Puppy Love at Mistletoe Junction

Chapter Nine Right into Place

It wasn’t even a three-minute drive to get to Lucy’s, but by the time Theo pulled in behind her father’s truck, the skies had opened up.

“What’s the plan?”

he asked as he turned around, palming the back of the passenger seat headrest. Her eyes lingered on his hand, remembering for just a second how it had felt on her waist earlier . . . and the rest of her body the night before.

She pulled her gaze away and looked out the window and up the narrow stairs that led to the little loft above her father’s garage.

“I say we just make a run for it. We can dry her off again when we get inside.”

“What about Estee?”

“She’s at my dad’s. I usually take her over when I’m not going to be home so she can hang out with Leia.”

Leia was her father’s German shepherd, who got along with almost all creatures, four-legged and two-legged alike. “What with the storm, I’m thinking it actually might be best if we introduce Bear to both of them tomorrow. I’ll text him when we get inside and let him know.”

“Works for me.”

Theo nodded. “So, you get Bear, while I’ll get our dinner.”

Our dinner. Oscar’s words from earlier flitted through her head . . . did dinner make this a date? First sex. Now dating. It was a little backward.

“I’ll go first,”

Lucy said as she fished her keys out of the pocket of her rain jacket. “See you up there.”

She pulled up her hood before opening the door and hopping out. It was a little awkward helping Bear down, but they managed before making a mad dash for the door. Bear was just as eager to get out of the rain and she didn’t require too much coaxing up the stairs.

The little overhang provided some shelter and Bear did a full body shake, the water that clung to her fur soaking into Lucy’s already wet yoga pants.

“Good girl,”

Lucy said as she fit the key in the lock and turned it. “Better to get it off out here than inside.”

She left the door open behind her, quickly pulling off her raincoat before leading Bear to the mustard-yellow dresser in the corner that served as her makeshift linen closet. Grabbing a towel from the top drawer she threw it over Bear, running the hot-pink terry cloth up and down the dog’s back.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Theo walk through the door, heading for the little lime-green table and chairs at the end of the kitchen. He set the food and her shopping bags down before slipping off his shoes, putting them on the mat by the door. It was exactly where he’d left them the night before. When he straightened, he pulled his rain jacket off, hanging it up on the hook next to hers. His coat was a hunter green, way more subtle than her yellow.

She couldn’t help but like the contrast of him in her apartment. He was flannel and scruff and leather work boots, while she was bright colors and moody jewel tones, squishy pillows and mismatched furniture. They were so different in some ways, and yet . . .

It worked. They worked.

He looked up at her, catching her watching him. “What?”

“Nothing.”

She stopped drying Bear, standing up as she leaned back against the wall. The dog took a few steps away before slowly moving around and starting to check everything out. They watched for a moment before Theo turned back to Lucy.

“So, what’s next?”

he asked, moving toward her.

“Get her settled? And then get us settled?”

“Okay.”

He reached out, his hands landing on her hips. “I just need to do something first.”

He leaned in close, his lips brushing hers.

“And what’s that?”

Lucy asked, feeling just a bit breathless.

“This.”

His mouth covered hers, his hands tightening on her hips as he pulled her closer. He tilted his head to the side, deepening the kiss. It was a good minute before he pulled back, looking down at her. “Your mouth has been driving me crazy for the last hour.”

“Doesn’t my mouth usually drive you crazy?”

“Well, yes, but today it was for different reasons. All I’ve wanted to do was kiss you.”

“Well, do it again.”

Lucy laughed as she stretched up and pressed another kiss to his lips . . . and another one after that . . . and another one after that.

* * *

Theo recorded Bear as she did another perimeter check around the apartment, sniffing all the things and smelling all the smells. She was no doubt looking for Estee. Once she settled down a little—and the rain had lightened up—Theo took her for a little walk around the backyard so she could use the bathroom.

Again, it was another round of sniffing all the things and smelling all the smells. As there was another dog who lived there, and a number of others who visited, there was a lot to check out . . . and scents to try and cover up.

