Me: What would you like?
Thomas: You
My eyes bulged as I gawked at the screen. My mind went blank as all the blood in my head rushed south. It had to be a mistake. Why hadn’t he said anything last night?
Thomas: Sorry. Avery knocked my phone out of my hand.
Thomas: She’s raring to go this morning.
Thomas: I’ll take my usual.
Me: See you soon.
Caught between a mass of complexfeelings, I started my Rover and picked up our coffee. Twenty minutes later, I stood on his doorstep feeling some sort of way I couldn’t name.My feelings were all over the place, and I needed him to be my calm.
When the door swung open, he smiled at me as his dogs flanked him. “You’re right on time.”
“I’ve been up a while.” I handed him his coffee, then turned my attention to them. “Hey, ladies. How are you doing this morning?”
“Really? Why? Are you feeling okay? Do you need anything?”
I smiled to myself at how protective he was of me. I wasn’t quite ready to look at him. “I’m fine. Just didn’t sleep well. It’s nothing these two can’t fix.” I loved his dogs.
“I haven’t taken them out this morning. Do you mind if we talk and walk?”
Standingto my full height, my knees crackled as I steadied myself. I met his concerned stare, then smiled.“Not at all. We don’t want to disappoint them.”
Thomas moved inside the doorway, then squatted down to attach their leashes.“Are you sure everything is okay?”
“I’m fine, Thomas.” I wasn’t, but I would be in time.
Twoexcitedbarks, along with the tender way he was looking at his senior dogs, made me stupid, but I took the leash he handed me.I led her down to the sidewalk as he grabbed a backpack, then slung it over his shoulder. “We’re doing the park today.”
“Cool. No problem.”
While Thomas locked the door, I bent down to rub Avery between the ears. When he finally reached my side, we started down the street. “I can’t believe you never had a dog growing up.”
I laughed humorlessly. “You know my life story. My mother would never allow that, no matter how much we begged.”
“She doesn’t like animals?”
I huffed. “I think she knew it would make me happy. She always blamed it on our schedules and saida dog would becomeour housekeeper’sresponsibility.She had no idea.” I rubbed my hand over my mouth. “That’s another reason I think I’m adopted. That and my blood type doesn’t match theirs.”
Thomas stopped in the middle of the sidewalk. Not much shocked him, but this had. “What are you talking about?”
“Calm down, Agent Kingsley,” I teased, trying to lighten the moment. “I’ll tell you when we get to the park.”
“Damn right you will.”
We walked in comfortable silence, allowing the girls to sniff the flowers and mailboxes along the way. When we got to thepark, I headed to an empty bench and took a seat. “Now,”he said, “explain what you meant about your blood type.”
Stretching out my arms over the back of the bench, I looked out over the park and recounted the story. “I was in college when I found out it was genetically impossible for me to belong to both of my parents. I donated blood, and the donor profile came back with Type A. There was zero possibility of a mistake.” I looked over at him. “I’m sure Thomas Nye knows two Type O parents can only produce Type O children. One of my biological parents has to be Type A or AB.”
“How do you know their blood types? Most people don’t know their own, much less their family members.”
I smiled. “My sister is a science nerd like you. At one point, Mac was considering medical school, so she took the required classes in case she decided to give Pre-Med a try. Our parents were registered blood donors, so she got their cards.”.
“Andin all these years,you’ve never said anything to them?”
