The words fall so naturally into place that for a moment I stop and let them soak in and every cell in my body seems to breathe “yes.”
Unable to stop the sheepish grin the spreads across my face, I force myself to finish the job. I double, triple check the computer system is operating and talking to those tiny devices.
When I finally power down, I realize that I’ll be curling up next to Clem in bed shortly and my heart flies around my chest like it’s just sprouted fucking wings.
Tomorrow she’s going to meet my mom. I feel sure that her sweet presence will help Mom heal.
Clem has already done that for me. She’s helped me to heal from the past few years of pain in just a couple days.
Could this really be the start of something wonderful?
Could there finally be something—someone—in my life, other than work and duty?
I dare to let myself hope.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CLEM.
Otis leaves for work early the next morning, but not before bringing me a cup of tea and a cookie and placing them on the bedside table.
I stare sleepily up at him, smiling. His beautiful green face is soft and gentle, so unlike the fierce frowny guy I first met.
He sits down next to me. “When I get back at lunchtime, we’ll ice the cake and then visit Mom this afternoon. If you’re still up for that.” He eyes me with just the tiniest hint of doubt in his red eyes.
Wide awake now, I sit up and wind my arms around his neck, pulling him close.
I stare into his deep red eyes. “Of course I’m up for it.”
He beams, his tusks arcing up in the way I love.
“What will you do while I’m gone? You’ve organized everything I can think to give you.”
“I thought I’d go to the markets and buy berries to decorate the cake.”
“On your own?”
“Yeah, why not? It’s barely any distance.”
“Okay. But don’t go anywhere else for now. I don’t want you getting another bout of Labyrinth overwhelm.”
“Oh, I don’t know—you looked after me pretty well the first time,” I tease.
Half an hour later, fortified with breakfast, I leave the house and wander along the alleyway, walking as if I just got off a horse.
I won’t deny I’m a tad sore in that department, but… knotting with Otis was worth every bit of it.
I realize I’ve got a dumbass smile on my face as I walk past the house where Celia lives.
She’s sitting outside her front door, knitting close to her lumen lamp and she looks up as I pass.
“Hello, dear,” she says with a smile. “How are you this morning?”
“I’m very well thank you, Celia.”
“I heard you’re helping our dear sheriff,” she remarks, with a sparkle in her eyes. “Are you off to the markets by chance?”
“Yes, to buy berries for a cake Otis is baking.”
