Page 36 of Old-Fashioned

Abel posted himself on the end of the bar where we placed our orders and I wanted to take my tray and slap him with it because he wouldn’t just put the glass or the bottle down on my tray.

No, he made me take it from his hand which ensured our skin connected.

Okay, he wanted to play this game. Fine. Two could play it. Easily.

My hand had just squeezed a newcomer’s shoulder, my head thrown back in laughter…

Which was how I found myself, grabbed by the waist, hauled to a tight body, and a deep voice full of anger whispered in my ear, “Fuck it. You’re place tomorrow morning before work. I’m coming over. I’ll bring breakfast, and we are getting through every fucking thing we need to because I refuse to go another moment without you being mine. If you’ll fucking have me.”

And with that, he released me, gave the guy a look that I swear could shrivel his balls, and then smirked when the man tossed down a twenty, and bolted from the bar.

Abel watched him go and muttered one word, “Pussy,” before he headed back behind the bar.

And since he had a lot of groveling to do, I didn’t react to the single headlight in my rearview mirror on my way home that night.

I didn’t look at him and where he sat at the end of my driveway as I climbed out of my Jeep and headed to my front door.

Once I had it unlocked, Ryker met me at the door, his whole body shaking in happiness.

Ryker was my first love, perhaps, if Abel groveled the right way, he would be my second love.

But only time would tell.

***

Licks to my face woke me up the next morning which caused me to giggle, “Hey there boy.” I smiled as I opened my eyes and looked into Ryker’s soulful dark eyes.

“You ready to go outside?”

His head perked up, he bounded off my bed, raced to the doorway, and stood there, looking at me, then looking back down the hall, and then back at me.

Grinning, I climbed out of bed, and followed him to the back door.

Once I had it open, he sat there at my side, looking up at me, I grinned, “Okay, boy.”

And at my okay, he raced outside.

Standing there in the doorway in my cami and sleep shorts I couldn’t believe how much happiness fled into my heart at watching Ryker being happy.

He was slowly but surely putting weight back on.

He had a checkup with the vet two days ago, and everything was going great.

The vet’s number was also still scrawled on a piece of paper in my bag.

I don’t know why I accepted it.

Not when I got not one single flutter in my heart at the sight of him.

Damn it.

And damn him.

I walked back to my room, and got ready for the day, and since I didn’t know what time Abel planned to show up, I let my hair air dry, brought Ryker in, it wouldn’t be good for him to be outside if Abel showed up.

That was because a man had made a wrong turn a couple of days ago, and nearly pissed his pants as Ryker came barreling around the side of the house, raising cain, his hackles raised.

Shaking my head at the memory, I filled Ryker’s food bowl.

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