Rise (Rise & Fall Duet #1) - Grahame Claire Page 0,52
I said dryly.
“What are you going to do with Muffy?”
I sighed. “Return him in a few days. Pepper will likely come get him when she realizes Teague unloaded him on someone who knows nothing about dogs.”
She fiddled with the leg of her pantsuit. “I’m pretty sure she already knows that, if the list of instructions I found is any indication. It’s hour by hour.”
“That will save me lots of time in research.”
She snorted. “‘Hey, Pepper. How do you feed a dog?’ ‘Hey, Pepper. When does he go outside?’ ‘Hey, Pepper. Why does he keep licking my face?’”
The more she mimicked me, the more I felt my cheeks loosen. “Is that what I sound like?” I pretended to be affronted.
“Hmm, maybe a little more stick-up-your-behind. But it’s close.”
I lolled my head toward her. “And to think I was about to tell you hello.”
She shifted and the slightest pink tinged her face. “And to think I was about to give you advice on feeding Muffy. Forget it now.”
The tease in her voice, the relaxed demeanor, just her presence . . . I couldn’t recall why I hadn’t wanted her here in the first place. The piece of me that had an unnatural attachment to her was calm. Soothed.
“I’m glad my brother meddled.” I placed a hand on her thigh. “Miss Adeline has been an influence on him.”
“She has that effect on people.”
Which was why I had Lexie, Eric, and a dog in my apartment. An apartment I should be working to make sure stayed in my possession. Instead, sitting on the sofa with Lexie was far more appealing. Kissing her was also incredibly appealing, but something wasn’t quite right with her. And there were so many things I wanted to know.
“Are you and Eric on your own?”
She blinked at me in surprise. The question was invasive, but I was curious about her . . . about their life.
“Beau hasn’t told you?” Her tone was one I couldn’t quite decipher. Was she upset or relieved?
“She would never betray precious information.” My sister was one of the most loyal people I'd ever encountered.
“I know that.” Lines formed around her mouth. “You seem like the type that would badger her.”
One corner of my mouth lifted. “I am. But I want you to tell me about you.”
She fiddled with the leather edge of the sofa. “I got custody of him when I was nineteen and he was twenty-two.” Her expression was bittersweet. “It’s funny. Most of the time it feels like he takes care of me more than I do him. We’re-we’re a good team.”
Nineteen? That was so young to shoulder such a responsibility.
She poked my cheek. “Have I managed to shock Mr. Stoic?”
“Yes and no,” I said honestly. “I’m not surprised in the least that you stepped up to care for Eric. But that’s a young age.”
“We’d seen after each other before that anyway.” She waved her hand in the air. “That was the most freeing day of our lives.”
Why? What—or who—had they needed to escape? My gut told me I wouldn't like the answer. They’d survived—thrived even.
“What did you do before the dog food business?” It couldn’t have been easy to financially support themselves. The city was expensive, and I had no idea the kind of medical care Eric needed.
“Mostly odds and ends jobs that Eric and I could do together. He’s fine on his own for a while, but I-I just never felt comfortable with that. Not even when I was kid.” She held my gaze, unapologetic for the choices she'd made.
But she had nothing to be sorry for. Look at the home she'd created, the bond and friendship she had with her brother. If anything, she should be incredibly proud.
Something weird shifted in my chest that I didn't recognize.
She smoothed her thumb over my eyebrow. “Not Mr. Stoic. Mr. Scowl. That's what I should call you.”
We were speaking about difficult topics, yet she managed to smile. To be tough. Because she was. Admirably so.
I wanted to press further, but refrained.
“What’s on the agenda for tomorrow? Sky diving lessons?”
She tensed, the easy air between us evaporated.
I straightened and angled toward her, then bent and kissed her forehead gently. It wasn’t the kiss I wanted, but I’d be patient. “Talk to me.”
She blinked like she wasn’t certain what to do with my offer. The longer she was silent, the more anxious I became. Whatever burdened her, I wanted to fix.
“I lost our biggest customer today,” she whispered. “Please don’t mention it in front of