Page 57 of Avenging Azalea

“Sure, but why?”

“Because…ugh stupid thing.”

The lid of the container I’d just filled wouldn’t go on, and I probably looked insane as I wildly fought with it. Titus held out his hand. Annoyed, I handed it over. Of course, it snapped into place without any effort from him. It was a conspiracy by companies to make products frustrating, so we women thought we needed men. I would die on that hill.

“Thanks. Anyway, a couple months back, we were called to pick up some abandoned animals. There was a dog in really bad shape, and I’ve been trying to get him adopted. He’s coming along, but he’s still scared and alone. Sheba puts on a good face, but she still misses Shadow.” I shrugged. “I thought maybe they could help each other. He’s a good dog, not vicious or anything, I promise.”

“I trust you, Fawn. They are as much your girls now as they are mine. It’s not me they want to sleep with every night,” he said, smiling.

“I take up less space on the bed,” I teased, feeling the blush heating my cheeks. Titus laughed.

“That’s true. Sure, you can take Sheba. You’re right. She’s never gotten over the loss, and maybe a new friend is exactly what she needs. How’s it going at the clinic otherwise?”

Titus snatched one of the warm muffins off the rack.

“These are delicious, by the way. It’s a damn good thing you don’t bake these all the time.”

He took a bite, and his eyes rolled back in his head. I couldn’t stop watching his mouth while he chewed. I touched my lips as the sensation of his kiss flashed in my mind.

God dammit, look away.

I lowered my eyes and began filling a large silver tray with a variety of everything, including some fresh fruit for the guards.

“It’s going really well. Doctor Taylor thinks that I can make it as a surgeon. But I’m not sure what I want to do yet. I love the idea of operating, but I don’t want to get so specialized that I lose contact with my clients and the animals.”

“That’s amazing, Fawn. I’m really proud of you.” Titus pointed at the tray. “Is that for the guards?” I nodded. “No wonder they’ll jump in front of a bullet for you,” Titus teased.

They would do it for him too, but I loved that he was still poking fun at me. It meant that I hadn’t destroyed our friendship last night.

“I have to bribe them somehow. I’ll be home a little late tonight, but I can still walk and feed the girls.”

Titus nodded as he took another bite of the muffin. A little smudge of blueberry was left on the corner of his mouth and distracted me from what I was doing. The container I was working at filling flipped out of my hands and the treats for the dogs went flying.

“Oh shit,” I grumbled and squatted to clean up the mess I’d just made.

Titus walked around the island and started helping me.

“You don’t need to do that,” I said.

“Nonsense.”

We made quick work of the disaster. Reaching for the last one at the same time, our hands touched and I shivered with the light contact.

“Sorry, you get it,” I said.

Titus picked up the last cookie and dropped it into the container, but we stayed squatted down behind the island staring at one another from inches apart. The same tension as last night pressed in on me with the weight of his hungry stare that had nothing to do with food.

“I better get going,” Titus said, looking at his watch and then back up at me.

He quickly stood and held out his hand. Gripping the treat filled plastic like a shield, I let him help me. We stood there staring at one another, our hands still touching. I glanced at his fingers, raised an eyebrow before he cleared his throat and let go.

“Have a good day, Fawn.”

“You too.”

Titus grabbed his coat and walked out of the kitchen. He whistled for Hailey and Holly, and then I heard the front door close. My body started to shake, and I grabbed the edge of the island to steady myself. Maybe I should find my own place. A sharp pain twisted in my gut like a blade at the thought.

“Exams are next week, and then I’m off for the summer. That’s a better time to worry about moving out.” Bella and Daisy chose that moment to walk into the kitchen. “Yes, I know I’m avoiding the issue. You two don’t need to look at me like that. Besides, if I move out, I won’t see you every day.”