Page 4 of Wanted

“Jack,” I answer. My throat grows instantly tight.

One. Two. Three.

I count until the feeling abates. It’s usually before I get to twelve but never more than twenty.

“Morning. You out with the pack?”

“Yup. We’re on our way back.”

“Aiden and I are here with a stray. She looks pretty rough. Thought we’d get her cleaned up and bring her into one of the rooms for a little extra comfort until Cortney can get to her.”

Our sister, Cortney, runs a veterinary practice in town and works as needed for the dogs we rescue.

“Help yourselves.” I kick a rock off the trail.

“Also thought we’d wait and grab a cup of coffee with you.”

He’s doing that thing he’s done our entire fucking lives. Feeling me out. Checking my pulse. For being my twin, he’s terrible at the whole kinetic brain thing. Maybe it’s because we’re fraternal.

Or maybe my thoughts are so dark he’s learned to silence it.

“Sounds like you’re doing a lot of thinking this morning. Don’t hurt yourself.”

Jack laughs loudly. Something new since he fell in love with a single mom and her toddlers. It suits him. Love, that is. Being loved as selflessly as Whitney and those kids love him.

“So?” He interrupts my musings. “Got a minute for a coffee?”

“Start a fresh pot. I’ll be there soon.”

I pocket my phone and take a quick headcount. Fifteen dogs tramp through the snow around me on the way back to the house. With everyone accounted for, we make the trek back at a slightly faster pace.

Jack’s SUV is parked up by the main house rather than near the intake building. The dogs funnel up the stairs to their door, racing around one another to reach the water dishes. The smell of coffee fills the air from the kitchen around the corner.

“Hey.” The greeting leaves my mouth as a roughened grunt.

Jack leans a hip against the counter, arms crossed over his chest and a tiny smirk tilting his mouth like he’s got some shit to say and he’s waiting to say it.

“Morning.”

“Uncle Dude!”

The little voice has me bracing for the touch certain to come. Before Bennett can run into my legs, I scoop him beneath the armpits and haul him into my arms.

“My man. Helping out today?”

“Daddy taked me to work!”

I chuckle at his exuberance. “I bet you’re a really big help.”

“I gived the doggie a snack! She was really hungry.”

I frown. “I bet she was.”

“Now she’s sleeping, so can I have a snack?”

“I thought we were stopping for waffles?” Jack asks.

“I forgot.” Bennett turns back to me with a grin and slaps my chest with both hands. “I get waffles.”

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