Page 99 of Moon Tamed

“But she might care that she’s covered in paint.”

While I appreciated his consideration, I also laughed at the absurdity of the situation. “I can handle going into a store while splattered with paint. I’ve been handling the walk home just fine.”

“And how are you liking your new accommodations?”

“If I’m being kidnapped and you get lonely or bored, I’m sure the bunnies would love some attention. They’ll sit on your lap while you read books, and Calden has a stock of blankets, towels, and cushions that are easily cleaned. Espresso needs a lot of care, and we’re teaching her to live for kisses on her nose,” I informed him.

“How long is it going to be until you start taking those spoiled rotten fluffs on your camping adventures?” Calden’s father asked, his tone amused, although he raised a brow at us.

“I may be looking into a second tent and a good cage solution for them. If I can figure out a magical repellent for predators and a way to keep them in their tent or ours, I might start taking them with us,” Calden confessed.

Right. He hated leaving his bunnies at home during the workday, too, and I gave it a week before we ended up carrying a carrier full of bunnies back and forth to keep the doting bunny father happy. “They’ll survive without a day or two of attention from you. I’m sure your father can handle their attention needs.”

“I don’t know if he’s earned being graced with their affection,” Calden grumbled.

“We’re being bribed with work-from-home rights, Calden. Don’t be silly.” I bet I would be able to write up most of the report on Calden’s father, given a single day working from home. “We can access our work files from home?”

“The laptops can log into our network,” my boss confirmed.

I poked Calden in the ribs. “I want to stay home tomorrow, except home is where I can meet the Earth horses.”

“Are you actually planning to get any work done?” Calden asked.

“I am planning on two hours of work, one hour of horses, an hour of reading, and minimal time to handle our culinary and sleeping needs. It can be a very strange date.”

“Bring the laptops to my place in a few hours, Dad. I must take her shopping first and then visit with the bunnies before we cruelly abandon them for a few days.”

“I’ll make sure they’re taken care of,” his father promised. “Coraline, I’ll notify your parents that you’re unavailable due to being nipped and harassed by a wolf. Try to limit how far your patience goes. The point is to be impatient.”

“I’m sure I can figure out ways to test her patience in an acceptable fashion,” Calden stated, his tone colder than ice.

The men spent a disconcerting time glaring at each other.

“Calden, he’s giving you time off work to work at a leisurely pace, without people constantly shooting you. You’re supposed to thank him at this stage. You can pretend he’s on your bad side after we’ve escaped the work prison and have made it to the camping prison.”

“Camping is never a prison.”

“It is now. You’re being imprisoned and you can’t leave, but you’ll enjoy your stay, I’m sure.”

Calden laughed. “If you say so, Coraline.”

“I say so. Can I walk now?”

“No. It’s a kidnapping. Everyone must behold how I’m forcefully taking you from the building.”

If he wanted to carry me, I’d cope. “Less talk, more walk, Calden. I’m not exactly a lightweight.”

“You’re plenty light. If I put you down, you might escape.”

“Why would I do that?”

“Because you can.”

While those three words had served me well through much of my adult life, escaping meant missing out on camping and working from somewhere other than in the office. “If you grab the leash out of my office, you can loop it around my wrists. That lets me walk and maintains your ability to have a hostage.”

“I am willing to compromise. But I think I’ll collar you instead.”

Well, that would send an interesting message. “Okay. That seems like a reasonable compromise. Your shoulder to the gut is not precisely comfortable, and while strange, collars aren’t a problem unless you put it on too tightly.”

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