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“Uh-uh,” he insisted. A minute later, he was snoring softly.
In a few more minutes, she’d get up and start her day. Be Elijah’s bodyguard once again.
But for a few more minutes, she’d be Kaj’s lover. She figured they’d both earned a few minutes of peace.
24
Mid-City, New Orleans, Louisiana
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 6:30 A.M.
PINNING HER BRAID to her head, Val tiptoed out of Kaj’s bathroom so that she didn’t wake him. He needed the rest.
“Hey,” he said sleepily. He sat up in the bed. “You’re dressed. Where are you going?”
“Going to check on Elijah and walk Czar. You can sleep more.”
“No. I have work to catch up on.” He rolled out of bed, stretching with a groan. But he was smiling at her, and she couldn’t help but smile back. “You look remarkably awake.”
“And I feel amazingly good.” She walked into his arms, snuggling into the warmth of his body. “I feel like me again. Thank you, Kaj.”
He kissed the side of her throat. “I would be happy to make you feel like yourself anytime you wish.”
She grinned. “I’m going to take you up on that. Get dressed. I’ll see you downstairs.”
Closing the door behind her, she peeked in on Elijah. He was still asleep, his arm around Czar. Last night when she’d checked in on him, he’d asked her to help him choose a new dog once it was time for her to go. She’d agreed, although the thought of leaving Elijah and his father had left her a little sad.
Part of that had been the crisis of confidence she’d gone through the night before. She’d attribute it to being exhausted, both physically and emotionally. I feel so much better now.
She clucked her tongue. “Come on, boy,” she whispered. “Time to go out.” Czar slid off the other side of Elijah’s bed, so careful not to disturb him. “Such a good boy.”
She crept down the stairs, Czar at her heels, then came to an abrupt stop in the living room. MaryBeth sat at the dining room table with Molly, Phin, Antoine, and Jace, who, Val was pleased to see, was uncuffed.
Once this was over, she was making sure this kid had the best home ever. Maybe even with me. The idea stunned her momentarily, but the more she thought about it, the more she liked it. I could be certified as a foster care provider. Later, she’d google how that worked in Louisiana. But not until after breakfast.
Because everyone had coffee and one of Marica’s breakfast sandwiches.
“Are you in charge of feeding us now?” Val asked MaryBeth with a smile.
MaryBeth waved her over. “I can’t stay long, but I know you guys have a lot going on and I didn’t want Elijah to miss any meals.”
Val winced. “I didn’t do a very good job of feeding him yesterday, did I?”
Molly frowned. “It’s fine, Val. We fed him exactly on time and his blood sugar was in control. We’re here to help. You don’t have to carry this alone. Stop feeling guilty for things that aren’t your fault.”
“Wow,” MaryBeth said to Molly with exaggerated awe. “You do know her, don’t you?”
Molly arched her brows. “She’s not very hard to figure out.”
“She’s right here,” Val said, unoffended. “I need to walk Czar and then I’ll eat.”
Molly rose, Czar’s leash in her hand. “I’m doing it this morning. You stay in here. No getting shot at on my watch.”
And, of course, Molly was right. Val patted Czar’s back. “Go on, boy. Go to Molly.”
Czar padded obediently to Molly, allowing her to clip the leash to his collar. “We need to find a way to get him some real exercise today.”
Phin took a swig of coffee and pushed away from the table, wincing a little as he stretched, but he looked loads better than he had the night before. “There’s a treadmill upstairs. Can dogs use those?”
