Chapter 15
Shortcake completely ignored Dahlia and ran to Dutton, jumping up and placing her paws on his leg, begging for his attention.
Dahlia would have been offended, but in that moment, she really thought Dutton could use some Shortcake love. And sure enough, when he picked her up to cuddle her against his chest, his face softened and the tension seemed to ease from his shoulders.
“Were you a good girl, Shortcake?” he asked before letting her lick his face.
“She’s always a good girl,” Dahlia said mildly and then went into the kitchen to brew a couple of cups of decaf.
Dutton followed her, still carrying Shortcake.
“I have some pumpkin loaf if you want a snack.” She gestured to a plastic container on the counter and tried not to grimace.
The very idea of eating anything else made her stomach ache.
Coffee she could do. Solid food? No way.
The way she felt in that moment, she wasn’t sure she’d be eating for the next week.
“Thanks, but no,” he said with a non-humorous laugh. “After that cheesecake, I’m going to need to do a double workout.”
Dahlia eyed him, suddenly wondering if he had a six-pack under his clothes. Her eyes lingered on his abdomen and when she looked up, she caught him smirking at her. She cleared her throat. “Shortcake needs to go out.”
“I’ll handle it,” he said and then walked out the back door, still carrying her dog.
“He’s going to spoil her,” Dahlia mumbled to herself, shaking her head.
She could see it now. Shortcake was going to ask to be carried everywhere.
She was already a princess. Not on my watch, she thought.
But then she laughed. Who was she kidding?
Whatever Shortcake wanted, she got. That’s just how it was in the Day household.
After setting the two mugs of coffee on a tray along with the sugar dish and a bit of cream, Dahlia took the tray into the living room and set it on her coffee table.
Then she walked over to the fireplace and went to work on starting a fire.
It wasn’t terribly cold outside, but it was a little chilly, and Dahlia wanted the house to feel cozy.
When she got a small blaze started, she retreated to the sofa to wait on Dutton and Shortcake.
She heard the back door close and then the tap of puppy nails on the wood floors.
Shortcake ran into the living room, jumped up onto the couch to give Dahlia a kiss, and then quickly found her dog bed and curled up with her favorite toy.
Dutton followed her in, but instead of taking a seat beside Dahlia, he stood with his hands shoved in his pockets as he rocked back on his heels. “Maybe I should go.”
Dahlia tilted her head to one side, studying him. “Is that what you want to do?”
“It’s what I should do,” he said.
“That’s not what I asked.” Dahlia rose from her place on the couch and went over to him, placing her hands on his chest. “I’m not asking for anything tonight, Dutton.
I understand if you really want to go. After that experience in the haunted house, I imagine it brought up things you’d rather not talk or think about.
And I’m not asking you to do either. All I want to do is be here for you.
” She waved a hand at the fire. “I thought we’d curl up on the couch, have our coffee, and maybe watch a movie.
You know, be together without any expectation or pressure.
I just hate to think of you alone at your house, waiting to see if those agents are going to show up. ”
“Honestly, I’m not exactly looking forward to that,” he whispered.
“Then stay here,” she said softly, moving one palm up to his cheek. “Let me spoil you for a while.”
He hesitated for a moment before giving her a faint smile. “How could I say no to that?”
“You can’t.” She took him by the hand, leading him to the couch. When she sat down, she positioned herself so that her back was against the armrest. She pointed in front of herself. “Sit here.”
He eyed her and the couch. “Are you sure? I take up a lot of space.”
“You aren’t that big,” she countered. “Besides, this is me taking care of you. So just do what I say, okay?”
“Whatever you say.” He took his spot on the couch and leaned back against her. “Let me know if I’m squishing you.”
He was just a little bit, but she certainly wasn’t going to tell him that. Instead, she said, “Want that coffee?”
He shook his head and turned to look at her. “Thank you. This is perfect.”
Dahlia placed her hand on his cheek and then leaned in and kissed him softly on the lips. She lingered there, enjoying the feel of his lips on hers, her body already begging for more. But instead of taking the kiss further, she pulled back and said, “Ready for a movie?”
He blinked at her, and for a minute she thought he was going to reject the idea. But he just nodded and settled back against her with a contented sigh.
It was all the confirmation she needed that she’d made the right decision. She reached for the remote with one hand and ran her fingers down the back of his neck with the other. His tension was palpable, and as she searched around for a movie, she started to knead his muscles.