When Theo and Bear got back inside, the next priority was food. Well, food for Bear, more accurately. Theo and Lucy’s dinner sat untouched in the bag on the table, but luckily for them, the longer it sat the better it tasted. Besides, they could wait.

Given Bear’s pregnancy, and how underweight she was, Oscar had given them special food to get her calorie intake up. So, Theo stood in the kitchen, again filming while Bear ate. Meanwhile, Lucy was in the living room, getting a little bed together with old pillows and blankets.

It wasn’t as slow of a process to get her to eat as it had been in the alley. The dog was warming up to them more and more as the time passed, feeling safe for the first time in Lord only knew how long. She was still a little skittish, but he was pretty sure it had more to do with the wind now whipping around the house than it had to do with him or Lucy.

Bear had just finished the food in her bowl when a loud bang echoed from outside. She moved closer to Theo, pressing her side into his leg.

“No need to be so scared.”

He reached down, petting the dog’s head. “You’re okay now.”

Bear cautiously looked up at him, her sad eyes assessing.

“No one is going to hurt you.”

He moved his hand down the side of her face, scratching under her ear and down her neck.

One of her back legs started to move a little.

“See, she really likes you.”

Theo looked up to see Lucy watching him from the living room. She’d turned on the electric fireplace and plugged in her twinkle lights. He’d done the same thing the night before. Then it had been about setting the mood, but tonight with the rain, it just seemed cozy.

“I just found her spot.”

“Well, you’re good at that.”

Lucy grinned.

Theo laughed, shaking his head as he looked back to Bear. The dog rubbed her head against his leg, clearly wanting more attention. Moving slowly, Theo carefully sat down next to her, getting in a better position to give her more pets and neck scratches. She closed her eyes, her head falling back.

“You’re a good girl, aren’t you, Bear?”

He ran his fingers through the soft—and now clean—fur on her back. It was so thick, a good thing considering how cold it had been. “How long were you out there?”

he whispered, still trying to film.

She obviously couldn’t answer him in words, but those sad tired eyes were on him again and she seemed to say long enough.

“I wish she could tell us what happened,”

Lucy said as she walked into the kitchen, taking the phone from Theo so she could film, and he had the use of both hands to pet the dog.

“Tell us if someone hurt her.”

Theo nodded. “But it’s okay that she can’t; no one will hurt her again.”

At his words, Bear dropped her head, pressing it right over his heart. Something inside of Theo’s chest shifted.

“She trusts you.”

Lucy’s voice was so soft. Theo looked up at her, finding that same softness in her expression.

As if to prove the point, Bear flopped down into Theo’s lap—all eighty-seven pounds of her—giving him better access. Theo returned his focus to the dog, scratching the side of her belly. Her leg really started to move in a powerful kick that he’d hate to be on the other end of.

Theo continued to give Bear attention for a couple of minutes before he looked back up at Lucy. “Well, I think she’s settled. Wasn’t the next part of the plan getting us settled?”

Lucy tapped the screen of her phone before lowering it. “Yes. I feel like a shower is in order. Bear might be clean, but we are not.”

“Will this shower be separate or together?”

Theo raised his eyebrows.

Lucy looked him over. “You think she’ll be okay if we’re . . . occupied for a bit?”

“Only one way to find out.”

Theo glanced down at the dog, who was still luxuriating under his ministrations. “You think you can handle twenty minutes on your own? There’s a soft bed in the living room. It even has a few toys. Let’s go check them out.”

Bear nudged his hand, licking his knuckles before she rolled over and got to her feet.

“Did she just understand me?”

He looked up at Lucy.

Lucy laughed, shaking her head. “Probably not all of those words, but I’m guessing she understands let’s go.”

At those two words Bear began to excitedly wiggle her butt.

“See.”

Lucy scratched Bear on the head. “Such a smart girl. And a pretty girl. Come here.”

She patted her thigh as she headed for the living room, and Bear trotted along behind her.

