Free When Stars Collide (Light in the Dark #2) by Micalea Smeltzer Page A

animals, especially dogs. 
    The receptionist asks us a list of questions, ones I can’t really answer since she was a stray.
    I catch the words, “—more than likely she’ll be euthanized—” and see red.
    “No,” I say over the woman speaking. I know she’s only doing her job, reporting the facts but I don’t want to hear them.
    “Excuse me?” She tilts her head up at me from where she sits at the desk.
    “I said, no .”
    “Sir.” She gives me a sympathetic look. “We’re a vet clinic, not a shelter. We can’t afford the cost of performing surgery on strays—”
    “I’ll pay it,” I say, slamming my palms on the counter. “Whatever it is, I’ll pay it.”
    She gives me a hesitant look. “It could be several thousand dollars.” Her cheeks flush, and I wonder why she’s blushing but then I realize I’m still shirtless. 
    “Xander—” Thea touches my arm.
    “I don’t care. I can pay it. Do you need proof? Is that it?” I start pulling out my wallet.
    “If you’d like to pay for the procedure we need a five-hundred-dollar deposit, and if it’s more, we settle that at the end, and if it’s less you’ll be reimbursed.” I hand her a card and she appraises me carefully. “I assume this means you’d also like to adopt her?”
    I nod. “Yes, I would.”
    Our rental house allows pets and I really don’t give a fuck if Rae and Cade agree. Probably the wrong mindset to have since they are my roommates, but there’s no way I’m letting that dog go to someone else.
    She nods. “I’ll get the paperwork together for the deposit and adoption.”
    Thea looks at me and her lips quirk slightly. “So … a dog?”
    “Yeah, a dog.” I run my fingers through my wet hair. “You like dogs, right?” I rack my brain for any memory of Thea not liking them. 
    “Yeah.” She laughs, gathering her damp hair into a bun on top of her head. “I’m just surprised is all.”
    “Surprised? Why?” My brows knit together.
    She shrugs her slender shoulders and the edge of her t-shirt slips over one. Before I even think about it I’m reaching out and righting the fabric. A small smile touches her lips at the gesture.
    “I don’t know. It seems like you have a lot going on right now.” I tense, momentarily thinking she knows about me being on the team. “What with working for your dad and this whole … marriage thing.” She smiles shyly at me. “Don’t you think adding a dog into the mix might be a bit much?”
    I shake my head. “Never.”
    She nods once. “I figured you’d say that.” She smiles, and it’s a happy smile, not like she’s tense and worried about this. “So, what are we going to name her?”
    Fuck it if my heart doesn’t beat a little faster when she says we . The last week we’ve been doing good—great, even. We’ve been more like our old selves and it’s been nice. I still wish I could kiss her anytime I wanted and … well, there’s a lot of other things I’d like to do to her, but baby steps. 
    “I don’t know,” I admit. “We’ll figure it out.”
    She pushes a wet strand of hair behind her ear and looks up at me through thick dark lashes. “I think we better go home—”
    “I’m not leaving her,” I declare.
    She laughs lightly. “You didn’t let me finish. I think we should go home and change and then come back. We’re both soaking wet. And um …” She waves a hand at my bare chest and then points over to the waiting area. “I’m pretty sure you’re giving that old lady heart palpitations.”
    I look to where she’s indicated and find a white-fluffy-haired lady of about eighty staring at me with an unhealthy grip on her Persian cat.
    I chuckle as my gaze swings back to Thea. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. But I’m coming back.”
    “And I’m coming with you,” she warns, like she’s afraid I might tell her to stay.
    I smile and grip her hand in mine. I cherish these moments, where even for a second, it feels like we’re a real