“I don’t think one yoga class would cut it,” Iggy said as I opened the passenger-side door for him. “Take Theo inside first. I didn’t almost die running after him to let him get eaten by Bigfoot now.”
“Bigfoot?” I asked, taking the keys Iggy dug out of his pocket and holding Theo close to my chest.
When he wasn’t endangering anyone’s life, he was kind of cute. And warm. And he still had that new puppy smell.
I wasn’t really a dog person, but there was something about this one.
“You never know,” Iggy said.
“I’m gonna check with your doctor about your painkiller dosage,” I said. “Don’t go anywhere.”
“Pretty sure I’d fall over if I tried.”
“Well, as your charming fiancé who you’re very lucky to have, I’m asking you nicely not to scare me again. Okay?”
“Okay,” Iggy agreed.
I took Theo inside, settling him in the dog bed by the unlit fire and offering him a chew toy before I headed back out to collect the bigger, more difficult member of his household.
My phone buzzed just as I closed the door, taking in a lungful of sweet forest air, the rain earlier making everything seem crisp and fresh.
Seth:how’s your new husband?
Harvey:fiancé
Harvey:doctor says he’ll live
Seth:I figured you’d be married by now, since the engagement was so sudden
Harvey:you’re the funniest man I know
Seth:that’s incredibly depressing
Seth:remind Iggy I’ll be extremely inconvenienced if he dies, he’s my favorite barista. There’s not a lot of good coffee in this town.
I huffed a laugh as I shoved my phone back into my pocket, leaves crunching under my feet as I approached the car again.
“Forgot to say earlier, Seth wanted me to tell you not to die.”
Iggy snorted as I helped him out of the car, taking as much of his weight as I could while we both danced a circle to nudge the door closed and then navigate our way to the porch.
“I wouldn’t want to disobey him,” Iggy said.
“No, me neither. He also told me to look after you,” I said. “So that’s the plan.”
“I’m fine, Harv,” Iggy said.
Immediately before tripping over my foot and slamming us both into the door.
Sleepy blue eyes met mine for one, two, three heartbeats. Warm breath fogged between us in the cool fall air, the sun sinking over the horizon by now.
“You’re not.” I swallowed.
Under the harsh hospital disinfectant, Iggy smelled so good. Sugar and chocolate and coffee, with just a hint of spice to keep things interesting.
I wanted so badly to kiss him I could almost taste his mouth.
… I couldn’t think that. I couldn’t think anythinglikethat, Iggy was drugged up to his eyeballs and leaning against me for support.
