Bonus Kisses

by Freya Barker

  Looks like I set myself up for more extracurricular tasks.

  “Mrs. Myers, looking after Charlton is not really part of my job description,” I politely remind her, as I bite the inside of my cheek.

  “Well, forgive me,” she fires back tartly. “I thought, having been raised in a church-going family like yours, you would’ve at least picked up some basic sense of charity for those less fortunate. If your sister were here, she would’ve—”

  I raise my hand to cut her off, taking a deep breath in. “Mrs. Myers,” I force myself to say calmly, when I feel all but calm. “I will give Charlton a bath today, but I suggest for future reference you perhaps could find a mobile groomer who is able to come to your house.” Before she has a chance to answer, I scoop up the overweight dog and carry him upstairs to the ancient bathroom.

  It’s a good thing Mrs. Myers is my last appointment for the day, because bathing Charlton proves not to be as easy as the dog’s laid-back demeanor might’ve promised. It was a twenty-minute struggle with the surprisingly agile beagle. By the time a fresh smelling Charlton hobbles down the stairs and takes up his spot at his mistress’ feet for a nap, my entire front is soaked, my forearm is throbbing with an imprint of the old dog’s surprisingly powerful jaws, and my patience has worn thin.

  “Now that wasn’t too bad, was it?” the old hag taunts as I silently grab my things.

  I freeze at her words. It’s the last straw.

  “Mrs. Myers, it’s that I’m a nice person, and my parents raised me well, or else I would be tempted to file a personal injury suit.” I shove the arm that bears the clear markings of Charlton’s chompers in her face. “Now I’m sore, I’m soaked, and I’m half an hour late getting home, so if you’ll excuse me.” Without another word I walk out of her house.

  By the time I’ve stopped by the walk-in clinic for a tetanus shot—the dog broke skin—called Nathan to give him a report, and pull into our driveway, I’ve cooled off a little.

  Meredith called me earlier in the week, and I’d planned to pick up a few things for the dinner party we arranged for tomorrow. It’s a good thing I’ll have the day off so I can do it in the morning. I’m not in the mood for a public appearance right now.

  Rafe is already busy in the kitchen and looks up when I walk in.

  The last few days we’ve fallen into a natural groove with easy touches and sweet affection. The last two nights we’ve become intimately acquainted with every inch of each other’s body, and have fallen asleep sated in each other’s arms in my room. I still have to pinch myself in the mornings to make sure I’m not dreaming. It’s been a little surreal to say the least.

  “What the hell?” Rafe is stalking toward, me taking in my appearance, complete with cleaned and bandaged arm, courtesy of the clinic. “What happened to you?”

  “Mrs. Myers,” I inform him, but at his confused expression I quickly add, “I guess technically Mrs. Myers’ dog.”

  “Charlton?” I don’t blame him for the disbelief in his voice. If I hadn’t experienced it, I wouldn’t have believed the docile mutt capable.

  “Apparently he’s not a fan of baths.”

  His eyes squint. “Care to tell me why you’d be giving her dog a bath? I’m sure that’s not part of your normal work routine.”

  “Well no, but she kinda guilted me into it.”

  “How is that?” He reaches for my arm and starts unwinding the bandage. I let him.

  “Oh, I don’t know. Something about not being charitable like my family.” I purposely stick to more general terms, not wanting to bring up my sister. It doesn’t matter, I can tell from the way he looks at me, he’s reading enough between the lines.

  “I’m thinking it’s high time Mrs. Myers and I have a heart-to-heart. The woman is relentless in her pursuit of free services. She’s been living off this family’s ‘charity’ much too long already.” I hiss when he probes the two tears in my skin from the dog’s canines and the colorful bruising forming around it. “That old boy got you good. Your tetanus up-to-date?”

  “Already got my shot. Look…” I quickly pull my arm back, “…I don’t want to make a fuss. I already called Nathan to report it.”

  “Good. So he’ll take her off your roster?”

  “Well…” Rafe lifts an eyebrow. “He offered, but I said no,” I admit.

