Page 37 of Moore to Love
My cheeks heated as I admitted, “Since I can still feel you even after my soak in your tub, I’m definitely not going to anytime soon.”
“Hopefully, that won’t interfere with your enjoyment of the puppies and kittens at the adoption event today.”
I waved off his concern before I started moving the bacon on a paper towel-lined plate. “I’m sure I’ll be fine.”
We finished making breakfast and wolfed down the scrambled eggs, bacon, and toast in no time at all. Then we poured the rest of the coffee into a couple of travel tumblers and headed over to my house so I could change before we went to the clinic.
I only felt a twinge a few times as I sat on the floor with the puppies, but I almost bawled my eyes out when someone came in and wanted to adopt Charlie. Although getting a dog, especially a puppy, would be highly impractical right now, I’d gotten close with this litter. And the kids loved them so much. It was bittersweet to see him get his forever home.
Plus, it would cause all sorts of questions from Benjamin since he was bound to realize the puppies-were-too-young-to-come-home-with-us excuse no longer applied.
After everyone left and we finished cleaning up, Finn pulled me close and kissed the top of my head. “The best choice I ever made was hiring you.”
“How many adoptions went through?” I mumbled against his chest.
“Five.” He stepped back and grinned down at me. “At this rate, I won’t have any animals in foster homes next month. In all the time I’ve owned my practice, that’s never happened.”
“Shh.” I pressed my finger against his lips. “You’re going to jinx us.”
“Even if no more adoptions go through for the rest of the month, we still have way fewer rescues on the books than usual.”
I dropped my head against his chest. “I can’t believe someone adopted Charlie.”
“Yeah, the puppies are the hardest to let go of.” His lungs expanded as he heaved a deep sigh. “They’re just so damn cute. But even saying goodbye to him, it was a good day, right?”
I nodded. “The only thing that would’ve made it better was if Benjamin and Madison were with us.”
“I can tell how much it’s driving you crazy, being away from the kids.” He pulled me in for a tight hug. “Do you want to send a text to your ex and offer to go pick them up early? I know it’s technically still his weekend until tomorrow evening, but it never hurts to ask. The worst that can happen is that he says no.”
I bit my lip, staggered by his offer. “You’d cut short our time alone together because you can tell how badly being away from the kids bothers me?”
He kissed my cheek, nuzzling into the side of my neck as he murmured, “Without hesitation.”
Butterflies swirled in my belly as I swallowed down the lump of emotion in my throat. “You really mean that, don’t you?”
When he pulled away from me, he looked down into my eyes as I stared up at him. “I understand that you’re a mom before all else, baby, and that’s one of the many things I appreciate about you the most. How you show your children that they’re loved with every decision you make and everything you do.”
Falling for Finn was so different from when I’d dated Thad back in high school. Not only was I older and hopefully wiser, but I also had two little hearts to think about too, not just my own. And they were the most important thing in my life.
Benjamin and Madison’s hearts had already been badly bruised by my divorce and their father’s lack of attention in the time since he’d moved out. But as each day with Finn passed, I started to believe more and more that he’d fight by my side to keep my children safe if it ever came down to it. And that knowledge only made me fall for him even more.
19
FINN
The date I had planned for tonight was much less romantic than the others I’d had with Ellie, but in many ways, it was a fuck of a lot more important. Although I had met her children several times, we’d never done anything with just the four of us before. That would all change in a few minutes when I picked them up to take everyone out for pizza and ice cream.
Things were going great between Ellie and me, but I knew this was a hurdle I had to successfully pass if I wanted anything serious with her. Which I did.
I was so nervous about how the night would go that I had to unclench my fingers to release the steering wheel of my SUV after I pulled into her driveway. Climbing out of the vehicle, I wiped my palms against my jeans before I made my way toward their front porch.
Some of my worry lessened when Benjamin flung the door open before I could ring the bell, looking over his shoulder as he yelled, “Dr. Finn is here!”
“Dr. Finn,” Madison squealed as she raced to the door. “Are we gonna have pizza?”
“Yup,” I confirmed with a smile.
“Awesome,” Benjamin breathed.
