Page 70 of Wanted

He might be in for a rough week with all the spring storms in the forecast. I wish I could do more to keep him comfortable.

Jude’s footsteps creep down the stairs. The slowness speaks to his own sleep deprivation. We didn’t wind up going to our respective beds until well after two.

I busy myself with pouring us both cups of coffee. I turn groggily and bump into Jude’s warm, broad chest. The liquid just barely misses sloshing over the rim.

“Oh, sorry,” I mumble. “Here.”

With his eyes half closed, Jude takes the cup and presses a chaste kiss to my cheek. He freezes, his breath ghosting against my skin, and my lungs stutter as heat spreads from the spot his lips touched.

He recovers first.

“Thanks,” he murmurs in my ear, his voice gritty, and walks out the other door just like any other regular morning to free the dogs for their kibble and potty.

Except this isn’t a regular morning.

Jude just kissed my cheek like… like we’re an old married couple.

At the very least, like two people dating each other.

Or siblings.

The thought wakes me like a plunge in an icy lake.

Was that a platonic thank-you kiss?

Did I get friend-zoned somewhere in the past few days, and I missed it? Did my breath stink or my deodorant wear off last night?

It didn’t feel platonic. The kiss felt automatic. By rote. As if finding me in his kitchen in my pajamas is a welcome sight first thing in the morning, and he didn’t mean to lean in, but he did because he’s used to me in his space.

I fix us both plates in a dizzy fog and pack up the leftovers before he’s returned. I lower my gaze to my food as his footsteps near.

“You get the day off today.”

My gaze snaps to his. “Oh.”

“Last night was a shit show, and there’s nothing special scheduled today. I have a training session with Juniper, then a meeting with Lee and Corjan to go over some budgeting.”

“What about the dogs?” I brave a glance at him. His dark hair falls wild over his forehead. Combating the ache to brush it off, I clench my fork tighter.

“Sarah will be here to clean kennels and can help with whatever we need. My brothers are able to step in too.”

Sarah is one of the Sanctuary employees. I met her briefly, but usually their part-time staff only come by when Jude needs to leave or the workload is heavy. Between him and his five siblings, they have most of the work covered.

“In that case, do you mind if I take your van into town? I’d like to explore.”

“Will I get it back?”

I carry my dish to the sink and rinse it. “You did the last time. Besides, too many people have met me now. I wouldn’t get far if I stole it again.”

“I’ll leave the spare keys out on the counter.”

“Thanks. I better get ready. Unless you need me for anything?” I pause at the exit, waiting for a request I know won’t come.

“Go have fun.” The piercing look in his eyes, very non-platonic in nature, sends me scampering from the room.

After a lazy shower, I dress quickly in a brown, oversized knitted sweater and jeans. The spare keys are right where Jude promised. Beside them is a scrap of paper and an envelope. A peek reveals a stack of cash, the size disproportionate to the work I’ve done for him. I yank out a $20 dollar bill and search for a place to hide the rest.

There’s a cabinet above the fridge. I shove aside a fake plant and rise onto tiptoe to swing open the door.

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