I got the puppy formula ready and reached for the pup making the loudest noise. It settled against my chest, sucking on the dropper. Why couldn’t life be this simple? Demands were issued, needs were met. My whole life had been an epic shit show in screwing up that simple flow. I didn’t know where I might stand with Zina come morning, but wherever it was, I wanted to be ready.
CHAPTER 17
ZINA
I rolledover in bed and opened my eyes. For a moment I tried to figure out where I was. Then it all came back to me. The pups, Alex’s lips on mine, Alex’s lips on my . . . oh shit. I pulled the covers away to reveal my bare legs, bare thighs, and bare booty. My cheeks heated. Even though I was alone in the room, his room, I reminded myself, embarrassment crawled over my skin.
I flung myself to the edge of the bed. The puppies probably needed to eat. But the laundry basket was gone. I located my jeans and my bra on the floor and struggled to get dressed. There was no time for rest. I had to figure out what to do with the puppies and how to get my dogs out of the warehouse if Alex really thought he was going to be able to make the new timeline the wedding planner demanded.
As I rounded the bend in the staircase and headed toward the kitchen, I caught a glimpse of Alex’s legs through the crack in the doorway. He was barefoot, the hem of his jeans barely touching the top of his foot as he sat in one of the chairs at the kitchen table.
“So what’s she going to do with all of them?” his grandfather asked.
I should clear my throat or knock on the door to let them know I was there. But a part of me wondered what he was going to say . . . if the night we’d shared would have any kind of impact on his response.
“I don’t know.” His voice lodged in my chest, warming me from the inside out.
“It’s a shame how people treat these dogs,” his gramps said. “Keep ’em around while they have value, then toss them aside like yesterday’s news when they’re done with them.”
“Is that what you think Char and I have done to you?” A hint of hurt laced through Alex’s words.
I didn’t want to eavesdrop, but my feet stood rooted in place.
“May as well be. I think me and Herbie got something in common, right, buddy?”
Herbie wagged his tail and licked the old man’s hand. I noticed the tidbit he passed under the table. I’d always had a no-food-from-the-table rule when it came to my dogs. Looked like Alex’s grandfather didn’t seem to think the rules applied to him.
“Good morning.” I pushed through the door and tried to paste a smile on my face. Maybe Alex hadn’t shared that I’d spent the night. Maybe I still had a shred of pride intact.
“Well aren’t you looking like a peach this morning?” Alex smiled from across the table. He held a puppy in his arms. “Gramps made coffee. Help yourself.”
I moved to the counter to grab a mug, hoping coffee might flush away the awkwardness of a morning after. It would have been uncomfortable enough between the two of us without Alex’s grandfather joining in the mix.
Just smelling the pungent brew cleared my mind a bit. I opened a cabinet in search of a mug.
“Let me give you a hand.” Morty pushed back from the table and moved toward the coffeepot.
I stepped back to get out of his way. Herbie followed him from the table, probably hoping for another nibble.
“Here you go.” He handed me a mug. “Cream’s in the fridge if you want it. Sugar’s on the counter.”
“Thanks so much.” I fixed my coffee, then took a seat at the table. “How are the puppies this morning?”
“Good. They all made it through the night.” Alex gave me a grin, one that settled my concern for the pups and also created an uncomfortable warmth inside my stomach.
“Thanks for taking care of them. I need to get them over to the vet today. Maybe we can find a surrogate mama dog to nurse them.”
“They can do that for dogs?” Morty asked. “The pups will take to a new mom, just like that?”
“If she’s willing, yes.” I caught an undercurrent of tension pass between Alex and his grandfather.
“Too bad it didn’t work that way for you, son.”
“That’s not fair.” Alex bristled. His muscles tensed and for a moment I thought he might launch himself across the table.
“His ma wasn’t exactly the nurturing type.” Morty lifted his mug toward me. “Too bad we all can’t pick our kin, huh? Did Alex tell you he was in school to become a vet?”
“He mentioned it.” I took a sip of my coffee.
