Chapter Eleven #2
Sabrina didn’t hear Cesare, or even see him move. All she knew was one moment, someone almost twice her size was moving towards her. The next moment, Cesare’s muscled back was all that she could see.
“Do it.” Cesare growled, standing between Sabrina and the aggressive partygoer. “Try it, go on.” He urged, with an audible cut to his words and threat in his tone.
“Whatever, man.” The overgrown student muttered, backing down and walking away with a scowl.
The crowd reluctantly dispersed, and the young girl who had originally called stood fidgeting nervously.
“Thank you for calling us. You’re not in any trouble.” Sabrina reassured. “I just needed to get rid of the crowd as soon as possible.”
“Are the police really coming?” She asked, biting a lip.
The small sea lion pup gave another cry of distress, and Sabrina knelt down beside it to better examine its condition. Despite the report that it had been tangled in netting, it seemed to simply be tangled in ropes of seaweed.
Sabrina looked back up at the girl, then looked around the beach at the rapidly departing students. “I don’t see any reason for the police to come, do you?”
She shook her head.
“My name is Sabrina. What’s yours?”
“Allison.” The girl whispered. “Some of the guys were trying to pick him up, but we told them not to.”
“Is that when you called?” Sabrina asked.
Allison nodded. “The pup was here the whole time. Someone said they saw it on the rocks earlier, but I think it was asleep. It didn’t make any noise until after more people arrived and the music started.”
Sabrina made a humming sound, frowning at the appearance of the malnourished leopard seal. “All right, thank you for your help, Allison. We really appreciate your calling. Is there anything else you may have seen or noticed about the pup that we should know?”
The girl shook her head mutely.
Sabrina gave her another smile. “Thank you. We’ll take it from here.”
Allison hastily left, as neighbors from up the road gathered on a walking trail leading to nearby beach cliffs with a view of the beach.
Cesare stepped forward, kneeling beside Sabrina, examining the visibly weak pup. “What are your thoughts?” He asked her.
The sound of a flash went off behind them, and Cesare turned just enough to confirm it was Travis taking the photo before looking back at Sabrina.
“This fluffy fur, it’s called lanugo, and it’s normally shed before they are born.
He’s still covered in it, so he’s likely premature.
It may be why the mother left. If he’s been here all afternoon and Mom still hasn’t come back to feed him, it sounds like abandonment is very likely.
He doesn’t seem to have any injuries or wounds, but he’s definitely dehydrated and sounds hungry.
” She surmised. “He’s probably pretty scared.
” Sabrina added, this time with no small amount of empathy.
Travis approached the seal, keeping a few feet away, and took a few photos. “Should I get the crate from the van?” He asked Sabrina.
Sabrina sighed. “Yeah. That would be best. I doubt he’ll make it if we leave him here like this.”
Travis left without a response, moving quickly toward the van.
Cesare furrowed his brows. “What happens next?” He asked.
Sabrina gave him a rueful look. “Premature baby seals have to be fed every two hours, which means I’ll be sleeping at the rescue for the next couple of nights until we can get one of the bigger partners to take him on Monday.”
Cesare gave Sabrina a considering glance before leaning in slightly. “How do I make this easier for you?” He asked.
Sabrina felt her cheeks go pink. He had no right sounding so husky and attractive, or looking so smoldery and sexy out here in the open. “What do you mean?” She asked.
“What do you need? How do I help?” He asked.
Sabrina looked at him incredulously, eyes going to his lips. “How are you real?” She asked.
Cesare had found some wounded part of her, pulling it out and inspecting it here on the beach in plain sight of everyone watching. Her stomach prickled at the feeling of being exposed; vulnerable to whatever came out of his mouth next.
Cesare, sensing her inner conflict, glanced around long enough to determine they could still speak without being overheard. “I want you. All of you. Which means taking care of all of you.”
Sabrina swallowed the ache in her throat and the butterflies in her stomach.
Cesare looked down at their gloved hands and the seal pup in front of them. “You’ve devoted so much of your life to taking care of the world around you. You deserve the same thing, and I want to provide that. So, what do you need? How do I make this easier?” He asked sincerely.
“I want you to kiss me.” She answered, her eyes going misty.
It was at that moment Travis cleared his throat awkwardly from behind them.
“I found the crate.” He muttered.
Sabrina closed her eyes in mortification and pulled away from Cesare. She was a professional, literally in the middle of a rescue response. What was she thinking? She frowned. She was thinking about very pretty words coming out of the tree of a man beside her and his sugar-daddy dick.
Travis took a step back. “I think we might need some more stuff from the van, so I’ll be back.” He said as he retreated.
“No, I’m sorry, Travis. There’s no need, I promise.
” She assured, standing up without making eye contact with Cesare.
“Let’s get this little guy in the crate.
The sooner we get him back to the refuge, the sooner we can start feeding him.