And for the second time, the dog looked back at Theo as if to ask are you coming?

* * *

The bathroom steamed around them as they divested themselves—and each other—of their clothes. Lucy worked on the front of Theo’s pants while he pulled his shirt over his head. The second she got the button undone and the zipper down, she slid her hand under the elastic of his boxer briefs, palming his cock.

He groaned and she laughed, but a second later he covered her mouth with his.

It took them a little bit to get completely naked, but they eventually made their way into the shower.

Lucy had always thought that the bathroom was a decent size for one person—especially when taking into consideration the size of the rest of the apartment—but with her and Theo sharing the space, it was rather small . . . and awkward.

But they figured out a way to make it work.

When they got out, it was to find Bear in exactly the same spot they’d left her. Nice and cozy, curled up on the bed in front of the electric fireplace.

“She must be exhausted,”

Theo said as he crossed the room with only a towel wrapped around his waist. He reached behind Lucy’s shopping bags on the table, pulling out a small gym bag.

“What’s that?”

Lucy asked, running a towel through her wet hair.

“When I went to the bakery, I grabbed some clothes. Figured I’d need something to change into.”

Lucy shook her head, grinning. “You’re always one step ahead, aren’t you?”

“With you I have to be.”

They both pulled on some cozy clothes, Lucy another pair of yoga pants and a hot-pink sweatshirt with a cat wearing sunglasses, and Theo a long-sleeved Carolina Panthers T-shirt and a pair of gray sweatpants.

“You just had to wear those, didn’t you?”

Lucy waved her fork at him before she scraped the fried rice into a pan on the stove.

“What’s wrong with these?”

“Act like you don’t know.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Gray sweatpants are like the unofficial symbol of cold weather horniness.”

Theo laughed. “Excuse me?”

“It’s a whole thing. You should google it.”

Theo came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist as he kissed her neck. “There are much better things I’d like to do with my time than that.”

Lucy tilted her head to the side, giving him better access. “Is that so?”

“Mmm hmm.”

“Well, if we’re going to be doing that again, we need to eat first.”

“Very true. How can I help?”

“Want to get us something to drink?”

Lucy asked as she moved her attention from the fried rice to the pan of japchae, stirring the noodles around. “I’ve got wine, beer, and sparkling water.”

“We could do a bottle of wine.”

Theo pressed another kiss to her neck before letting go and moving off to the fridge.

Lucy couldn’t stop herself from getting a glance of those sweatpants from behind. But that glance turned into something much longer as he bent over, the soft gray fabric going tight over his ass.

And man, did Theo have a nice ass.

God, this whole thing was crazy. Him being in her apartment. The two of them eating at her tiny kitchen table. Them spending the evening curled up on her sofa, snuggled together under one of her fuzzy blankets while they watched Friends. Lucy had wanted to put something on that she didn’t have to focus too intently on. Mainly because they kept talking . . . and kissing.

They were a few episodes in when the storm picked up outside. It started to thunder and lightning, and Bear got up from her bed of blankets and pillows, making her way over to them. There was just enough room for her to get up on the sofa, and she curled up on Theo’s other side, resting her big fluffy head on his lap.

“I think she’s comfortable,”

Theo said as he gently scratched the back of her neck. The dog closed her eyes in pleasure, letting him pet her to sleep.

It was a few hours later when Lucy was the one being lulled to sleep by Theo’s touch. She lay in his arms, her back to his front, his hand on her hip as he traced slow lazy circles. After their last round she could barely move, her body sinking into the mattress.

Her body sinking into him.

“Lucy,”

he whispered as he kissed her shoulder, his lips moving across her skin until he paused at the spot beneath her neck.

“Hmm,”

she hummed, stretching her head to the side to give him better access.

“When did you get this?”

This time when he kissed her, his mouth was open, his tongue flicking out.

She shivered in his arms, her mind going a little fuzzy. She couldn’t think straight when he put his mouth on her. “Get what?”

“This kite tattoo. You didn’t have it before.”

“I got it a few months ago . . . after I moved back . . .”

