Chapter 19 #2
As soon as the kitchen door closes, Haddy grabs my arm, blue eyes sparkling. “What happened last night?”
“What do you mean?”
“After we left, did you and Owen…” She does a little wavy hand-motion. “Bow chicka wow-wow?”
“You are such a nerd.” I roll my eyes. “Nobody says bow chicka wow-wow anymore.”
“Shut up! Did you do it?” Haddy grabs my arm again, playfully shaking it.
“We did…” I hesitate as her eyes get wider and wider. “Mushrooms.”
Haddy’s face and shoulders collapse. “Mushrooms? Is that some kind of sexual enhancer?”
“I don’t think so.” I pluck a fresh cranberry from a bowl on Haddy’s bar. “Last time I did mushrooms I barfed the whole time. Last night I chased an imaginary dog, who I thought was my spirit animal, all over the place. Maybe she was?”
I turn the cranberry in my fingers.
“I’m so confused.” Haddy reaches over and takes the berry from me. “Why in the world would you do mushrooms instead of it?”
“It was an accident. Heather had this chocolate, and we didn’t know it had psychedelic mushrooms in it.”
“Gina! That’s freaking dangerous. What if you’d OD’d?”
“I agree.” I nod, looking up at her. “Instead, we just drifted around for four hours then fell asleep all over the house.”
“I’m very disappointed in you. The whole reason I took Maddie was so you two could finally get it on.” She walks over to the refrigerator pouting, and I press my lips together thinking of John and Kendall.
“What’s that face?” She looks over at me, then she runs back to grab my arm, pulling me around and staring straight into my eyes.
“You’re so weird.” I try to pull away, but she won’t let me.
“You’ve already done it! Ahh!” She jumps up and down, pulling me into a hug. “I’m so happy! You and Owen are perfect for each other. We’ve already been over all the reasons, and the tarot, and…”
“Things are moving in a positive direction.” I nod, thinking about last night and how he pulled me close, kissing me right in front of Maverick.
I think about this morning, him bringing me water and smiling at me in that way I felt from my stomach all the way to my toes.
“He’s nothing like Baxter.” Haddy returns to the fridge.
“Ew, don’t even say that name.” My upper lip curls. “Can you believe that jackass had the nerve to text me?”
“I absolutely can. You’re a wonderful person. You’re beautiful and smart, and everyone loves you.” She returns holding a sparkling water and wraps her arm around my shoulders. “He probably realized it and hasn’t stopped kicking himself since.”
“I hope somebody’s kicking him,” I grouse, walking over to the door leading to the living room. “I’ve got to get the dogs home.”
We return to where Maddie is holding Peepee now and walking around the living room like a march.
“Instead of teaching Ladybird to walk fancy, do you think we could teach Peepee?” Maddie runs over to where Haddy and I are standing.
Haddy squints, turning to me. “I don’t know. Patsy is more of a hopper than a walker.”
“That’s what I mean about gaiting.” I take a knee, looking at the size of Peep and the size of Mads. “You actually might be a perfect match. Your legs aren’t as long as an adult’s. It will probably help her.”
Maddie gasps, her mouth and eyes forming large circles. “It will? Can I, Aunt Haddy? Can I?”
Haddy looks at me. “If she could walk with her in the charity show, people would love that. Especially since she’s Owen’s daughter.”
“We’ll have to get permission from your dad, of course.” I watch Maddie cradling Peepee like a baby. “Let’s give it a try, Mads. Mind if we borrow Peep for the day?”
“Not at all.” Haddy walks with us to the door.
Maddie puts her hand in mine as we cross the street to the house I share with Maverick. I glance down at her, and she’s watching the dogs walking side by side as she carries Haddy’s smaller one.
Tilting her head, she looks up at me. “I made Lucy laugh.”
“You sure did.” I give her hand a squeeze.
“And she laughed and laughed. Her whole body was shaking!”
“She’s really cute.” I nod, stopping to open the front door and taking off the leashes as Spanky and Ladybird bound into the living room.
Maddie follows me, petting Peepee’s head. “I think I’ll be a good mommy one day.”
My throat tightens, and I bend down to give her a hug. “I think you’ll be a great mommy. You take good care of your daddy, and you’re so sweet to the dogs and Lucy.”
She puts her hand on my shoulder, her expression serious. “I think you’ll be a good mommy, too.”
My lips press into a smile as my nose heats. “You do?”
“Yep.” She nods. “You take good care of Spanky and Ladybird and me and everybody!”
“Thank you.” I lean forward to hug her. “I hope I never let you down.”
Owen
Just got home. How are you feeling?
It’s almost midnight. I’m in bed reading a spicy romance novel on my Kindle when my phone lights up. Scooping it off the nightstand, a grin splits my cheeks when I see his words.
Gina
All good. Had a fun day teaching Maddie to walk Peepee.
Owen
Yeah, I had all the videos on my phone when I got to the locker room.
Gina
She’s a future dog-show girlie!
Owen
Sounds like a fun profession. Feel like walking outside?
“What…?” I whisper, hopping out of bed and dashing over to the window.
My chest squeezes when I see him there, bathed in moonlight and gazing up at my window.
Without even replying, I dash out of my bedroom, run down the stairs, and throw open the front door.
“What are you doing here?” I whisper, stepping out onto the porch.
I hadn’t even considered what I was wearing, and now I realize I’m in my skimpy sleep shorts and thin white tank. My pussy flutters when I remember all the things he did with this top last time I wore it. It flutters more when his brow lowers, and he walks to the porch steps.
I take a step down, putting my face level with his, and he places his warm hands on my waist.
“I wanted to see you.” His voice is low. “Last night didn’t exactly go how I’d planned.”
“Last night was ridiculous.” I slide my hands onto his shoulders. “Although it reaffirmed my love of dogs…”
I don’t say and other things, since we’re still working out what we’re doing here.
He wraps his arms around me, pulling me closer. “It reaffirmed some things for me as well.”
“Like what?” I tilt my head, holding his gaze.
Lifting his hand, he places it on my cheek, sliding my hair back with his thumb. “Like how good it feels when we’re together. How all the tension melts away.”
My eyes blink slowly, and we move closer, meeting in a kiss. He pulls at my upper lip with his, and I wrap my arms around his neck, allowing him to open my mouth. Our tongues curl and slip, and I exhale a soft sigh.
His hand moves to my back, pulling my body flush against his, and heat races to my core. His lips move to my jaw, and his beard roughs my neck. My fingers thread in his hair, and I feel the brush of his jeans through my thin, cotton shorts.
He groans softly, and it heats my veins. “I want to carry you inside and spend the night.”
“Okay,” I gasp, holding his neck and kissing his cheek, his lips.
He kisses me back briefly. “I’ve got to get home, but I’ll be back in the morning for our date. We’ll make it an early lunch.”
“Breakfast in bed is good,” I tease, smiling as I kiss him again.
“There would be very little eating,” he laughs softly. “At least of food.”
I exhale a hmm, thinking of how that would go. He kisses me once more before taking a step back.
“I’ll be here at eleven.” One more touch, and he walks backwards in the direction of the sidewalk.
I return to the porch, watching him bathed in silver light as he walks away.