Travis, if you can play crowd control with the helpful citizens coming over, that would be much appreciated. ”
A group of five on-lookers were now headed their way with visible intent, and anything drawing her focus away from the seal pup right now was a hindrance.
“Cesare, can you open the top of the crate, please? I’m going to try to use a blanket with our friend here, and then place him directly into the crate. He’s so weak I’m not sure we need the net.”
“His claws still look pretty sharp to me.” Cesare answered, sounding concerned.
Sabrina finally turned to face Cesare.
He watched her silently.
Sabrina nodded. “You’re not wrong, but my wheelhouse.”
He gave her a wordless nod and opened the top of the crate.
It took some careful maneuvering, but she managed to nudge the abandoned pup onto a thick blanket, wrapping the seal like a mini burrito.
He rolled onto his back and attempted to swipe razor-sharp paws at her, but Sabrina evaded his claws and found it to be a positive sign of healthy survival instincts.
“There we are. Don’t worry, you’re going to be just fine.” She reassured the seal as Cesare shut the top door of the crate.
“I can carry the crate.” Cesare offered, lifting it as he spoke, holding it as if it weighed nothing.
Sabrina couldn’t help looking at his muscled biceps and forearms flexing as he held the crate with comfortable ease.
She’d held that very crate often enough to know just how heavy it was, and the ease with which he picked it up made her feel warm and flushed all over again.
She blinked, only to realize he’d caught her staring.
She blushed, looking away. “That sounds good.”
“Sabrina.” He coaxed gently.
She closed her eyes for a moment, steeling herself once again before turning back to face him.
“I don’t know what you’re feeling ashamed about, but you don’t need to be.” Cesare spoke evenly as they walked back to the van. “We’re both adults. I enjoy looking at you, and I like that you seem to enjoy looking at me too.”
“I know that.” She answered, irritated at how meek she sounded.
“Then why does your face look the way it does?” He asked pointedly, a slight Italian lilt accenting his speech.
“Because I’m working. I shouldn’t be thinking about your muscles while we’re working.” She answered, unable to keep the frustration out of her voice.
“I think that’s an excellent thing to be thinking about.” Cesare grinned.
Sabrina gave him a disgruntled side-eye, but said nothing more.
As they neared the van, Cesare scowled at any passersby who gave any indication of approaching the carrier and the seal pup. “Where am I putting the carrier?” He asked when they approached the van.
“In the back, please.” Sabrina answered, opening the trunk. “Thank you, again. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this.” She added.
“It was my pleasure.” Cesare replied with his trademark roguish grin. He ensured the seal was positioned securely and closed the trunk, scanning the parking lot to see Travis approaching. His grin sobered.
“I assume you’re going directly to the rescue with our new friend?” Cesare remarked wryly, nodding towards the abandoned baby seal.
Sabrina nodded ruefully. “I am.”
“So this is goodbye for the evening.” He surmised, his eyes going back to her lips.
Sabrina nodded reluctantly.
“I had a wonderful time.” He smiled as he took a step closer. His eyes raked over her once more for good measure before rubbing the back of his neck with a chuckle. “Can’t say I’ve ever sent a date home with another man. It feels a little weird.”
Sabrina laughed, closing the distance between them and giving him a hug. “I guess we’ll have to try again then.” She answered mischievously; green eyes twinkling up at him.
Cesare hummed, wrapping his arms around her immediately in response.
“I concur with that assessment.” His lips lingered on her forehead before letting her go with an audible groan.
He took a few steps back and opened the passenger side door.
“Okay. Get in before I kiss you in front of everybody and their dog.” He threatened.
Sabrina went pink, smiling as she got into the car without comment.
“Travis, it was good to meet you.” Cesare nodded as he approached. “Maybe I’ll see you around.”
Travis nodded. “Yeah, it was good to meet you too.” He answered, putting his bags in the back seat and getting into the van.
Cesare ducked down to speak to Sabrina one last time. “Let me know how Freckles does when you get a chance. I’ll bring you breakfast in the morning.”
Sabrina raised a brow. “Freckles?”
Cesare shrugged. “He’s got spots all over.” He shut the door, his gaze resting affectionately on the smattering of freckles across the bridge of Sabrina's nose and cheeks.
With a nod to Travis, Cesare backed up to allow them space to pull away from the curb, giving Sabrina a departing wave as they drove off.
Sabrina watched Cesare disappear slowly in the distance through the rearview mirror and sighed.
Travis looked over, his expression sardonic at best. Sabrina responded with a huff. “Not a word.” She swore half-heartedly.
“I didn’t say anything.” Travis grunted, attempting and failing to damper his shit-eating grin. “But now that you mention it, I got some good photos of the two of you if you’d like them for the wedding.”
“You’re making words.” Sabrina scowled half-heartedly.
The baby seal let out a bellowing sort of grunt.
“Yeah, you tell her.” Travis muttered, amused. “I’m apparently not allowed to speak.”