As I finishedmy nightly routine before bed, a gentle knock rapped on mydoor.
“Come in,” Icalled.
The door slowly creaked open to reveal Charlie’s face. Casey’s popped up underneath him. They looked like two floating heads and I resisted the urge tolaugh.
“Comeallthe way in,” Isaid.
“Are we bugging you?” Charlie asked cautiously. Casey, on the other hand, had no qualms about simply waltzing into the room after I gave her theOK.
“Not at all,” I said. “What’sup?”
Charlie joined his daughter inside. I noticed he was carrying a blanket, and Casey had her little arms wrapped around a pillow almost as big as she was. She threw it on the ground with a triumphantexpression.
“Casey was a little scared,” Charlie murmured to me, quiet enough so that she couldn’t hear. “I think the incident with Hector spooked her more than she’sadmitting.”
I wondered if Charlie felt the sameway.
“That’s understandable,” I said with a grimace. “She’s only apup.”
“I think she feels safer around you,” he said. “Do you mind if we sleep on the floor in your room? Just for the night,” he addedquickly.
“Thefloor?” I said. “What are we,animals?”
The joke flew right over Charlie’s head. “Well- “
“I’m kidding,” I said. I moved over and patted the bed. “It’s a king mattress. There’s plenty of room for all ofus.”
Charlie fidgeted uncomfortably, but I wasn’t sure if it was because he didn’t want to share the bed, or if he just thought he was being a burden again. I slapped the bed again, harder and moreinsistent.
“Come on,” I urged. “Before the poor pup falls asleep on the hardwoodfloor.”
Charlie scooped her and the pillow up off the floor and plopped her carefully on thebed.
“This ismuchbetter,” she announced with anod.
“Say ‘thank you’,” Charlie murmured in herear.
She turned to me. “Thank you, Mr.Flint!”
“Enough with the mister stuff,” I said, waving it off. “And there’s no need to thank me. I’m not having guests sleep on the floor, end ofstory.”
Casey sighed and settled down into the bed, curled up against her pillow. “You’re nice, Mr.Flint.”
A blush crept over myface.
“She’s right,” Charlie joined in when he saw my embarrassed expression. “Youarenice. The nicest alpha I’ve evermet.”
The heat in my face burned hotter. I turned over so that they couldn’t see me. “Goodnight, Charlie and Casey,” I grumbled as I turned the bedside table’s lampoff.
Darkness descended upon the room. The only thing to break the darkness came through the skylight in the ceiling, pale moonlight and starshine filteringdown.
Casey was already asleep, judging by the steady rhythm of her breathing. On the other side of her was Charlie, who I heard murmur, “Goodnight,Flint.”
