Page 13 of Promise Me Never

“Taking her home.” I lift her little paw in a wave. “Hi Luke, do you think Grandpa wants another baby on the ranch?” I ask in a baby voice.

“No,” he says stoically.

I lift her so we’re cheek to cheek and walk toward him. “But she’s just a sweet, widdle baby.” I hold her up in front of his face. “Hold her while I go get all the things she needs.”

He gives me an exasperated look but takes her. I almost pass out when she licks his chin and not only does he smile, he full on laughs. The sound is deep and warm and instantly ignites parts of me that should definitely not be lighting up for a married man. And fuck, that smile is blinding. Sexy lines bracket his full lips and crinkle the corners of his eyes. Two things I should not be noticing, ever.

Thank fuck he’s a grumpy curmudgeon most of the time.

I find an aisle full of livestock feed and treats and hope there will be a pet aisle at some point. I don’t want to turn around and see him with that gorgeous smile of his. I’m just about to give up looking because I don’t see any dog supplies. What kind of store has a section where you can buy fucking chaps and barbed wire but dog food is a step too far?

“Last aisle on the left,” Luke says from behind me.

I thank him without turning around and find everything I need. I toss a small bag of puppy chow on the cart as well as a collar and a small bed. I’ll probably have to get a bigger one as she grows, but it’ll work for the time being.

I take everything for her up to a self-checkout while he handles the items for the ranch. After I finish paying, I take the tags off of her collar and leash and put it around her neck. Since it takes Luke a few minutes to finish up and load the truck, I take her to go potty on a patch of grass.

While I wait for her to do her business, I start thinking about names. Because of her two white spots, Socks seems like a no brainer but that also sounds more like a cat’s name than a dog’s. Maybe Ruthie?

“Where to next?” Luke startles me out of my thoughts.

“The pharmacy.” I gesture down the road with my head. “I have a prescription to pick up.”

“Why didn’t you have it sent to the pharmacy in High Point?”

“It’s recurring at this pharmacy, and this refill will last me the summer.”

I wonder what he’s doing as he follows me to the passenger side of the truck, but it hits me as he opens the door. He bends down and sweeps the puppy into his arms as I climb in. As soon as I buckle the seat belt, he hands her over, and I notice that he’s put the dog bed on the bench seat between us.

The drive between stops is short, but the puppy falls asleep as soon as we start moving. I immediately unbuckle when we get to the pharmacy, expecting him to stay with the dog while I go in. Instead, he’s hot on my heels as I walk through the automatic door.

“What are you doing?”

“Following you.”

“I’m fine. You should stay with the dog.”

“She’s asleep.”

“She could overheat.”

“It’s cloudy and fifty-nine degrees outside right now. We'll be inside a max of fifteen minutes.”

“I don’t need you to follow me in here.”

“Tough shit.” I can tell by the firm set of his shoulders that he’s not going to give in.

I consider continuing to argue with him, but instead of being obstinate, I decide to make him uncomfortable.

“Fine.” I give him a fake smile and turn on my heel to head back to the pharmacy.

The first and most important thing I need is my birth control. The next thing on my list is a box of tampons. He stands beside me completely unbothered as I hunt for my preferred brand. I drop my prescription as I bend down to grab a box off the bottom shelf, and he swoops it up before I can.

“What’s Seasonelle?” he asks, rudely reading my prescription.

“Birth control.” I yank it out of his hand. “Do you make it a habit to be this nosey to everyone, or am I just lucky?”

“Not everyone.” He shrugs and looks down at my arms which are rapidly becoming full. “Let me carry that.”

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