  “Why would you want to go back there?”

  I can’t blame him for his incredulity; I doubted my own sanity a few times. “It’s not that I want to, it’s I feel I have to.” His other eyebrow shoots up, so I try to explain. “People already have a hard time putting their trust in me. How would it look if at the first hint of trouble, I give up? If I’m going to make a life here, I need to start changing their perception of me. I need to prove I’m better than what they see.”

  “They don’t have a clue who you are.” Rafe’s voice is gruff as his arms close tightly around me and I snuggle into his chest.

  “Then it’s about time they find out.” I lift up my face and kiss the underside of his jaw. “Besides, I don’t like the idea of letting that woman win.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  Rafe

  “Which one of you was it this time?”

  I take the last few stairs to find Taz standing in the front hallway, a mangled flip-flop in her hands and snippets of rubber littering the floor into the living room. Stitch and Lilo are nowhere to be found.

  “I see the kids have been busy.”

  “I swear, I turn my back for a second and they get into trouble.” She marches right past me into the kitchen and dumps the mangled footwear in the garbage. “My favorite ones too.”

  I walk up behind her, slip my arms around her waist, and kiss her neck. “I’ll buy you new ones.”

  Turning around she grabs my shirt and drops her forehead to my chest. “How long does this phase last?”

  The dogs have newly discovered all the creative ways they can use their teeth. Throw pillows, remote, table leg, but by far their favorite chew toy is footwear.

  “You don’t wanna know,” I assure her. “I’ll pick them up some appropriate chew toys, maybe a couple of bones. We can teach them not to attack the furniture, but we’ll also have to make sure we don’t leave anything tempting in their path.”

  “Good thing they’re quick studies,” she mumbles.

  They are. We’ve only had one ‘accident’ in the past few days, and they willingly go in their shared crate at night.

  “I can take them with me for the day,” I offer, looking down in her upturned face.

  “Aren’t you out on calls today?”

  “They can stay in the truck, or maybe Lisa won’t mind keeping them at the office for a bit.”

  She shakes her head. “No, I can handle them. I’ll simply crate them when I go to get groceries.” Right. Taz’s new friend, Meredith, and her husband are coming for dinner. “Want some coffee?”

  “Mmm.” I drop a kiss on her mouth and let her go before stepping into the laundry room to grab the broom.

  The dogs are under the coffee table, either asleep or doing a good job at pretending to be. I leave them be while I clean up the mess they made.

  “Did you talk to Nathan?” I ask when she hands me my cup.

  “Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that last night.”

  Probably because I barely let her come up for air. I grin at the memory of eating sandwiches in bed for dinner at around ten or so. Buck naked. If it were up to me, Taz would never wear clothes at home, but with the kids coming home next week, that’s not an option. In fact, we’ll probably have to get used to not touching each other all the time again. I love my kids and miss them, but that’s one part I’m not looking forward to.

  “And?”

  “He’s looked at the schedule and says if I can pick up a few extra shifts before and after, I can probably have most, if not all, of the last week of July.”

  Taz had been immediately on board when we discussed taking the kids camping, it had been a matter
of being able to take time off so soon after starting her new job. I find myself getting even more excited at the prospect of spending time in the outdoors with the kids and her, now I know we can start planning.

  “I’ll tell Lisa to keep that week clear. I have an intern starting next week, in time for when the kids get back, so we should be covered.” I notice a pensive look steal over Taz’s face. “What’s wrong?”

  She seems startled at my question and shakes her head. “Nothing really. I’ve just been thinking about logistics. I mean, I get that things will go back the way they were once the kids are back, but what about when we go camping? You said you have a tent, but maybe we should get a second one?”

  I don’t need to ask why she’s suggesting it. Hell, I’ve been wondering how to introduce our changed relationships to the kids myself, but I’d hoped perhaps the camping trip would be a good time to ease them into it.