His hand left her thigh, moving up and brushing her hair away from her back. She sucked in a breath as his fingers traced over the string that trailed down her back. At the end of that string was a little girl in a dress, her head tilted up to the sky.

Theo’s fingertips outlined the little girl, but a moment later his touch was replaced with his mouth. This kiss wasn’t sexual, but sweet. It had been so long since someone had been gentle with Lucy and it affected her more than she was prepared for, knocking the breath from her lungs.

“What does it mean?”

His words were soft, just like his touch.

“I asked Caro to draw it for me. I wanted something hopeful and when you’re flying a kite, you have to have your head up to look at it. I needed a reminder after everything that’s happened. I mean, I’ve always needed a reminder of that since my mom died, but I needed it after this year too.”

“Luce . . .”

He trailed off, pausing for a second before continuing. Like he was trying to figure out if he should. “What . . . what happened in California?”

Now Lucy was the one hesitating, pulling in an unsteady breath at his question. Sure, she’d opened up a little that afternoon when Gia and Chloe had asked, but this was different. Theo wanted to know more, and Lucy hadn’t really gotten into the more with a lot of people. Caro, Sasha, and Lilah knew the most, but she hadn’t even told them everything.

“You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.”

Theo moved his hand down and to her side, sliding it back into place at her hip. His fingers were stretched out, spanning as much of her skin as possible.

“I wasn’t . . . enough,”

Lucy whispered. “I wasn’t thin enough. Or pretty enough. Or musically talented enough. My ex—”

Theo tensed behind her when she brought him up.

“H-he pointed out every flaw, every imperfection, but he did it in this way where it came off as helpful advice at first, and then it slowly morphed into something else. I think it was all a big game to him. One that he’s played many times before. And when he wins, he moves on to hurt someone else.”

“How did he play the game?”

“He’d comment on what I ate or didn’t eat. He had an opinion about everything that had to do with my appearance, especially my body. At first it was all positive. He’d tell me I was beautiful, and how he liked things . . . but it slowly changed to him picking at things. Picking at me . . . pulling me apart. It was like he read my mind and found everything I was self-conscious about. And then he’d bring it out into the light. He’d tell me I needed to fix myself, pinch the underside of my arms and say I needed to do more to tone them. Or he’d grab my thighs and say that they were too big. He wanted me to be different.”

“It sounds like he fucking sucks.”

“That’s an understatement.”

Lucy laughed humorlessly.

Theo’s hand flexed on her hip before sliding down. “I like your thighs, Lucy. I especially like when they’re wrapped around my waist.”

He nuzzled his face into her neck before kissing her shoulder again. “I meant what I said earlier: I wouldn’t change anything about you.”

“Theo, I . . . I don’t think you understand how much that means to me. I haven’t always had a healthy self-image. In high school, I battled with bulimia for years.”

That fact was something she’d only told four people in her life: Caro, Sasha, Lilah, and her therapist. And in that moment, she wanted to share it with Theo.

He tensed behind her again. “Oh, Luce,”

he whispered her name as he held her tighter.

His touch emboldened her, made her want to share more with him. “It was when my mom got sick . . . and for some time after she died. I used it to control everything that I couldn’t control . . . and then everything got out of control.”

Lucy rolled over in his arms, her hand going to his jaw as she looked up into his face. “Being with my ex, it brought all of that self-doubt back to the surface, stuff I hadn’t felt in years. I started to feel out of control again and I knew I had to get out. That’s the real reason I left.”

“Are . . . are you okay now?”

There was so much concern etched across his face. He was worried about her.

“I’m okay now,”

she reassured him. “I started seeing my old therapist when I came back, and I still see her every month. I never want to get back to that place again.”

“I can’t imagine how hard that was for you then, or how hard it was for you to share it with me now.”

Lucy gave him a small smile. “It was easier than I thought. I trust you.”

Something flickered in his blue eyes, his features softening. “That means a lot to me. I’m glad I can be a safe place for you . . . that you let me be one. I don’t know all the right things to say or do, but if you tell me what you want or need, I’ll do it.”

