“Thank fuck,” Cade murmurs, kissing me again.
“Son of a bitch,” Larry growls. “She’s my sister asshole, at least stop making out with her in front of me!”
In answer, Cade lifts me off the ground, my legs wrap around his hips and he kisses me harder. In the distance, I can hear the door slam and I figure that was Larry leaving, but I don’t care. I’m enjoying making out with my man way too much to worry about anything else.
18
Finley
“That’s what I call a victory.”
I look up and give Larry a smile. He’s right, the adoption fair was a great success. The only animal that didn’t find a forever home was Stinker. That’s why I’m sitting on the kitchen floor, hugging him, consoling him, even if I’m not sure he understands what is going on.
“It was,” I whisper. “Stinker didn’t quite get lucky though.”
“You had him up for adoption?” Larry asks, sounding surprised.
“All the animals were up for adoption.”
“Huh…” he murmurs, making me turn to look at him.
“What?”
“Nothing. It’s just I could have sworn I heard Keys tell the boys that Stinker wasn’t up for adoption.”
“No,” I deny shaking my head back and forth. “He wouldn’t do that. He knows it was important to me. I wanted to find Stinker a good home before I left.”
Stinker nudges my hand with his head, and I scratch under his chin. He lets out a whimper and settles his head on my lap, making tears sting my eyes.
“I can bring him to the club,” Larry says, and I know he’s trying to make me feel better.
“With those watch dogs you have? They’d hate Stinker at first glance,” I tell him, already seeing them play tug of war over Stinker and tearing off pieces of my poor doggie. Stinker is big, but he’s lazy and fat. Larry’s Rottweilers are gorgeous, but they’re not friendly to anyone or anything other than Larry. Which, I mean, it’s what they’re trained for, but still.
“Maybe the new chick will be good to him,” Larry says, and I nod.
“Maybe,” I whisper sadly, but at the thought of someone else taking care of Stinker and maybe not loving on him like he deserves…
I start crying. I can’t help it.
“Shit,” Larry grumbles, getting down on the floor to hug me. I let him, but I refuse to let go of Stinker. His hug just makes me cry harder, but I need it. I wish Cade was here to hug me. He’s gone though. He took my car, saying he had to do some things at Larry’s club before he heads out—before we head out in the morning. That thought just makes me hold Stinker and Larry closer.
“What the hell is going on here?” Cade barks.
I look up at him, tears streaming down my face, making him blurry.
“Cade,” I cry, and I don’t plan on it, but I jump up and run to him. I’d like to think that doesn’t make me weak, but right now I feel weak and I just want Cade to make me feel better. Somehow I know he can.
“Damn it, Larry, what in the hell did you do?” Cade asks, wrapping me in his arms.
“I didn’t do shit. You think I’d want my Finley to cry like that?”
“She’s not yours, asshole. What did you do to her?” Cade asks again.
“Cade, stop. Larry wouldn’t hurt me,” I chastise, blubbering. “Stop yelling at him.”
“Why in the hell are you crying?”
“I was sad,” I tell him, rubbing my eyes with the back of my hand. Cade brushes my hands aside, and then presses his lips to my tears.
“I don’t like it when you cry, Red,” he murmurs against my wet skin.
“Stinker didn’t get adopted,” I explain, sniffling to keep the tears at bay. “I’m not sure I can leave him behind.”
“I told them not to adopt him out, Red.”
“What? Stinker deserves a good home. Why would you do that?”
“Because you love him. I knew you wouldn’t be happy without him, so I fixed it.”
“Fixed it? You’re making no sense Cade.”
“We’re taking Stinker to Kentucky with us,” he announces. My heart goes crazy in my chest, as hope tries to take root.
“That’s awesome expect for one small thing. Stinker is huge. There’s no way he’s going to fit on the back of your bike, Stud—especially as thick as you think my ass is.”
“He’ll fit in a truck,” he answers, ignoring my snide remark.
“A truck?”
He picks me up and carries me to the front door, opening it. I look outside and there’s a brand-new Silverado truck in the driveway where my junky car is usually parked. Cade’s bike strapped down in the back of it, and it’s pulling a box trailer behind it.
“Cade?”
“I want my woman happy. I wasn’t about to ask you to follow me to Kentucky and give up everything.”
“Where’s my car?” I ask frowning.