“Yes!” Kevin stretched his arm toward the front seat, pinkie extended.
April could see the kennel parking lot up ahead—and Shane casually leaning against a pillar waiting for them outside. Cargo pants, t-shirt stretched tightly over his sculpted chest and muscled arms, mirrored sunglasses, and that old familiar sexy-cocky smile from high school.
April let Kevin’s arm hang in the air. “One more thing though. And it’s another biggie.”
“What?” Kevin huffed.
Shane took off his shades and April met his gaze evenly as she tried not to let her tummy fill with warmth. “Just remember, he won’t stay with us forever. When the time comes, you need to be ready to let him go.”
Kevin’s hand didn’t waver. “I know, Mom. I’ll be ready.”
April parked the car as Shane pushed off from the pillar to meet them. She half-turned and stuck out her pinkie to hook Kevin’s when he pulled his hand away.
“What?”
“I just thought. Benny’s easy to love. You’ve gotta be ready to let him go, too.”
April smiled softly. “Don’t worry about me. I have plenty more experience letting go than you do.” Her smile brightened. “And besides, we’ll still have each other, right?”
“Right. Thanks, Mom.”
They hooked pinkies.
Shane opened her door.
“Good morning,” Shane said in the sexiest, early-morning gravelly growl as he extended his hand for her to take. She hesitated.
Come on. I can handle this.
April gripped his hand, trying to resist the shiver his touch sent down her arm. There was something about his firm, sure grip that drove her wild. She stepped out of the car, uncomfortably close to him. She wished he’d kept those sunglasses on because the look in his eyes was positively sinful.
In the meantime, Kevin had unfastened himself from his booster seat in the back and climbed out. “Shane! I’m going to ask Alex about keeping Benny.”
The look in Shane’s eye disappeared like it had never been there as he turned his head. “Keep or foster? Remember, there’s a difference.”
“I know. He’s gonna have a big, important job to do one day. Mom and I already talked about being ready to let him go.”
Shane glanced at her, making her cheeks redden. “And you’re fine with it?”
“I am. No choice, really.”
He cleared his throat as he gestured for them to go inside. Kevin ran ahead.
“I can bring Kevin back to your place after the party, no problem,” he said casually, like he wasn’t offering to walk straight into the most private corner of her life. “Save you some driving time.”
No problem. Right. Except for the part where letting Shane Foti onto her property felt like handing over the last unguarded piece of herself.
But when he looked at her like that—like the fate of the world hung on her answer—she’d never been able to say no. Ironically, Kevin had the same expression—the one he saved for when hereallywanted something.
Like a bodyguard for his mother.
“Sure, why not?” She gave Shane a tight-lipped smile and started toward the kennel entrance.
“Or, I could drive him up to their cabin and we could do a handoff.”
No way!
“No, it’s fine. My house is fine.”