Dutton let out a little moan and tilted his head to give her better access.
She chose the latest romantic comedy about two friends who were obviously in love but hadn’t realized it yet, and then gave her full attention to Dutton.
Using both hands, she massaged his shoulders, neck, arms, and even his head.
Halfway through the movie, he reached back, grabbing one of her hands, and kissed her palm.
“You’re amazing, you know that?” he said very softly. “I’m not sure I deserve this, but I want you to know that I appreciate it very much.”
“I know,” she said. Because what she’d learned about the man lying on her couch so far was that he’d been putting other people first for a very long time.
Maybe he always had. He’d changed his entire life to move to Keating Hollow so that he could be near his brother.
He’d rescued her when she was a runaway bride.
No questions asked. He didn’t hesitate to step in and put out fires in town even though he had a lot of traumas associated with his gift.
And after he’d been detained by the Magical Task Force, the first thing he’d done was show up at her door and come clean about his past.
He hadn’t expected anything from her.
All he’d done was offer her the truth and then let her decide how she felt.
Dutton Williams was something special. She knew it in her heart.
She could feel it in her bones. And she’d known, after seeing his white face and the expression he’d worn after the ordeal with the haunted house, that he needed someone to care for him for once, and she was happy to be the one to do it.
When the movie credits finally rolled, Dutton kissed her palm again and then rose from the couch. “I should go before it gets much later.”
Dahlia smiled softly at him and got to her feet. When she was standing in front of him, she took both of his hands in hers. “Do you have somewhere to be in the morning?”
He shook his head. “Not that I’m aware of.”
“That’s good.”
“It is?”
She nodded, ignored the full mugs still on the coffee table, and tugged him down the hall toward her bedroom. “You can leave if you really want to, but I was thinking it’d be easier if you stayed here.”
He followed without resistance. “It would?”
“Yes. I have plans to make you breakfast in the morning, and it would be a lot more convenient for me if you’re actually here instead of me bringing it to your house.” She flashed him a smile over her shoulder.
“Breakfast? Did I forget about a date we’d made?”
“Nope,” she said.
“I see.”
They walked into her bedroom, and Dahlia turned to him. “There’s a new toothbrush in the drawer in my bathroom. Help yourself to it and anything else you need. Okay?”
“Okay.” He stood there, staring at her without moving.
“What is it, Dutton?”
He reached out and brushed a lock of her hair out of her eyes. “I just want you to know that what you did tonight… Thank you. It’s exactly what I needed.”
“You’re very welcome.” She brushed her lips over his and murmured, “Now get ready for bed. I’m still waiting to see if there’s a six-pack under that shirt.”
He chuckled softly as he walked into the bathroom.
Dahlia retreated back to the living room, collected the coffee tray, cleaned up the kitchen, and then headed back to the bedroom.
Dutton came out of the bathroom, shirtless and still wearing his jeans.
She immediately ran her hands over the eight-pack on display and said, “Impressive. Even better than I imagined.”
He shrugged one shoulder.
Dahlia wanted to touch him everywhere but refrained and went to grab a set of satin pajamas. Before she disappeared into the bathroom, she said, “Go ahead and get comfortable and climb in. I’ll be out in a minute.”
He eyed the pajamas in her hands.
“Lose the jeans,” she ordered, winking as she closed the door behind her.
Fifteen minutes later, Dahlia emerged in her satin sleepwear.
She immediately spotted Dutton’s jeans and shirt folded up on the arm chair.
She turned to give him a flirty smile, but when she spotted him in the bed, his eyes were closed and the rhythm of his breathing indicated that he was fast asleep.
Shortcake was curled up next to him, clearly claiming him as hers.
Dahlia let out a small sigh and chuckled to herself as she turned out the light.
When she crawled into the bed, she scooted closer to him and tried to move Shortcake over a bit, but the dog let out a little growl and snuggled in tighter to him.
“Well, that was rude,” she whispered and eased herself into position next to Dutton, careful not to disturb the princess again.
They lay like that for a few minutes, and then, still sleeping, Dutton moved, causing Shortcake to curl up on his other side.
Then he rolled toward Dahlia and spooned her as he wrapped an arm around her body, holding her close.
She found his hand, laced their fingers together, and only then did she fall into a deep sleep.