Free Foster Siblings 3: Brokedown Hearts by Cameron Dane Page A

you?”
    Ben arched a brow. “So I’ve been told.” He then lifted his gaze to David, and a soft smile graced his lips. “I just came to say hi and check in on the little lion.” His tone gentled too, and David went all fluttery and warm inside. “How is he?”
    With one look from Ben, acrobats started going crazy in David’s belly. He parted his lips to reply; his mouth gaped, but no words came out. Oh God. No. Don’t start looking like a nut job in front of this guy . David tried again, but only a croak came out.
    “ She ,” Erin answered for David, hopefully before his lack of response looked too weird, “the lioness, is very well. And I have to go, so I’ll let you help David bathe her.” Glancing up at David, Erin squeezed his arm. “See you tomorrow, sweetie.”
    Erin pinched David’s forearm one more time, and the shock of concentrated pain snapped David out of his stupor.
    “Bye,” she said again.
    Metaphorically donkey kicked back into life, David looked at Erin and prayed she could see in his eyes the gratitude he felt. “Thank you again. For everything.”
    She gave him a little nod in return. As she breezed past Ben, she wiggled her fingers at him too. “Bye-bye.”
    “Bye.” Turning in a circle, Ben eyed Erin as she strolled to her van. When he completed the circle and his gaze landed back on David, he arched one of his raven brows halfway up his forehead. “Sweetie?”
    “Oh.” David’s cheeks heated, and he grinned sheepishly. “She’s my boss.”
    Ben switched from the brow lift to the side eye. “Kind of makes me want to ask more questions rather than less.”
    David mentally replayed what he’d just said and muttered, “Oh, duh.” The burn rising to the tips of his ears, David quickly explained, “Erin calls most people at the sanctuary ‘sweetie’ but only started doing it with me today.” A different kind of fizz bubbled within David, awakening new pride and shyness at the same time. Good God, his burgeoning feelings for this man were misplaced and not healthy, but how he wanted Ben to think well of him and respect him. “I think that means she’s happy I rescued the kitten, and it made her start trusting me,” he admitted, a hint of thickness in his voice.
    “That’s a good thing.” Rocking on the soles of his heavy boots, Ben tucked his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “Right?”
    “Yeah.” Like a tree lifting toward sunlight, David stood up straighter. “I think it’s very good.”
    Ben stepped a bit closer and braced his shoulder against the doorjamb. He held eye contact, and good Lord, the glints of gold in his hazel eyes twinkled like mad. After a heartbeat of silence, he asked, “May I come in?”
    David jerked. “Oh shoot.” The kitten yowled in David’s arm, and he immediately stroked her. “Sorry,” he said to her and then looked up at Ben and repeated, “Sorry.” Stepping out of the way, he welcomed Ben inside with his free arm. “Of course you can come in. Please.”
    “Thanks.” After entering and shutting the door behind him, Ben dipped down to the point of nearly touching noses with the kitten and scratched her behind the ears. “So our little boy is a little girl, huh?”
    “Yep.” David readjusted the purring kitten along the length of his forearm. “I washed her down with a cloth last night. I got some shampoo and flea meds from the shelter today, though, so I’m about to give her a real bath.” He wrinkled his nose. “She needs it.”
    Standing back up, Ben wore a pinched look too. “I noticed that when I came back last night. You want some help?”
    Erin’s decree from before came rushing back to David with mortifying results. “Oh, Erin was just teasing you. You don’t really have to help me.”
    Legs crossed at the ankle, hands back in his jeans pockets, Ben leaned against the closed door. “So then you don’t want my help?” The man’s surprisingly full mouth somehow twisted into a frown and yet lifted at one