Page 24 of Rescued Love

Normally, this is a part of my job I love. Not only am I promoting the shelter, but I’m putting the animals who need homes out there in front of people who can make their little fur dreams of love and forever come true.

And now I can’t even do it without thinking about Nathan.

What is wrong with me?

Nothing. You like him. Get a grip.

My fucking subconscious is not helping at all right now. That doesn’t mean the little voice doesn’t have a point, but I’m nowhere close to accepting the truth of it.

He can be the sexiest man I’ve ever met, and I can be wildly attracted to him. That doesn’t mean I have to forget how he was a dick to me.

He wasn’t like that to you the other night. He didn’t even sneer.

The look of remorse and guilt he had on his face when he walked up to the table swims through my memory. I swear my inner thoughts are a bitch. This isn’t fair.

It’s not like he apologized for his treatment of me. Wouldn’t sincere regret come with an apology?

How was he going to do that at a table full of people he doesn’t really know?

I stand up so abruptly that my chair spins out from behind me and smacks against the wall with a loud thud. “Nope,” I hiss out, “I’m not having this conversation with myself. I’m going to look unhinged.”

As I glance around the room, which is still, thankfully, empty, I let out a small chuckle. The man has me tied up in knots and acting totally off my rocker. Not a good look for someone who is supposed to be in charge.

My stride is determined as I leave my office and head toward where the animals are. I know exactly what to do to get my mind off Nathan and, hopefully, back on track. I’m sure he’ll creep back in later considering he hasn’t been far from my mind since the day I met him.

Within moments I’m standing in front of Midnight’s kennel and she’s looking at me with wide eyes that are far too knowing for a kitten. I swear she knows I need her instead of the other way around right now.

When I scoop her up and snuggle her against me, she nuzzles and starts to let out the smallest and most contented purr. A modicum of the tension I’m carrying leeches from my body with the press of her furry body against mine.

This.

This is the power these animals have, and they don’t even know it. It’s also why it breaks my heart to see them discarded or left to live a life that is less than they deserve. The way they give love so freely, without conditions or expectations is something to be protected and nurtured.

“I needed this,” I whisper softly against Midnight’s fur.

I shouldn’t get attached to this kitten, but it’s a little late already. I was attached the moment she arrived in the shelter.

I sigh and let my shoulders relax and I swear Midnight follows right along with me. I have no doubt that she could feel the tension running through my body. It didn’t frighten her or cause her to pull away from me, she still went out on a limb and gave me what I needed without hesitation.

“I love that you trust me, furball,” I murmur. With a sigh, I let the rest of my thoughts pass my lips, “I wanted to sit on his lap the other night. Isn’t that strange? He was so mean to me when I first met him, but then at The Goose it looked like he wanted to apologize. Should I accept his apology if he ever gives it to me?”

Midnight purrs louder. Should I take that as a yes or a no? Who fucking knows.

“I’m not sure what the purr means,” I keep right on talking to her, “but I’m going to take it as a yes. I’ve never been one to hold a grudge, you know.” I think for a moment and then correct myself, “That’s not entirely true. I do hold a grudge againstpeople who are running horrible puppy mills where they don’t care about the animals and people who run dog fighting rings. Those people can burn in the deepest circle of hell for all I care.”

Midnight pulls back a little and looks up into my eyes. If I didn’t know better, I swear she’s looking at me with agreement in her gaze. Which, I know, isn’t possible.

“Yeah, you have the same grudges I do.” She lets out a loud meow and snuggles back against me and I giggle softly, not wanting to disturb the way she’s curled up against my chest too much.

My back goes straight when I hear a masculine chuckle coming from behind me. “I think those grudges are completely justified,” a voice I recognize, and have been dreaming about, much to my chagrin, says with amusement in his words.

I spin around and gape at the man standing in my shelter, the last place I would expect him to be. My mouth opens and closes a few times, my brain sluggish to understand exactly what I’m looking at.

Nathan.

He’s here.

Standing right in front of me.