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By the tiate that blocked the driveway at the end of a secluded dead end,for more than a minute or two ever since Hawke had driven the car onto the ferry that took us from the mainland to Whidbey Island and Hawke had been cool and distant since we’d left theLuckily, Matty hadn’t noticed his surly attitude, but rown more and more every time he answered Matty’s curious questions with blunt, one or tord responses

“Is Bullet nice?” I heard Matty ask from the back seat

“Uh-huh,” was all Hawke said back to him

It wasn’t until the car was parked in front of the huge Tudor style ot a chance to lay into the et Matty out of the car, I bit out, “We didn’t ask to be here He’s just a kid and he doesn’t deserve you treating him like shit”

Hawke grabbed my arentle, but he wasn’t hurting ht before, he looked at , but instead, his eyes dropped to where his fingers were pressed against er surprised by the current of electricity that passed throughout from the place where his skin touchedback and forth over my heated skin I held my breath as he continued to drawaround us ceased to exist as his eyes held y there…at least, that’s what I thought it was I saw so else too, but I couldn’t be sure about it either because it seemed too farfetched to be possible

Longing

For what, I didn’t know But he had yet to let o and I had yet to move away

It wasn’t until a cold, wet nose pressed against e Gerlanced up to see aat the entrance to the house His eyes weren’t on h They were on Haho hesitated for acircled hinored him and went around the front of the car I forcedMatty His initial exciteot a look at the huge ani to s rapped around e that he wasn’t ready to be put down yet so I carried him around the car

The dog followed us, but I was glad when he didn’t jump up to try to reach Matty

“Is he nice, Daddy?” Matty whispered against my ear

“I think he is, buddy,” I said