“Not that I know of,” Wendy said, her eyes bouncing between me and Shane. I could hear the gossip gears turning in her head. “And I’m afraid we can’t keep her in boarding because we are fully booked this weekend.” She looked at Shane and sighed. “You’ll have to take care of her until Monday.”
“What?” Shane looked like he was about to argue, but then blew out a long breath and started to nod. “Okay, um, exactly how do I do that?”
“Do what?” I asked as I shoved Biscuit back into his arms.
“Take care of a dog?”
“Such a helpless boy,” I said, teasing him like I used to when we were kids. I took a step closer and scratched Biscuit behind the ear. Shane was staring at me. I could feel his eyes caressing my skin. “Tell you what, why don’t I come by your place after we close and bring Biscuit with me. I’ll also bring a dog bed and enough dog food to get you through the weekend. Maybe by Monday we can find her a permanent home. I assume you’re staying at your parents’ old house?”
“You wanna come to the house?” Shane asked slowly. I could see the same look of hesitation that clouded his eyes when I brought up the subject of coming to his house when we were kids. Even though his daddy had been dead for years, Clint Mavic’s ghost still haunted his son’s thoughts.
I took Biscuit from him and cradled her to my chest. I brushed little white dog hairs from the front of his shirt with my fingertips. I saw his nipples harden beneath the thin material. I felt my nipples plump in my bra. I could feel the heat of his body radiating through my fingertips. I could feel hot moisture pooling between my legs. I resisted the urge to glance down at his bulge. I could feel Wendy behind me, watching us like a hawk.
“I don’t want to be a bother,” he said, his eyes studying mine.
“It’s not a bother.” I gave him a coy look, trying to put him as ease. “You are staying at your parents’ old house, correct?”
“Yes. On Dilbeck.”
“Good, then we’ll see you in a few hours.” I held up Biscuit to his face. Her tail wagged as she stuck out her tongue at him. “Do you want to give her a kiss goodbye?”
“No, not her,” he said, putting his hand on my arm. He leaned down and kissed my cheek. His lips lingered on my cheek for a moment, then he slowly pulled away. I resisted the urge to drag him into my office for a welcome home fuck. There would be time for that later, if that’s what he wanted.
“Sir, did you want to pay your bill?” Wendy was behind the counter, watching us, grinning. It thrilled her to interrupt our moment. I guess she had never seen me drool over a man before.
“Oh, yes,” Shane said, reaching around for his wallet. He stepped to the counter and handed her his credit card. “Here you go.”
“Okay, then,” I said. “We’ll see you around seven-thirty.” I held Biscuit close to my cheek and started toward my office. I paused before going through the door and turned back to look at him.
“Something else?” he asked, his dark eyebrows arched.
“Biscuit says we’ll be hungry,” I said, smiling. “Wanna order us a pizza?”
He smiled back and arched his dark eyebrows. “Thin crust, meat lovers, extra cheese?”
“Good memory,” I said with a wink. “See you soon, Shane. We’re glad you’re home.”
“Yeah,” he muttered. “Me, too.”
CHAPTER 12: Shane
Annabel Lee was always at the back of mind, regardless of where I was or what I was doing or who I was doing it with. She was always sixteen in my mind’s eye because that was my last point of reference; a skinny girl with promising boobs, Indian skin and cheekbones, long black hair, and dark brown eyes. I often tried to imagine how she would look now, all grown up, a woman, no longer a girl. I knew she would be beautiful, even more beautiful than when she w
as a gangly kid, but I had no idea just how beautiful she really would be until I turned and saw her staring at me from across the lobby of her office.
My heart literally missed a beat when I saw her standing there. It was like seeing an angel waiting to usher you into Heaven. At first, I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me, like I was seeing a ghost or letting my imagination replace my reality. Only when she smiled and came at me with her arms out did I start to believe it was real. Then she wrapped her arms around my waist and melted into me, her head on my chest, my nose in her hair, the smell of her shampoo, the sound of her breathing. It was real. After all these years Annabel Lee was back in my arms where she belonged.
As I left her office my feet were barely touching the ground. I could not remember the last time I had felt so… so… fuck… what was I feeling? I thought I might even be smiling. I was warm all over and I knew it wasn’t just from the sun beating down on me as I climbed into the rental car and drove away. Then the radio was on. I was humming. What the fuck? I don’t hum…
Her smile lingered in my mind. Her words tickled my ears like feathers.
“See you soon, Shane,” she’d said. “We’re glad you’re home.”
“She’s glad I’m home,” I said, smiling at the man staring back at me in the rearview mirror. “She’s glad I’m home.”
I shook my head and chuckled out loud, then took a last-minute turn into the Food King parking lot to pick up a few groceries for the week. It looked like I might be sticking around for more than a few days after all.
* * *