“You guys kissed?!”
“Fuck’s sake, does nobody have boundaries, VP?”
“You’re trying to make out in my bathroom, in the middle of the fucking shop, so no, apparently not.”
The moment was lost. We were so close, so close I could smell his cologne, something spicy and already familiar to me. Already a smell that I enjoyed, because it brought good associations. Yes, all the arguing and picking on each other had been fun so far, hadn’t it?
We moved out of the bathroom reluctantly, and as my hip brushed against Rocket’s I felt a tingling wave of need for him. Need I hadn’t felt in a long time. Everything in my past relationship had devolved into one thing. Trying to procreate. It became about cycles and timing, and it became a chore. It was a necessary process to create what we wanted, but it stopped being fun. Being around Rocket had awakened parts of me that I thought were forever trapped in that cycle of boredom that came from doing something that should be pleasurable and intense, as if it’s a housekeeping exercise. Something to fit into a certain timeslot on set days. Like a monotonous production line.
“Seems Nixie really likes you, Caroline.” My cousin was snuggled in the puppy’s corner with her again, and lifted her head as Rocket spoke.
“Nixie? Aw I like that, when did you name her?”
Rocket crouched beside the little cordoned off area, careful not to crowd Caroline, as he unpacked some of the bits he’d bought, and Nixie’s little ears twitched at the rustling of the bags.
“V was bitching at me in the car about her not having a proper name,” he commented lightly, shooting a wicked look in my direction as he ripped the tag off the cosy bed he’d bought, and tucked it in the corner with satisfaction. I still thought he’d struggle to get her out of it, but that’d be his problem, wouldn’t it?
“Nixie?” Harley was standing beside me, watching carefully as his woman held her new best friend.
“Nix, Nixie,” I said glibly, because he was a smart guy, he’d get it.
“Oh. That’s cute. How’d you get him to listen? I’ve been trying that ever since I met him.”
“Prick,” Rocket muttered, getting up with one of the bowls, to fill it with water from the tap.
“Is that water safe to drink?” I asked Harley when Rocket disappeared, and he hesitated.
“I have no idea, I’ve never tried.”
“Rocket?”
His face appeared around the door frame. “What now?”
“Bottled water might be safer for her.”
“Shit. Okay, good point.”
We watched as he emptied and wiped the bowl.
“Have we got any?”
Harley groaned, and fetched one from under his counter, but I wandered over to join Caroline, kneeling outside the enclosure to watch her with Nixie.
“You know that area’s for the dog, and not you, right, C?”
She shrugged, kissing Nixie’s head. “She likes cuddles.”
My cousin had her issues, in particular relating to being touched by pretty much anyone, except Harley, for some reason. Apparently those issues didn’t extend to furbabies, although she didn’t get on with my cat either. I wondered idly if Rocket was a cat person too, although even if he was, my cat was not a fan of men in general. Smart animals, cats. I should have taken a leaf out of her book, and spent my time hissing and biting them instead of falling for them.
“Hey, ladies, why don’t you let me treat you to lunch?” Harley grinned widely at us, and Caroline giggled, struggling to her feet while still holding Nixie.
“Can I take Nixie with me?”
“Why don’t you let her settle in to her new home, baby? Here, take this, and get whatever you both want.” I watched as he handed her his bank card. Wow, they were at the shared finances stage of their relationship already? Suddenly I was worried again about my cousin, and how she just might be getting in over her head.
Chapter Seven
After the ladies left,I got my area set up to work on the piece I was secretly spraying for Caroline. Harley had ordered in the replacement parts, so we could surprise her with it. It was either a great and sweet gesture, or it was a mistake. The lady liked control of her surroundings, and this seemed risky to me, but she deserved the re-spray, because she’d worked her ass off setting up that online directory for me.
