Page 88 of Take My Kiss
“It’s my fault he got hurt,” he murmurs against my shoulder. “I screamed and scared the bobcat.”
Colton kneels next to me. “No, buddy. It’s not. Remy knew it was a predator who could harm you, and he took his job to protect you very seriously.”
Sam pulls back, frowning. “And the bobcat was protectin’ her babies.”
“That’s right,” Colton says. “It was unfortunate circumstances. But before we left the hospital, I told Remy how proud of him I was for makin’ sure you got away safely. He knows how much you love him and loves you just as much.”
Sam nods before crashing into Colton’s chest, hugging him tightly. When I glance over at Lily, Bodie’s next to her, also teary-eyed.
“When can he come home?” Sam asks.
“Hopefully, tomorrow. But he’s gotta rest a lot for the next few weeks so he can heal faster.”
Sam wipes his face and smiles. “I’ll help take care of him.”
“Me too, me too!” Lily squeals.
Colton reaches over and squeezes her hand. “He’ll love that.”
“That means we can’t go home until he’s better. Right, Mom?”
Sam’s big eyes land on mine, and I don’t have the heart to disagree. “Of course, sweetie.”
Raven arches a brow toward me. There’s still a lot I haven’t told her, but now isn’t the time.
chapter twenty
Colton
Remy wagshis tail as I carry him up the stairs and through the open door. Amelia smiles as she closes it behind me. She stayed with the kids since neither of us got much sleep last night after Sam snuck into the bed.
Luckily, I’d just gotten up to use the bathroom, so he didn’t know I’d been in there minutes earlier. Since he was still upset about Remy and missing him, I didn’t bother trying to talk him into going back to his room. Instead, I checked on Lily, then went to my office and slept on the futon.
After a rough night at the vet’s, Remy’s more than happy to be home.
But even happier are Sam and Lily.
“Remy!” Sam squeals as soon as I set Remy in his bed.
“Be very gentle,” Amelia reminds him before he sits next to him. “Don’t touch the bandages.”
Lily rests her head on Remy’s back and rubs his belly.
The two of them murmur sweet things to Remy as he relaxes and closes his eyes.
“I think he’s their dog now,” I murmur to Amelia, grinning as I watch them. “The vet said he was restless all night and wasanxious the whole ride home, but he’s calmer now with the kids near him.”
“They are too.”
I’m eager to pull her into me, but we don’t want to confuse the kids any more than they already are being here. Truthfully, I don’t want to think about how quiet and lonely it’ll be once they’re gone.
“Raven’s gonna stop over before she leaves,” Amelia tells me when we’re in the kitchen.
“She tell you anythin’ ’bout stayin’ at Bodie’s?” I haven’t talked to him since last night, but I was pleasantly surprised to see Raven eating dinner with him and the kids.
“Nope, and she probably won’t. As nosy as she can be, she’s a vault on her own love life. But from what I know, she hasn’t been with anyone since her ex-husband.”
“How long is he in prison?” I cross my arms, leaning back on the counter as she stands across from me against the island.
