Accidentaly Divine by Dakota Cassidy (best large ereader .TXT) 📗

“You don’t know what porn is? C’mon, Dex. You’re an angel, but you’re not that much of an angel.”

“That’s not what I asked. Of course I know what porn is. I want to know where the hub is and why you’d think it was here?”

“It’s on the Internet.” George shook her head. “Never mind. Forget I said that. I want to know what’s going on in there that you don’t want me involved in. Animal rescue feels like a very angelic thing to do. So what’s the problem?”

He stared out the window for a long moment, looking at the blanket of white beyond the barren trees. “Total honesty?”

“No. I was hoping you’d lie to me.” She tapped his arm. “Of course I want you to be honest.”

“If I do come clean, that means you’re involved, and that’s not fair to you. I’d really rather you went back to work and forgot you saw me here.”

George scratched her head. “Too bad. Look, Dex, I don’t get this. We’ve been friends for almost a year, and I had no idea you had an animal rescue. I’m not surprised, because we don’t sleep and you might as well have something to do on your off time, but why is me simply knowing involving me in something? Why is that bad?”

And what did all of this have to do with Justin Daniels? Because this was where Justin was supposed to be.

“Because I really shouldn’t have an animal rescue. Yes, as guardians, we can keep our worldly possessions, but this wasn’t mine to begin with. I… I sort of took over for someone…”

That piqued her curiosity. “Someone?”

He didn’t say anything for what felt like forever, leaving them in awkward silence.

She broke the silence. “Dex?”

“Yes,” he responded almost defensively. “Someone. Just like you have things you aren’t ready to talk about, so do I.”

Well, then.

She guessed that was that.

Chapter 15

They sat in the stony silence for a moment until, with a gentler tone, he said, “Listen, there are a lot of factors at play here. The less you know, the better. I just need you to know this is really important to me. The animals saved me when I needed saving, and…”

Man, did she ever know about that. Gladys had come to her at a time when the whole world was dark and very bleak. Gladys was the reason she’d gotten out of bed every morning for the last couple of years. Gladys and the seniors.

“So you’re telling me whoever’s in charge up there wouldn’t want you to save animals with disabilities? What kind of barbarians are running the joint?” she asked, aghast. “I guess there really isn’t a Rainbow Bridge. How disappointing.”

“Yes, there is a Rainbow Bridge, and no, the person in charge wouldn’t be upset I’m helping animals. But my supervisor Frank might not like the idea my focus is split.”

She gripped his hand, her joy uncontained. “Wait, there really is a Rainbow Bridge?”

He grinned for the first time. “There really is. It’s amazing.”

That meant her childhood cat, Brad, the only other pet she’d ever owned, was up there somewhere. He’d gotten her through some of the toughest nights of her youth. Gee, she’d really love to see Brad again.

“Can anyone… I mean, can any angel visit this bridge?”

Now the old Dex returned, and he grabbed her hand with a warm Dexter smile. “Yeah. Yeah, you can.”

The absolute bliss that brought her was immeasurable.

But that revelation opened up the door to another question she wasn’t ready to ask. Not yet.

Instead, she shook her finger at him. “Don’t distract me, mister. First, who’s Frank?”

“The guy above Titus.”

“And if you guys can appear at will, why hasn’t Titus caught you yet?”

“Because Titus is a busy guy with a zillion things on his plate and he’s really good at leaving us to our own unless we need him. We check in a couple of times a month, but it’s always scheduled. So it’s easy to keep him out of the loop.”

“So basically, you’ve been lucky. That still doesn’t answer the question about why you feel like you’re involving me in something I shouldn’t be involved in. Spit it out.”

“Because no one knows about the rescue, I’m basically going to have to ask you not to say anything to anyone about it—especially Titus. Not right away, anyhow, and that puts you in a bad position—one I never intended you to be in.”

Instantly, she melted. It was a gallant gesture to fear she’d incur the wrath of Titus, but she had a hard time believing that big redhead who smoked and drank would be upset about an animal rescue. A Pornhub account? Maybe. But animals with special needs? Nah.

Still, she found herself trying to respect the things he didn’t want to talk about as much as he respected her lack of openness.

“I don’t have a problem with that. Not at all. I can’t believe you’d think I would. You’re doing something good, Dex. I don’t know why that’s a problem, but my lips are sealed. And as a by the way, you also don’t need to protect me.”

“The rescue doesn’t only involve the animals, George. It involves real live people. Kids. Kids who have crappy lives and come here to work a volunteer program to get away from those crappy lives. They’re doing good work here. Good, hard work and earning points for their college resumes. I don’t want them to lose that. I can’t let them lose that. Too many people upstairs knowing about this place, and the fact that I own it, leaves too many loose threads.”

The change in his tone made her wonder if there was still something else he wasn’t telling her.

“So now you’re telling me the entity in charge doesn’t want you to help underprivileged kids either? Again, I ask, what kind of looney-toon is running the show? Isn’t that what we’re all about? Helping people?”

He looked down at his hand, covered by hers. “Yes. That’s what we’re all about, but… Like