I pursed my lips, nodding slowly. “Okay…so…who you got your eye on?”
He chuckled. “One of them. Don’t worry about who just yet. Let’s just say I want the relationship to grow organically.”
I snorted. “My team ain’t a row of turnips, Biagi.”
He laughed, then reached out and opened the door. Cachi was standing in the foyer talking with Mars with his backpack on. He grinned widely, holding up the keys and jangling them. “Ready to go, Rex?”
“You bet, sugar.” I backed up and then pivoted, heading down the pathway to the Thunderbird and hopefully…my future.
Chapter Twenty-Two
REX
“It feel great to have my car, Rex,” Cachi said.
I looked over at his profile. Driving down the freeway headed for my house in the convertible Thunderbird was glorious, but it was the amazing man seated behind the wheel who made the day perfect. The way the wind tossed his chocolate brown curls with shimmering golden highlights from the sun, made him appear breathtaking. I couldn’t look away. When he smiled, my whole world lit up. I was so in love with him, and I couldn’t wait to tell him.
I had other news—life changing news—but that could wait until I had him lying beside me, pressed up against my naked body. It felt like a lifetime since we’d made love and now, with our whole future before us, I’d already decided I never wanted to let him go. I was going to tell him so tonight.
“I love this car,” I said.
“Si?” He glanced over, wearing a big smile. “You like the Thunderbird better than the Horney?”
I threw my head back and laughed. “Hornet,” I choked out, laughing again. “It’s called a Hornet, Cachi.” God, I loved him.
“You make fun of my English,” he said with a smile.
I shook my head. “Nope. That’s not true, sugar. I think your English is better now than it was three months ago.”
He grinned. “You think so? It’s because I practice with your brothers. And with Stella at work.”
My jaw dropped. “No one told me you had a job. How’d you manage that while you’ve been in protective custody?”
“It’s volunteer job. I a little naughty, I sneak out at night. I no get money, so I no give papers.”
“Oh, I get it. Where are you workin’?”
He smiled widely. “I work at Ventura County Animal Services in Camarillo.”
I frowned. “The shelter there?”
He nodded vigorously. “Si. Is a big shelter for all the animals in Ventura County.”
I smiled, reaching over to take his hand. He glanced over at me and smiled, curling his fingers around mine. “I like you to hold my hand, Rex.”
“Me too, sugar.” I squeezed his fingers. “And I think your new job sounds fantastic. I know how disappointed you were not bein’ able to train as a veterinarian.”
He smiled. “Si. I know, pero, now, maybe I become doctor.”
“Oh, yeah?”
He nodded. “Maria, she say is possible I become doctor. She knows classes for vet technician…like my friend, Stella. Maria…she help me apply for school for vet technician first and then doctor school.”
“That’s great! I know you always wanted to be a vet.” When he nodded. I went on. “Now…tell me who Maria and Stella are.”
“I meet Stella at pet store when I go buy food for Thor and Pippin. Stella…she works in shelter. She takes me there and get me job with her friend, Maria, who hire people.”
“Ah, I get it.” I smiled. “Who are Thor and…what was it?”
