Page 47 of Sleeping Redemption
I nodded in response. “It turns out that all I needed was a little self-care and a little retail therapy.”
Rook came in with his arms full of all the goodies I had purchased during my outing. He sent them down on the far end of the kitchen table as he began unloading the contents of the bags.
I could see the confusion on his face as he pulled out a set of dog bowls, puppy kibble, a massive dog bed large enough to fit a Great Dane, and a chew toy.
Atlas’s brow perked up at the contents now strewn across the table. He set down both the knife and wood block he had been whittling away at.
Examining the fluffy pink material of the dog bed, Rook spoke with uncertainty. “Um, love? What’s all this?”
Excitedly, I announced my favorite purchase of the day. “I got a puppy!”
Both guys stared at me with blank expressions for nearly a minute straight.
“Angel, where is the puppy?” Atlas slowly rose to his feet.
It dawned on me that I had forgotten all about that part, and I gasped slightly. I turned and ran back into the garage. Rook and Atlas were just a beat behind me. I went to the trunk of my car and popped it open.
A sigh of relief escaped me as I saw my new pet was still in one piece.
Atlas stood on my left, staring in horror. Rook stood on my right, scratching the back of his head.
“Isn’t he adorable?” I looked at each of them, my body giddy with excitement.
Rook cleared his throat. “Love, when you said you got a puppy, I expected something a little more…furry.”
“Kinley, a puppy would indicate something of the canine variety.” Atlas shifted his gaze onto me. His words were nearly fucking judgmental.
I pouted that he didn’t seem to share in my excitement. “His name is Wolff, doesn’t that count?”
On my right, Rook pulled out his cane and poked my newly purchased companion on the leg. “I suppose this is better than a hellhound.”
“Are you fucking serious right now, Rook?” Atlas didn’t even attempt to hide his shock.
In response, Rook shrugged. “The drool stains hellhounds leave behind are a bitch to clean up.”
Shaking his head, Atlas replied, “Sy isn’t going to like this.”
I frowned as I leaned over and grabbed the pink rhinestone-encrusted leash attached to my new pet. “Don’t worry about Sylas; he loves dogs! Besides, Wolff is such a good boy.” I tugged on the leash, and the man in my trunk slowly climbed out wearing nothing but a pair of basketball shorts.
My hand lightly grabbed underneath the man’s bearded jaw, and I leaned in to rub the tip of my nose against his. I raised the pitch of my voice and used a tone like I was talking to the cutest of babies, “Aren’t you, Wolffy? Yes, you are. You are such a good boy.”
I practically beamed with happiness over my new puppy. My powers of persuasion were keeping him such an obedient little pet. There were going to be plenty of fun times ahead.
Chapter Twenty-One
We all sat in Kinley’s living room. All of us. That included Kinley’s latest acquisition: Wolff.
Kinley was cross-legged on the floor with the man lying on his side in front of her. Her hand slowly stroked up and down over his ribs like he needed a belly rub. I perched on the far end of the sofa, leaning over with my elbows on my knees. Rook laid back in the recliner with his hands tucked behind his head.
Sylas was the only one of us who remained standing, staring at all of us with a look of utter disbelief.
Finally, he sputtered out a few words, “Kin. I—You can’t… No.” He then shook his head firmly. “No, just absolutely not.”
Our sweet blonde-haired angel sat on the floor with her new pet, her hand running up and down along the man’s side, seemingly ignoring Sy.
“You two encouraged this?” His eyes sharply stared down both Rook and me.
I chuckled and sat up, shaking my hands in front of me. “Whoa, don’t look at me.”
