Chapter 3 #2
What would happen when Knox settled down?
After seeing the way Marcus and Bray had embraced the commitment of marriage, he knew it was only a matter of time.
They were at that age. The age when a man’s thoughts veered away from the latest bar scene to .
. . Well, hell. Doing what he was doing right now.
Contemplating the future. Putting down serious roots.
Understanding what was important in life—and it wasn’t the pool in his backyard.
“I always wanted a dog like you. I know, that sounds odd. You’re not much of a chick magnet, and pretty sure you’ve had some rough experiences.” He lightly traced a scar on Maybelline’s head where the fur would never return.
It filled him with fury. She was a big but gentle animal. However she’d gotten hurt, it was unforgivable. In a quiet whisper, he asked, “Were you a bait dog, baby? God, I’d like to find the bastard who mistreated you.”
Maybelline tilted her head just a little to eye him. “You’re still beautiful. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”
She gave an answering grumble, and damn, it felt as if she wanted to reassure him. “Thanks, girl, but I’m fine.”
Shifting, she leaned against him more fully, turned her head to better see him, and almost crushed his junk in the bargain.
“Hey, careful around the jewels.” Wincing, he adjusted, straightening one leg. And that had both dogs quickly adjusting, too, until he was back in nearly the same position.
The little dog gave him a look of disdain, making him smile. “Yappers are annoying, but I don’t mind your yapping because it’s usually warranted. I mean, I get it. People can be jerks . . . me included. If I wasn’t a jerk, I’d have already stepped up, right?
While he stroked both dogs, his thoughts continued to riot.
“I hate the idea of you guys being separated.” He bent over them, encompassing them in a hug.
“If I had any family to help out . . .” But he didn’t.
“Knox is busy enough already, and with Marcus and Bray married, I can’t impose on them.
What if I had a twelve-hour day? I get those, you know. ”
Unsure whether he was trying to reason with the dogs or himself, Ford continued. “Much as I’d love to take you home, it wouldn’t be fair to have you cooped up all day. I’m trying not to be selfish here.”
“I don’t think you’re selfish.”
The intrusion of that soft voice jolted all three of them. Ford jerked upright, Maybelline swung her big head around, and the rat went fiercely bonkers. He leapt off the bench, turned two circles, and gave Skye hell.
“How long have you been there?” Yes, his tone reeked of accusation. He’d just had a lengthy, maudlin, dramatic conversation with two dogs. He’d thought he was alone, and there she’d stood, daring to eavesdrop. “Why did you sneak up on me?”
“I saw you talking.” Dark blue eyes met his, and in their depths he saw amusement, but also sensitivity. “To the dogs.”
“And that meant you had to listen in?”
Lifting one shoulder and elevating her chin, she said, “Sort of like you did earlier when I was talking with Laylee.”
Unable to refute that, he shut his mouth. But the small dog wasn’t appeased by her explanation.
Skye inched in close and took the seat beside him.
Very close.
Their thighs were pressed together.
How did she expect him to keep things platonic if she was going to go thigh-to-thigh with him? Awareness sparked all through his body, sending his thoughts on an erotic free-for-all.
She bumped her shoulder to his. “This little guy isn’t happy with my intrusion, either.”
“Those are his attack circles,” Ford explained. “He’s beyond unhappy. He’s enraged.”
Bending forward, Skye offered her hand, and the yapper pretended to nip her without doing any real damage. “My, you’re a fierce one.”
“He doesn’t like that you overheard our private conversation.”
A dimple appeared in her cheek. “I won’t apologize.” Turning her attention to Maybelline, she again offered her hand.
Big mistake. Maybelline’s tongue came out to lap from her fingertips to her elbow, leaving behind a trail of slobber.
Ford snickered. “That’s what you get.”
Hand held away from her body, Skye searched the area, likely hoping for a way to wipe off the drool.
Ford watched her with glee. “Use the grass.”
“Ugh.” She leaned farther forward to do that, swiping her palm across the lawn and giving him a stellar view of her backside in the process. “You could have warned me.”
Took a second for the words to sink in because his attention was firmly fixed on her derriere. “Fat chance, since you didn’t warn me.”
Now with her hand partially dry, she dug in her purse and found a tissue.
The yapper continued to complain until Ford scooped him up to Maybelline’s face again. Both dogs watched Skye, Maybelline with her usual friendliness, the yapper with furious suspicion.
When Skye finished, she stuck the tissue in her pocket, rested her hands in her lap, and smiled at him. “If I hadn’t listened, then I wouldn’t have come up with such a brilliant solution.”
* * *
Skye didn’t think she’d ever been so touched by a conversation. Hearing Ford share his feelings so openly with the dogs, knowing he was earnest, had her seeing him in a whole new way. A warmer, more affectionate way.
