Page 32 of Always Heated

Our schedules have been absolute shit ever since Linton, and I won’t be able to see Travis until Friday. I’ve tried my best to make everything work, but I’m running myself ragged.

As much as I love working at the hospital, I love the shop more. It gives me a creative outlet I was missing when my own garden was destroyed. Financially, I’m in a good place, I could walk away from nursing and be stable. I should talk to Pop; he always has the best advice.

I’m clipping away at gardenia stems for an order when the bell above the door jingles and Travis walks in, soaked head to toe from the storm, with Inferno on a leash. He never has him restrained, even in the rain, and Inferno is whining, unable to run to me. “You can let him off-leash in here.”

“No,” he sighs, “I can’t. I had to take him to the vet today—a new vet.” My stomach drops. As much as I hate Zack for what he did, he is an amazing veterinarian. Inferno and Cay’s Dalmatian, Smitten, adore him. “He didn’t do well and has been an asshole since we left.”

“Aw, he’s a good boy. Aren’t you, Inferno?” He barks once, wagging his dripping wet tail. “See!”

Travis unclips the leash from Inferno’s collar and he comes prancing over to me. As I’m scratching behind Inferno’s ear, his leg thumping wildly, I notice Travis holding a brown paper bag. While he has stopped sending me daily dinners, they still appear a few nights a week. The other days, when he’s not working, he hand-delivers dinner or lunch. It’s his way of showing me he’s thinking of me, and no matter how much I protest, he still continues.

“I have to get back to the station but wanted to bring my girl lunch.” I stand to take it from him. He’s faster, dropping it on the work table, and lifting me by my waist to set me on it. As he steps between my legs, I expect his usual sexy kisses. Instead, he grips my ass to pull me flush with him, and wraps his strong arms around me, breathing me in. “Fuck, I missed you.”

“Why don’t you stay for lunch?”

“I can’t,” he groans. “I have to drop Inferno off at Cay’s before I go back to work. The vet did his vaccinations and started him on a new heartworm medication. The side effects are less than desirable for the first twenty-four, and she recommended we keep an eye on him.”

“I can watch him. It’s been quiet in here because of the rain. All I have is a funeral arrangement and a ‘I fucked up, please forgive me’ bouquet. He can keep me company,” I offer, and he holds me tighter. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah.” Travis pulls back and I reach to brush a stray, wet lock from his forehead, tracing the scar that slices his eyebrow. He leans into my touch as if he hasn’t seen me in months, not days. “I’m just stressed. The move last weekendtook a lot out of me, and it meant I didn’t get to see you. Fuck, Cass, I miss you so fucking much… Move in with me?”

“Okay,” I reply without hesitation.

“Keep your own place, if you want, but—wait, did you just say okay?”

“Would you rather I had moaned it around your cock?”

Travis sputters a laugh. “Sure, but you’re serious? You’ll move in with me?”

“It’s a good idea to keep my place—it’s not in any condition to put on the market right now—but I’m tired of missing you. At least I might get an hour with you in the morning or at night. One hour is better than zero.”

“Fuck, I love you. I’ll move your things next weekend, but will you come home to me tonight?”

“Yes, I’ll come tonight.”

“Oh, you’ll come all right.”

I laugh and take his face in my hands, kissing him softly. He groans into my mouth, and the sound is like a zap right to my pussy. I don’t just love this man, I’min lovewith him. I’m not sure how or when it happened, but he owns me, body and soul.

The next few hours are the slowest I’ve seen at the shop. The rain taps aggressively on the windows and roof, scaring Inferno. He’s used to storms and even snow, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him this frightened. Sitting at my feet, he whimpers, and we should call it a day. I gather my things from the back, shooting off a quick text to Travis that I’ll bring Inferno home with me.

About to press send, Inferno’s yelping draws my attention to an orange glow in the shop. I peek in and my lemongrass andcedar candle I burn to keep the pests away is on its side, flames engulfing my display of eucalyptus and baby’s breath.

Fuck.

travis

. . .

Leaving Cass for the afternoon hurt more than all of the other times. We spend every night together that we’re not working, which unfortunately is only about once every two weeks. It isn’t enough; I’ve wasted enough years without her and want more than occasional nights together. With Christmas almost upon us, the urge to ask her to marry me is unbearable. Cass moving in is the next best thing.

It’s pouring rain and the roads are slick. Thankfully, we haven't had any vehicle accident calls yet. Whenever there’s a call with a truck skidding off the road, I worry it’s Cass, Dad, Pop, or Caleb and his family. I’m grateful everyone is staying in today. It’s only a matter of time before someone gets hurt out there.

I’m tossing chopped onions into chili for the guys when the alarm blares. I swear I manifested it or some shit. I should’ve known not to jinx us, even if it was only in my head and not aloud. Turning off the burner on the stove, I rush to my gear, dressing quickly as information is barked at us.

“Woman, mid-thirties. Made it out of the shop; having trouble breathing. EMTs on their way. She contained some of the firecaused by a dog knocking over a candle. Should be an easy run because of the rain.” He rattles off the address and my heart stops.

Cass.

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