“Tessa called me.”
“But…you know I can’t keep her. My apartment doesn’t—”
I place two fingers over her lips. “I know. She’ll live here with Sasha and me until you get a new place.”
Or until you move in with me.
The thought doesn’t even surprise me. It scares the hell out of me, but it doesn’t surprise me.
My feelings are what they are. Not much time has passed since Skye and I met, but I was drawn to her as soon as I laid eyes on her, and everything I learn about her makes me want her more.
Yes, she can be impulsive.
Yes, she has a need to take charge.
But she’s also kind and loving and focused and determined.
She’s young, and she has much to learn about life.
But I want to help her. Help her grow in all ways.
“Thank you!” she squeals. “Thank you so much.”
The puppy squirms out of her arms and jumps to the floor, chasing Sasha.
“Annika is paper training her,” I say. “And she’ll go out with Sasha on walks with Christopher and me. She’ll be house trained in no time.”
“She’s three months old,” she says. “It won’t exactly be no time.”
“I’ve had dogs all my life”—well, all my adult life, anyway—“I know what I’m in for.”
Skye smiles. “She seems so happy now. Yesterday at the shelter she sat in a corner and didn’t interact with her littermates. She gave me such a sad look that said, ‘Please take me home.’ I was distraught when I couldn’t. And then Tessa…” Tears well in her eyes. “I can’t thank you enough, Braden. Truly. This is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me.”
I smile.
A really big smile.
I can’t help it. It’s the joy. The fucking joy on Skye’s face, in her eyes. I rescued a puppy for her. I swear I’ll rescue the whole damned shelter if it keeps that joy in her eyes.
“Do you have a name for her?” I ask.
“Penny. I named her at the shelter.”
“Oh? Tessa didn’t tell me.”
“Because I didn’t tell her. I kept it to myself. I didn’t think I’d ever see this baby again.” She picks Penny up once more and snuggles her against her cheek. “I love her so much.”
Again, I’m smiling.
As beautiful as Skye is, I’ve never seen her look more beautiful than she does at this moment.
I take Penny from her and usher her and Sasha out of the room and up the stairs.
“Braden,” Skye says.
I finger a few strands of her hair. “Hmm?”
“Take me to bed. Please.”