“I am. Check out his tail.” It’s wagging rapidly. “He is loving this. He’s nothing but a big softie.”
I put more of the thick liquid into my hand, lather it into his tail. “He sure is.”
We use the hose again to wash away the suds. I hear chatter, and when I glance over my shoulder, Vera and Grace are walking by us. “Stop the water,” I whisper to Elena. Her brows knit together but then her smile goes wide. And we both leap back in time for Conan to shake the water from him. Some of the water flicks onto me but nothing compared to before.
“That’s disgusting,” Grace hisses. “Now I’m going to smell like a dog.”
The comeback is on the tip of my tongue. My eyes meet Elena’s, and from the laughter dancing in her eyes, I think she’s thinking the same as me. But I swallow the words.
“Stupid mutt,” Vera says. She steps toward me but stops when Conan growls. “If it bites me, I’ll shoot it myself.”
My heart drops to my feet. My first thought is,It’s just a threat, but her icy glare tells me otherwise. That burning anger returns, and it courses through my veins. I stand taller, pulling my shoulders back, and now it’s me who’s baring my teeth. “Don’t you dare threaten to hurt my dog... or my sister.”
A savage undertone lines my voice because I mean every word.
Their eyes widen. Grace steps back, but Vera studies me. “Whatever.” She rolls her eyes and walks away. Grace follows.
“Well...” Elena says awkwardly, “you either warned her away or you just poked the bear.”
“I’d say I just poked the bear.”
She sighs. “I think so, too. Well, I’m going inside to have a shower.”
I peer at my damp clothes. “Me too.”
After my shower, I make us sandwiches and watch Elena. Her eyes keep going back to her phone.
“Is everything okay?” I ask before her phone rings.
“Hello.” Her shoulders drop. “I wanted to check you were okay. It took a while for you to call me back.” Elena’s face falls, then she gnaws on her lip before saying, “I was worried, that’s all. When will you be back?” She nods. “See you then. Love you, bye.”
“They will be back either late tonight or tomorrow.”
Elena goes to bed early. I hate seeing the worry in her eyes. The sweet butts are getting drunk, so I go to bed too, but I can’t sleep. I pull my phone from under the pillow. I squint at the bright light and 2:05 a.m. and let out a small groan.
The best night’s sleep I had was in Reaper’s bed.He’s not here...Maybe if I get up early, I can sneak back to my bed. I scold myself. Knowing my luck, he will walk in and catch me. I can’t be sneaking into the president’s bedroom, no matter how tempting it is.
* * *
“Ava,”my name is called out from outside my room.
It’s morning, and I haven’t slept.
“Yes,” I reply to what sounds like Twitch’s voice.
“Can you come out here?”
Flutters of anxiousness flood my stomach. I yank the duvet off and unlock the door to see Twitch standing there. His usual casual demeanor is replaced with worry.
“Can you come into the office?”
“Okay,” I reply and follow him. “Is everything okay?”
“I’m not sure,” he replies, then walks into a room with computers. “Is that your husband?”
Dread feels like a heavy weight on my shoulders. I scan the computer screen Twitch is staring at, and the sight of Beau has me in a chokehold. I can’t breathe.
He’s found me.
