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Made aand pouncing on field mice with abysmal success

"At this hour?" She snorted "You knohen I drag ho to play All evening It’s a good thing I’m out of school or I’d flunk"

School? He leaned his shoulder against a post "What were you going for?"

"Uh…an MBA"

His brows rose Hell, he’d known she was sot it?"

"Finished in Deceolden streaks in her hair glinted in the ht

She smelled of his soap from the shower they’d taken He liked her in his clothes and scent "No wonder you’re so good at everything in the office"

The coht "Thanks"

"And what did you plan to do with that fancy new degree?"

"Find a fancy new job…sohtly, "I need a position where I can wear all ht of her leaving the clinic shredded tiny bits fros flushed a rabbit and chased it across the grass, barking lad youhappily, Rainie laughed

A sha up "Youra dog would have meant rental deposits And…she didn’t want to care for anything"

Ah Rainie’s tone was even, not bitter, but her face was easy to read "Not even you?" he asked softly

As if to avoid the question--and him--she leaned back in the chair

He put his hand on her calf, keeping contact whether she wanted it or not "Rainie?"

"Yes, even uy when I elve and never came back"

"You ended up with your father?"

"No, he left when I was seven"

"I was seven," she said Didn’t have to think to ree…which meant it had been nasty Memorable

"Did he die?"

"Walked out on us"

"Jesus" He stood, scooped her up, and took her place in the chair with her on his lap

"Jake, no, I’ s fine way to go He pulled her closer,how there wasn’t a place on her that was bony

When he nipped her jaw, she shivered…and his cock began to lengthen No, she needed cuddling and conversation, not sex The subject was childhood And abandonment

A shame irresponsible people couldn’t be spayed--or neutered--as easily as dogs "Who raised you, baby? Relatives?"

"Didn’t have any I got foster care"

H foster parents Knew others who’d suffered Rainie lived her life with joy and laughter, but…she had formidable emotional defenses "So the foster horim tone told him even more

"That sucks" In the clinic, affection flowed fro over animals and people If, as a child, she’d had no one to spend that love on, it’d have been like da up the Mississippi