His ears go flat at that. “I’m not going to let her ring me up anymore when I come in.”
“It’s probably better to just get your books elsewhere, then. You know the only reason she hasn’t reported me for fraternizing with you is because she’s getting the sales bonuses.”
“Too many people are trying to keep us apart,” he growls under his breath.
Guilt twists in my chest. “I know I’ve been one of them.”
“I wasn’t talking about you,” he says gruffly. “You’re the only one who has any say in it. You’re the only one whose opinion I care about, period. You like being here with me, right? You’re not just here because you feel obligated to spend time with me for the pups?”
I shake my head. I’m definitely here for me. Even if the pups are getting the benefit of hearing Ian’s voice, I’m the only one getting my feet rubbed right now. “I like spending time with you. It’s like my respite from everything else that’s an obligation.Except my girls,” I add swiftly. “They’re not an obligation. I meant work and chores and…”
I let the sentence fall away without finishing it. I don’t want to talk about Richard. I don’t even want to think about him.
“Your husband,” Ian finishes. “But not for long.”
No. Not for long. Ian might not realize the extent of it, but Richard isn’t going to make this easy. Things are about to get a lot more complicated for me. I’ll just have to do my best not to let the stress affect the pregnancy.
“Let’s talk about something fun,” I suggest, casting for a new topic of conversation. “Tell me about your woodcutting business.”
He barks a laugh and nearly drops the foot he’s currently lavishing with attention. “That’s your idea of something fun?”
“Learning more about you is fun for me.”
“Well, when you put it like that...” His eyes twinkle. “Not much to say, really. I’m a one-wulver show. I have a permit to collect deadfall in the national forest. I haul out fallen logs and split them here at the house, then kiln-dry the results. I’m not bragging when I say it’s the best firewood around. Burns clean and hot.”
“I have no doubt. Where do you sell it?”
“Main clients are all the hotels, resorts, and ski lodges around here that have big fireplaces oroutdoor fire pits. Campgrounds in the summers. It’s a year-round business, and I always have higher demand than I can fill.” I can tell he’s proud of the business he’s built.
“That’s really cool. It’s making for a great fire tonight.” I nod at the fireplace, where the wood is burning merrily.
“Gods, you’re pretty in the firelight.” He’s staring at me, foot massage forgotten.
I withdraw my well-rubbed feet, hugging my knees to my chest. It feels so strange to beadmiredat my age, especially by someone as handsome as Ian. I thought that was something that I wouldn’t experience again, so I don’t really know how to respond. I’m out of practice receiving compliments. “So are you.”
He laughs again. “I’ve never been called pretty before.”
“Well, you are.”
“Ginger fur and all?”
“Now you’re just fishing.”
“I do love fishing.”
We grin at each other like fools.
Chapter 29
Ian
Ikeep my promises to Julia. We take turns reading bedtime stories from my small-but-growing library of children’s books. Trade kisses that leave us both hungry for more. Build a wall of pillows that gets demolished in our sleep so we wake up in each other’s arms anyway. Eat waffles in the morning at a cute brunch place downtown.
It almost feels real. Like this is our life together. I want this feeling to last as long as possible.
Itouch her foot with mine under the restaurant table as the server brings me the check. I pay, but we linger afterward, finishing our drinks. “Listen, Mam sent me a list of things to pick up for the new pups. Diapers and such. But I was thinking—”
“You can drop me at home,” Julia says swiftly, nodding.
