Before I had a chance to open the door, he had done it for me, bending down so we were at eye level.“Hey, everything okay?”
I swallowed and nodded.“Of course.Why wouldn’t it be?”Turning off the ignition, I called out to Addy and Elana, who had gone quiet as soon as Vance appeared.“Come on, girls, let’s go say hi to everyone.”
They’d already unbuckled their seat belts and tumbled out of the car.Elana stopped in front of Vance, hands on her hips.“Who are you?”
He crouched down, holding out his hand.“I’m Vance.And you must be Elana.”
She took his hand, pumping it up and down enthusiastically.“You know my name?”
He nodded, thankfully with his arm still intact after the little assault.“I do.Your mom talks about you and Addy all the time.I brought cupcakes.They’re in the kitchen.”
Having heard Vance say there were cupcakes, Addy didn’t bother saying hello.Instead, she raced to Malena’s front door, closely followed by Elana.
Vance stood up, and I gaped at him.“What are you doing here?”
The words tumbled out of me before I could stop them.Him being here surprised me.I needed to be prepared when it came to seeing Vance.Working in the same office as him all week had been an exercise in self-control.
I needed more notice.There was hair to be smoothed and makeup to be checked.And I had to quietly panic for a bit.Now I had minimal makeup on, and my panic was hitting me full force while he was standing in front of me.
“I was going over some files with Malena.”
“On a Saturday?”
“It couldn’t wait.”
Nodding, I gathered my numerous bags and stepped out of the car.Vance moved back a few steps so I could close the door.
He took my bags from me before I had a chance to protest.“Is there anything else you need?”He looked through the windows of the messy car, and I cringed at the sight.Already walking to the back, he glanced back at me.“I can get Orange.”
Swallowing down the lump in my throat, I mumbled a “That’s okay” and let Orange out.
He was ecstatic to meet someone new and immediately raced up to Vance, who leaned down, scratching him behind the ears while dodging his tongue.
“What are you two still doing out there?Come inside,” Malena called out from the entrance to her house.
Orange took off, nearly running into Vance in his excitement.
I carefully opened the trunk.Only a pair of slippers and a blanket fell out, much to my relief.After stuffing them into a small space on one side, I reached for the cat carrier.I didn’t get to touch it before a big body crowded me against the car and a hand reached over, pushing mine away.
“I’ve got it,” Vance’s rumbly voice said in my ear, making goose bumps break out all over my body.It also rendered me immobile.
He somehow maneuvered the carrier out beside me without anything else falling out, then nudged me back and closed the door again.“Is there anything else?I can come back and get it.”
“That’s it for now.”
He walked with me up to the front door, where Malena was waiting for us with crossed arms and a twinkle in her eyes.“The girls are playing in the backyard with Felix, Miles, and Orange.”She looked at Vance and clarified, “Miles is our dog.”
We made our way into her kitchen, and I stared with wide eyes at the construction zone.“You didn’t tell me you were remodeling.”
“I didn’t know we were until yesterday.”She rolled her eyes.“I complained about my tiny kitchen last week.Next thing I know, I’m getting a new one.”
She acted put out, but I knew we’d swoon about Thad’s sweet gesture later.
Malena pointed to the living room, the wall that was there before now gone.“Why don’t you put Winston over there.”
Vance carefully set him down, placing my purse next to the carrier.“Do you want me to let him out?”
He reached for the latch, and Malena and I yelled out.Vance stilled with his hand on the cage door.Before I had a chance to warn him, Winston swiped at him, and Vance jumped back.
