Page 55 of When You Saved Me

“Cute?” He sighed dramatically. “You’re not allowed to tell any of my friends that you think I’mcute.”

I stilled. It was the first time either one of us had made any mention of life beyond the snowstorm that kept us cooped up in his home. A flutter hit my chest as my heart skipped a beat.

“So, um…” I cleared my throat and tucked my hair behind my ears. “What’s your word going to be?”

Those beautiful green eyes settled on me for a moment. Assessing. Questioning what had just happened between us. I wondered if he realized what he’d just said and the weight it carried for me. For us.

Then he blinked and the moment was gone as he mirrored me, sitting back in his chair and crossing his arms tighter over his chest, careful not to disturb Casper.

“Alert.” Deacon’s lips quivered like he was trying to hide a smile.

“Alert,” I repeated, trying it out. “It’s definitely not as good as boom, but it’ll work for someone like you.”

“Someone like me?” he chuckled.

“Yeah.” I shrugged. “You know…someone with inferior puzzle making skills.”

He leaned forward and rubbed his hands together. “Ohhh, you have no idea the monster you’ve just unleashed.” Then he scanned the table, picked up a puzzle piece and slid it into place along the border we’d created together.

It fit perfectly.

“Alert!” he shouted loud enough for Casper to awaken and nearly scurry off his lap.

“You aresogoing down,” I growled at him, and he laughed a full belly laugh.

For the next hour, we downed three cups each of hot cocoa andalertedandboomeduntil our eyes hurt.

Deacon finally settled back in his chair and rubbed his hands over his face. “I’m pretty sure I’ve won this round.”

“You most certainly did not win. There were far more booms than there were alerts. Casper agrees.” I nodded at where my furry little boy still laid in Deacon’s lap.

“Oh, right. Like he would side with you when I’ve been the one giving him chin scratches all night.”

“Whoa there, Grumps.” I lifted my hands in mock defense. “I’m pretty sure he would side with the one who’s fed him his entire life. Not with some man whojust nowdecided he liked him.”

“Care to test that theory?” Deacon’s brows rose, the green of his irises shimmering with roguery.

“Stay, Casper,” I said to him as I put him down in front of the mat by Deacon’s door before walking back to my spot near the dining table.

Deacon glared at me playfully from where he stood behind the couch.

“Ready?” I asked him and he nodded.

“1, 2, 3!”

We both knelt to the floor and called for Casper to come to us. At first, Casper just sat there looking between us like we were both crazy, but then he stood up on all fours and started walking toward us.

“Come on you little rascal!” Deacon snapped his fingers like a fiend catching Casper’s attention.

My jaw popped open as Casper started walking toward Deacon.That little stinker!

I did the only thing I could do and maybe it was messed up of me, but I used the T word. “Casper! Come here, boy. Don’t you want a treat from your mama?”

Deacon rose on his knees and looked at me with shock. “You sneaky, sneaky woman.”

I cackled then we both went back to work calling for Casper who was taking his sweet ass time looking between both of us while making slow steps forward. I kept offering him treats that I didn’t actually have in my back pocket, and he finally started shifting in my direction.

Right when I thought I had him in my grasp and I would win, Deacon’s voice went two octaves higher as he patted the ground and said, “I’ll let you sleep on the bed tonight!”

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