Chapter Fifteen
T hree weeks to the day of their first kiss, Emily was pretty sure she was falling for Holden. Big time. The more time she spent with the guy and got to know him, the more time she wanted to spend with him.
The handsome man was kind and considerate, reliable, funny—trustworthy—that was a big one for her. His compassion for animals rivaled her own—another biggie. He respected her, which was one of many traits her prior boyfriend had lacked. And Holden was freaking amazing in bed. He took her out of herself, and every time she returned to reality, she returned as a better version. More confident. Happier. Satisfied. Holden took her breath away over and over, proving how amazing it was to connect with the right person.
Like now.
She was cradled against his hot, slick, naked body as they both worked to catch their breath from a morning session she was never likely to forget. He’d done some amazing things with his tongue that had caused her to cross her eyes and pant his name until she burst into bliss with an orgasm he’d expertly extended until the world momentarily faded from sight.
Then he’d rolled on a condom and thrust inside her, causing Emily to arch off the mattress and cling to him as he’d magically coaxed another orgasm from her intensely heightened body.
She was beginning to think the man didn’t just have an affinity with animals, he had an affinity with orgasms too, and her body was more than happy to have him as her handler.
“You okay?” he asked, his voice rough and winded near her ear as she rested on top of him with her face planted on his shoulder after he’d rolled them over.
“Mhm…” she murmured, while her body continued to exhibit a few stray tremors. “That answer your question?”
He chuckled, running his hands up and down her spine, which did little to help her body to settle down.
“You are magic, Holden Jones,” she told him between breaths while tracing a line down his chest with her finger. “A wizard at making my strength disappear. Got any magic to restore it? Because I have to be at work in forty minutes.”
“How about I make your favorite breakfast—pancakes?” he asked.
And look at that, she had enough strength to lift her head and glance down at him. “And fresh strawberries?”
“Of course.” He grinned.
Holden was the only guy who had truly paid attention to her likes and dislikes, and not just with sex. He actually knew her favorite food type—Mexican. Her favorite breakfast as he’d just stated, her favorite color—green. Her favorite song, country artist, favorite dog breed—Great Dane, like Scooby—but she’d never tell Princeton or Queenie and loved them dearly. The man knew her better than she knew herself at times.
“Okay.” She grinned back. “I’ll let the dogs out then grab a quick shower.”
He brushed a chunk of hair off her face and pushed it over her shoulder. “I’ll take care of them if you want. I don’t have to be at the shelter until later. My first class is at eleven. I can grab a shower after we eat.”
Yeah, he was a keeper. And a great teacher. The new dog owner class Kade had started implementing last weekend with the intent of holding it once a month was a huge hit. So much so, that he had asked Holden if he’d be willing to teach it again this weekend too.
Emily suspected some of the participants signed up because Holden was a hottie. She didn’t blame them because…yeah, he was smokin’ hot.
He was her hottie, and she couldn’t believe that out of everyone he could have—and there were a lot of women who threw themselves at him—he only wanted to be with her.
Warmth filled her chest to the point of bursting, and for the first time ever, she wished she had normal hours with Saturdays off so she could spend the day with him. But she would see him throughout the day at the shelter between calls and that made leaving him now a little easier.
“Okay, thanks.” She kissed him quickly on the lips and found the energy to roll off him and the bed then managed to stand without wobbling. “I won’t be long.”
He smiled lazily up at her, his arm thrown back behind his head as he gazed down then up her naked body with heat simmering in those hazel depths. “On second thought, maybe you need help.”
She chuckled. “If you join me, we’ll both be late.”
Emily rushed into the bathroom and shut the door. Not to keep him out, but to keep herself from rejoining him in bed.
Thirteen minutes later, invigorated by the shower, she was dressed, with her wet hair pulled back in a simple ponytail and on her way downstairs wearing a smile she couldn’t seem to drop lately.
Not since she’d started seeing Holden.
And as she walked into the kitchen, her heartbeat thudded a little louder at the sight of the gorgeous guy standing by the stove wearing nothing but a pair of jeans and a boatload of muscles and ridges.
No shirt. No shoes…big problem.
She wanted him again—still.
