Page 27 of Everlasting Promises

Donnelly leaves with his mom, leaving me and Evan alone. “Do you have any plans for the weekend?”

“Nah. Mom’ll probably want to go for a bike ride”—he rolls his eyes—“because she’s always trying to get me outside in the fresh air.” He does air quotes aroundfresh air,and I smirk. “Not that there’s much to do inside now that I’m not allowed to go on my computer.”

Hope pulls into the parking lot, and I walk with Evan toward her car. “Let’s see if your mom’s happy for you to help me bathe the dogs.”And hopefully offer to stay and help, too.

He flings her door open, startling her. “Mom, can we please stay and help Ben wash the dogs?”

She holds her hands up with a grin. “Woah, slow down. What’s happening?”

He sucks in a long breath. “Ben has to bathe some of the dogs today and asked me if I’d like to help. Please say I can stay and help.” She glances up at me, giving me one of those fake smiles she so easily shares, then turns her attention back to her son. “Please, Mom.”

“Okay, sure. How long will it take?” She flicks her clear eyes that look more blue than green today back to me.

“About an hour. You could stay if it makes it easier for you?”Please stay. Please stay.

She nods, then drops her eyes back to Evan. “We don’t have plans, so I guess it’ll be okay. Let me park the car, and I’ll come inside.”

Yes!I mentally jab my fist into the air. I hate to admit it, but I’m giddy to spend more time with Hope.

Rex dances around Hope when she steps inside the shelter.I know how you feel, buddy.She ducks down, cupping each side of his face in greeting. “Hello, Rex.”

She chuckles when he swipes his tongue up the side of her face, and jealousy burns through me thick and fast. Her genuine smile is still in place when she looks up at me, and I have to suck in a sharp breath. It’s fucking beautiful.

She’sfucking beautiful.

I scrape my fingers along my short beard to stop myself from sliding a loose curl behind her ear and running the back of my hand down the side of her face. I bet her skin’s as soft as a rose petal. “He’s happy to see you,” I tell her.So am I.

She chuckles. “Seems that way. So where are these dirty pooches?” My eyes dance over her face, unsure which featureI want to stop on. She’s stunning. I’d forgotten exactly how beautiful. “Ben?”

“Oh, right. Uh … through the back. Follow me.” When we make it through to the back, Tori’s already set up the bathing area and is bringing out the first dog. She explains the process to Hope and Evan and then leaves us to it. When it’s just the three of us, I take the lead. “Evan, do you want to rinse him?”

“Can I?”

“Sure.” I position the dog in the tub, and Evan uses the sprayer to rinse him with warm water. “We need to keep the water and soap away from his eyes, okay?”

He nods, keeping his attention on what he’s doing. “Okay. Mom, you’ll be good at this.”

Hope chuckles. “Yeah, I guess so, but my clients don’t wriggle around as much as these guys.”

“Mom’s a hairstylist. She washes people’s hair all the time,” Evan explains.

I raise my eyes to Hope. “Oh, yeah? Where do you work?”

“Oh, over atBeyond the Fringe?” The tone of her voice rises at the end, as if she’s unsure. The name’s familiar, and I search my memory for its location. She points to the north-east. “About fifteen minutes in the other direction from our houses.”

I nod, picturing the location. “I know where it is. I’ll have to stop in for a haircut.” She glances up at my hair, which I’m sure is a mess from me running my fingers through it all morning—a nervous habit that’s only worsened at the thought of seeing her again.

I watch her slender throat move as she swallows and the flutter of her pulse at the base. What I wouldn’t do to have the privilege of kissing that spot. “Or I can cut it for you at home. Your style is pretty straightforward.” Her eyes widen slightly and fill with panic, like she didn’t mean to offer to cut my hair.

I should be a gentleman and give her a way to opt out, but I’m not gonna. “That’d be great. Lemme know when you’re free, and I’ll come over.”

She tucks a long, curly lock behind her ear, revealing a pink flush up the side of her neck.Beautiful. “Okay.”

Evan guffaws, bringing our attention back to him. The dog is shaking his entire body, showering him from head to toe.

“I’m afraid that comes with the job, Ev.” I chuckle and grab a clean towel to wipe him down.

Hope steps in, grabs the shampoo, and lathers up the mutt’s fur. Her long, slender fingers massage the dog, and I’ve never been the jealous type, but I’m envious of the attention she’s giving him. He lifts his snout up to the ceiling in obvious enjoyment, and I can only imagine how good it would feel to have her hands on me.

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