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“Yes.”
She closed her eyes. She knew he would. He had another life to get back to. “Soon?”
A pause. “Yes.”
Now she knew. Now she could prepare. She’d never grown to rely on a man, and she wouldn’t start now. She would miss him but she’d get over it. She was resilient. She’d just dropped her guard too much for a time, but she would refortify.
She always did.
Chapter 21
“Don’t be nervous, everything will be fine,” Will soothed, stroking his hands down Rebelle’s arms and trying not to get aroused just from looking at her, but dang, it was hard. Pun intended. He couldn’t get enough of her, had been trying to sate his lust for her. They both had, because they knew time was running out. There was one week to go until Will had agreed to return home and unfortunately, he was a man of his word and always upheld his agreements.
He had tried blocking it from his mind; that was the only way to get through the days. Instead, he focused on the amazing Christmas Rebelle and his friends had given him. They’d had confirmation from Blake that baby girl Harley had arrived yesterday morning after an intense twenty-six-hour labor for Justine. The shelter was opening today for adoptions. Life was great, if he just ignored what would happen in a weeks’ time.
Both he and Rebelle were nervous but they knew it was time to start letting some of the animals go, no matter how much Rebelle fought against it. Parfait’s kittens were now old enough to be separated from their mother and while Will had worried about how Parfait would handle it, Rebelle assured him that the little calico would be ecstatic to get rid of her brood who never gave her a moment’s peace. And as usual, Rebelle was right. It was Will that had a harder time with the separation. He wanted to keep all the little rascals and he felt like a dad sending his kids out into the world for the first time. He wanted to bundle them all back into the trailer and keep them there forever.
The thought of leaving Parfait, Oscar, Betty, Veronica and Bryan, had his stomach clenching with nausea, let alone how his body protested at the idea of leaving his Belle.
“I know, I’m just…what if no one comes? But also, what if people come and take my fur babies away?” Rebelle peered up at him with her wide doe eyes full of worry and he wanted to kiss all her concerns away. Yesterday they had put fliers out all over town and Palm Valley to announce the opening as well as posting on their website and social media which now had 150k followers. Their socials had blown up after the Christmas post Rebelle had uploaded with the animals opening their presents. The comments came flooding in wanting to know about adoptions and supporting local charity so Will had a suspicion that they would do just fine today. Rebelle had managed everything online and it had amazed him how quickly she had learned and become something of an expert.
“Belle, it’s time to let them go,” he replied, and his heart leapt into his throat when he saw her eyes pool with tears.
“I don’t know what’s wrong with me,” she wailed and he chuckled, pulling her against him.
He stroked her hair soothingly. “It’s all your dreams and hard work coming to a head. You’ve been planning for this moment and focusing all your time and passion on it for so long. I’m not surprised you’re emotional.”Hell, I’m emotional.“It just shows how much you care and that’s what makes you so damn special here. And the best advocate for these animals.”
Rebelle pulled back to look up at him and he swiped his thumbs over the curve of her cheeks, wiping away her tears. “You think I am?”
“Of course. I wouldn’t have gotten involved otherwise. It wasyouI believed in.”
Something passed behind her whiskey eyes and she stepped back, a cool mask slipping into place, like it had a few times in the last couple of days. Since Christmas day.
Will had noticed her distancing herself from him, like she was getting ready for him to leave. It reminded him of what she was like when he first came here, and he didn’t like it. She had been so closed off, so scared of people and he was so proud of her, amazed at how she’d grown in the last few months.
He never wanted her to go back to the way she was before, but he sure as shit couldn’t blame her for putting that space between them. It was needed.
He brushed it off, trying not to let it get to him. They had more important things to focus on today. He pasted a smile on his face and clapped his hands together. “Come on, let’s do this!”
It was like the animals all knew something was going on and were on their best behavior.
After an hour of pacing and Will trying to distract Rebelle, Ben and Kayleigh arrived. Will didn’t know them very well but knew they worked at the bar with Rebelle. He’d seen Ben perform his Elvis tribute act and the dude was impressive.
They greeted the couple and exchanged pleasantries before Ben got right down to it. “Have you got any rabbits? I’m looking for a friend for Geralt.”
“Geralt?” Rebelle’s nose wrinkled adorably. “That’s an interesting name for a bunny.”
“LikeThe Witcher,” Will told her but she just shook her head.
“Tell me he has long, white fur?”
Ben grinned. “Why else would he be called Geralt?”
Will laughed.
“And he’s grouchy too, which is why we need to get him a friend,” Kayleigh added.
“Nothing wrong with being grouchy,” Will heard Rebelle mutter under her breath. He fought a smile before turning back to Ben. “A Jaskier?”
