It'll Be An Adventure (Masters of the Shadowlands #15)(62)
Author: Cherise Sinclair

 

Considering the number of toys scattered on the floor, he figured this was going to be one pampered kitty. Saxon picked up a mouse-sized toy. Rolled-up stretchy fabric was knotted to leave a tail at the end. “What’s this ball made of?”

 

Murphy looked out of the kitchen and laughed. “A strip from my thinnest leggings. He loves it.”

 

Saxon gave it a toss.

 

Springing from his legs, the kitten pounced on it. Rolling onto his side, he pretend-disemboweled the “mouse” with his hind paws.

 

At Saxon’s laugh, Brummell picked up the mouse-ball and made a tiny growling sound. Mine.

 

“That’s an excellent toy, Murphy.” In fact, he’d keep the idea in mind for clients who were strapped for money.

 

“He actually prefers it to the ones I bought.” She brought out a plate of tortilla chips covered in melted cheese and a small bowl of salsa and set everything on the coffee table.

 

Joining him on the couch, she picked up a chip, dipped it in the salsa, and bit in. “Mmm. I was hungry.”

 

“You didn’t eat anything earlier.” Because Z’s need for answers—and for making amends—had shaken her. Saxon rubbed her thigh and considered her.

 

She was watching the animals.

 

Sherlock had followed the food out—of course—and sat by the couch, hoping for tidbits.

 

Brummel’s gaze was focused on the dog’s fluffy tail. Tiny butt-wiggles showed the feline was getting ready to attack.

 

When the kitten finally pounced, Murphy laughed. And ate another chip.

 

Yeah, she’d be all right.

 

After a minute of munching, she eyed him. “I have a question.”

 

“Shoot.” Since they weren’t at the table—a no-begging zone—he tossed Sherlock a piece of cheese.

 

“Rainie said you’re a good boss. But she’s in charge of the vet techs—and somehow that’s what I thought you were. But obviously not.”

 

“Ah, no, I’m a veterinarian. A veterinary surgeon, to be accurate.” He took a drink of beer. “Jake and I opened the clinic a few years ago.”

 

“And Rainie works there too.”

 

“Yeah, Jake talked Rainie into managing the place a couple of years ago…after she’d bailed us out of a mess.”

 

Murphy’s eyes lit with curiosity. “What kind of messes do vet clinics get into?”

 

He suppressed a smile; she was such a writer. “It was my fault. See, my only family is my dad and my uncle. So when my uncle asked me, as a favor, to hire his wife’s niece, I did. Lynette was positive she could handle being a receptionist and clerk. I should have called her previous employers.”

 

“I get a feeling that I know where this is going.”

 

Fuck, it’d been a mess. “I left on a scuba diving trip right after—and she completely screwed up the scheduling and appointments. Jake fired her and got me back early from vacation, but it took Rainie to get us straightened out again. And more.”

 

He grinned. “With her prompting, we’ve expanded the building, added two more vets, and now she’s pushing to turn us into an animal hospital.”

 

Murphy laughed. “I believe you. She was the one who organized the sick-pet prank on you…and I had no intention of returning to the Shadowlands, but she talked me into it.”

 

A second later, Murphy’s cheeks reddened. “I…uh…”

 

“Was avoiding me. I know.” Saxon ran a finger down her cheek. “I planned to give you another day, then drop by here. Since I don’t have your number, as it happens.”

 

“Oh. Right.”

 

“Let’s fix that.” He pulled out his phone and opened it to CONTACTS. And waited.

 

“Um, right.” She recited the numbers.

 

After tapping them in, he messaged and heard her phone ding. “There, you have my number too.”

 

Now, where should he take her on an official date? His calendar—aside from work obligations—was open. He frowned at the oddity. Then again, he hadn’t asked anyone out for quite a while.

 

Since he bedded Murphy the first time.

 

She’d gone back to staring at her fingers. He set his hand on hers, wanting the connection. “What’s your other concern, or are there more than one?”

 

“Several little ones, but they add up. Like you said, you don’t go for serious—and honestly? I don’t think I’d do well with… I’d rather not get into something where I know I’ll get hurt.” Her big eyes were earnest.

 

And far too appealing. “Go on. Let’s hear the rest.”

 

When she hesitated, he added a soft, “please.”

 

“I have a deadline, and I can’t afford to lose much time to…to fun stuff.”

 

“Understood. Go on.”

 

She bit her lip, then finally said, “You’re a Dom, and I don’t want someone telling me what to do or wear or say.”

 

Okay, he could work with these…and wasn’t it revealing that he wanted to? “I’ll work my way in reverse then. First, I am a Dom, yes, but the only place I need control is when it comes to sexual matters. There are a lot of Doms who want a submissive 24/7; I’m not one of them.”

 

“Oh.”

 

He ran his finger over her plump lower lip. “But in the bedroom or in the club, I’m absolutely in charge.”

 

Her eyes were dark enough brown that it was difficult to see her pupils dilate, but he couldn’t miss the tiny quiver of her lips.

 

Because she was unquestionably a sexual submissive.

 

“Second, I respect deadlines. I have a more than full-time job and also keep my orthopedic surgery skills sharp by picking up extra surgeries at a big animal hospital. Add in the club and K9 SAR, and I stay busy. We’ll figure out your time needs”—he grinned at her— “especially since I’m one of the readers impatiently waiting for your next book.”

 

Her smile erased the worried line between her brows.

 

Seemed he was making progress.

 

“For your concern about being serious”—he frowned because he wasn’t exactly sure of his answer here—“I’m not sure what to say.”