When Stars Collide (Light in the Dark #2) - Micalea Smeltzer Page 0,25
laughs, gathering her damp hair into a bun on top of her head. “I’m just surprised is all.”
“Surprised? Why?” My brows knit together.
She shrugs her slender shoulders and the edge of her t-shirt slips over one. Before I even think about it I’m reaching out and righting the fabric. A small smile touches her lips at the gesture.
“I don’t know. It seems like you have a lot going on right now.” I tense, momentarily thinking she knows about me being on the team. “What with working for your dad and this whole … marriage thing.” She smiles shyly at me. “Don’t you think adding a dog into the mix might be a bit much?”
I shake my head. “Never.”
She nods once. “I figured you’d say that.” She smiles, and it’s a happy smile, not like she’s tense and worried about this. “So, what are we going to name her?”
Fuck it if my heart doesn’t beat a little faster when she says we. The last week we’ve been doing good—great, even. We’ve been more like our old selves and it’s been nice. I still wish I could kiss her anytime I wanted and … well, there’s a lot of other things I’d like to do to her, but baby steps.
“I don’t know,” I admit. “We’ll figure it out.”
She pushes a wet strand of hair behind her ear and looks up at me through thick dark lashes. “I think we better go home—”
“I’m not leaving her,” I declare.
She laughs lightly. “You didn’t let me finish. I think we should go home and change and then come back. We’re both soaking wet. And um …” She waves a hand at my bare chest and then points over to the waiting area. “I’m pretty sure you’re giving that old lady heart palpitations.”
I look to where she’s indicated and find a white-fluffy-haired lady of about eighty staring at me with an unhealthy grip on her Persian cat.
I chuckle as my gaze swings back to Thea. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. But I’m coming back.”
“And I’m coming with you,” she warns, like she’s afraid I might tell her to stay.
I smile and grip her hand in mine. I cherish these moments, where even for a second, it feels like we’re a real couple. I crave the freedom to touch her without the fear of being judged for it.
Without a word, we head out to my truck and home.
Cade and Rae are in the family room when we come inside.
“Heard you ran over a dog.” Cade chuckles, eyes glued to the TV.
“I didn’t run over it,” I snap with a bite to my voice.
He looks up and his brows scrunch together. “Where’s your shirt?”
“With the dog.” I sigh, heading for the stairs. “Thea and I are changing and then we’re going back to the vet.”
“Why?” Rae asks, peering over the couch at us. Thea’s already started up the steps and I stand on the bottom one. Rae’s eyes narrow on us, and I know she’s thinking, piecing together what might be happening under their noses. Granted, I don’t think she’d ever guess we’re married, but she’s no dummy. She’ll figure something out eventually or get Thea to spill with as close as those two are.
“Because I adopted her.”
“You got a dog?” Cade laughs.
“Yeah.” I shrug. “I hope you guys don’t mind.” I smile sheepishly.
Rae smiles back. “I don’t care.”
“Me either.” Cade turns back to the TV. “But if it shits in the house and I have to pick it up, I’m putting it in your bed.”
I laugh. “Fair enough.”
With Cade and Rae occupied by the show they’re watching, Thea and I head upstairs to change.
I don’t know how long we’ll be at the vet so I dress comfortably in a pair of sweatpants and a sweatshirt. I meet Thea in her room just as she’s pulling a loose sweater on. I hiss between my teeth as she tugs it down and her black bra disappears. She tilts her head, looking at me over her shoulder, and smiles shyly.
“Do you have any idea how much I want to kiss you right now?”
She turns fully and pulls on a pair of cotton shorts. “Why would you want to kiss me? You could kiss anyone you wanted—so why me?”
I swallow thickly. “Because you’re the only girl I ever see.”
Her eyes flick from mine to my lips and back again.
Just like that day in the kitchen, it’s like a switch is flipped. I cross the room to her, take her face in