Read Online Rise From Darkness by Ciara Knight - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Ciara Knight
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Patronus ,” Alexander squatted next to them.
“How obvious,” Sammy muttered.
“What?” Gaby looked up at her, noticing Alexander’s glare.
“Nothing,” Sammy said with a smile.
Alexander scratched the dog’s ears. “It means protector in Latin.”
“What kind of dog is he?” Gaby tried to sound excited but all she could think about were the fleas and ticks he probably had crawling all over him.
Patronus flopped on his back for her to rub his belly. Okay, maybe he wouldn’t be so bad.
“The guy at the adoption place said he was a Beagle-terrier mix. He also has some whippet in him so he’ll run fast.”
Yep, a mutt, just like her. Gaby ran her hand down his belly and noticed how skinny he was. Hadn’t he ever been fed? He reminded her of the dog from the Haunted Mansion ride at Disney World.
“I’ll have to ask my dad, and get some dog supplies.”
“The supplies are covered.” Alexander got up and retrieved a brown paper bag from his car.
“I’ve gotta get home. Stacy is due in a few.” Sammy took off through the woods, eyes front but waving bye over her head.
Alexander followed Gaby inside. As they stored everything in the kitchen, he said, “Why don’t we take him with us to work on the boat, then I’ll drop you at practice later?”
“Hope he doesn’t chew anything up.”
“ Patronus is two, so I doubt you’ll have a problem. I’ll keep him with me while you’re at practice. Figured I’d pick you and Sammy up after.”
“Wonderful.” If only her mother were here, Gaby could ask her about Alexander. Why sometimes he seemed so close and others so distant? Coming over with a picnic basket, but leaving without a reason. Taking her hand when they walked but dropping it quickly as if she had the plague, planting unexpected kisses. Bringing a dog as a gift. Were all guys this confusing?
A short time later they hunkered around the boat.
“I think the temperature is cool in here today, maybe a chilly ninety-two or ninety-three?” Alexander smiled and grabbed a hammer from the toolbox. He crouched under the motor which was propped up on two wooden planks.
Patronus nestled into a corner panting as they worked.
“How long do you think it will take to fix the engine?” Gaby hoped it would take weeks or better yet, months. Maybe they would have to order parts and wait for them to come in. The longer the better.
“I don’t know yet. Depends on how much we find wrong. Hand me the needle nose pliers.” Alexander held out his hand waiting for them. His bicep flexed as light reflected off his bronze skin.
Grinning with the thought of being so close to him, Gaby grabbed the pliers and handed them to him. As he took them, he squeezed her hand. He did this each time she gave him something and each time her body responded to his touch with a warm sensation deep in her core.
They broke for lunch and snacked on fresh fruit and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
“Here you go.” Gaby turned to hand one to Alexander.
He propped up next to her and tossed a grape in her mouth.
She stifled a nervous giggle.
Even with her hair pulled back in a ponytail, sweat poured down from her temples. Alexander set next to her looking cool and comfortable.
“How come you never seem to sweat?”
Alexander reached up with a napkin and patted her forehead dry. “I’m used to it I guess. You said you lived up north the last few years right?”
Gaby nodded her head in confirmation. “You’ll probably be used to it by the end of summer.”
“You mean just in time for it to get cold?”
“It never gets cold here. It might get down to the fifties during the middle of winter, but sometimes we can even swim on Christmas Day here. Although on a few occasions we’ve had below freezing temps.”
Alexander got up and brushed the dirt off his shorts. “Thanks for your help. How do you know your tools so well?” He popped another grape in his mouth.
She couldn’t help but stare at his mouth.
“How obvious,” Sammy muttered.
“What?” Gaby looked up at her, noticing Alexander’s glare.
“Nothing,” Sammy said with a smile.
Alexander scratched the dog’s ears. “It means protector in Latin.”
“What kind of dog is he?” Gaby tried to sound excited but all she could think about were the fleas and ticks he probably had crawling all over him.
Patronus flopped on his back for her to rub his belly. Okay, maybe he wouldn’t be so bad.
“The guy at the adoption place said he was a Beagle-terrier mix. He also has some whippet in him so he’ll run fast.”
Yep, a mutt, just like her. Gaby ran her hand down his belly and noticed how skinny he was. Hadn’t he ever been fed? He reminded her of the dog from the Haunted Mansion ride at Disney World.
“I’ll have to ask my dad, and get some dog supplies.”
“The supplies are covered.” Alexander got up and retrieved a brown paper bag from his car.
“I’ve gotta get home. Stacy is due in a few.” Sammy took off through the woods, eyes front but waving bye over her head.
Alexander followed Gaby inside. As they stored everything in the kitchen, he said, “Why don’t we take him with us to work on the boat, then I’ll drop you at practice later?”
“Hope he doesn’t chew anything up.”
“ Patronus is two, so I doubt you’ll have a problem. I’ll keep him with me while you’re at practice. Figured I’d pick you and Sammy up after.”
“Wonderful.” If only her mother were here, Gaby could ask her about Alexander. Why sometimes he seemed so close and others so distant? Coming over with a picnic basket, but leaving without a reason. Taking her hand when they walked but dropping it quickly as if she had the plague, planting unexpected kisses. Bringing a dog as a gift. Were all guys this confusing?
A short time later they hunkered around the boat.
“I think the temperature is cool in here today, maybe a chilly ninety-two or ninety-three?” Alexander smiled and grabbed a hammer from the toolbox. He crouched under the motor which was propped up on two wooden planks.
Patronus nestled into a corner panting as they worked.
“How long do you think it will take to fix the engine?” Gaby hoped it would take weeks or better yet, months. Maybe they would have to order parts and wait for them to come in. The longer the better.
“I don’t know yet. Depends on how much we find wrong. Hand me the needle nose pliers.” Alexander held out his hand waiting for them. His bicep flexed as light reflected off his bronze skin.
Grinning with the thought of being so close to him, Gaby grabbed the pliers and handed them to him. As he took them, he squeezed her hand. He did this each time she gave him something and each time her body responded to his touch with a warm sensation deep in her core.
They broke for lunch and snacked on fresh fruit and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
“Here you go.” Gaby turned to hand one to Alexander.
He propped up next to her and tossed a grape in her mouth.
She stifled a nervous giggle.
Even with her hair pulled back in a ponytail, sweat poured down from her temples. Alexander set next to her looking cool and comfortable.
“How come you never seem to sweat?”
Alexander reached up with a napkin and patted her forehead dry. “I’m used to it I guess. You said you lived up north the last few years right?”
Gaby nodded her head in confirmation. “You’ll probably be used to it by the end of summer.”
“You mean just in time for it to get cold?”
“It never gets cold here. It might get down to the fifties during the middle of winter, but sometimes we can even swim on Christmas Day here. Although on a few occasions we’ve had below freezing temps.”
Alexander got up and brushed the dirt off his shorts. “Thanks for your help. How do you know your tools so well?” He popped another grape in his mouth.
She couldn’t help but stare at his mouth.
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