By the time I finish my long spiel, he’s smiling and nodding in agreement. “So take me to the shelter.”
“Now?”
He nods. “I told you, I want a dog.” His expression is earnest, his tone serious. He looks like an adorable kid who can’t wait to get his pet.
“Okay, look. I volunteer at Norah’s Ark Rescue. I can call and see if Norah stayed late so we can stop by.” I pull out my phone and make the call.
Next thing I know, Axel and I are standing in the parking lot. I spent the ride over trying to understand his sudden need for a dog.
“Axel, wait.” I place a hand on his arm. “Why are you doing this?” The only reason I’ve come up with is that he’s trying to make a good impression on me. Why else would a man who lives the way he does suddenly want a pet?
He tips his head to one side. “After you left, I looked around the house and saw it for the first time. I realized you’re right. It’s ridiculous that I haven’t put down roots in any way. And I’ve been lonely, but I haven’t bothered to look into why. I just kept going to Xander’s… I mean, Dash set that example, but I bonded with Bella. So I decided I need a dog of my own.” He shrugs as if the simple answer makes sense.
I suppose it does. “I’m just worried you don’t realize the work that goes along with owning a dog, and I’d hate for you to pass all the responsibility off to someone you pay to take care of the pet for you.”
He shoves his hands into his jeans pockets. “I’ve been with you long enough in the past to know what responsibility means. Despite what you said on Sunday or think today.”
At that moment, I realize I hurt his feelings, and that is the last thing I want to do. Stepping forward, I cup his face in my hand. “I’m sorry. I never meant to insult you. Not over the weekend and not now.” I sigh. “In my profession, I see too many people take on the responsibility, then dump an animal when they realize all the work and money pet ownership entails.”
He smiles, and it isn’t the smart-aleck grin or the sexy lift of his lips. It’s a genuine expression of feeling. “That might be the nicest thing you’ve said to me since we saw each other again.”
He leans in and captures my lips with his, immediately deepening the kiss. I lose myself in the sweep of his tongue and the meshing of our mouths, forgetting everything except Axel and the way he makes me feel.
He slides his hands around my waist, his palms cupping my ass as he pulls me against him. The hardness of his erection presses into my belly, and I groan just as a car honks in the distance.
Reminded we aren’t in a private place, I break the kiss and touch my forehead to his chest. “You make me forget where Iam,” I say. He even causes me to overlook who I am and what I want.
“It’s not a bad thing to get lost in each other.” He steps back, places his hand under my chin, and forces me to meet his gaze. “I’m not going to hurt you.” Those dazzling green orbs capture me, his deep tone begging me to trust him.
“Let’s go get you a dog,” I murmur, grasping his hand and leading him inside. The bells over the door ring as we enter.
I spent enough time in the rescue building that the citrus scent of enzymatic cleaner is familiar to me. I approach the empty desk, knowing Norah must be in the back and she’ll come out soon.
I glance at Axel, hoping he knows what he’s getting himself into with a pet.
“My favorite doctor is here!” Norah rushes out of the back room.
I took to her, with her pink hair and bubbly personality, the day we met. And vice versa.
“Hi!” I walk around the counter and hug the woman I consider more than a colleague. “Norah, this is my… friend—”
“Her boyfriend,” Axel says.
Ignoring him and the flutter in my stomach his words cause, I continue, “This is Axel Forrester. Axel, this is Norah. She owns the shelter.”
A trust fund baby with a heart of gold, Norah took the money left to her by her grandparents and opened the rescue.
Norah looks Axel over, no doubt because of our contradicting descriptions of their relationship.
“You’re the drummer from Caged Chaos and now the Original Kings,” she says, her tone and grin those of an excited fan.
“Watch it. His ego is big enough,” I say, laughing.
Axel walks over and shakes her hand. “Nice to meet you.”
“Same here.” Norah smiles.
“Tara was just educating me on theadopt, don’t shopphilosophy, and I have to admit, now that I understand, it makes perfect sense,” he says.
