“Where’s Shuri?” Ian asked at some point in the middle of the night, when Chrissie was drowsing in the warm cocoon of his arms. “Does she need to come inside?”
“I left her with Toni. She was all worn out from the beach, and then I had to hose her off so she didn’t get sand all over the couch. The poor thing could barely lift one eyelid when I left.”
“You’re a good dog-mama.”
She stiffened for a moment. Had he touched a sore spot? “Thank you. I try.”
He nuzzled the sensitive area below her ear. “Your muscular tension just increased. Did I say something wrong?”
“No, no, nothing like that.”
“You sure? Because this tendon along your neck says otherwise.”
“It’s…a long story.” He felt her relax under the caress of his lips on the tender skin of her neck.
A short pause while he focused on