“I’m really glad you’re here, Theo.”

“There’s nowhere else I’d rather be than here with you, exactly as you are.”

He leaned forward and kissed her. It was Lucy who pulled him over her, her body sinking into the mattress as he sunk into her.

* * *

Sunday dawned cold and wet, the skies still covered with clouds as the rain continued to come down. It was a bit of a struggle to get Bear to go potty outside, but Lucy stayed nice and warm in bed while Theo dealt with that. She didn’t fight too hard when he offered to go out in the rain, but she did reward him when he crawled back in bed with her.

They had a lazy morning, languishing in the cozy bed for a while before finally getting up for breakfast. Lucy cooked the bacon while Theo worked his magic with the pancake batter.

She couldn’t help but grab her phone and start recording. She wasn’t sure who she was focusing on more, Theo or Bear. But having the phone in her hand gave her an excuse to watch him—to really watch him—as he moved around her kitchen.

It wasn’t very often that Lucy got to watch him bake or cook. Sure, there were gatherings that included her family, and his, but there were usually twenty-plus people running around and in charge of their own specific tasks.

It was always chaos, chaos that Lucy loved, but chaos nonetheless.

Lucy never really had time to watch Theo do what he was good at. He was a professional baker, but it turned out, he was also a damn good chef, something he proved when he helped make her squash medley soup and whipped up a batch of focaccia bread. The man made bread like it was an art, his hands working the dough. She knew what it was like to have those hands move over her too.

She couldn’t help but marvel at how easily he navigated her kitchen. Like he’d cooked in it a thousand times before. Maybe that was just part of his talent. He could turn any kitchen into his own.

But there was something about him making her space his own that made her feel some type of way. What that way was, she didn’t quite know.

Theo grabbed a few sprigs of rosemary from one of her herb pots on the windowsill, pulling off the leaves in a practiced slide before running a knife over them in a quick and precise chop. He sprinkled the rosemary and a good amount of salt over the top of the bread before sliding it into her oven.

“Maybe I’ll whip up some eggs for Bear for dinner and add some of that rosemary to them.”

“Ohh, fresh herbs and eggs. She’ll be getting a fancy dinner too.”

She looked down at the dog, who was sitting next to Theo’s feet.

“The rosemary should help with her digestion. I’m sure her stomach isn’t feeling good with all the medicine she’s gotten and who knows what she was eating before we got her.”

The rain let up later that afternoon, and that was when they decided to introduce Bear to Leia and Estee. Her dad brought Leia outside, not missing an opportunity to razz Theo.

“That’s two days in a row, Theo. This going to become a habit for you?”

Wes asked as they all watched the two dogs run around the backyard, tails wagging as they sniffed each other.

“Well, as Lucy and I have joint custody, I think I’m going to be around a good bit.”

“So, it’s just for the dog?”

Wes’s bushy eyebrows rose high.

“No.”

Theo shook his head.

“That’s what I thought.”

Wes clapped Theo on the back before he turned to his daughter.

Lucy’s eyes lingered on Theo. She’d opened up to him last night in ways she’d opened up to no man before. It should’ve scared the shit out of her . . . but it didn’t. How was it that he’d fit right into place? Like he’d always been a part of her life.

Because he has always been a part of your life.

At least she knew he’d be a part of her life until she left again . . . if she left.

No, when she left. Where had that if come from? She didn’t know and she wasn’t going to think about it too much. Instead, Lucy focused on the next hurdle that she knew she had to deal with: introducing Bear to Estee.

Bear wasn’t aggressive toward the cat at all. More curious in a somewhat exuberant way. While Lucy, Theo, and Wes all had soup and bread for a late lunch, Estee stayed in her safe place in the laundry room, moving from the shelves to the top of the washer and dryer. Bear whined as she watched, but patiently waited until Estee finally came down to the ground.

One boop later—Estee’s little gray paw on Bear’s black nose—and the two were friends.