“Sounds like putting a puzzle together.”
She grins and nods. “Exactly like that. In those cases, the melody comes later, once the story is complete with the words.”
“You’re a diamond in the rough,” I murmur, pressing a kiss to her neck. She tilts her head to the side, giving me more access to the delicate curve of her neck.
“I don’t know about that.” She sounds breathless, which makes me smile against her skin and press another kiss to the divot behind her ear. These sensitive areas of her body are quickly becoming my favorite places to pay extra attention.
“You are. I hate that they are exploiting you for it, not letting you shine to your fullest potential.”
“I hate it too,” she whispers. Her hand traces up my arm around her middle as she resumes her humming. I rest my chin against her shoulder and close my eyes as I listen to the melodious sound of her voice. I could listen to her sing, or hum, oranything, all day long if she’d let me.
Periwinkle trots into the kitchen to investigate what’s happening.
“Oh my gosh, is this Peri?”
I step away from her, instantly missing the warmth of her against me. She bends down once Peri comes up to greet her andscratches her behind the ears, running one finger over the hem of her purple sweater. “She’s so cute. Look at her little sweater!”
“She’s something,” I say with a grin, crossing my arms over my chest and leaning my hip against the counter.
“How long have you had her?” Jersey peeks up at me.
“About eight years. She was a puppy when I found her at an adoption day at the pet store.”
“Have you always been a small dog person?”
“Not necessarily. But she stole my heart right away. She was all alone in her little cage, shivering relentlessly.” I crouch down next to Jersey so I can pet Peri too. “The minute I saw this little smooshed face and holier-than-thou glint in her eyes, I knew she had to be mine.”
“That’s actually so sweet,” she says softly.
“We’ve been a team ever since.” Peri’s expression tells me she whole-heartedly agrees with the sentiment, then looks back to Jersey, who’s still giving her all the attention.
A warm affection overcomes me as I study this beautiful woman currently loving on my dog and conclude that I’m in such deep shit when it comes to her. I can’t even find it in myself to be concerned about it.
“So, what do you want to do tonight?” I ask her, at a loss for any grand ideas myself. “Do you want me to make a dinner reservation somewhere? Or we can go drive around the city?”
She shrugs and peeks up at me from the floor. “Could we stay in tonight? We can do all that another time. There’s no rush.”
“Of course.” I nod, perfectly happy to get the chance to have her all to myself.
“Maybe we can watch a movie? Order some food in?”
“Truly a much better idea.” I open my food delivery app and hand my phone to her. “Here, order whatever you want. I’ll feed Peri, then we can figure out what to watch.”
Not long later, we have a table full of takeout in front of us and a classic action movie on the TV.
Jersey snuggles right into my side as soon as she’s finished with her dinner, making herself at home. Peri stands on her hind legs and places her paws on the cushions. I scoop her up, letting her onto the couch with us before looking back to the TV.
The images move across the screen, but I can’t be bothered to follow along. As the minutes tick by, she gets more and more comfortable, resting her head against my shoulder first and then scooting in until she’s draped across my chest. I’ve never been more content than I am with her pressed against me like this. It feels like she was always meant to be here with me.
I don’t know when it happens, but the combination of a full travel day and a hearty dinner does her in. Before the movie’s halfway through, she’s fallen asleep against my chest. Her soft, comfortable snores fill a chasm of my heart that I never knew was empty.
Letting myself bask in the few quiet moments I have with this beautiful girl, I don’t disturb her. My hands smooth over her hair, weaving in and out of the silky strands.
Time flies too quickly, and the movie we’re watching ends. The screen returns to the home page of the streaming service and I decide it’s time to call it a night. Gently, I shake Jersey’s elbow, enough to jostle her from her slumber.
“Hayes?” she murmurs against my chest.
“Hmm,” I rumble back, still stroking my hand up and down her arm.
