“Yes, I can see that he’s perfectly professional.”

“He has to stay, Mom,” Josie calls out. “He’s a hero, like Caleb!”

Caleb looks shell-shocked as he turns me to face him. “He’s an amazing dog, Bryn, and a helluva team member. It would make me feel better knowing he’s here. Nothing will get to them with Bix watching.”

“Sabotage,” I whisper and grudgingly smile at the girls as they giggle and roll on the driveway with the big, fluffy canine. “I guess he can stay.”

“Thank you, Mom!” Maddie calls out.

“Come,” Caleb commands and Bix immediately jumps up and leaves the girls behind to stand next to Caleb. “Say hello to Brynna.”

He barks once and smiles at me, that tongue flopping out again.

“Hello,” I murmur and pat his head and then give in and squat next to him and rub his face. “You’re a sweet boy, aren’t you?”

***

“But we aren’t tired,” Maddie protests as she yawns widely. Caleb throws a large dog bed on the floor between the girls’ beds and points to it. Bix immediately lays on the bed, watching us with one raised ear and both his eyebrows moving up and down as he looks side to side at each of the girls.

“Why can’t he sleep with us?” Josie asks and stares longingly at her new best friend.

“He sleeps on his own bed,” Caleb replies and sits at her side. “Hey, jellybean, I’m sorry you’re mad at me today. Maybe tomorrow will be a better day.” I sit at Maddie’s bedside and watch my daughter’s internal struggle as Caleb watches her closely.

“Mom always says sweet dreams when it’s time for bed,” she tells Caleb softly. Bix lets out a long sigh as he lowers his head to his paws and Josie watches him with a smile. “I hope you have sweet dreams, Caleb, and no more scary ones.”

I bite my lip and hug Maddie tightly, as Caleb silently holds his hands out to Josie. She climbs readily into his lap and hugs him, then scampers off to snuggle down into the covers.

“Good night, Mama,” Maddie whispers.

“Good night, baby girl.”

Bix raises his head and watches Caleb move to the doorway. He stops and looks back at Bix. “Stay, Bix. Stay with the girls.”

With that, Bix lowers his head again and Caleb turns out the light, leaving only the light from the princess nightlight in the wall, and shuts the door behind us.

“I can’t believe you talked me into a dog,” I chuckle and lead the way down the stairs to the living room.

“He’s already proven that he’s well trained,” he responds with a grin, referring to the numerous times he pressed his nose to the sliding glass door, asking to be let out.

“Thank goodness,” I agree and lower myself to the couch. Caleb sits beside me, but keeps at least two feet between us. “Oh, you wanna rub my feet? Here you go.” I lay my feet in his lap and grin at him.

“I don’t recall offering to do that,” he mutters with a half smile, already digging his thumb into the arch of my foot, earning a moan of appreciation.

“Oh sweet Moses that feels good.”

The heel of my foot is resting against his crotch and I feel his cock stir.

“Don’t start,” he warns.

“Why not?” I ask and rub the ridge in his pants with my foot.

“I’m not ready, Legs.” He clenches my foot in his hand and then returns to rubbing it again.

“Uh, Caleb, we’ve been having sex for a few weeks now.” I frown over at him and am shocked to see color spread up this cheeks. He stops rubbing my foot and turns his blue gaze to mine, his eyes ice blue and angry as hell.

Chapter Twelve

“What?” I ask and frown over at him.

“How can you be so normal?” He asks, staring at me with those amazing eyes.

“What are you talking about?” I ask and pull my feet away, tucking them under me.

“I could have killed you last night, Brynna.”

I sigh and hang my head in my hands, so frustrated with him.

“Is this why you won’t touch me?”

“Damn right,” he confirms with a firm nod.

“Caleb, you’re being ridiculous.” I lower my hands and look up to find him watching me like I’ve just produced a second head.

“Brynna, I’ve snapped necks without giving it a second thought. I have that in me. I had my hand,” he holds his large hand up for me to see, “wrapped around your tiny neck and was squeezing the life out of you, and all you’ve done today is be sweet and nice and fucking normal. Nothing about this is normal!”

“No, it’s not normal, Caleb, but it wasn’t on purpose, damn it!” I lean in and grip his forearm with my hand, holding onto him tightly. “You would never hurt me, babe.”

“I’m capable of it.” He shakes his head and sighs.

“No. You’re. Not.” He refuses to look me in the eye and he’s really starting to irritate me. “Look at me.”

He shakes his head no, staring down at my hand, and I don’t know why but he just pisses me right off. I stand up and stomp away, up the stairs to my bedroom and into the bathroom. I have the urgent need to slam a door, but I don’t want to wake the girls.

“Alright, Legs, why are you so pissed?” Caleb asks from the doorway of the bathroom, arms crossed over his chest, watching me.

“Because you’re so damn stubborn!” I turn away from him and lean against the bathroom sink, head bowed. “I don’t know what to say to you to make you understand that you didn’t do it on purpose, and that I’m fine.”