Page 107 of Knot So Social

A thrill runs through me, full of heat and memory, and I smash the button to open the gate. The way my blood races is startling, and I rest my fist over my heart. I expected Alessandro and got Jeremy instead, but my heart’s reacting the same way.

That’s a revelation.

“You sit,” I warn my dog as I throw the front door open, and Mr Shares drops his rump on the threshold, quivering as he waits for my command. Usually he’s a good dog like this, not rushing through and breaking people’s groins.

“Now stay,” I order firmly. “Jeremy’s still on crutches and you could bowl him right over again.”

Mr Shares whines and drops down on his belly, staring intently down the drive as the van, which appears to belong to an electrician according to the logo on the side, approaches. My stomach quivers just as much as the dog’s tail at the thought of seeing my heat-lover again. Now that the official contract is over, will it still be awkward between us?

I hope not.

The driver, a well-built man with spiky brown hair and a five o-clock shadow, gets out and brings crutches around to the passenger door. My heart aches as the robust man who helped me through my heat slides out and swings himself over. He hesitates at the front steps.

“You can come in through the side door, if you want,” I call. “It has a ramp.”

He beams like my voice just changed his life and shakes his head. “Let’s call it mobility training,” he quips, lifting the crutches up one step.

I smile.

He manages the obstacle course and pauses on the verandah, looking down at the retriever by my feet. “Oh, so now you’re a good boy who doesn’t run through doorways?”

Mr Shares whines and rolls over, pawing at his nose and wriggling on his back as if he understood.

Jeremy bursts out laughing, and his eyes twinkle as he looks at me. “Howdy, gorgeous!”

“Hello.” Shyness steals the rest of my words, so I step back and wave him inside.

Over his shoulder, the driver gets back into the van. “Does your . . . friend want to come in?”

Jeremy glances outside. “He said he’d wait to make sure my truck starts. But he’s not in a rush.”

My heart sinks a little as I close the front door, which is silly, because it’s not like I can keep Jeremy here or take him to bed or anything, when he can hardly walk. Guess my minx side is thirstier than I realized. To be fair, I’ve never had anyone make love to me like Jeremy did.

Make love. Now the phrase makes sense. Not just have sex, but to experience love, tenderness, and consideration throughout.

The way Alessandro would, while calling me his darling.

“Willow?”

I snap out of my daydream to find him towering over me. He drops his head, a glint of joy sparkling in his eyes alongside a question. His rosemary scent closes around me like a warm hug, and all my anxiety evaporates. More confident now, I rise on my tip toes and press my lips to his mouth in answer to his silent question.

His breath catches, ghosting across my nose, and his fingers graze my waist without him releasing his crutch. It’s not awkward at all. Our lips press together, tasting but not inciting. It’s natural, and brimming with warmth, just like the alpha himself.

He straightens, a wide smile blessing his features. “Damn, I missed you, darlin’.” His nostrils wrinkle as he sniffs the air. "You cooking something?”

“No, that was breakfast.” I lift my chin toward the studio. “I was just recording some stuff, but my light broke.”

I deflate, reality invading rudely.

Jeremy hitches his brows. “Lights? Need an electrician to take a look? I know a decent one.”

His mouth quirks like he knows a good secret.

“One who does house calls?”

He chuckles and stumps back to the entrance and throws the door wide open. “Ta-da!” he says, spreading his hands toward the van parked on the gravel.

Oh, of course. I already read the logo on the side earlier, which said electrician. My cheeks heat up. “Please ask if he’ll take a look.”