Phoenix Inheritance by Corrina Lawson Page B

release everything that had boiled up out there.
    He stared at her face, watching her for any sign about how to go forward. “You kept the origami bear,” he said.
    â€œYeah,” she whispered.
    She wasn’t conventional supermodel beautiful but there was something lively and distinctive about Renee that no one else had. There was that familiar dent in her chin from hitting the edge of a table when wrestling with her older sister when she was six. And there was that soft mouth, so ready to be kissed. And freckles. Damn, she even had freckles.
    â€œDaz, if you hadn’t come along when you did…” She closed her eyes. Her head tilted back, exposing her neck. He couldn’t resist, not anymore.
    His put his lips to her neck where it met the shoulder and gently kissed her. “We’re all fine. That’s what matters,” he whispered. She shivered and her fingers clung to his shoulders.
    â€œCharlie went after the cat…I couldn’t catch him in time…”
    â€œI heard you talking to him.” He traced kisses up her neck. She shivered. “It’s all right, Renee.”
    â€œI thought having him outside with me would be safer. I thought I’d be able to catch him but…”
    He cupped her face in his hand. “You saved him.”
    â€œNo, you saved us. I almost lost him.” Tears appeared in her eyes. “I got to the edge just in time. He was holding on by his fingertips. He almost fell…”
    Her voice broke. He wanted to banish this fear, this terror of hers. He wanted to make her see that it would all be okay.
    He kissed her lips, soft, gentle.
    â€œHe didn’t go over. You saved him and kept him calm until I got there. This wasn’t your fault.”
    â€œI’m his mother. I should have known better. I should be able to keep him safe.”
    â€œHe’s a kid, a smart, curious kid. He’s going to get into trouble. I’m sure I did something nearly as bad that terrified my own mom.”
    She let her forehead fall against his shoulder and took another deep breath, as if only just realizing what they’d been doing. She stepped out of his hold.
    â€œI don’t…” She shook her head. “Look, I’m pretty mixed up right now.”
    â€œIt’s okay.” He poured the coffee. She’d leaned on him, trusted him for comfort, she’d responded to his kisses. Good, all good. He added milk to her mug before handing it over.
    She reached out with one hand, still favoring the other arm. “You remembered.”
    â€œSure. Just a little bit of milk, not cream, no sugar.”
    Thor came over and head-butted her leg. “Oh, poor baby. I owe you treats, don’t I?”
    â€œDon’t they have food in their bowls already?” Daz pointed at the dishes on the floor in the corner of the kitchen.
    â€œFood isn’t treats. They know when they do SAR work, they get treats.”
    â€œAh.” He stepped back to let her deal with the dogs. Let her regain her balance. They had time tonight.
    She set her mug on the counter, reached up and grabbed a bag of dog treats from the cabinet with one hand. Thor and Loki sat at her feet, open-mouthed, their tongues hanging out, giving them the semblance of smiling.
    â€œYou guys. Thank you. Good dogs. You’re getting too old to do this anymore, you know. I’m sorry I had to ask.”
    Renee tossed them several treats each before kneeling down to pet them. They circled around her, almost enveloping her, and she murmured to them, her voice soft and low, and so affectionate.
    Lucky dogs.
    But she still held that right arm against her chest.
    â€œRenee, that shoulder is clearly giving you a lot of pain. Please let me look at it.”
    She sighed. “Yeah, I guess it’s worse than I hoped.”
    He set one hand on her elbow, only just now realizing how pale her face was. Before, it’d been all red from the cold.