Page 23

“It’s all good,” Rissa assured her. “You can show up or not. No judgement or expectation.”

Why did that feel so monumental? Her mind flashed back to her life in Tea.

The rigid schedule. Her entire days and most of her nights were filled with work at the bakery, caring for nieces and nephews, and doing chores for her parents.

She’d never even moved out of her old bedroom until she’d left for California!

Having someone tell her that she was welcome to attend an event but wouldn’t be judged if she didn’t go was freeing. But also a little scary.

“...the only thing is that I need you to promise me something.”

“What?” She’d been lost in thought again and missed some of what Rissa was saying.

“If something happens that is weird or freaks you out, let me talk to you first, okay?” Rissa asked. “Don’t go running back to South Dakota or anything.”

Mila laughed. “I can’t think of too many things that would make me do that.”

“You’d be surprised,” Rissa muttered. Before Mila could ask what she meant, the woman continued. “Anyway, I’ll text you the deets on girls night, but you can always talk to me alone.”

A deep, sleepy voice called Rissa’s name in the background.

When she answered, her voice was muffled.

“I’m coming right back, Zan. Stop being a grumpy cat.

” Then she spoke into the phone. “And I still have all the stuff for Babette here. Actually, there’s more because some people brought more stuff by yesterday.

This dog is going to be seriously spoiled! ”

Mila looked to where Babette had dug down so deep only her little shimmying butt was visible.

“Too late,” she said with a laugh. “She’s found the joys of digging for treasure at the beach. I have a feeling daily walks on the beach are going to be a requirement from now on.”

Rissa chuckled, and they ended the call with Mila promising to visit soon and think about attending girls night.

She didn’t even get a chance to tuck her phone back in her pants before it was ringing again. To her surprise, it was Aunt Lucy, one of her mother’s sisters.

Hoping this wasn’t going to be a “come home now” call, she answered the phone with all the cheer she could muster.

“How’s my favorite aunt today?”

“Happy to hear your voice!” Lucy said. “According to your mother, you’re on the brink of disaster. I’m tired of hearing about how you’re going to end up in a human trafficking ring, so I thought I would get the news from the source.”

“Well, I have a dog now,” Mila said, knowing that would make her aunt laugh.

“Oh yeah? Is it a big German shepherd or Doberman?” Lucy asked. Mila could hear the smile in her voice. “The kind your dad approves of?”

“I think she’s a Chihuahua and dachshund mix,” Mila admitted. “She’s fierce, but tiny.”

“Best kind of dog,” Lucy announced. “It does sound like you're doing fine.”

“I am,” Mila said, and it wasn’t a lie.

“I only wish you’d done this years earlier,” Lucy said. “You deserve to be happy and fulfilled.”

They chatted for a little longer before Lucy needed to leave.

It was good timing. Babette finally finished digging a hole big enough to fit two of her and was sitting next to it panting and looking rather proud.

“That’s an impressive ditch,” Mila praised, making Babette wiggle with happiness. The small dog suddenly froze and looked up and behind Mila.

A shadow fell over her. Before Mila could turn to see what Babette was looking at, hands grabbed her. The world turned topsy-turvy as she was tossed over a muscular shoulder.

Carter’s familiar musk filled her nose as his naked backside filled her vision. Babette barked with excitement and danced around Carter’s legs as his long strides ate up the distance back to the house.

“You're naked!” she cried. “In public!”

“I don’t care,” he grumbled. “You left! You promised you wouldn’t leave.”

“I was only walking on the beach!” she protested, half thrilled by his possessive behavior.

He grunted but didn’t answer and soon they were back in the house, Carter slamming the front door shut with his heel behind them.

The moment he stopped walking, he wavered a little. She could feel his body shaking. This was too much exercise for someone still recovering.

“Carter, put me down right now!” she demanded. He must’ve heard the ultimatum in her voice because he set her on her feet with great care. The moment she was standing, he slumped back so the wall could support him.

“I wish the room would stop moving,” he grumbled.

“Couch,” she ordered, rushing to his side and pulling his arm over her shoulders. It was hard, but she kept her gaze from running over his delicious body. That didn’t stop her from admonishing him. “You can’t go running around like that. You’re still recovering, and you left the house naked!”

“I woke up and found you gone. I got scared,” Carter said as they slowly made their way to the couch. He sounded like a combination of a petulant child and deeply hurt adult. “What if something happened to you?”

“Someone has separation anxiety,” Mila murmured, feeling both touched by Carter’s care and a little overwhelmed.

He didn’t take offense at her words. “I never want to be separated from you for even a second.”

It was sweet in an overly attached way!

They got to the couch, and he collapsed more than sat. He pulled her down onto his lap and tried to kiss her, but she slid off him.

“No snuggles or kisses until you’ve recovered,” she said.

He pouted. “Snuggles and kisses will help me recover.”

Babette’s clicking nails made her look over to see the twine still tied to her collar. Leaning over, she untied it and tugged it free. Babette did a couple of dancing turns before jumping onto the couch and forcing herself between them.

“Snuggle with Babette,” Mila said, getting up. “I’m going to make a pot of coffee and put breakfast together.”

Carter looked interested. “Could you make those pancakes you talked about yesterday?”

“Of course,” she agreed, pulling a throw off the back of the couch and tucking it around him and Babette.

“And eat with me?” he added.

She smiled. “I’ll bring everything in here like I did for breakfast and lunch yesterday.”

“Good,” he said, his head falling back and his body relaxing. “Breakfast and cuddles. Best day ever.”

“You’re such a puppy,” she whispered, giving him a quick kiss on the top of his head. Having a puppy-like boyfriend wasn’t a bad thing.