Chapter 3 #2
“I know exactly where that head of yours is going, and I’m not falling for it again.
I still have nightmares from all the strays you snuck into my room when we were little so Mom and Dad wouldn’t find out.
You’re lucky I never got rabies or a disease of some kind.
That one cat scratched the hell out of me in my sleep. ”
“I was five when I brought you that cat. It was raining outside, and I didn’t want him to catch a cold. How was I supposed to know he turned evil after midnight? ”
“You named this one after a gremlin,” I say, bewildered.
“I’m pretty sure he will do the same.” I stand up and watch Gizmo struggle for a bit like a turtle stuck on its back before he finally flips back over.
He sits at my feet with his head cocked.
“How is he not biting his tongue off? It’s hanging out the side of his mouth through all those bottom teeth. ”
“I think it’s cute and adds to his charm.”
“Cute and charming are not the first words that come to mind when I look at him.”
“You never know. He might grow on you.” Her eyes have that mischievous gleam, and I can’t help but feel I’ve been set up. She knows I can’t say no to her.
“He has one night here, Savi,” I say, narrowing my eyes at her. “I don’t have time to take care of a dog right now.”
“Mmm-hmm,” she smiles, taking a sip of her margarita.
“I mean it,” I say firmly, not backing down on this one.
“He goes back tomorrow,” she throws up her hands in surrender, but the devilish look on her face tells me she doesn’t believe me.
I glance back down at Gizmo, and he’s still got his one eye trained on me. His stubby tail wags when he notices I’m paying attention to him.
Fuck me.
Something stirs in my heart, and I try to push it aside.
Sighing, I walk over and grab the tequila bottle to make a drink.
“You are such a brat,” I mumble, pouring a double shot into my glass.
“You know I love you,” she giggles, reaching up on her toes and kissing my cheek.
“I just couldn’t help myself. He came in last month, and not one single person has looked at him.
I give him as much attention as I can when I visit each week, but I caved today and brought him home for the night.
Now I know why. You two were destined to meet.
He adores you,” she smiles down at my feet, where he’s lying now with his head on my boot.
“I’m not making any promises,” I mutter. “I’m giving it one night.”
“I understand. One night.” She grins and bends down to the lump at my feet.
“You’ve got one night, Gizmo,” she says, cupping his squished-up face. “Show him what a good boy you are,” she coos at him and kisses his flat nose.
How does he even breathe through that thing?
I finish making my margarita and take a big sip, knowing it’s two against one at this point, and I’m on the losing end. I decide to change the subject, hoping it might go away.
“How was work today, Dr. Montgomery?” I love using that title any chance I can get.
Besides the fact that it makes her light up every time she hears it, I’m also so damn proud of her.
She knew at an early age exactly what she wanted in life.
Her love of animals runs deep, hence all the strays she would smuggle into my room when we were younger.
She knew out of all her brothers that I was the one she could talk into doing anything.
When she told us she wanted to be a veterinarian when she grew up, nobody doubted that she would make it happen.
She worked her ass off in school and graduated early.
The Blue Haven Veterinary Clinic, run by Dr. Matthews, immediately offered her a job once she moved back here.
She had worked for him since she was sixteen, and he had even mentioned handing over the practice to her when he retired.
Twice a week, she volunteers at the local animal shelter and offers her services for free. She’s always trying to help the animals get adopted that no one wants. I eye her latest mission under the table. He’s on his back, spread-eagled, snoring through that nose and tongue of his .
“Work was amazing as always,” she beams at me before loading up the taco meat into a dish and setting it on the white granite island next to the other bowls of toppings.
“A beagle that I’ve been seeing through her pregnancy finally had her puppies, and I got to meet them for the first time today.
They were the cutest things I’ve ever seen in my life. ”
“I’m really glad you’re back, Sav,” I smile at her. “That we’re both back. I’ve missed this…us just hanging out.”
“I’ve missed it too. Even though you are as annoying as hell sometimes and hover over me like a helicopter dad,” she laughs.
“And I’ll keep hovering until I deem someone worthy enough to take my place as your watchdog.”
“Lucky for you, I’m too busy to date right now.
