After cleaning up the puppy, they fed the little creature. Then Ben called a veterinarian cousin. She came willingly and examined his and Treeny’s new dog.
“You’ve got a Mastiff and I think a Rottweiler breed here. Maybe some Labrador retriever too, or Newfoundland, but this puppy is going to be a big, gorgeous dog.”
Ben looked at Ryan. “So, Ryan what do you think we should call him?”
Ryan didn’t hesitate. “Pete.” He bobbed up and down as he played with the puppy.
“Pete it is then,” he and Treeny said together and he smiled at her. She grinned back at him and he felt her hand brush across his shoulder. Like she couldn’t bear to be parted from him.
“Pete is a fine name for such a fine dog.” He noticed laughter in his cousin’s voice.
“What’s so funny?” he asked once Ryan moved out of earshot.
“Pete isn’t a boy dog, I hope you don’t mind?”
“Pete’s a female?” He sent a you-could-have-told-me look at Treeny.
His cousin nodded. “Most definitely.”
“Oh my.” Treeny covered her mouth with her hand. She acted like this was news to her, but he doubted she missed Pete’s “equipment” or lack thereof. He hadn’t thought to look, and apparently Ryan had heard them all call the puppy “he”.
Her other hand curled around his nape and jerked him out of his thoughts. He decided he’d sit near her more often as that hand stroked over his shoulders and upper back. Treeny stood slightly behind him and to the right. Apparently with him seated she felt free to run her hands over him.
He wasn’t about to object.
“Since it’s raining, why don’t we watch a movie?” Max suggested, and everyone agreed.
Ben tugged Treeny onto his lap, and savored the feel of her there. He’d never held her this way, although he dreamed of doing so countless times. He especially liked the way she settled back against him as though she belonged there. When he really thought about such matters, he realized she did.
When the movie ended, he couldn’t remember what it’d been about, or who the main characters were. Instead he spent the time running an exploratory hand up Treeny’s thigh or down her arm. Playing with her hair proved to fascinate him for long bouts of time. Her hair was smooth and curled lovingly around his finger. He liked tugging a loose curl and watching the wave bounce back.
She began to yawn soon after the movie ended, and he realized she had to wake up early for work the next morning. Reluctantly, he accompanied her to her car. He liked that it was still raining. Then she had to cuddle with him under the oversized umbrella KC dug up.
Carrying their puppy, she moved with him in perfect sync. He liked that. He liked her. He wanted much more from and with her. But he’d remain content with what he had, for now.
Because of gazing into those fathomless blue-gray eyes, he realized he had what most men would kill for. A woman who wanted him just as much as he wanted her. She smiled a sad smile when he kissed her for the third time. Treeny seemed as reluctant as him to end the evening. He sensed her disinclination to crawl into her car and drive away. Instead, she snuggled closer.
He opened her door and tucked Pete into the passenger seat before helping her into the car. Bending down, Ben stole another kiss and liked how she responded. Her left hand cupped his cheek while her right one gripped his shoulder. Soon she slid both arms around his neck as she tried to press closer. A difficult endeavor, since she was seated and he wasn’t.
He helped her by crouching, before he circled her waist. They tilted their heads at the same time, and made the kiss more intimate. She groaned, or he did and they parted long enough for a quick heave of air before devouring each other again. The umbrella listed to the side.
Pete barked a shy puppy yip that broke their passionate kiss. Treeny leaned her forehead against his chest and he fought to regain his breath as he straightened the umbrella. This woman was dangerous. He’d just lost track of everything around them.
Not good for man with his skills and training. He slowly stood, stretching to his full height again.
“Goodnight,” she whispered and he heard the longing in her voice.
“Goodnight.” She gazed at his lips, and his heart lurched. He stepped back so he could shut the door. She smiled a sweet smile before she fastened her seat belt and fired up the engine.
He watched her tail lights until they disappeared into the night. Wishing for her to be with him again. Wanting to hold her. They didn’t even have to kiss. Just holding her would be enough. Then he could revel in her warm embrace and savor the pleasing, fresh feminine fragrance he associated only with her. But what if Treeny decided she didn’t want him? What if she realized he wasn’t the man she thought he was? They’d lived in fantasies about each other for years. What if their fantasies didn’t measure up?
Right now, his arms and heart were empty. What if they remained that way? While worrying about that, he wondered briefly if Treeny had just driven off with his heart.
***
The next morning when she arrived at work, Treeny finally thought to look at her phone. She’d slept well after the wonderful day spent with Ben. And felt like she floated through the morning. She hoped to see him tonight.
Dreaming about the evening she entertained the idea of cooking for him. That might be really nice. She could cook. Her mind slipped to various food ingredients as she sifted through some of the dishes she could prepare to wow him.
Noticing a voicemail, she frowned and listened to the message. She smiled when Ben’s voice came over the line.
“Baby, I’m so sorry about this. My team’s going wheels up. I’ve gotta go. I miss you already. Bye sweetheart, wait for me, okay? I’ll be back.” The remorse was right there in his voice for her to hear, but so was excitement. And since he was set on a course that would take him directly away from her, she doubted that excitement had anything to do with her.
She stared at her phone, the smile slipping off her face. Automatically she saved the message, but wanted to throw the device.
When would she hear from him again?
Would he be safe?
What was she going to do to pass the time while he was gone?
How could she pass the time and remain sane?
Tears welled and Treeny thought about her previous opinion on stupid women who couldn’t stand to be apart from their men. Obviously she hadn’t known then, when she formed her erroneous opinion, what she knew now.
Now she understood exactly how they felt.
Would he be safe? When would she see him again? Would she see him again?
And finally, how on earth could she get through today, much less the endless amount of time that stretched before her?