“Pancakes are just about done,” he said from over his shoulder. “I’ll let you handle the coffee.”
What she wanted to handle was—
“Woof.” Queenie rubbed against her, gently demanding her morning petting.
Emily snickered. “Okay, girl.”
She knelt down and gave both the Rottie and eager Princeton some love and attention…and belly rubs. They loved their belly rubs. It was something Queenie had only recently started to allow. It was a huge show of trust, so of course, Emily would oblige, even if her pancakes got cold. No way had the dog ever received them before, so from now on, there would be a lot of belly rubs in Queenie’s future.
When Emily finally stood and washed her hands, Holden had a plate of pancakes, a bowl of cut strawberries, and two mugs of steaming coffee near silverware and two empty plates on the kitchen island.
“Thank you,” she said. “I’m sorry I didn’t get to help.”
He shook his head. “No worries. You were taking care of more important things.”
Warmth funneled into her chest again, and she walked over, cupped his face, and kissed him. Slow and soft, hoping to convey what he was making her feel. He got her. The man really got how her brain worked and what spoke to her heart.
When Emily drew back, Holden’s gaze was warm, and his expression was soft.
“What was that for? Not that I’m complaining,” he said, setting both hands on her hips.
She continued to cup his face. “For being you,” she replied. “And for getting me.”
“I’d never forget you, babe.” He smiled and kissed her nose.
She let go of him and snorted. “Not forget . I said for getting , like for understanding me.”
“I know.” He winked. “I just like to see your eyes flash.”
Releasing her, he yawned and pulled out a stool for her to sit on before he sat in the other one. And yawned again.
“Sorry,” he said with a shake of his head.
Since the first night they’d had sex, the two of them had started to sleep in the same bed together on the nights he wasn’t out of town, and they always stayed here because of Queenie. Emily wasn’t comfortable changing the dog’s routine just yet, but she had started introducing her to other dogs and took her for playdates at Lyndsey’s, as well as Holden’s, where the Rottie enjoyed romping around on the beach with Isla and Sinjin’s dog, Loki, because they were Holden’s neighbors.
“Someone wore me out,” he teased, and set a hand on her knee.
Normally, she’d just snicker and supply a comeback, but he hadn’t slept the greatest last night, so Emily knew the tossing and muttering in his sleep wasn’t an every night occurrence.
“You sure that’s it?” she turned to him and asked softly. “You slept a little restlessly last night.”
Frowning, he met her gaze. “I’m sorry, babe. I hope I didn’t disturb you too much.”
“You didn’t. I’m good,” she assured, then turned her attention to the food, stacking three pancakes onto her plate before spooning a ton of strawberries on top. Better to look busy than concerned. She knew it wouldn’t fly with him. As it was, she’d already pushed it as far as he’d probably allow before he changed the subject, but she had to try. “Want to talk about it?”
“About what?” he asked, loading his plate.
“Whatever was bothering you enough to mess with your sleep,” she replied, and almost told him he’d been saying the name Braddock, but stopped at the last second, unsure.
He met her gaze then, and as she suspected, it was friendly but closed off.
“Just the usual crap from serving.” He shrugged.
Inwardly, her stomach tightened, and she sighed, but outwardly, she just nodded. “Okay. You know I’m here if you ever need to talk.”
“Thanks.” He leaned over to kiss her forehead. “And you’re going to be late if you don’t clean your plate soon.”
And that would be the subject change she’d expected.
“Roger that.”
Emily dropped the matter and enjoyed her delicious breakfast. Afterward, she enjoyed a kiss from an equally delicious Holden, before heading out, promising to meet at his place after work since he’d be done at the shelter before her shift ended.
That didn’t mean he hadn’t remained in her thoughts all morning. The sexy man definitely provided her with a lot of delicious food for thought.
And she’d much rather think of him than wonder if or when Perez might strike again. Emily didn’t intimidate easily. She wasn’t afraid for herself. No, she was afraid for Queenie. If the guy found out Emily had adopted his former dog, who knew what he’d do, and she definitely didn’t want to find out. Nor was she okay with allowing it to eat her up inside with worry.
