She gasps. “Ruin! Really?”
“I figure Stormy can keep you safe when I’m not here to do it myself.”
She smiles, and I internally pride myself on making a smart move with the adoption.
“Well, what are you doing now?” she asks.
“I’m going to install extra locks and bolts on your door. And I have some cameras that I will be setting up outside, facing the apartment complex—primarily focused on your door.” I pull out a cordless drill and install the battery, only stopping at the silence surrounding me.
She’s staring at me with a squirming Stormy trying to climb up her arms to lick her face.
“What? You don’t have to do all of that,” she says, scrambling to hold Stormy back from her face.
I nod. “Yes, I do.” I stop and turn to face her. “Look, I don’t want to take any chances of him returning to hurt you again. I won’t let it happen. I won’t let anyone hurt you again.”
A tear rolls down her soft cheek, and I cross the floor to hold her and the puppy in my arms. “I mean, if all of this is all right with you. I just want to keep you safe,” I say.
She leans her forehead against my collarbone and sighs. “You are so good to me, Ruin. Thank you.”
I pull her close, tilting her chin up slightly. “May I kiss you, Avalee?”
She nods, and I bring my lips to hers. They are soft and warm and inviting. She melts into me, and I into her. The soft hint of a floral shampoo wafts from her hair, and I inhale her scent while savoring her taste and feel. A little yip halts us, and I glance down at Stormy with his tongue hanging out one side of his mouth and his tail wagging. We both chuckle.
“Thank you, Ruin,” she says, out of breath. Her cheeks are flushed, and her warm eyes have a deep affection to them.
I smile and nod. “Don’t mention it. Oh, how would you feel if I started taking you home from work each day? Or is that too much?”
She laughs, covering her lips with a hand.
“I would love that,” she says.
I will do anything to keep her smiling and safe. And when I can, I’m going to find the piece of shit who hurt her and kill him myself. As Avalee gets Stormy set up in his new home, I continue working to make her apartment a little safer—it’s really all I can do right now.
Fifteen
Avalee
Things have been speeding by at a lightning pace with Ruin. After he installed that extra security, I’ve actually been sleeping better at night. Not to mention little Stormy sleeps on my feet. I love it. And I think I’m falling in love with the man behind it all, all over again.
I open up my inbox and delete all the spam messages before moving on to project proposals from a new client the Maysons are working with. We have three weeks to secure the contracts, so everything has to be perfect. Stormy nudges my ankle and whimpers, letting me know he needs a potty break. I’m so thankful the Maysons don’t mind me bringing him to work, and I’m even more thankful housebreaking him has been a breeze.
“Come on, dude. Let’s go,” I say, picking up his leash and clipping it to his collar. His tongue lolls out, and his tail swishes in excitement. He’s turning circles by the time we get to the door, and I’m giggling as I try to undo the mess he’s made with the leash and my legs. A knock sounds on the door, and Ruin enters then. A smile breaks out across his face as he steps through the door and looks between Stormy and me.
“What a lucky pup,” he says.
I nod. “Yeah, I was just thinking that myself. I wish someone would feed me, cuddle me, and give me tummy rubs all day too.”
Ruin cocks a brow, his smile turning suspicious. “Do you now?”
I lean back and laugh. Ruin crosses the room and scoops me up into his arms, and my breath catches at the abruptness. But it doesn’t frighten me or make me want to pull back. Instead, I lean into him and take the kiss he plants on me deeper. My fingers find their way to the back of his head, running through his hair and down his neck. This is the kind of kiss you see in movies and wish you could experience—or at least, in my imagination, it is. Heat pours down my chest to between my legs, and I quake under his touch that is equal parts rough and soft. When the kiss ends, my head is spinning, and I have to blink my eyes slowly open to get back to reality.
“You keep kissing me like that, Ruin, and I might not survive it.”
He chuckles and collects Stormy’s food and water bowls. “Come on,” he says, cocking his head to the side and opening the door for Stormy. “Let’s get you two home.”
My heart is brimming with warmth and joy as I follow the man of my dreams and our puppy toward the door.Our puppy, ha.I can’t believe this is my life now.
Sixteen
