Chapter Eleven
I t was another ninety minutes before Emily drove her Bitchmobile home, with Holden following close behind. He’d stood by her while she talked to Gabe, the feel of his hand lightly touching her back providing comfort as well as a calming strength, and she’d appreciated both.
Kade had shown up when she was on the phone with her insurance agent. Emily had noted all three men were deep in conversation, at least, deep enough to cause frowns.
Emily really didn’t want to know what they’d been talking about. And right now, she wanted a margarita. A big one.
Alcohol on a work night wasn’t a normal indulgence, unless it was a glass of wine. But tonight, a glass of wine wasn’t going to cut it. She needed something stronger.
She needed Holden.
But, first, she wanted him to work with Queenie.
He made her stay in her car until he checked the perimeter, then motioned that it was safe to get out.
It had better be, or the fancy equipment they’d installed the other day wasn’t working, considering her phone hadn’t displayed any alerts. Glad to discover all was well, she unlocked her door, and he held it open while she stepped inside.
After he shut the door, he locked it, and the sound sent a tiny thrill down her currently stiff spine.
“Afraid I’ll escape?” she asked, trying to lighten the mood.
His lips twitched as he set his hands on her shoulders. “You got any alcohol?”
She snorted and told him about her drink of choice. “Would you like one?”
“Yes.” He nodded and as her gaze started to move to her crated dogs now residing in the living room, he captured her chin between his thumb and forefinger. “I know it’s tough, but I need you to ignore them. Can you whip us up some food too? Or do you want me to order some Pub takeout?”
Emily knew he wanted to work with Queenie with her out of the room.
“No need to order anything. I have some leftover enchiladas I can heat up,” she told him, needing to keep busy. “I usually take the dogs out and feed them first. I’m guessing that’s something you want to do?”
He lifted a shoulder. “Normally, but since this will be stressful for Queenie, you should take both dogs out to go to the bathroom first. If you want, I can prepare their food while you’re out. And when you bring them back in, leave their leashes on, and put Queenie back in her crate, but not Princeton.”
“Okay.”
After showing him where she kept their food and bowls, Emily entered the living room through a doorway accessible from a hallway off the kitchen that also led to the laundry room and a half bath.
Keeping her greeting and actions normal, she took both dogs outside to do their business and pushed aside feelings of guilt when she brought them straight back inside, instead of allowing them to play. Holden had disappeared, but she knew exposure to him was going to lead to a much healthier life, a more balanced life for Queenie as well as Princeton, since he picked up on the Rottie’s moods.
Guilt returned and followed her back to the kitchen along with her tiny chestnut shadow. Holden emerged from the dining room, which prompted Princeton to bark, and Queenie echoed it. As soon as Holden picked up the leash, the barking stopped, and within sixty seconds, he had the dog heeled at his side.
“That was the easy one.” He rose to his feet without the leash and set a hand on Emily’s shoulder. “Queenie is going to panic. She’s going to get loud and hit me with all she has, but I’m going to wait it out, so you need to do the same, okay? Let me have that time with her. It’s crucial.”
She inhaled and nodded. “I know.
So as Holden disappeared into the living room, Emily kept busy by preparing dinner, her heart a little heavy because she knew this trial was going to be difficult for Queenie.
The dog was good with females. She always reacted favorably toward her friends. That was why on Sunday, Emily had made sure they sat at the table on Queenie’s side of the room, and the men were on the other side. The fact that the dog hadn’t barked was a surprise, especially when the tension amped up when Holden had realized it was Hera. But he’d quickly removed his eye contact, relaxed, and then ignored her, which put her dog at ease.
Tonight, though, tonight would be different. She wasn’t there to buffer anything, and that was obvious by the growling and barks she heard coming from the other room. The unbalanced Rottie was affecting her balanced Chihuahua, who had taken off running to aid his woman.
Now both Queenie and Princeton were barking, but she didn’t hear a sound from Holden. Emily managed to pull the enchiladas from the refrigerator and set them on the island but couldn’t help herself. She crept into the hall off the kitchen, and careful not to peek in too far, she stood back and watched.