  I step close to her and put my hands on her hips. “First of all, things can’t go back the way they were. It would be an impossibility.” I quickly press a finger to her lips when I see she’s about to protest. “Hear me out. I don’t plan on flaunting us in front of anyone, but if you think I can go any stretch of time without touching you, you’re nuts. We’ll be careful, but don’t ask me to go cold turkey. Not now that I’ve become addicted.” She shows a pleased little smile in response. “As for camping, the tent I have is big, and having only the one makes it perfectly justifiable for us all to sleep in one space, including the dogs. The kids likely won’t even question it.”

  “What about after? When we get home?”

  “One step at a time, Sweets.” I lean down and give her a hard kiss on the lips. “I’ve gotta run, but call me if you need me.”

  Tagging my mug, I pick up my phone and my keys and make for the back door. I’ve barely stepped outside when I hear Taz’s voice behind me.

  “Drop that, Stitch! Bad dog!”

  I’m still grinning when I walk into the clinic.

  “Do I wanna know?” Lisa questions me right away.

  “The pups are teething and keeping Taz busy.”

  “You know,” she says, leaning her chair back as she scrutinizes me. “You have been unusually upbeat this week. Almost nauseatingly giddy at times, if you must know the truth. Anything I missed?”

  I meet her raised eyebrow with one of my own, but since I still have a grin on my face it’s not nearly as effective. “Can you book me off last week of July? The intern can maybe cover the walk-in clinic, and for emergencies we can always call on Rick Moore.”

  “So Taz got the week off?”

  The way she asks the question leaves me no doubt she has a pretty good idea of what has me in a good mood. “Yup.”

  “I’ll make it happen.”

  “Much appreciated. Oh, and, Lisa? Can you get me Mrs. Myers’ phone number?”

  Taz

  I’m not sure why I’m so nervous about tonight.

  I’ve had butterflies in my stomach all morning while getting the house clean. Not that it was dirty, but with the dogs being their rambunctious selves, there’s bound to be slobber and hair somewhere. Scrubbing the laundry room and the fridge may have been a little over the top, though.

  It’s my own fault I’m running a bit late getting to Express Liquor in Winona. They carry a decent selection and I make sure to stock up a little. This means I have my arms full as I half-run out of the store, wanting to get home so I can get started on dinner, and barrel right into someone, dropping half my load on the pavement.

  “Shit! I’m so sorry,” I exclaim, first looking at the disaster at my feet before I glance up to find Kathleen in front of me.

  “Planning a party?” she asks sardonically, looking from the mess on the ground to the remaining bottles I’m hanging onto for dear life.

  “Sort of, and stocking up,” I explain.

  “Party for two?”

  “What? No. I…” Belated I realize how this might come across to Kathleen. I’ve all but avoided her this past week, letting a couple of calls go to voicemail. She knows me too well and I’ve been afraid she’d cotton on to the change in my relationship with Rafe too easily. I’m not ready to let reality—and the inevitable judgments it comes with—into our intimate bubble.

  “Aren’t the kids in Kentucky?” she persists, and I find myself fidgeting.

  “Well, yes, but—”

  “It’s funny, because I was just talking about you this morning,” she says, as a Liquor Express employee comes rushing out with a broom and a dustpan and starts cleaning up the shards of glass. The young girl refuses my help with a smile and I turn back to Kathleen.

  “Who were you talking to?” I ask, a little apprehensive.

  “Mrs. Myers. She roped me into taking her damn dog for a walk in the mornings, and today I got an earful.”

  “About what?” My feigned ignorance doesn’t fly as Kathleen makes it clear by tilting her head. “Fine. Her damn dog bit me yesterday. Apparently sweet as pie until you stick him in the tub, then he becomes a snarling heap of fur.”

  “So that’s what happened. All she told me was that you threatened her yesterday, and that you apparently turned that nice Dr. Thomas—her words, not mine—against her. He called her this morning and got her all in a tizzy.”

  I roll my eyes heavenward. “Lord, give me patience.” To Kathleen I say, “I told Rafe not to interfere. And I didn’t threaten her, technically. I merely told her if I wasn’t such a nice person I might be tempted to sue.”

