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I hunch underneath the desk, scrubbing more vigorously at the ingrained dirt on the floor.

The muscles strain in my shoulders. I am breathing hard.

The sleeves are rolled up on the sky-blue hoodie that I have refused to take off, although I have put my blackberry apron over it, because I don’t want to risk damaging it.

This is the first time that I have been able to face wearing the apron in a year.

Each night, I have lain with the new clothes in my bed, sniffing at the three scents. I am trying not to examine that too closely. Instead, I am living in the present like Angel advised.

His massage taught me to focus on my senses.

I turn my head and sniff the hoodie, sinking into the reassuring scent of sun-warmed grass.

I have been working so hard that I have slept well with no thoughts or memories haunting me.

When my phone rings, I startle, banging my head on the bottom of the desk.

“Ouch.” I grimace, rubbing the top of my head. “Where’s my paramedic when I need him?”

I wipe my grimy hands on my apron, before dragging my phone out of the pockets of my jeans. “What’d you do, Soph?”

“Hey, it’s not nice to be suspicious.”

“It’s late.”

“Aren’t you still up?”

“You made me bump my head. I’m under a desk.” I work at cleaning the dirt from underneath my nails, when she doesn’t answer for a long moment. “You still there?”

“Are you having a panic attack? Or have your Alphas arrived early and you’re practicing cock warming?”

My mouth falls open. “You are such a smartass.”

“Love you too. Also, didn’t your angel boy give you a happy ending to the massage? Don’t I deserve some kind of reward like chocolates for taking you to the Heat Wave Clinic?”

I crawl out from underneath the desk, leaning against its leg. “I get it now. This is about you wrangling for something. What do you want?”

“A pet,” Sophie replies without even pretending hesitation. My sister has no shame. “My landlord doesn’t allow cats. There is this cute one at the shelter that we can’t house, however, and it makes me upset seeing her unloved and without a home. She’d be a great first guest for your inn. She could live there after your heat. She wouldn’t be a bother. I’d own her⁠—”

“Let me guess. We’re talking about a mastermind feline who organizes jailbreaks and steals kibble? Goes by the name Cornbread?”

“How did you guess?”

Sophie has me wrapped around her little finger, and she has always known it.

I would do anything for her, but she would do anything for me.

She hasn’t found her pack, however, which makes me sad.

Sophie loves animals, however, and if this makes her happy, then how can I refuse her? Even if this is a criminal cat?

“Let me survive this heat, then you can adopt Cornbread and bring her here. But I’m holding you responsible if she’s a dick,” I warn.

I hold the phone away from my ear, as my sister squeals.

“You’re the best,” she exclaims.

“I know. Now, I must continue cleaning, or the Coles will turn up to an inn that still contains mutant socks.”