Holden sat next to Queenie’s crate, with his back against the wall, eyes forward, and his attention seemingly elsewhere. True to his word, he waited it out as Queenie voiced her distrust. Seven and a half minutes later, she ran out of steam, and since Holden wasn’t feeding her any tension or other negative energy, she laid down and let out a big sigh.
Tears filled Emily’s eyes, but she blinked them back and watched as Princeton trotted over to Holden and plopped down on the guy’s lap. All it took was a smile from Holden and some scratching behind the ears for Princeton to voice his appreciation with some adorable noises from deep in his throat before rolling over to show his belly.
While Holden rubbed the happy Chihuahua, he reached over and opened Queenie’s crate. The dog was hesitant at first but came out on her own and sniffed Holden and Princeton. After only a few seconds, she sat next to them and didn’t flinch when Holden used his free hand to stroke her back.
She backed up and inhaled.
I’m not going to cry. I’m not going to cry.
Wrong.
This time, when tears filled Emily’s eyes, she let them spill down her cheek and quietly retraced her steps to the kitchen. What she’d just witnessed was a huge first step for Queenie and Emily was so damn proud of her for being so brave. The dog still had a long road ahead of her to trust again, but that had been an amazing start.
With shaky hands, she prepared two margaritas, only making a mild mess. A drink was in order, not for a bitch of a reason, but for a wonderful one.
By the time Holden strolled into the kitchen with both dogs at his sides, Emily was setting the heated enchiladas next to their drinks on the counter.
“So, that was nothing short of a miracle.” She fought the urge to launch herself at the man. “Thank you.”
“No thanks necessary,” he said, helping her carry their dinner to the dining room table. “I’m happy to help. She has a sweet disposition beneath all her fear.”
Emily nodded, forcing down the wave of pity that threatened to take hold. That was a human emotion, not a dog emotion. Queenie would see it as a weakness and would lose respect for her. The dog had come way too far to slide backward because Emily felt sorry about the canine’s past.
“They live in the here and now,” Holden said quietly, as if reading her mind, nodding toward her dogs currently laying on their bed in the corner. He reached out and set a hand over hers. “She let it go. You need to do the same.”
Emily nodded again and lifted her drink. “To Queenie.”
Smiling, Holden clinked glasses with hers and together they celebrated the start of a new chapter in the Rottweiler’s life.
They spent the next half hour, eating, drinking, and laughing. Emily knew the thoughtful man was trying to keep her mind off her bitchmobile , and for the most part, he was succeeding. Especially with tales from his childhood and growing up in a military family in Virginia.
She couldn’t imagine growing up with wars and training and deployments part of their everyday life for generations. From his great-grandfather, grandfather, father, mother, and his brother, the Joneses had fought and bled for this country and its freedom.
“My family tree doesn’t have such a noble history,” she said, setting her fork onto her empty plate. “I believe we have a train robber who had a son that ended up being a Texas Ranger.” She was proud of that one. “My dad and mom are teachers, as is one of my sisters, and the other is a local eye doctor.”
“Seems like you have a very interesting family tree to me,” he said with a grin. “Diversity is good for the soul.”
She lifted her glass and drained the last of her drink. “So was that margarita.”
“Agreed.” He finished the rest of his then smiled. “Thanks for dinner. It was delicious.”
Emily rose to her feet and began to clear the table. “You’re more than welcome. I appreciate your help with my dog.”
Holden followed her into the kitchen, insisting on carrying his dishes to the sink. “My pleasure.” Once their hands were empty, he turned her to face him. “We need to talk about your car.”
Air left her lungs in a long sigh that echoed through her kitchen. “I know. But I was hoping it could wait until tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow, if it’s okay with you, Dex is coming here to drop off a loaner for you to borrow and he’ll take yours so he can fix it.”
She blinked. “He is? But…my insurance—”
“He’ll take care of it,” Holden said, gently cutting her off. “Mechanic, auto body, he is the best. So, I don’t want you to worry about your car.”
“A-all right.”
She was happy to have that load removed from her shoulders. Already they felt ten pounds lighter. And it must’ve been Dex on the phone when she’d spotted him talking earlier at the shelter.