Besides, for the most part, things had quieted down. No more Perez sightings or Bronco sightings. Last week, she’d gotten her car back from Dex—looking better than new—and thankfully, there hadn’t been any spray-paint incidents again. Or any other occurrences…other than the feeling as if she was being watched. That continued to happen off and on, and she was beginning to wonder if it was just her imagination now.
Emily hadn’t told a soul. Not Holden, not even Lyndsey or Isla, the two people who knew her the longest, next to her family. She’d kind of been staying away from her family, just in case the crazy man was following her.
Blowing out a breath, she pushed aside thoughts of the jerk as she drove toward town. Dispatch had sent her to answer a call about the sound of kittens crying behind the strip mall near ESI.
She arrived on scene to find Mel and Loni, the baker, looking around the dumpster in back.
“Hey, Emily,” Mel greeted. “We can hear them but can’t tell where the cries are coming from.”
She hoped it wasn’t inside the dumpster, but the unpleasant odor wouldn’t stop her rescue. Using the grooves on the side of the dumpster as footholds, she hoisted herself up and glanced inside, relieved to find it was only about a quarter full. The smell of hot garbage hit her with a one-two punch anyway. Emily nearly gaged but held it together. She’d faced worse in Houston in hotter temperatures and twice as much garbage.
“Wait, no, they’re not in there,” Loni said, pointing to the ground. “I can hear their cries coming from down there.”
The sweet woman was slowly going blind, so Emily trusted Loni’s hearing. It would, no doubt, adapt to the change in her sight with an increase in acuity.
Emily jumped down and walked over to the round storm drain cover by Loni’s feet. She knelt down and peered in, and sure enough, she could see two kittens moving around.
“Okay, little ones,” she murmured. “We’ll get you out. Hang on.”
She put her fingers through the slats and gripped tightly then pulled with all her might, but it barely budged. Shoot.
“Hang on. I’ll get Carter and Dex,” Mel said. “They’re just beating the crap out of each other on the mats. Let them put their muscles to good use.”
Before she could reply, the woman was halfway to the open bay door of the ESI garage at the other end of the alley behind the strip mall. In the meantime, Emily readied a crate for the kittens and grabbed a crowbar from behind her seat, then returned to Loni, who was talking softly to the meowing kittens.
“How do you think they got in there?” she asked.
“Not sure, but I’m going to track down that answer after I get them to the shelter.” Emily glanced around but saw no obvious entrances.
She set the crate down, then wedged the crowbar under a slat in the drain cover and pushed down with all her weight. It lifted and she shifted it a few inches when Mel returned with Carter and Dex at her side.
“Okay, here’s the muscle. But I’ve got to go. My one o’clock is here and ready for ink,” Mel said, before entering the back door of her tattoo shop.
Dex took the crowbar from Emily and set it on the ground. “We’ll get the lid.”
Carter nodded. “Yeah, and you get the kittens.”
Emily smiled. “Thanks.”
She wasn’t stupid or proud. She was grateful for the help and happily moved out of the way. The men grabbed the lid and lifted it up and off the hole as if it only weighed a pound. When they set it down on the ground, she moved in with her net to reach down and scoop the kittens out one at a time.
They hissed in protest but when she released them into the crate, they calmed right down, as if they knew she was trying to help. And they were fairly easy to handle when she examined them at her truck. They were feral but not too skittish yet.
“They going to be okay?” Loni asked, from behind.
Emily turned around and smiled. “Yes, thanks to you and your keen hearing, these little girls are going to be just fine.”
She’d determined their sex during her quick examination.
Loni smiled, big and bright, and moved in closer. “I’m glad. Can I pet them?”
Emily shook her head. “The vet needs to examine them better and they’ll need shots and to be dewormed.” She opened a can of food and watched as the little girls eagerly ate. They had a good appetite.
“Aww…” Loni sighed. “Poor things are starving.”
She shook her head. “It’s a good sign, though. Not the being starved part, but that they aren’t sickly.”
Loni nodded, continuing to stare at the kittens with a soft gaze.
“And after they get vaccinated and dewormed, they will probably go up for adoption in a week,” Emily said. “They need a little socialization and handling first, since they’re feral.”
“Can I put my name down or something to be called when they are ready?” Loni asked, obviously already besotted with the calico cuties.
