Page 66 of A Lick and A Promise
I removed myself from my press on the counter, went to him and cozied up to his side.
“Thanks, baby,” I whispered.
“Anything, honey,” he whispered back and dipped in for a kiss.
When his lips hit mine…
I returned it.
The next morning, Jacques was straining at his lead on Knox’s front walk, proving that animals had very good memories.
Knox’s door opened before we got there, and he was standing in it, sans crutch, something that made me frown. Then he did a squat, something that made me frown harder, but I let go of Jacques’s leash so I could put him out of his misery, and he could run to say hi to his Uncle Knox.
They had a man-and-dog love session complete with face kisses (that was all Jacques) before Knox straightened with Jacques under his good arm.
Fortunately, the other one was still in a sling.
But picking up my dog?
And that squat?
“Are you supposed to be doing squats?” I demanded.
“I see you haven’t gotten over your pathological need to baby me.”
I answered his question by asking, “Where’s the crutch?”
“You get flesh heals, right?”
“You were shot all of five days ago.”
“And my physical therapist knows what I can and cannot do, and I can navigate short distances without it.” His brows rose. “Would you like to contradict her?”
“Ugh. Get out of the way. I need to set up Jacques.”
He got out of the way, but he did it with his lips twitching, something I decided to let slide.
When I made it inside, I was pleased to see he hadn’t overtaxed himself by making me breakfast again.
But I refused to be pleased (though I was) that he’d ordered a dozen Bosa donuts to be delivered, and the box was open on his counter, wafting out that fresh donut smell.
That was the scent I suspected heaven smelled like.
I put Jacques’s backpack on the counter beside the donuts. “If those are for the boys traipsing in and out, and not for me, I’m never speaking to you again.”
“Do you think I’m the kind of guy who would have a vanilla cream filled and a glazed buttermilk on display when you showed just as a cruel tease?” Knox joked.
He was not that type of guy.
And he remembered my favorites.
I set that mentally aside, dug out Jacques’s bowls, food Stasher, treats and toys. I tossed the toys into the living room, and Knox unclipped his leash and bent to put Jacques on the ground so he could run after them.
I filled the water bowl and put out a bit of food (Jacques was a grazer).
I set it on the floor where we used to keep his stuff when we were together (yup, more ignoring things), then I went direct to the donuts.
I had not called Raye last night to tell her about Cheyenne. I was going to discuss it with her at work.
