More Than A Game (The Kings of Kroydon Hills Book 2) by Bella Matthews (psychology books to read .txt) 📕

good bath and just check them again to make sure there is no damage to them from the smoke,” he explains.

As Mylah walks away, I find myself staring. Once again, I am stunned by the care that she is showing for these animals. Since she is busy with the puppies, I remove my gear and change it into my regular clothes. My shift is over for the day. Once I’m changed, I walk back over to the firetruck.

I almost forgot about the boa constrictor. How could I forget about something like that? I walk back to the truck and open the door. He is curled up under the seat. We both eye each other for a few minutes. I must look pretty ridiculous having a stare down with a snake. Carefully I reach in and lift him out.

Quickly as possible, I shuffle to my car. He is starting to unwind himself. I hurry and put the snake in the car on the floor of the back seat for now. I shut the door. I’ll figure out how to deal with him later.

Finally, I look around for Mylah. They have just finished cleaning off the puppies. I watch as she places them back in the box with their mommy, making them more comfortable.

“Ready to go?” I ask as Mylah walks over to me with the box of puppies. She nods her head. I take the box from her and settle it nicely on the backseat. “Um, I hope it’s okay that the snake is right there?” I ask, pointing at the floor of the back seat.

“Yeah. Huggie shouldn’t bother us,” she answers.

“Huggie?”

She smiles and nods. It’s the first genuine smile I’ve seen, and it makes her whole face light up.

Now that the animals are safely inside, Mylah sits in the passenger seat. I gently close her door. I get into the car, and we drive away from the fire station. It’s already evening out, and the sun is slowly setting.

I look over at Mylah when I have a moment. She is quietly staring out the window as the open space of Montana whips past us. The dogs are quiet, probably asleep. I don’t even see the snake. I want to say something to her, but I don’t know what. She doesn’t seem to be in a talking mood, which is understandable, so I focus on the road again. We are driving into the forest now. My land is a good hour from town. I like my privacy and space.

The sky is growing darker. When I look over at Mylah again, I see that she is asleep. She has her head leaning against the window. I can’t help but smile a little. She looks so beautiful and sweet like that—like an angel. I look back at the road again.

Mylah definitely reminds me of an angel and not just because of her looks. It’s her kind and caring heart. The way she was so concerned and attentive to those animals. She’s a beautiful person inside and out. I’m glad that I’m able to help her. In fact, I am pleased about it.

It's nighttime when we arrive at my cabin. Mylah is still asleep. I get out of the car, careful not to wake her. I unlock the cabin door and get everything set up.

When I walk back outside, I notice how pretty the moon and stars seem tonight. It’s quiet and almost magical. I open the door carefully. Thank goodness she has moved her head to the other side. She remains asleep. Poor girl is so tired from everything that has happened today.

I grab the box of puppies from the back seat and carry them inside first. I set the box in the corner of the living room. Next, I go back out and grab the snake. I hurry and put him in the living room too.

Lastly, I go back for Mylah. She remains asleep as I pick her up in my arms. Her head flops against my shoulder. I kick the car door closed. She seems so light as I carry her inside the house. As I lay her on the couch, she turns on her side and rests comfortably there. I’m not just going to leave her. She’s my guest, and I want her to be comfortable, but I need to fix things up first. I wasn’t expecting to have a guest tonight.

Rushing to the guest bedroom, I hurry to pick up whatever trash is lying around. The sheets are still clean, and I fold them back for her. Once the room is spotless, I carry Mylah in from the living room with ease. She is so dead tired. I set her in the bed and cover her up. She doesn’t move or make a sound. I turn off the light and close the door behind me as I walk out of the room.

In the living room, I shut the front door and plop on the couch. The puppies sleep in the corner. What a day this has been. I yawn a little. My eyes start to droop. I need to get to bed. I get up and decide to leave the living room light on for Mylah if she gets up in the middle of the night. I walk to my bedroom, not bothering to turn on the light. I strip down to my boxers, throwing my clothes in a pile on the floor, then crawl into bed and pull the covers over me.

I figured I’d be out as soon as my head hits the pillow. I’m so wrong. It’s like my brain is wide awake all of a sudden. All I can think about is the woman in the next room, asleep in my guest bed.

I try a different position, hoping to relax. I flip onto my back and stare at the ceiling. It’s no use.

Mylah is so sweet and innocent. The way she let me hold her and comfort her today. The cute way she worries about her