn’t used to telling people about the success of the shelter, until now there hadn’t been.
Jae smiled. It wasn’t as nice as Will’s smile but nice enough. She smirked as she thought of Will reminding her once again that it was an award-winning smile.
“I’ll have to come by and check it out sometime,” Jae said, pulling her back into the conversation.
“Yeah, that’d be great.”
“Then maybe after you give me a tour, we could grab some dinner?” He looked at her from under his lashes, seeming sheepish.
Her slight smile faltered at his offer. His smile stayed in place, friendly, his eyes wide open and expression soft. She didn’t feel the rush of anxiety that would normally accompany this kind of request, and relief spread through her at the realization. She was growing and controlling her fears and recognizing what situations were worthy of her fear and how to handle regular interactions.
Will’s handsome face flashed through her mind. She hadn’t sorted through her feelings about last night and what they’d done or how she felt about that. Except that she knew her physical release had allowed an emotional release too. She’d woken less tense than usual, like a weight had been lifted fromher shoulders, her body languid from her night with Will. With him, it felt like she’d lost her virginity all over again. Except she’d been safe, warm, cared for and in control. And she had enjoyed it. Was eager to keep exploring with him.
She hadn’t meant to tell him about her past and she had even included details she’d sworn to never reveal. He knew all about her shame and degradation at the hands of someone else. Her brain reminded her of how she koala’d herself around him and described every degrading thing done to her. He knew it all and this morning she had looked for signs that he regretted what happened between them. But he still wanted her today.He came to you this morning, kissed you, wanted you and wanted more…her thoughts whispered. It was true, he’d been eager to go again, and she’d felt his impressive hardness against her belly.
“Rebelle, I think I lost you again?” Jae said, a wry smile on his lips.
“Oh sorry. Um, I’m flattered but I think I’m seeing someone. You already met him,” she added just in case he thought she was making excuses.
His face twisted in confusion. “Will Crawford? The billionaire?”
Indignation sizzled in Rebelle. “He’s notjusta billionaire,” she snapped, sick of hearing that word constantly associated with Will like it was the sum total of his parts when in truth he was so much more than that.
Jae held up his hands in surrender. “Sorry, I didn’t mean it like that. I’m a big fan of the show, he’s a great guy.”
“He’s nothing like he is on the show,” she said, not backing down. Determined to stick by her man.Whoa, hold on,yourman? No, no, no.
“He seems great. Is he sticking around Citrus Pines then?”
A fair question which she didn’t have the answer for. If you’d asked her a month ago, she couldn’t wait to get rid of him. Butnow she wasn’t so sure. She knew that his time here had an expiration date, because he couldn’t stay here, he was needed elsewhere. Where the lights shone brighter than the stars and he wasn’t saddled with some grumpy widow who ran a struggling shelter.
“Where’s the dog?” she asked, needing to distract her mind from all the uncomfortable thoughts and questions racing through it.
Jae clapped his hands together. “I’ll go get her crate. She won’t come out of it just yet. She’ll take a while to heal emotionally I think, but that’s why I fought to be able to give her to you. You’re great at this kind of care,” he added, and Rebelle’s previous annoyance faded slightly at his words. She was amazed someone had that kind of faith in her ability.
“You should bring your truck around back, it’s probably easier,” Jae said then disappeared.
He loaded the covered crate into the bed of her truck and came around to Rebelle’s side. “She’s all set, let’s keep in touch on her development and the case.”
Rebelle nodded. “Sounds good.”
He swiped his thumb across his jaw. “I’m sorry about before, I feel like an ass. I didn’t mean to offend you and…” he trailed off, twining his fingers together. “I value our professional relationship, so I don’t want to ruin it.”
She focused on unfurling her eyebrows to appear less imposing. “It’s fine Jae, all forgotten.”
He smiled again, his smile was nice yet she felt nothing. No chills or shivers or goosebumps or even annoyance like she did with Will.
“Great, well just call if you need me.” He waved goodbye and she drove back to the shelter.
Her pulse kicked when she spotted the sleek white sportscar parked next to Will’s, like matching his-and-hers midlife crisiscars. Rebelle assumed it belonged to Will’s mother who seemed less than thrilled to meet her last night.
She parked up, trepidation filling her as she headed towards the shelter, needing Will’s muscles to get the crate from her truck. She paused when she heard raised voices, the sound triggering flashbacks for her. She leaned against the wall and closed her eyes, drawing in breath through her nose and pushing it out through her mouth. When her emotions steadied, she opened her eyes to find Will’s mom standing in front of her, watching her curiously. The blue of her eyes reminding Rebelle of Will.
“You seem like a good person, so I’ll say this nicely. He doesn’t belong here. You’re keeping him here in a little bubble but it’s time for him to come home. He has people counting on him.” Her eyes flicked over the shelter, a slight curl to her lip before they settled on Rebelle again. “He was not made for mediocrity,” she added, the fierce momma bear vibrating in her tone.
A few months ago, Rebelle would have balked at the confrontation, but she wasn’t the same woman she was then and part of that was due to Will. “Well, neither was I. He’s a big man, he’ll come home to mommy when he’s good and ready. Has it ever occurred to you that there’s too much on his shoulders?”
Will’s mom blinked in surprise.
