Page 59 of An Endless Memory

“I didn’t want you to worry. Cali told Mom and Dad, and they asked if I knew what I was getting myself into.” She pursed her lips. “As if I haven’t worked with dogs for years. But you’ve seen Bug get away from me.”

She wanted to prove she could do it before anyone had a chance to question her. “Has he been too much?”

Her chuckle was faint. “He’ll be too much for at least two more years. Maybe three. But he’s improving already. Cali’s become his human, and she’s serious about training him.” She exhaled and shut her eyes as she rested her head on the folded towel. The bubbles were slowly dissipating. I fought to keep my gaze off the growing visible area around her breasts. Wet fabric did nothing to hide the swell of her tits.

I was losing the battle. I dropped my gaze to my hands.

“Cali’s been a big help as we train him on the boundaries of the property. At least he’s used to other animals. The barn cats will eventually get used to him.”

“Any other animals you’ve collected since I’ve been here last?”

Her smile was faint. “Your sister saved the two baby goats that lost their mama.”

“Or you would’ve?”

“I’d have only needed some new fence.”

I chuckled. “You collect animals at an alarmingly high rate, Lily pad. You started with a snake, and now you’ve got Pebbles, Bug, and several barn cats.”

She opened her eyes. “I grew up the baby in a chaotic house. It’s my norm.”

“Your home must’ve been full of love.”

“It was. Annoying and smothering, but yes, it was full of love.” A shiver racked her body.

“Do you need more hot water?”

“Yeah, but I don’t want to move. I think I could finally sleep.” Her eyelids were getting droopy.

I rose and grabbed the towels. She clocked my movements, some color finally entering her cheeks.

Holding the bath towel by the edges, I turned my head. “I’ll close my eyes.”

A couple heartbeats went by, then water sloshed. The sound of the drain squelching filled the bathroom, then splashing as she rose.

I kept my eyes shut. My brain was happy to fill in an imaginary image of her wet and naked. I suppressed a shudder of desire. I could not get an erection when she’d just been puking.

The towel was plucked from my fingers. “Just a minute,” she said.

I felt her move around me. I didn’t have to look to know she was being careful not to touch me.

“Okay.”

I peeled my eyes open. She was mostly dried off, and she had a smaller towel wrapped around her head. The pale-blue towel was around her body, covering most of her cleavage and falling to her midthigh.

“How are you feeling? Steady?” I tracked every goose bump covering her body and stuck on a cute little mole by her right shoulder. Then another farther along her clavicle. How many more could I find?

“I think I’ll be fine.”

Not good enough. I opened the bathroom door. She was full-on shivering and ready to cross to her bedroom, but I didn’t let her get far.

“Hold still.” I picked her up, cradling her in my arms.

“Oh my god.” Her complexion paled, went gray, then turned a shade of green. She clutched at the flap of towel holding everything together.

Shit. Swinging her into my arms was the wrong move. “I’m gonna walk slow, okay?”

She swallowed hard and nodded.

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