Just One Wish (The Kingston Family #4.5)(21)

He shoved his hands into his jeans pockets. “I’ve been with you long enough in the past to know what responsibility means. Despite what you said on Sunday or think today.”

At that moment, she realized she’d hurt his feelings, and that had been the last thing she wanted to do. Stepping forward, she cupped his face in her hand. “I’m sorry. I never meant to insult you. Not over the weekend and not now.” She sighed. “In my profession, I see too many people take on the responsibility, then dump an animal when they realize all the work and money pet ownership entails.”

He smiled, and it wasn’t the smart-aleck grin or the sexy lift of his lips. It was a genuine expression of feeling. “That might be the nicest thing you’ve said to me since we saw each other again.”

He leaned in and captured her lips with his, immediately deepening the kiss. She lost herself in the sweep of his tongue and the meshing of their mouths, forgetting everything except Axel and the way he made her feel.

He slid his hands around her waist, his palms cupping her ass as he pulled her against him. The hardness of his erection pressed into her belly, and she groaned just as a car honked in the distance.

Reminded they weren’t in a private place, she broke the kiss and touched her forehead to his chest. “You make me forget where I am,” she said. He even caused her to overlook who she was and what she wanted.

“It’s not a bad thing to get lost in each other.” He stepped back, placed his hand under her chin, and forced her to meet his gaze. “I’m not going to hurt you.” Those dazzling green orbs captured her, his deep tone begging her to trust him.

“Let’s go get you a dog,” she murmured, grasping his hand and leading him inside. The bells over the door rang as they entered.

She’d spent enough time in the rescue building that the citrus scent of enzymatic cleaner was familiar to her. She approached the empty desk, knowing Norah must be in the back and she’d come out soon.

She glanced at Axel, hoping he knew what he was getting himself into with a pet.

“My favorite doctor is here!” Norah rushed out of the back room.

Tara had taken to her, with her pink hair and bubbly personality, the day they’d met. And vice versa.

“Hi!” Tara walked around the counter and hugged the woman she considered more than a colleague. “Norah, this is my … friend–”

“Her boyfriend,” Axel said.

Ignoring him and the flutter in her stomach his words caused, she continued, “This is Axel Forrester. Axel, this is Norah. She owns the shelter.”

A trust fund baby with a heart of gold, Norah had taken the money left to her by her grandparents and opened the rescue.

Norah looked Axel over, no doubt because of their contradicting descriptions of their relationship.

“You’re the drummer from Caged Chaos and now the Original Kings,” she said, her tone and grin those of an excited fan.

“Watch it. His ego is big enough,” Tara said, laughing.

Axel walked over and shook her hand. “Nice to meet you.”

“Same here.” Norah smiled.

“Tara was just educating me on the adopt, don’t shop philosophy, and I have to admit, now that I understand, it makes perfect sense,” he said.

Tara shot him a surprised glance. Even when he’d agreed to come to the shelter instead of the pet store, she really thought he’d been trying to make a good impression on her. Instead, he’d not only listened, he’d taken her words to heart. And her own heart squeezed in her chest.

If she wasn’t careful, he’d win her over despite all the reasons she was trying hard not to fall.





Chapter Eight


Norah pulled out paperwork and placed it on the counter. “Sorry. We’re not technology based. You’ll need to fill these out before you leave with a dog. Usually there’s a screening process, but I think we can trust the word of our resident vet.” She grinned at Tara.

“I’ll do that,” he said, picking up the pen and answering the questions as the women spoke.

“How’s the fundraising going?” Tara asked, causing his ears to perk up.

Norah let out a sigh. “Unfortunately, not as well as I’d like. I don’t want to have to close this place in the off months, but I don’t know if I can afford to keep it going if nobody pitches in.” Norah shrugged. “I put in as much money as I could on my own, but things are tight.”

“You’re having financial problems?” he asked as he scrawled his name on the final page.

Norah glanced up. “Yes. I started the shelter with my inheritance, but it’s expensive to keep the place up and running without substantial donations.” She pulled out a set of keys. “Ready to check out the dogs?”

Obviously she didn’t want to discuss her business problems, and he respected that. They followed Norah to the door leading to the back kennels.

She paused before letting them in. “So what kind of dog are you looking for? Big, small, medium? Hair, fur?”

He looked to Tara, aware he must have a confused expression on his face. He hadn’t thought about the kind of dog he wanted.

She laughed and patted his shoulder. “He loves a friend’s golden retriever, so he’s comfortable with that size and type of fur. Beyond that, let’s see who he takes to and who takes to him.”