It'll Be An Adventure (Masters of the Shadowlands #15)(83)
Author: Cherise Sinclair

 

She glanced at the clock behind the desk. 1:30. He might not have eaten yet; he’d said his lunches were always late.

 

“Girl, perfect timing. He just got out of surgery.” Rising, Rainie took her arm and pushed her down a hallway. “His office is the second on the right. He just went in.”

 

“No, I was just going to—”

 

Rainie walked back to her desk.

 

But…but… Murphy frowned after her. The plan was to drop the food off, not stay and talk. What if he didn’t want company?

 

Biting her lip, Murphy tapped on the half-open door. Would he be unhappy she showed up at his place of work?

 

“C’mon in—it’s open.” His hearty baritone had her heart turning somersaults.

 

She pushed open the door and stood there, feeling like a child again. Her father had never liked being interrupted. And Saxon looked so tired. “I…” I shouldn’t have come.

 

“Murphy.” Saxon’s smile transformed his hard face. “This is a great fucking surprise.”

 

He crossed the office, set her tote bag on a chair, and pulled her into his arms for a long, toe-curling kiss.

 

“Hey, get a room, Doc,” someone passing in the hall called.

 

“Got one.” Saxon kicked the door closed and kissed her again.

 

He wanted her here; he genuinely did. Her heart took on a glow that warmed her whole chest.

 

Eventually, he smiled down at her. “Is this an occasion I forgot?” He ran one hand up and down her back; the other cupped her bottom and pressed her against a rapidly growing erection. “Or can we make it an occasion?”

 

Laughing, she rubbed against the impressive bulge. “You are such a guy.”

 

“Hey, the little brain has a mind of its own. Nonetheless, I could get on board if—”

 

“Down, Dr. Halvorson.”

 

“I could go down.” Laughter mingled with heat in his gaze. “I’m pretty good at that.”

 

With his talents, he could probably make a stone statue orgasm. And now she was feeling the heat. “Such false modesty isn’t becoming, milord.”

 

He heaved a sigh—and she appreciated the way his shirt tightened over his rock-hard, chest muscles.

 

Stepping back, she flattened her hands over his abdominals. And wished he had a bed instead of a desk in here. “I brought you lunch.” When he waggled his eyebrows, she held up a hand. “Don’t say it, oh Master of dirty innuendo.”

 

He just grinned. Because it took an act of god to shake his composure.

 

Although—her lips tilted up—missing a step in a relationship had disturbed him. Because what they had between them was important to him. The knowledge filled her heart. “I love you.”

 

He blinked and pulled her onto her tiptoes for another kiss.

 

Mmm. She could do this forever…only her Dom needed food. Right. She pulled back. “I brought you lunch,” she repeated, then smiled at him. “Want a Cuban sandwich?”

 

In the act of reaching for her again, he froze. “Seriously? Food?” He cast a hopeful glance at the bag.

 

She nodded.

 

“I really do love you.” He grinned at her. “Gimme.”

 

 

 

Fucking his woman on his office desk would have been profoundly unprofessional and a very bad example to set for their employees.

 

Saxon sighed. Sometimes it sucked to be an adult.

 

But at least he’d talked her into joining him for lunch—after he realized her reluctance wasn’t because of her deadlines, but rather that she didn’t want to disturb him.

 

She was such a contradictory mix. Comfortable in the wilderness, confident in her career, not particularly worried about her appearance or her body. But insecure when it came to dealing with other people—especially ones who meant something to her. And wasn’t that a sad state of affairs?

 

She was a bit reserved with strangers, but it was her brothers, her father, and him who could destroy her balance.

 

It’d be his project to ensure that she never, ever, felt unwanted when it came to him.

 

After giving Murphy a quick tour of the clinic, they rescued Sherlock from his kennel and headed out back. Two fenced-off areas let the assistants walk dogs without animal-on-animal altercations. In the back corner was the dog agility course he’d put in for Sherlock, and friends sometimes brought their dogs over to play on it.

 

Sherlock whined, and Saxon grinned. “Go play.”

 

Taking off at a dead run, the dog climbed up the short ladder, traversed a narrow board, and dove into the tunnel system.

 

“He’s showing off for you.” Saxon tucked an arm around Murphy.

 

“He has a right to be proud of himself.” She watched with wide eyes as he jumped a series of hurdles.

 

“Hey, Murphy. How are you today?” Jake came through the gate.

 

“Good, thank you.” She smiled at him. “And you?”

 

“In a great mood.” Jake grinned at Saxon. “Seeing the x-rays of that Great Dane’s leg, I didn’t think there was any hope of saving it. The after-surgery pictures—you did some fine work there, bro.”

 

The compliment was nice. But it was the results that counted. “I think the bones should heal just fine. He might not even have a limp.” There was no satisfaction greater than that.

 

He looked down into Murphy’s face, seeing her pleasure and appreciation.

 

And that felt even better.

 

“I actually came out here for a reason.” Jake held out some envelopes. “You forgot to collect your tickets for the charity gala. You know—the one in three days?”

 

Saxon blinked. “Is it the last weekend in October already? How did that happen?”

 

“I know, right?” Jake snickered. “But yeah, this weekend.”

 

Saxon noticed Murphy’s puzzled expression. “It’s an annual fundraiser for the animal nonprofits in the area.”

 

She frowned. “Your clinic isn’t a nonprofit.”

 

“No, but we donate vet services to the local animal shelter,” Jake said. “The gala money goes to the shelters as well as animal rescue groups, service animals and—”