“Now, let’s finally move on to you.” He lifted a hand to brush her cheek with his knuckles. A move he seemed to enjoy. She did, too. “How are you doing?”
The concern in his eyes was mirrored in his tender touch and his tone, and an unexpected rush of emotion heated Emily’s throat. It’d been a long time since a man had worried about her, other than her father. She wasn’t sure how to react, so she cleared her throat and held his gaze.
“I’m okay. More pissed than anything,” she told him honestly.
The fact Perez went from calling her a bitch to painting it on her car made her angry, not frightened. Probably dumb of her, but there it was, the truth.
His lips twitched. “I’m not surprised.”
“Yeah?” She set her palms on his chest and smiled. “Guess that means you know me pretty well.”
Holden held her gaze while he twisted one of her curls around his finger. “And I’d like to get to know you better.” Gently tugging her closer, he dipped down to touch his lips to hers. “A hell of a lot better,” he murmured sexily against her mouth before kissing her slow and deep.
Emily wanted the same thing.
His hand was in her hair and the other was around her back as she sighed and melted against him. Never had she wanted any man so badly in her life. So quickly, too. His nearness and simple brush of his lips made her hot. Made her nuts. The man stole her breath, and they’d only shared a few amazing kisses. Incredibly hot, amazing kisses. In his arms was turning into her new favorite place to be.
Her sanctuary.
A little while later, when they broke for air, she could tell by the heat in his touch and in his eyes that he shared the same deep-seated need swirling inside her.
“I’ve wanted to do that for several days now,” he murmured.
Emily patted his chest. “What a coincidence,” she uttered between breaths. “I’ve wanted you to…too.”
A second later, his mouth was back on hers, sipping and tasting, driving her wild, making her clutch at his shirt as he effectively removed the strength from her legs.
This time, when he ended the kiss, he set his forehead to hers and sucked in air. “Sorry,” he said between breaths. “I can’t seem to get enough of you.”
Her pulse tumbled, knocking what little breath was left from her lungs. His gaze was dark and smoldering, enhancing the green in his hazel eyes.
He drew back slightly but didn’t release her. “I should go…before I don’t,” he said, in the sexiest tone she’d ever heard.
Damn, the man looked good enough to eat.
“I vote for you don’t ,” she murmured, bringing his mouth back down on hers.
Things got a little crazy then. Her hands wouldn’t stay still. They roamed, finding their way under his shirt to stroke and caress his hot, hard body. God, she loved how his abs rippled under her touch.
His hands were exploring too. One cupped her ass while the other glided down the side of her breast to her waist, over her hip…then back up. He made her hot and feel so much. Feel everything. Hunger. Need. And she ached.
Emily had never ached for a man before, and that realization alone had her trembling.
When they broke for air, he brushed away an errant curl that fell across her face, and her heart beat crazy strong in her chest.
“Are you sure about this, Emily?” he asked between breaths. “I know we haven’t known each other that long…” His sexy voice trailed off, leaving the decision up to her, and it endeared him to her all the more.
With her hands on his chest, she could feel heat radiating under her palms. Holden was on fire, and her knees shook at the intensity of the man’s need for her.
It matched her need for him.
“Yes. I’m sure,” she told him in a calm, assertive tone she knew he would pick up on and appreciate. “So very sure.”
A delicious grin spread across his face, and the desire in his eyes amplified. “Roger that,” he said. “What do you say we get your dogs taken care of for the night, then I can take care of you without interruption?”
“I say, I like the way you think.” Emily winked.
And with the promise of a great night hanging in the air, they took the dogs outside before crating them. Something she realized they actually liked at night. The crate seemed to be their happy place. Their relaxation spots. She never felt guilty about placing them in there. She just made sure they were calm and relaxed, and they went in willingly. Some nights took longer than others.
Tonight, thank God, was not one of those nights.
Apparently, even her dogs knew she needed to be with Holden.
Smiling, she grabbed the sexy man’s hand and led him to her bedroom upstairs. Once inside, she flicked on the light, a second later, he pulled her into his arms and backed her against the wall near the switch.
“Now, where were we?” he asked, before capturing her mouth with his once again.