Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 112056 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 560(@200wpm)___ 448(@250wpm)___ 374(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112056 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 560(@200wpm)___ 448(@250wpm)___ 374(@300wpm)
Another twig crunched, whipping me to a standstill as I looked over my shoulder. “I swear someone is following us.”
Elder turned, his hand still around mine while his other tightened into a fist. He called into the night, “Who’s there?”
No reply.
He marched forward into the black spots untouched by streetlights. He didn’t pause as he reached a bush where a faint rustling noise came from. Shooting his arm into the undergrowth, he shook the branch of a sapling. “Who—”
Something tiny shot from the foliage, bashing into my legs and squeaking in fear.
“Oh, my God.” I jumped to the side as Elder bolted forward and scooped the racing body from the ground.
He held the wriggling, terrified puppy aloft. “I think we’ve found our stalker.”
The puppy yipped as Elder cuddled it close, uncaring about the dirty fur or the tiny teeth.
I looked into the bush, searching for a pissed-off mother or more litter mates but found nothing. Only bracken and forgotten rubbish swept into hiding by the wind.
Moving toward Elder, who’d calmed the puppy with a gentle hand on its head, I asked, “Where do you suppose he’s come from?”
“Probably abandoned. I’ve come across lots of pets in this place. All unwanted…kind of like the humans who inhabit this place illegally.”
I shivered. “That’s terrible.”
“That’s life.” Elder held the puppy aloft, looking at the dangling, gangly legs and hesitantly wagging tail. “He’s just a mutt. He’ll either survive or not.” Placing the pooch back down, he came toward me. “Circle of life even if it is cruel.”
I couldn’t take my eyes off the little dog. Sensing freedom, I expected it to charge off and vanish, but it sniffed around our legs, bright black eyes inquisitive if not a little wary. Bending down, I let it sniff my hand. “Hi, little one.”
It licked me.
And that was it for my stupid heart.
Tess had mentioned adoption—that a baby could come from other ways than just my broken body. She’d hinted that sometimes adoption was the better choice as you were saving a life rather than creating one.
Here, I had the chance to save a life.
A little canine life who wriggled his way into my heart in an instant. If that was the way it would be with adoption, then…perhaps, just perhaps, it wouldn’t be as terrifying as I’d thought.
Beckoning the puppy closer, I rubbed his little face before looping my hands beneath his belly and hoisting him into my arms. He didn’t yip this time; he snuggled close as if we’d earned his trust in such a short time. As if he knew what I was about to say.
Turning to Elder, I opened my mouth to argue for the little one’s life.
Elder crossed his arms and laughed. “Oh, Christ. That fast, huh?”
I laughed, shrugging, loving the way the pup licked my chin. “Do I need to put forth a debate?”
“A debate would be interesting, but I already know what you’re going to say.”
“In that case…” I grinned. “Can we?”
He rubbed his jaw, shaking his head with mirth. “The Phantom isn’t equipped for a dog, Pim.”
“Does it matter?” I giggled as the puppy squirmed closer, burrowing into my neck.
“Fuck, hearing you laugh makes me hard and hurt all at the same time.” He stepped closer. “If I’d known a simple mutt would make you this happy, I would’ve stolen one for you the moment I stowed you on board.”
I looked up, accepting his gentle kiss and shivering at the utmost adoration in his gaze. He didn’t look at the dog, only at me.
My tummy clenched. My heart whirled. I fell all over again. “So, we can keep him?”
Elder tickled the pup under its jaw, pressing a kiss to my cheek at the same time. “How can I say no?”
“By being honest and saying no.” I held my breath, my heart already bleeding at the thought of letting this little creature fend for itself in the cruel, cruel world.
Elder’s face softened as he cupped my cheek. “I’m always honest when it comes to you, Pimlico.”
“So you don’t want him?” I did my best to hide my pain, clutching the stray harder rather than preparing to let him go. I would obey Elder’s wishes, but it would hurt like hell.
“If he’s going to be a sea dog, he’ll need a proper name. Nothing stupid like Snoopy or Spot.”
“Truly?!” I leapt into his arms, squishing the puppy and raining Elder’s face with kisses. “We can call him anything you want.”
“Why am I already sensing this was a bad decision?”
I shut him up with a kiss.
That night, we sailed from New York with a new addition to our family.
One with four legs and a tail.
One who would most likely be called Spot.
Chapter Thirty-One
______________________________
Elder
RETURNING HOME TO the Phantom, I had an odd sense of closure and relief from seeing my mother, followed by uncertainty about bringing a land-dwelling animal onto an ocean-faring vessel.