“What?” I ask in a tone of confusion.
“You mean you didn’t know about Legend? I figured you would have already broken in, did some reconnaissance. Isn’t that what you guys do?” Another facet of Kellie is unfolding. This is what I’ve been seeing off and on for a while, but that smart mouth of hers only makes me want to kiss her even more.
“Not yet. Give me a few minutes, and I’ll go do that now. What are we talking animal wise? A poodle? A kitten?”
“He’s a dog, but I think I’ll leave it as a surprise.” She winks, and all I can do is nod. I need to get inside her house, clear it, and get her settled. I have a feeling she’ll need the comfort of her home, even after her hot little show she gave me.
“I’ll be right back. Lock up.” I kiss her forehead, then I head inside.
Five
Kellie
I’m chuckling when Bridger goes inside. He’s going to be in for the shock of his life when he opens the front door and Legend greets him. A month ago, I was walking by the pet store when I was out and about in the city when Legend looked up at me with his big ole puppy eyes and I was smitten. I filled out the paperwork and texted my landlords about what I was doing, knowing full well I’d need to send them a pet deposit, even going so far as doubling it because let’s face it—a Golden Retriever puppy chews. A lot. Bridger thinking I own a poodle is laughable though. Sure, I have no problems with them, but Legend melted my heart, and he’s given me a sense of peace I haven’t felt in a long time.
I watch from the truck as Bridger opens the door, and my big ball of yellow fluff runs toward him. If he weren’t adamant I stay in his vehicle, I would have gone with him to video the entire thing. When Legend comes at you with his full speed, he usually barrels into whatever object will stop him.
The view of Bridger and Legend is taken away by the closing of my front door. I deflate in my seat. Today has been a roller coaster, what with the way I climbed over his seat, flashing him. I don’t know why I did that, but the way Bridger was looking at me made me yearn for more. I’m sure the hot and cold personality I’ve had going on has him scratching his head.
I can’t believe how Bridger dropped what he had to do today, his priority being to take care of me though I was trying to tuck my tail and run. Truth be told, I had my eyes on Bridger from the very beginning, from the moment I noticed his roguish good looks and the way his eyes roamed my body. It brought tingles out all over my body, but there was no way I was giving in to Bridger’s temptation. Even if his body was sin reincarnate with his sculpted cheekbones and eyes that captivate any passerby with the way one is blue and the other is green—even so, they carry warmth in their depths—and the way his jaw carried more than a hint of a five-o’clock shadow, plus his hair that’s shaved on the sides, longer on the top. Its rich chocolate color made me want to run my fingers through it to give it a tousled look. While his husky eyes were grazing over my body, I did the same. Sure, Slade and Drake were sitting beside him, but they didn’t hold a candle to Bridger. Oh no, his tall, lean build is muscular, but not in that beefed-up appearance, and if it weren’t for the hell Liam put me through, I would have definitely taken him up on the promise his eyes were offering.
The knock on the window has me jumping in my seat. I look out to see that it’s Bridger, and there beside him on his leash is Legend. I open the door, and Bridger says, “You could have warned me about the attack dog.”
I laugh. Legend is a lot of things, but an attack dog he is not. “I’m sorry. Did he lick you to death?” I joke.
“Nah, he wanted a hug.”
“That sounds about right, huh, Legend?” I slide out of Bridger’s vehicle, dropping down to his level as I talk to my puppy. That tail of his is going a million miles an hour.
“Is everything okay? Can we go inside?” I ask as I give Legend the scratches behind his ear that he demands every day when I get home. I bend down, getting a whiff of puppy breath and a tongue that licks the side of my face, making me laugh.
“Yeah, I am going to call Easton once you’re settled and get an alarm system installed, unless you’re willing to move into my place for the time being.” The slow smile that’s spreading across his face is letting me know he’d really enjoy that.
I’m seriously contemplating it. I mean, this is a rental. The alarm will come out of Nighthawk’s budget, I’m sure, because I know how these men work. If they care about you in any capacity, whether it’s as a co-worker, friend, or see you as family, they lookout for you, no matter the cost.
“Can I stay here for now, take it day by day? And if or when things get worse, I promise I’ll relocate to your house.” I look up from my stooped level. Bridger’s hand is out, his palm upturned once again. Without a second thought, I place mine in his as he helps me up. Legend whimpers, so I reach out with my other hand to pat his head. My boy, he loves attention.
“That’s fine. Just know I’ll be staying with you from here on out.” He squeezes my hand. I nod my head, already contemplating how this is going to work out. Sure, I have two bedrooms, but that doesn’t mean there are two beds.
“I’ll sleep on the couch. You can take the bed,” I tell him as I turn around to grab my purse from the floorboard of the car.
“No way. We can sleep in the same bed together. You stay on your side, and I’ll stay on mine.”
“You don’t ask for much, do you?” I question, turning around, cocking my eyebrow at him.
“Who, me? Not at all.” We walk hand in hand to the front door. His other hand still holds Legend’s leash, who is following along with us.
“Yes, you. I wasn’t talking to Legend.” I shake my head, not having the slightest idea how this is going to work out.
“We’ll take it one day at a time, but Kellie?” he questions.
“Yes?” We stop at the entrance to my house.
“This is happening. It’s been building for months. We’ll go as slow as you need to, but I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere.” His words leave me with my jaw slacked, like a fish-out-of-water effect.
Bridger pulls on my hand, and for the first time, I’m going to see where things go and do as he says, take it one day a time.
Six
Bridger
Watching Kellie’s mouth open had me thinking wild thoughts, but I know that won’t be happening, not any time soon at least. When I told her I’d be staying with her, the look of shock on her face almost had me rethinking my plans. I don’t want to push her too fast and too far. All these months later though, I can see she’s starting to feel for me what I’m feeling for her.
“Make yourself at home. There may even be a beer in the fridge, and the remote is on the table. Watch your shoes. If you take them off, Legend likes to eat the strings. I’m going to change, then I’ll be back.” I watch her the entire time she walks down the hallway until she disappears.
This place is a logistical nightmare from a security point of view, and for the second time today, I’m thinking I should have made Kellie pack a bag and stay at my place. Though, my house has more than one bed, so this may work out better for me in the long run.