She’d probably call the loony bin if I told her how I really feel.
“I love you, Mom,” I say, wrapping my arms around her.
“I love you too honey.”
She returns my embrace, squeezing gently.
Afterward, I take out my phone and check my email. Pearce has already sent the job offer.
I gasp when I see the figure he’s offering to pay me. It’s more than mom makes at her call center job. With this wage, I’ll be able to help her, to improve our home, to give us more security so she’s not always stressed about bills.
And I get to work on my coursework, and I get to see Bones.
Even if mom is right – even if Pearce is planning something dark – there’s no way I can turn this down.
I quickly text back at the number he provided in the email.
I’m in. Thank you so much for the opportunity.
I replay mom’s words in my mind, about how older men take advantage.
What she doesn’t know is that I want him to take advantage of me. What I don’t know is what comes after?
Once he’s done with me, will he throw me away?
But none of this is rooted in reality. Pearce doesn’t want me.
All I can do is focus on the job.
CHAPTER SIX
Pearce
“She’ll be here tomorrow, boy,” I whisper, sitting on the floor with Bones in my lap.
I have to stay with him or he starts whining, terrified of being left on his own. He was like a different dog when we visited Piper.
People say dogs can pick up on people’s emotions.
Perhaps Bones sensed my excitement when we went to see her, and maybe he can sense the tension inside of me now that we’re apart.
A gust of wind blows against the window and Bones leaps up, yapping as his tail goes erect. He rushes to the window, leaping onto the couch so quickly it’s a miracle he doesn’t fall off.
My stomach tightens when I see how on-edge he is. It makes me think of the monster who did this to him, who made him this way, and I find myself wishing there were other ways to punish him as opposed to imprisonment.
Give me five minutes with the prick in a locked room.
He can even have a weapon if he wants.
Standing, I walk over to Bones and smooth my fingers over his fur as softly as a man with giant paws for hands can manage. He settles down after a few minutes, trembling as he climbs down from the couch.
With a whine, he tries to cock his leg on the half-ruined couch, one of the cushions missing from when he wrecked it.
“Nuh-uh,” I say, quickly scooping him up. “Remember what we talked about? Outside, boy.”
I carry him through the house – more than a little relieved he doesn’t pee on me – and open the back door. When I place him down, he pauses at the edge of the stone patio.
Reaching over, I switch the exterior lights on. The yard doesn’t fit with my relationship status. It’s long and wide, with well-maintained flowerbeds running along the side. There’s an outdoor brick sauna, a hot tub, and a swimming pool.
Apart from the sauna, I rarely use any of it. A gardener takes care of the maintenance.
Before I met Piper, I used to think I’d never find a woman who’d make me want to fill this garden with laughter and love. I’d wonder what sort of woman she’d be if I did find her, knowing she’d have to be special to make a tough grumpy bastard like me care.
Now, my mind can’t help but populate every inch of my home with visions of the future. And her.
“It’s okay, boy,” I whisper, walking onto the stone patio. “You don’t have to be afraid.”
He whimpers and inches over to my feet, whining as he nuzzles his face against my leg.
“See over there?” I kneel, pointing to the swimming pool. “One day we’re going to have a pool party, all of us… me and you and Piper and our children. You’ll be yapping your head off as the children chase you around. And then you’ll jump in the water, making everybody laugh.”
My heart pounds at my words. I want it so badly. I’m stunned by how hungrily I want it.
Bones looks up at me attentively, as though he can understand.
“And then you’ll hear me shout burgers, and you’ll leap from the water and run over to the grill. We’ll all laugh like crazy at that. You’ll come and stand at the grill, looking up at me, tongue wagging, trying to win a burger with your cuteness.”
Bones laps at my hand, and then trots toward the flowerbeds. He pauses every few moments, looking over his shoulder at me.
“It’s okay,” I tell him. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Tomorrow Piper is going to be here to support him. Once he’s settled in, I may have to think about hiring a dog trainer. But I’m cautious about introducing too many new elements into Bones’ life at once.