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“Mom, Jill, and Hudson aren’t leaving for a couple of hours, so if Marks is gonna be here, I can take Elle back for a bit and?—”
“Nah, we’re good.” Marks squats down and nods to the door. “Kick ass in Toronto.”
I walk over to the door and open it up. “Like Marks said, kick ass.”
When he steps out into the mudroom, I follow him.
He turns and hands me his phone. “You think maybe I can get your number now?”
I lift a shoulder as I tap it out on the screen and send myself a text. “You should be able to get in touch with me when you want to check in on Elle.”
“Mmhmm.” He takes his phone in one hand and my hip in the other, pulling me closer. “I’m gonna steal a good-luck kiss. You good with that?”
“I suppose so.” I push up onto my toes, and we meet in the middle.
Light, sweet, soft pecks, some lasting longer than others, but none nearly long enough.
“Shall we head out?” I hear Marks ask, and we step apart from one another.
Rome winks as he heads to the stairs. “Thanks for taking care of Elle.”
“Not a problem.”
Inside, I grab my bag and notice Marks is by the door with Elle still on her leash.
“I’ll drive you in. She can come with. Once we know everything’s good at your vet hospital, I’ll let York know she can bring Cora in. I’m going to install new security, and York’s going to hang out. When that’s all done, we’ll be able to run surveillance from a close distance and not cramp your style. People ask, you just say it’s something you’ve been thinking about for a while and that York and I were in town and offered.”
“I know I’m being a pain in the ass about this, but I hope you know I am appreciative.”
“I know that.” He nods toward the door. “Let’s go.”
When Marks opens the back door of the SUV, Elle attempts to jump in, and when she nearly falls, I physically hurt for her. Thankfully, Marks catches her and helps her in.
“I can hold her on my lap.”
He pulls something out of his pocket. “She’s gotta learn, right?”
“Is that a safety belt?”
“Attaches to her harness and—” He stops and chuckles. “Guessing you know this.”
Sliding in the passenger seat, I answer, “I do, just surprised he had one.”
I made the suggestion and told Hudson about them the day we ran into one another at the store. The fact that he ordered one almost makes up for the fact that he was going to leave her at Cozy Canine Cottage, which, yes, I will be looking into.
After he’s secured her, he closes the door, opens the driver’s side, and slides in. “Now that she’s safe, I wanna make sure you know how your security system works.”
“The app’s on my phone.”
“Great. Now let me talk you through how to set up your notifications.”
* * *
When Gwen and Cora arrive, Marks walks outside.
Cora tracks him with her eyes.
“Marks is my partner,” Gwen explains.