My animals are all I need.” She loads up her taco and sits down next to me on the bar stool.
I’m more than fine with that. She has plenty of time for dating later.
“So, tell me about the renovations today? How’s it looking? ” She asks before taking a bite.
I grin at the mention of my bar and tell her all about the new ideas Noah and I have come up with as we eat dinner. Once we are done, I help her clean up the mess, and she lets Gizmo out back to relieve himself while I finish the last of the dishes.
“I’m going to shower and then read a bit before bed,” she yawns, coming back inside. “Gizmo, are you coming with?” She glances at him, and he looks between the two of us before waddling over to me and sitting down. “I guess he wants you tonight,” she says, holding back a smile.
“Of course he does. I’m starting to think you can really talk to animals, and you put him up to this.”
“I’ll never tell,” she grins and walks toward the master bedroom, which she claimed once Jake moved out.
“Guess it’s just you and me,” I say, throwing the dishtowel on the counter and looking at One-Eyed Willy at my feet. He cocks his head to the side, and I bite back a smile .
Turning off the lights in the kitchen, I cross the light wood floors to the door leading out to the garage.
As soon as we moved in here, I immediately claimed the apartment above the three-car garage.
I wanted my own space, and after soundproofing the walls, it was perfect for all the late-night drumming I love to do when I can’t sleep.
That, and it always came in handy if I ever snuck a girl in for the night.
Unfortunately, that hasn’t been the case lately.
I’ve been so busy getting the bar ready that by the time I make it home, I’m too tired to venture out again.
Besides, I don’t even think I could find a girl who would excite me like Olivia did.
For the past two weeks, I haven’t gotten her out of my mind.
Everywhere I go around town, I’ve been on the lookout for the blond-haired, hazel-eyed beauty.
I don’t even know if she lives around here.
I even checked in with Ryder to see if she had stopped by yet.
I was hoping to get a last name and phone number, but she hasn’t come in.
It’s like she’s vanished into thin air, and I don’t like thinking I’ll never see her again.
I climb the stairs to my apartment and chuckle when Gizmo does a running hop to the top, surprising me with his quickness. I open the door, and he saunters in like he owns the place.
“If you are going to stay here, there are a few rules you need to follow. No chewing up my stuff and no shitting or pissing on anything. Do we have a deal?”
He wags his stub of a tail and barks, causing me to wince.
“And no barking,” I add. “You sounded like an eighty-year-old who smokes two packs a day.” He makes another raspy sound, but quieter this time. “That’s better, I guess.”
I take off my shoes and keep an eye on him as he walks around, sniffing everything.
A small kitchen sits off in the corner. I eat most of my meals in the main house, but it’s nice to have on nights I have company or just want to throw a pizza in.
A nice-sized bathroom and walk-in closet sit opposite each other, and in the middle, my king-size bed sits against the back wall.
I still have plenty of space left over for my drum and a small couch facing a giant-screen TV for watching games.
It’s the perfect size for what I use it for, which is mostly just to sleep.
One day, I’ll get my own place, but for now, this is all I need.
This house sits right on the beach, and I have a perfect view of the ocean from up here.
Some of my best music has come from this room with nothing but the vast blue waters to inspire me.
I quickly shower and set Gizmo up with a blanket on the floor before climbing into bed. I want to get an early start on the stage renovations and have afternoon appointments with some local alcohol distributors.
Gizmo stands on his hind legs and looks at me expectantly as he paws the mattress.
“You are not sleeping with me. I gave you my best blanket, and there’s no reason why you can’t sleep on it.”
He whines and lays his chin on the edge of my grey comforter, doing his best to give me a sad, puppy dog face.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” I say, grabbing him under his front legs and heaving him up. He happily walks around in circles before settling down next to me with his head on my second pillow. I must be more tired than I thought because he’s actually getting kinda cute in his own gremlin way.
I set my alarm and turn off the light. A snore hits my ears, and I rub a hand roughly over my scruff. I can’t believe it’s come to this. I’m sleeping with a gremlin. A snoring gremlin, no less. I finally drift off to sleep with the same images in my head that I’ve had for the past fourteen days.
Dimples, a cute nose piercing, and a body I haven’t stopped craving a taste of.