Emily nodded. “Yes. I’ll make a note of it on their paperwork. Hang on.” She grabbed her clipboard with the case paperwork on it from the cab then added Loni’s name and phone number along with the names the woman already had for them. Cinnamon and Ginger.
“The shelter will call you when they’re ready,” she said. “But you can visit them any time.”
Loni’s smile widened. “I can? Great. Thanks, Emily.”
She watched the woman reluctantly back away then returned to her bakery through the door next to Mel’s.
“Well, that was a happy ending,” Carter said, handing her the crowbar.
She glanced down at the drain, noting the guys had already set the cover back in place. “Thanks for your assistance.” She nodded to both men as she put away the crowbar and net.
“No problem.” Carter grinned.
“Anytime,” Dex said with a nod and turned to head back to ESI.
She chewed her lip and debated a second before clearing her throat. “Hey, you got a minute?”
Both men turned around and retraced their steps.
“What’s up?” Carter asked, leaning against her truck while Dex stood next to him.
Emily exhaled. “Who’s Braddock?”
Carter’s brows rose while Dex’s narrowed.
“Holden mentioned him in his sleep last night as he tossed,” she told them quietly. She hated asking his friends but deep down, she knew they would have the answer, and perhaps she could help Holden better.
Dex scratched his temple. “Did you ask him?”
“Obviously, she didn’t,” Carter said. “And it isn’t a secret. Braddock was the dog Holden handled in our unit.”
Dog?
Carter produced a photo on his phone of all of them in combat uniform, posing in front of a blown-out building, and sitting at Holden’s side was a gorgeous Belgian Malinois. Then he swiped to another photo showing Holden in full combat gear, carrying the dog on his shoulders.
“Oh…” Her heart squeezed. “Is he…what happened to him?”
“He was fine there. That was a long-distance march. Holden was reserving the dog’s energy,” Carter told her.
“Where is the dog now?” she asked, afraid of the answer.
“Holden had to leave him behind when he left the military,” Dex replied.
Carter nodded. “Braddock is still active duty. He’s an amazing dog. A brother. One of us. He took a bullet for Holden once, when he was shot. He told me, last year, the dog pulled him to safety and took a bullet but never stopped dragging him to safety.”
Emily inhaled sharply and slumped back against her truck, not only shaken by the thought of Holden being shot, but his pain over leaving such a special friend behind. Her heart squeezed tighter, and her eyes burned.
“I see. That explains a lot.” She blinked back her tears, but one escaped so she swiped it away.
“When Braddock is retired from service—if he retires—Holden will try to get him stateside,” Carter said. “He told me his former commander is supposed to help.”
The dog had to make it. Otherwise, Holden would be crushed. Emily wouldn’t let her mind go there. Live in the now , she told herself. Not the what ifs.
“There are charities and foundations that I’ve read can help,” she said, making a mental note to look into them.
Carter nodded. “Yeah, I believe Holden has one on speed dial already.”
A smile twitched her lips. “Sounds like Holden.”
“Roger that.” Dex smiled too. “Holden is a good man.”
“I know, and I’m sorry,” she told him. “I didn’t want to pry, but I’m concerned and want to help him.”
“You already are.” Carter set a hand on her shoulder. “You’ve given him some of the balance he was missing.”
Another wave of tears threatened. Emily blinked again and swallowed twice. “Thanks. That’s exactly what he’s done for me too.”
That and so much more.
And as Emily finished out her shift, her mind kept circling back to Holden and his dog. No doubt, helping other animals was helping him to deal with the void of not having Braddock at his side…and the anxiety of not knowing if the dog would survive his length of service.
She was going to make a few phone calls and have a back-up plan to the one Holden apparently already had in place. Emily had a few favors she could and would collect, if need be, to reunite those two.
Right now, she was looking forward to doing a little reuniting herself.
After rushing home to take care of her dogs, giving them a few extra hugs because she could, Emily drove to Holden’s. By the time she parked and got out, she had her emotions under control, determined not to trigger any anxiety in the guy.
But when the hair on the back of her neck began to rise, she quickly glanced around, and anxiety suddenly triggered deep inside her.
She was being watched again.