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“Shit, Scar.” He bent down. “Almost messed up your notebook.” He picked up the folder and frowned. “What’s this?”

Scarlett’s brows furrowed. “I don’t know.” And, like that, their tryst was over. She extended her hand and he readily handed everything over. “I’ve never seen this before.” She pulled out the packet of papers while he cleaned up the shards of ceramic and tan coffee long forgotten by her. She flipped over the cover page with the sanctuary’s name on it along with her sister’s name. “Maisie...”

Kenny stilled. His body tensed as stopped wiping up the floor. “What does it say.”

“It’s a loan contract, I think. I’ll have to ask our lawyers, Dave, about it, but...” She flipped through the pages and whimpered. “Oh no.”

Kenny was at her side in an instant. “What?”

“It all makes sense now. All of it.” She looked up at him. “My sister used the cats as collateral, morespecificallyHearts and Paws, for the two and a half-million-dollar loan." Worry mutated into rage. How dare Maisie use their animals for her gain. Plus, since her sister received the money for the loan, where had it all gone? They were operating on a shoestring budget as it stood. Two million would have bought their felines food, bedding, medicine and perhaps, allowed them to add the spotted leopard and/or the ocelot she'd turned down a few weeks ago.

“Son of a bitch,” he muttered taking the contract from her. “Is there any chance Dave could have seen this before you did?”

Dave Youngblood took over his father's position as their lawyer a few years ago when his father retired. However, she'd known him since they were kids. Like Kenny, Dave tried to draw her out of her office and on occasion, when she was younger, out of her room. He didn't see her scar or at least swore he didn't. He tried to treat her like she was normal when Scarlett knew she was anything but.

“If he had, don’t you think he would have said something?” She rubbed her forehead. “Just when I didn’t think things couldn’t get any worse.”

“You need some sleep,” Kenny murmured. “You’ve been going over this stuff night and day for a week now.”

“Because I won’t lose this place. It’s my home.” She met his gaze. “I can’t allow her to run this place into the ground and lose the respect our family cultivated over the last five decades.Hearts and Pawsis my—our legacy.”

"You can't fight Maisie if you're drop-dead exhausted." He took the folder from her and placed the loan document inside it before closing it. "Get some sleep then call Dave. I'm sure he'll help you figure this out."

"What are you getting out of this, besides a pity fuck?"

He frowned. “Don’t ever fucking say that again. I told you how I feel about you. What we just did won’t ever be a ‘pity fuck.’ We have a connection. Always have. You’ve been too stubborn to see it, Scar.”

No. She kept to herself because it’d been so much easier when she did. People weren’t her specialty, and neither were the animals in the sanctuary anymore. “You don’t know what you’re saying, Kenny. You’re still buzzing off the alcohol.”

“Are you saying I’m too inebriated to understand what just happened?” He stared down at her with such intensity, she cringed. “Didn’t think so. I’m good and sober, love. Trust me. I don’t fuck while drunk. I like when my partners can consent before jumping in my bed.”

She winced at his tone. “Sorry.”

“Damn right you are.” He grasped her chin between his thumb and forefinger. “Never forget it either.” Kenny slammed his lips down on hers in a searing kiss. As quickly as it started, it was over, and he strode from her. “Call Dave. I’ll take you to his office when you’re ready.”

She placed her trembling fingers to her lips. Stupid man. Stupid body. She allowed herself to enjoy five minutes of peace, only to treat Kenny like shit the minute she’d gathered her tattered emotional blanket around her.What the fuck is wrong with me?Why can’t I be normal?

Later that morning, she placed a call to Dave. She tossed and turned more than she slept even though she’d showered to remove some of Kenny’s scent on her. She wouldn’t admit part of the reason why she couldn’t sleep was due to the smell of his aftershave, it lingered along with the images of them having sex on the break room table.I’ll never walk in there again and without seeing us on that table.Mortification rolled through her.Stop it.She’d done nothing wrong. Yet, it’d been a habit to berate herself as she had in the past. Like her parents had done before their death.

“Scarlett,” Dave said in greeting. His deep rich voice warmed her. “What a pleasant surprise. What can I do for you?”

“I really can’t talk about it here, but can I come to your office?” she asked, glancing out over the sanctuary from her office window.

There, near the lion cage stood Kenny and Edward or ‘Ed,’ for short. Kenny hired him a couple of years ago and so far, the guy had been a perfect fit for the sanctuary, but he didn’t talk to her much. Kenny assured her it was due to his condition—shyness. Of course, she doubted it. She placed another person’s unwillingness to talk to her on her shoulders and blamed the wicked scar on her face. While she continued to watch them, they laughed about something and a foreign warmth bloomed deep within her. As she turned to look at the blue notebook, she caught a glimpse of Kenny staring up at her with the goofiest of grins. The asshole. Why did he have to be so damn happy?

“Scarlett... Scar?” Only those closest to her used the nickname Dave has bestowed upon her.

“Huh? Oh, sorry.” She closed her eyes and shook her head. “I’m a little distracted today.”

He chuckled. "I can tell. I said I can see you for lunch. I'll order in for us. How doesFrancesca’ssound?”

“Perfect,” she sighed. “You should know, Kenny will be with me. He’s bringing me.”

“Sounds great,” Dave replied. “I’ll clear my schedule then. I’m glad you called, Scar. I’ve missed your company.”

She grinned at the sincerity of his voice. “I have too. It’s been way too long. But, uh, can we keep this to ourselves, please?”

“Sure, Scar. Should I be worried?”