It happens so fast that I barely register what’s going on. All three dogs bulldoze into me and begin licking my face and I can’t help the laugh that breaks free.
“Good dogs, oh you are all so sweet!” I say as I pet their heads and scratch behind their ears. I look up to Dragna, still laughing and he’s looking back at me with shock on his face.
“I thought they were guard dogs?” I say as he looks down at me dumbfounded.
“They are. They’ve never acted like this with anyone before.” He says as he starts petting them too.
“Ohhh I feel so special then!” I say as I smoosh the face of one of the Rotties who’s taken a very keen interest in me.
“That’s boulder.” Dragna says and I laugh even more at the ridiculous name.
“Boulder? Why?”
“Look at him, even as a pup he was rock solid.” Dragna says as serious as he can while his dog who he suspects is as scary looking as him turns to mush in my hands.
“Dogs are a good judge of character.” Milena chimes in softly.
“My car is outside, I’ll leave you both and I will hopefully see you very soon Willow. Get home safe and call me anytime dear.”
“I will, you too and thank you so much for a lovely evening!” I say as I finally stop letting the dogs take all my attention and I stand to say goodbye to Milena again. I look at my phone to make sure her number saved properly when I see the contact name and see she’s written ‘Mama’.
Nobody in this family does half measures it seems when it comes to forming relationships, and as crazy as it sounds, I kinda love it.
“Goodbye mama.” Dragna says as he hugs Milena goodnight and kisses the top of her head. She pats his cheek before he stands to his full height, looking deep in his eyes and smiling.
“Goodnight darling.”
Chapter Twenty Four
Dragna
If someone had of told me a couple months ago I would be standing in the romance section of an indie bookstore half way across the city, holding twenty something books and following a woman around like a lost puppy, I’d of shot them.
I’d of shot myself to ensure it never happened.
Now though, I love nothing more than seeing the happiness on Willows face as her hands glide over all the books, deciding which ones to get and watching as her eyes narrow to focus on reading the back on them, or how she gasps when she sees a pretty cover.
She also let out a scream at one point and took off running towards a book she said was special edition that she couldn’t find anywhere else.
It wasn’t easy convincing her to let me take her out and spend money on her, she’s too proud, but after breakfast at her favourite cafe and telling Mikhail to drive us here anyway, she softened up to the idea.
It’s been a couple of days since we had dinner with my mother, so I think she knows how serious I am about her now, making her more open to letting me spoil her.
“Okay this is definitely enough. You can barely carry anymore.” She laughs as she looks at the pile I’m holding with both hands.
I told her she could get as many books as I could carry. What she doesn’t know is that Mikhail is somewhere around with apile of his own of the books she put back after looking at how many she had already.
I’d buy this entire bookstore if she’d let me. Maybe one day I’ll buy the bookstore she works in for her to run it herself. When she told me that was her dream, I began looking in to the owner and seeing how much cash they’d accepted to just hand it over the same day. Lev said I would scare her away coming on so strong, so here we are instead.
“Willow, whatever you want, I’ll get it for you. These books are pocket change if that’s what you’re worrying about.” I look down at her and she chews the inside of her cheek wanting to say something but not letting the words come out.
“What is it?” I ask further.
“Nobody has ever done anything like this for me before. Nobody has done any of the things you have done for me before, so I feel like I’m taking advantage, even if you have money to burn I still feel bad.” She says, looking down at her feet and beginning to pluck at one of her sleeves anxiously.
“Look at me.” I tell her softly.
“I’m glad it’s me who gets to show you what being cherished feels like. Whether that’s dinners, coffee dates, buying you an endless supply of books, or just simply being there for you in any way I can. Whatever I can do to make you feel and know how special you are to me, I’ll do it Willow. Anything at all. Let me treat you.”
