Chapter 11
ELEVEN
Card of The Day:
Embrace: Page of Swords | Release: Five of Swords
Between being caught trying to take a photo of Preston, my crystal going haywire, him kissing the hades out of me, and then being interrupted by Stacey, I’d had entirely too much stimulation for an afternoon.
Never mind the secret plans he wouldn’t tell me about. Which should not matter, except he’d just had his tongue in my mouth—again—and I guess I’d liked it.
Fine, no guessing required.
Since my energy levels were near the basement, I took a quick trip downstairs to suck in some sunshine and walk around the park across from Preston’s office. I slipped off my heels and let the grass and the earth seep into my skin.
I wasn’t an empath, but any woman would need a little recharge after that much emotional turmoil. Add in my own chaotic energy thanks to being in PMS’s vicinity, and yeah, I needed a break.
“Whatcha doing?”
I blinked out of my minor cleansing bubble and looked down at the little girl. She couldn’t have been more than six years old. “Hey there. Where’s your mom? Or dad? Or…” I glanced around.
The girl’s dark hair was scraped back into a messy tail, and she had a smudge of some kind of fruit on her face. She craned her neck up to meet my gaze. “Can I try?”
Desperately, I looked around for someone who belonged to her. “What?”
“The thing with your toes. Does it feel good?” She plopped on her butt and pulled off her sandals.
I clenched my toes into the grass. “Um, yeah, sure.”
“Just watch for doggie doo. Sometimes people don’t pick up after their dogs.” The little girl’s voice was matter of fact. “I always remember though. Even if it’s gross, my dad says you gotta take responsa-reponsa—”
“Responsibility?”
“Yeah, that’s the one. Responsibility for yourself and that includes your doggies. I have a doggie. His name is Bosco.”
Do you have a daddy? That was the part I needed to know.
I crouched down to meet the girl on her level. “Are Bosco and maybe your dad around?”
“Oh, yeah.” She pointed to a man chasing a multi-colored mutt of unknown origin with its leash dragging behind. “I got tired of chasing Bosco. He gets away a lot.” She stood up and put her hands on her hips. “My dad is a mess. Grass feels nice though.”
I stood back up and held out my hand to the girl. “Let’s go help him.”
She looked back at her shoes.
“They’ll be fine with mine. We’ll just mind the dog bombs.”
She laughed then took my hand. “You’re kinda funny.”
“I’ve heard that many times. What’s your name, kiddo?”
“Penelope, but my dad calls me Poppy.” She smiled. “I secretly like it, but tell him I don’t.”
“Gotta say I enjoy Poppy. It’s one of my favorite flowers.”
“Me too!”
“You don’t say.” I laughed.
A dog’s bark pierced the air. He—based on name, of course—went low on his front paws then cornered like he was on an opposite track and darted left while the tall man went right and tripped on his own feet and did a rather spectacular tuck and roll then bounded back up on his feet.
“Whoa.”
“Yeah, my dad is weird.”
“I can’t roll like that.”
“Oh, you should see him in his Judo class. He tosses people around like rag dolls.”
I grinned down at Poppy. “You guys get more intriguing by the minute.”
“Bosco!” Poppy giggled as the dog headed our way full steam ahead.
“Oh, crap.” I braced myself for impact and went down hard. A lapful of dog and a very exuberant tongue was my reward. There were worse things. “Get down, you crazy mutt.”
Bosco’s eyes were a piercing Husky blue in a mottled calico-colored face. Another tongue lick took off half my makeup then he bounded off again.
“Dad!”
“Shit—shoot!” The guy winced and crouched down in front of me. “Are you okay?” His attention was still on the dog, but I could tell he was torn.
I gave him my most responsible smile. “Your kid is safe with me—go get the dog.”
He pushed his overlong feathery hair out of his eyes. “You look okay. More than okay.” He gave me a quick grin, and his accent gave me a little shiver.
I rolled my eyes. “I work in the building across the street. I’m harmless.”
“Anything but harmless, love.” A dimple dented his cheek. “But I’ll be right back.” He glanced at Poppy. “Good?”
Poppy nodded and gave him a thumbs up.
I laughed and crossed my legs under my long graphic sundress then prepared to enjoy the entertainment.
Super Judo Dad took off. Poppy plopped herself in the grass next to me and we both giggled at the antics.
“Bosco should be in agility training.”
“What’s agility training?”
