Page 96 of Her Billionaire Bargain (Kensington Square)

“I was trying to get the mud off Bobbie.” She rubbed harder at Bobbie the pug’s cheek where a definite rip showed. She wouldn’t stop rubbing, circling her big flower-shaped soap over the splotch and the hole. “I ruined her.”

“Aww, sweetheart, she’s not ruined. It’s just a tiny hole.” Dex kneeled at her side and pulled her into a quick hug before he stroked his fingers over the hole to smooth the fabric back into place. Even with his magic touch, he couldn’t make it disappear.

“But it’s a hole. I messed her up.” Tears dripped off her chin. “Dad always said I was too rough,” she muttered as she wrinkled her nose.

I started to step in, but Dex cupped her cheek and spoke to her in a clear, strong but loving voice. “You are not too rough. You’re just right. Sometimes accidents happen. No big deal.” He tucked Bobbie under his arm and ruffled the fur on top of her head. “We can get her a cool hat, and no one will ever be able to tell—”

Berry kept crying, knuckling her eyes, and my heart broke in a dozen pieces.

“I have an idea.” Dex jumped to his feet. “Bobbie needs to be bandaged up, right?”

Berry nodded.

“Well, who would do that but a vet?”

He didn’t wait for an answer before he hurried out of the room.

“Aww, princess, it’ll be just fine.” My dad hustled in the room with my mom right behind him. “Let good ol’ Pops make you a snack, how about that? Maybe some of those pizza rolls your Gram made?”

Berry nodded and got to her feet, clutching the still-dripping Uni as if she would never let him go. Then she turned to wrap her arms around my middle, squeezing me tightly for a moment before she ran off down the hall with my parents.

Dex came back a couple of minutes later while I was cleaning up the mess on the floor from the impromptu bath my daughter had given her stuffed animals.

“He’s on his way,” he announced. “I left Bobbie on the couch for him to take a look at.”

For an instant, the onlyhethat filled my mind was Berry’s father, the one who’d told her she was too rough. How many more ways could memories of that man harm my child?

But Dex explained when I just remained silent. “Clint. He’s a vet, remember?”

“Yeah, but Bobbie is a stuffed dog.”

“I know that, and you know that, but he’ll convince her he’ll fix her up. Trust him.” He knelt at my side and took the sponge out of my hand before tossing it in the tub with a splash. “Trustme.There isn’t anything I won’t do to make both of you happy.”

The lump in my throat prevented me from speaking, so I just pressed my forehead against his upper arm and tried to get myself back in line.

“Let me take care of you both for a while,” he murmured, brushing his mouth over my hair. “I want to do it.”

All I could do was nod. Somehow now that I was being offered a lifeline more often, instead of feeling stronger, I felt the opposite. I was so afraid I’d give in to my need to cling to him. Let him be the one in command for a while.

“I’m so fucking tired,” I whispered.

He brushed his fingertips over my cheek. “Just let me, Sherbet. I want to and I can.”

Before I could reply, he urged me up to sit on the commode whilehefinished cleaning the bathroom. He’d just finished mopping up the last of the water when the front doorbell rang and we went down to find Berry already chatting urgently with Clint, who was kneeling in front of the couch while he examined the patient.

“Best patient ever,” I muttered before I stuck out a hand to Clint. “We appreciate this so much. You must be so busy.”

“Never too busy for friends, Shelby.” He gave my hand a squeeze and went back to taking Bobbie’s vitals while Berry watched in rapt attention and peppered him with questions. “Her heartbeat is perfect,” he told her, making Berry beam. “How’s yours? Want me to check yours too?”

She nodded enthusiastically, thereby diverting the conversation from her check of Bobbie’s vitals.

“Your heart rate is perfect too.”

“Is Bobbie in pain?” Berry screwed up her face. “I didn’t mean to hurt her.”

“She’s gonna be just fine. We’ll bandage her up and give her a little something for pain and she’ll be right as rain.” Clint spoke softly to Berry as he took out a brightly colored Band-Aid with a graphic character on it and carefully pressed it to Bobbie’s furry cheek. “There we go. Look good to you?”

“Yes, she does, Mr. Vet. Thank you.” Berry’s cheeks glowed as she hugged Bobbie to her chest. “What about the pain pill?”

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