  My friend apparently finds that funny, because she busts out laughing. When she calms down, she asks, “What I’m surprised at is, with all this happening, you haven’t thought to call me. Or maybe return one of the messages I left?”

  “I’m sorry. Things have been a bit…hectic.”

  “I’m sure that’s as good word for it as any,” she mumbles, and I don’t even want to ask what she means by that. I can venture a guess. Like I said, Kathleen knows me well. “But, uh, getting back to what started all this, what’s with all the booze?”

  I realize she won’t let that go, so I do my best to mitigate the hurt feelings I’m afraid will follow. “For tonight’s dinner, to which I hope you and Brent can come? I’m making a traditional Congo dish.”

  “Who else will be there?”

  Busted.

  “Do you know Meredith and her husband, Andrew? She’s a manager at the—”

  “I know Meredith,” she cuts me off, and the flash of hurt in her eyes fills me with guilt. “I’m not sure about Brent, but I’m due for a night away from the kids. Count me in.”

  I’m still trying to catch up for the time I lost when Rafe walks in at five thirty. The guests will be here at six, and if I was nervous before, I’m near tears now: I just discovered a pee puddle on the living room carpet.

  “What do you need from me?” Rafe says with one glance at my face.

  “Accident on the living room carpet, and beer and wine that’s been sitting in my car all afternoon should probably come in and be refrigerated.”

  He tags me behind the neck and kisses me hard on the mouth before disappearing into the laundry room where I hear him fill a bucket with water. I blink away tears. I don’t have time for those.

  At ten to six, with the table set, the food staying warm in the oven, appetizers on the counter so the dogs can’t get at them, and wine chilling in the fridge, I run upstairs to change. By the time I get back down, Rafe is opening the door to Meredith, her husband, Andrew—a dark, brawny giant who dwarfs her—and Kathleen.

  It soon becomes clear the two women know each other as they chat away, keeping me company in the kitchen, while Rafe keeps Andrew engaged with beer, conversation, and the dogs, in the backyard.

  I’m actually starting to relax a little by the time we sit down for dinner. The dogs are safely tucked in their crate, gnawing on the bones Rafe brought home for them.

  “I didn’t know you could cook like this,” Kathleen shares, already halfway
through the food on her plate.

  “This is great,” Andrew agrees, helping himself to a second serving.

  “You learn fast in the field.” I smile at Kathleen but it’s Meredith who responds.

  “The field?”

  “Taz was a nurse for Doctors Without Borders until earlier this year. She worked in Central Africa for years,” Rafe answers for me.

  Meredith looks a little confused from Rafe to me and back again. “Oh. I thought…” She shakes her head before continuing, “I must’ve gotten my wires crossed.”

  “What did you think?” Kathleen prompts, and a feeling of dread grows in the pit of my stomach. Meredith shifts a little uncomfortably in her seat.

  “She thought you were married,” Andrew fills in, pointing his fork at Rafe and then me, before pinning his wife with a glare. “What are you kicking me for?”

  At the same time I feel Kathleen’s eyes on me, and I do my best to keep a poker face. “Not married, but probably should’ve been,” she declares, her eyes never wavering, before calmly turning to Meredith. “I’m pretty sure they’ve secretly been in love for almost a decade, but Rafe had already committed to Taz’s sister.”

  I sit in stunned silence as Rafe’s hand finds mine under the table, linking our fingers.

  Meredith’s eyes grow larger as my friend explains my return to Eminence and Nicky’s passing.

  “That’s so sad—and beautiful—at the same time,” Meredith says, her eyes suspiciously shiny as she turns to us.

  “It’s…confusing,” I’m finally able to respond. “It’s also complicated.”

  “We’ll get it sorted out,” Rafe says in a confident tone, giving my hand a squeeze. “We’re trying to be discreet out of consideration for everyone it impacts. Especially the children.” In a few words he manages to clearly get the message across we’re trying to keep a low profile for now.

  “So noted,” Andrew acknowledges, reaching over the table to fill his plate for the third time. “You guys are done eating, right?”