“You know those dog shows you see on TV sometimes? Where the dogs do the obstacle course?”
“Oh, right!” She clapped when Bosco zipped around a tree. “Not sure he’d follow directions enough.” She slapped her hands over her eyes as Bosco took out a picnic basket lunch and swiped a sandwich.
“Sorry!” Judo Dad yelled as he upped his speed.
The dog stopped long enough to wolf down the sandwich and that was his mistake. Poppy’s dad dove on the leash. Then again, the dog didn’t seem inclined to run now that he was happily killing a perfectly good foot-long sub, wrapper included.
He stopped at the picnic blanket and tried to apologize. He even went for his wallet but they just waved him off and gave the dopey dog a good scratch. The dad took out a business card, and the couple grinned, taking it and thanking him.
Hot dad and the dog came running back to us. The man collapsed in a heap on the grass in front of us. He was barely winded, but he was sweaty. It didn’t take away the hot factor. In fact, his perspiration just curled his feathery hair even more.
The dog shoved his head under Hot Dad’s arm and laid his huge head in his lap. The man ruffled his fur and there was no censure in his touch. “Dumb dog.” He sighed. “I’m really sorry. Thanks for watching Poppy.”
I wouldn’t mind being called Poppy the way he said it either. “No problem.” I held out my hand. “Ryan.”
“Grant.”
Hot Judo Dad had a hot name too. Figured. I was hoping for a zing when I shook his hand, but alas no.
Apparently, all my zings were reserved for one particular sexy, suited pain in the ass.
Grant had a warm, manly handshake that didn’t crush, but he didn’t treat me like I was a weak and helpless sort either. “I’d be happy to treat you to an ice cream as thanks.” He moved back.
“And have Bosco steal it?”
Bosco lifted his head and his spotted tongue lolled out.
“Considering Bosco isn’t supposed to eat bread, I probably shouldn’t add ice cream to his list of offenses, I guess.”
I grinned. “I have to get back to work anyway.”
“We took off our shoes and smushed our toes into the grass, Dad.”
“You did, hey?” He glanced down at my toes. “Should I ask why?”
“A little grounding exercise. Rough day at work.”
“Ah. I never thought of it that way. But I do the same, I suppose. When I have a rough day, I go for a walk.”
“See?” I rolled to my knees and stood up, shaking the grass out of my skirt. Another reason I wore black most of the time. Stains didn’t show so much.
“Can I go get our shoes, Dad?”
“Stay where I can see you.”
She darted off, her little feet kicking up in that carefree way kids had of running.
“Sorry about that whole thing. I do keep track of my daughter when I’m with her, I promise.”
“I won’t report you to CPS, don’t worry.”
“And why would you know those initials, fair Ryan?”
I hadn’t meant to blurt that out. There had been many a time I actually did worry about someone calling Child Protective Services on my mom. Not that she didn’t try her best, but not everyone understood Rainbow Moon’s version of parenting. “I work for a lawyer.”
“Ah.” He frowned a little, but Poppy came racing back before he could say anything else.
She held up my wraparound sandals. “Here you go.”
“Thanks.”
Grant’s eyes went hooded and he swallowed. “You work for a lawyer, you say?”
“I’m a temp.”
“Explains a little. You don’t look like any paralegal I ever knew.”
“Lowly admin, I’m afraid.”
“Never lowly.” His dimple flashed again. “My admin would de-ball me if I said such things.”
I laughed. “You sound like my friend Luna.”
“Sounds like I’d like Luna. We should all go for coffee.” He frowned. “Wait, that didn’t come out right.” He grabbed the back of his neck. “I mean, we should go out for coffee but if you’re more comfortable in a crowd—man, I’m out of practice.”
I laughed. “That’s sweet.” My pocket vibrated and I sighed. “I gotta get back.”
“Right. Sure.” He gave me a rueful smile. “Thanks, fair Ryan.”
Poppy slid her hand into her dad’s. “Thanks, Ryan. I liked squishing my feet with you.”
“And I liked squishing my feet in the grass with you too.” I waved and padded to the edge of the grass then put my heels back on.
I checked my phone, and sure enough, PMS was looking for me. Considering I hadn’t taken a real lunch today, he could hold his very nice ass. And I ignored the immediate flutter at seeing his name.
Why, oh why, couldn’t that have happened with the hot single dad with the accent?
