Page 37 of Rescued Love

I climb out of the truck and scoop up all the bags and flowers before I can think too hard about what I’ll do if she’s not there. I guess the only thing to do would be to wait for her. Which I don’t have a problem with at all.

The memory of her holding that little black kitten to her chest yesterday makes me smile as I head into her building and toward her apartment. It’s obvious that she has a connection with the cat. I’m not sure why she’s hesitant to adopt it.

I can understand that it would be dangerous for her to set the precedent of adopting all the animals she has a connection with. Kimball has a giving spirit and I’m sure she makes sure toconnect, in some way, with every animal who comes through the rescue.

Yeah, I can see how adopting even one might cause a whole snowball effect.

Still, it was obvious how much Midnight means to her.

I could adopt the cat.

The thought has me pausing at the end of Kimball’s hallway. I take a deep breath and let it out slowly. The reality is that I’m not planning to stay here.

My eyes squeeze shut because the thought of leaving Kimball behind, of her not being in my life, is painful as fuck.

You’ve been unhappy for a long time. Maybe it’s time to do what makes you happy and deal with the consequences later.

Maybe.

I shake off the thought because the need to see Kimball is so strong that I can’t ignore it for a second longer. “Should have looked in the lot for her truck,” I mumble to myself as I realize that knowing if she’s home yet or not would have been simple.

But I was too worked up to think clearly then.

Now I’ll just have to take the risk and hope that she’s already home.

After hesitating for a moment at her door, I fumble the things in my hands just enough to get a hand free and knock. My heart is in my fucking throat as I wait for her to answer.

When the door swings open, I breathe out, relief filling me. I stare into her surprised eyes for a moment and take in the way gold flecks dance through the brown. I get lost there, the peace ofher presence settling around me and rescuing a bit of my heart from the blackness I’ve been subjecting it to for years now.

Maybe it’s time for a change for longer than just a visit.

I shake my head, the thought evaporating as my gaze travels down my woman and take in her outfit. She’s clearly changed from whatever clothes she wore to work because she’s standing in front of me in a pair of leggings that mold to her shapely legs like nothing I’ve ever seen before.

Then there’s her shirt. It’s clearly old, the way it’s worn tells me that. It’s big on her, big enough to be falling off one shoulder. A shoulder that doesn’t seem to have a bra strap over it.

My gaze travels to her chest as I swallow hard. I can just see her nipples standing at attention and begging for my mouth.

Fuck.

She’s fucking braless.

“Nathan,” she squeaks, and I force myself to meet her eyes again, “what are you doing here?”

I step into her space without even thinking about it. The warmth from her body makes me wish I weren’t holding anything in my hands. My arms are begging to be wrapped around my woman and tucking her into my chest.

It’s where she belongs.

Does she have any clue the way she’s gotten to me already? Does she have the slightest inkling that not taking her yesterday when I kissed her was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done in my life?

I had no idea that I even had that level of self-control.

“Kitten,” I rasp and watch as a beautiful smile curls her lips upward. “I realized that I didn’t get your number or give you mine. I went to send you a text and knew I had fucked up. Again.” I hold up the flowers and the bags, “Since I couldn’t call or text, I brought some food.”

Her cheeks heat in the most delicious way and I give into the need simmering inside of me. I lean forward and kiss her forehead, and she practically melts into me. It’s a simple thing but filled with inexplicable trust.

There’s humor in her eyes when she straightens and looks back up at me. “You could have just called the shelter, you know?”

I scoff and then shake my head. Maybe that’s what Grandpa was trying to get me to realize.