Page 60 of Something Like Shelter

“How far did you get on the project?”

“I got a lot done. Tomorrow, I should finish the hardest work. Then another couple days to get it finished.”

“Well, Tuna’s daycare is open for business. I promise not to make your dog fat,” I told him as I carried the plates over to the table. “There are drinks in the fridge, if you want to grab some.”

We ate and talked about his two emergency calls, his schedule, and my bathroom.

“I’m not in a rush. I can wait until you can fit me into your normal work hours. You’ve been burning the candle at both ends lately. You can’t go on like this forever.”

“I appreciate that. Work comes like this a lot— nothing for a few weeks, then nonstop work for a few months. I’ll never complain about business being good, but—”

“But it’s a lot for one man to handle.”

“Yeah,” he agreed, jumping to his feet when I tried to get up to clear the plates. “I got the dishes. It sounds like Adelaide might want dinner too.”

With that, I went to see to my baby while listening to Owen moving around my kitchen with a familiarity that had that warm feeling spreading across my chest.

By the time Adelaide was fed, burped, changed, and half-asleep, Owen had returned to the living room.

“Want to sit for a few before you go?” I asked, waving to the empty side of the couch. Tuna had abandoned me to curl up near the baby’s bassinet.

Owen didn’t hesitate, just came over and dropped down with an exhale.

He smelled good. Like his usual cologne mixed with sawdust.

We both turned to the television, but I wasn’t even really seeing it with my brain on other, more important, things. Like how his body was touching mine from shoulder to knee.

Had I taken him into consideration when I’d changed into a lightweight cotton dress after my shower earlier? I’m embarrassed to admit it, but yes. I could feel his body heat through the thin material.

“You look too tired to drive,” I observed as I watched his profile. My own eyes felt impossibly heavy.

His gaze flicked over, those gooey brown eyes making my belly flip. “I’m okay.”

“I have extra rooms,” I said before I could think better of it. “You could probably get an extra hour of sleep before work if you didn’t have to get Tuna all ready and drive over here before heading out.”

He watched me for a moment before giving me a small head shake. “I couldn’t ask—”

“You’re not asking. I’m offering. And you already told me once that you keep changes of clothes in the car.”

The corner of his lips tipped up at that.

“You make a very good argument.”

“So, there’s really no reason to turn it down.”

“Okay,” he agreed. “Thank you.”

“You don’t need to keep thanking me. Besides, I don’t think you’re going to get Tuna away from Adelaide right now.”

“He’s enamored,” he agreed. “I’m gonna go grab my bag.”

With that, he was off, and I smiled to myself before getting up to go make sure the nicest guest room was fresh and the bathroom clean.

I was just coming out of the room after adding towels to the bathroom counter when Owen came around the bend.

“I gave you fresh towels,” I told him.

“I took out Tuna, checked all the doors, and armed your alarm system.”