When I drew that Page of Swords that morning, I had no idea I’d literally have a child flying into my life. The Universe had a damn sense of humor. Sighing, I crossed to Preston’s building. As I got into the elevator, my phone buzzed again. I checked the readout and typed back that I was on my way.
By the time the doors opened, half the lights in the office were shut off.
“PMS?”
“You do realize that using my unfortunate nickname isn’t professional.”
I rolled my eyes. “Do you see anyone here?”
“You were not here, so a client could have been in my office.”
“Don’t get your boxers in a twist. You said you had an appointment.” He was standing by my desk, a folder in hand. “Do you have anything you need me to do while you’re out?”
“No, you’ve done enough today. Try to be on time tomorrow. I have an important deposition at ten.”
I narrowed my eyes. “You mean you have one at eleven and are telling me an hour earlier?” I knew since I kept his schedule for him.
“It was just moved ahead. If you weren’t out galavanting, you’d have gotten the email notification.”
“Look, I skipped lunch thanks to prepping for your last client. Give me a break.”
He crossed his arms, his file tucked against his chest. “Is there a problem? You seem a little surlier than usual.”
“And how would you know that?” I was trying to rein it in, but he was right.
“We usually enjoy a sort of banter.”
“Enjoy?”
He dropped his hands to his sides. “Okay, now I know something’s wrong. I know for a fact you enjoy needling me.”
“It’s just a little residual energy from Stacey. I’ll be fine once I have a shower.”
“You didn’t shower this morning?” He frowned. “I—” He cleared his throat. “I’d have to say that was a definite yes from our…situation earlier.”
“Situation? Oh. The neck thing.” And the kissing thing. And the so many inappropriate tingles thing.
No big deal.
He frowned. “You forgot? Are there so many men in the same spot that you’ve forgotten?”
“What’s it to you? You’re the one with all the rules, not me. I’m a free agent.”
Yet annoyingly, that freaking delicious vet had done nothing for me. Sure, I was free as a damn bird.
Preston stiffened and a sheet of paper slipped from the folder and floated onto my shoe. He lunged for it, but I was quicker. My stomach bottomed out and every ounce of moisture dried in my mouth.
Dating profile.
Needs.
Likes.
Dislikes.
He snatched the page out of my hands. “That’s none of your business.”
No, it really wasn’t my business. He was so very right about that. “Nice to see that you don’t want to actually enter a monastery, PMS.” I arched my brow and loosened my muscles until it seemed as if I really didn’t give two craps.
Even if I literally wanted to rip out his tongue and slap him with it. Goddamn him.
“I’m not a monk. I’m just careful with my sexual partners.”
“Oh, right? You work all the time and won’t dip your wick in the office ink. So what does that leave you with but a dating service? Not shocking really.”
He so didn’t seem the type. Then again, Mr. Logic probably loved the idea of a computer shitting out his perfect match.
Blond, petite, unassuming.
Not me.
Of course.
He crowded into me. “Is that right? You think I need a dating service?”
It was unnerving that he was taller than me. Most men were not. I hadn’t gotten used to it yet. Maybe I never would.
I tipped my chin up to meet his gaze, and then I slid my knee between his legs. “You aren’t willing to seal the deal with me, so it’s not surprising you need a hand.”
Shock hadn’t let me really comprehend what I’d been reading other than the profile part. I dragged my finger across his lower lip. “So what gets that big…brain of yours hot? A sweet little blond with a soft voice? Deferential, polite. Punctual.” I said the last word with a hint of bite.
“Why don’t you come with me and find out?”
“Excuse me?” My spine snapped straight, and I took a step back. “Pretty sure your date wouldn’t be into a threesome.” My neck heated. “Or do I have you pegged wrong? Emphasis on the peg.”
“What? No. Peg?” He shook his head. “I don’t want to know. Your mind is startling. The tracks it takes are absurd and astounding.” He turned to the briefcase sitting on my desk and slid the folder inside. “No, it’s a speed dating appointment.”
“I thought you said you didn’t like to do everything fast. Guess that was just you being boastful.”
It was his turn to arch his brow. “Are you frightened? Don’t think you can survive a speed round, Miss Moon?”
“Oh, honey. You don’t know what I can survive.”
He snapped the locks and lifted the black leather briefcase. “I dare you to come.”
“I’m not interested.”
“Afraid you won’t procure yourself a date?”
Me and my grass stained skirt could out-date his repressed suit with my hands tied. “You really want me to show you up in front of all those people, PMS?”
He smiled. “I’m game if you are.”