Page 96 of Steel

“Yeah. There’s a gang of high school kids harassing the community. Breaking into stores. Stealing. Vandalizing,including the breeder’s facility. They stole a bunch of puppies about ready to go to their new homes.”

Her entire face fell. “Oh, no. Are you sure?”

“Not at all, but I looked up the facility. It’s close enough to my cabin that the couple that escaped could have made their way behind my shed.”

“Oh, God. That will kill Damon. I’ve never seen him so happy. You don’t know what he’s like at home.”

I rubbed her arm, avoiding reacting to the tingles created from the light touch. “Do you want me to call them and find out for certain?”

“If you don’t mind. I didn’t think Zorro was a purebred with the white on his chest.”

“A common mark and Roxy might not know.”

“Damn it. Then there’s no way I could afford to buy him.”

“He’s likely already accounted for.”

Her fist clenched. “I’m so angry. This trip has been nothing but a nightmare.”

“Let me see what I can do. Don’t tell him anything yet. Maybe I can be his savior one last time.”

When she nibbled on her bottom lip while rubbing the back of her neck, I put both feet into the decision. “And here I wanted to hate you all over again.”

My laugh wasn’t so easy or natural this time. “You’re even more tense. I have a hot tub, which will soothe all that aches.”

The way her one eyebrow lifted pushed me further. “Hmm…”

“A little wine. Hot bubbles. A few stars. You don’t know what you’d be missing.”

“I don’t want to impose. As a friend.”

I inched closer until there was almost no space between us. “As a friend. You won’t be. I could use a soak myself.”

“Well… That sounds wonderful, but I don’t have a swimsuit. I didn’t think to pack one.”

“I won’t look. Scout’s honor.”

As expected, she rolled her eyes when I held up my fingers. “As long as you have big fluffy towels.”

“I have something even better.”

“Just this once.”

“Just this once.”

She grabbed her wine and for a few minutes, we lingered in the room without talking. Simply enjoying each other’s company. And in the short moment of time, the whispered shadows of an event that I’d yet to shove aside began to fade.

Maybe what I’d needed all along was a friend.

Or something else.

Zorro watched me with purpose as I gathered the little boy into my arms, gently placing the Matchbox car still in his hand onto the coffee table. Like mother, like son. He hadn’t gotten all of the vehicles out of the case. He played with one or two at a time,putting them away when he was finished. How many kids did that?

Violet followed as I headed up the stairs to the guest room, turning down the bed so I could place him under the covers. Doing so was another moment of feeling as if our time spent together was completely normal.

When he was safely tucked in, I backed away, lingering as the voyeur. I remembered seeing my mom tucking in my sister, but that had been years before. Seeing the way Violet fussed with the comforter until it was just so under his chin was a perfect sign of her love for him. She smoothed hair from his forehead before leaning over and pressing her lips against his pale skin.

With the light left, she ran her fingers through the scruff on Zorro’s neck before walking past me. As she did, she brushed the palm of her hand against my chest.