He’d literally had a heart-to-heart with shelter dogs, and his concern for them, his caring, couldn’t have been more genuine.
The slick salesman, the gorgeous neighbor, the die-hard bachelor and overachiever, was actually a kind, compassionate man.
“You’re staring at me,” he said.
“I’m sure I’m not the first woman to do so.” He was so sinfully sexy, looking had never been a problem. “Don’t let it spook you.”
“I’m not spooked.” A dull flush colored his cheekbones. Heat of the day—or more likely embarrassment at being found human. “I can tell you’re up to something though.”
The yapper finally settled down and even let Skye touch him without all the fuss and feigned outrage.
Maybelline, who truly had soulful eyes, dropped her massive head on Ford’s lap again, making him grunt with discomfort.
“They’re an adorable pair.” And there was no way she could walk away from this. From them.
From Ford.
When exactly he’d become more than a neighbor, she didn’t know. If he realized the direction of her thoughts, he’d probably drop out as her wingman. He’d get stingy with his smiles again, and she’d be back to square one.
The problem was, now that she knew him better, no one else would do.
“You said you had a solution.” Still disgruntled, Ford scowled at her. “Let’s hear it, and then I’ll decide if it’s brilliant.”
“We should adopt the dogs.”
Alarm shot his brows skyward and had him tilting away from her. “We, as in together?”
The way he choked on the word together tickled her. “We’re not together, so, no, I didn’t mean that. You can relax.”
Instead, he seemed more irascible. “What do you mean?”
“I’m not proposing, Ford. I’m not even suggesting we be a real couple.” Not that she’d mind giving that a try, but it would have to come second to other, more important things. Like two beautiful dogs who definitely needed homes. “I promise, I haven’t forgotten our agreement.”
He started to say something, changed his mind, and shrugged. “It’s your agreement. You can forget it whenever you want.”
That left her a little speechless. How did he mean that? That he’d be happy to bail whenever she released him? Or that he might want more than their arranged ruse?
“I’m looking forward to the dinner,” he said. “And the party.”
She had serious doubts about that but smiled. “Good, because I’m not letting you off the hook.”
He smiled, too, and mimicked her with, “Good.”
The sunlight made his green eyes even brighter, and when she caught herself leaning toward him, she cleared her throat and refocused on the dogs. “Our yards run together. I’m not planning to move, and I don’t think you’re planning to move?”
“I’m not.”
“So why don’t we adopt the dogs.” To convince him, she hurried on with her talking points.
“I can take this little thug and you can take Maybelline, and when necessary, we can puppy sit for each other. Plus, they could spend time together during the day. My house, or your house, and sometimes in the yard.”
Surprise slowly replaced his smile. Pleasant surprise, she hoped. She wasn’t quite sure about that yet. He studied her eyes, maybe gauging her seriousness, then looked at Maybelline before asking, “You’d really do that?”
The naked yearning in his tone, in the way he touched the dog, told an entire story, one he wasn’t ready to share. Anyone could see that Ford loved the big lug, but he hesitated to take her because he didn’t want her to be shortchanged.
There were layers to Ford Caruso that fascinated her. “We’d probably need to get our yards fenced as soon as possible, but once we do, we could add a gate between them so that when the dogs want to visit, they can.”
“What happens if you get pissed at me?”
Hearing more than what he’d actually said, she asked, “Why would that happen?”
Expression droll, he shot her the side eye. “We’re neighbors. You’re a woman.” Before she could get riled, he lifted a hand. “I’m a man. People disagree on things.”
“Hmm. You could be right. I can imagine a hundred ways you might infuriate me.” Given the annoyance in his gaze, teasing him was way too easy. “So let me see if I understand. Your concern is that, when you irk me—and we both assume you will—I’ll . . . what? Withhold the dog from you?”
“Or from Maybelline.” With gentle commiseration, he traced his fingertips along an old scar on the dog’s neck. “She’s been hurt enough. Withholding her buddy wouldn’t be fair to her.”
“No, it wouldn’t.” The dog gazed adoringly at Ford. “I’d have to be a terrible person to do that, but I’m not. I think I’m nice. Flawed in many ways, but not mean or spiteful.”
He nodded his acceptance. “So you know, I’m the same.” With a crooked grin, he clarified, “Plenty flawed, but not vindictive.”
Her heartbeat was picking up speed with all the possibilities ahead. “She loves you.”
He snorted. “She’s a dog.”
“Yes, and she loves you.” Why was that so hard for him to understand?
“If it’ll make you feel better, you can adopt both dogs.
I’ll still let this little guy live with me, and I promise to share equally in all the responsibilities, both financially and by helping out with whatever they need.
” For three seconds, she allowed herself the pleasure of leaning into him.
“You can trust me to keep my word for . . . let’s say three months.
That way if, or when, you decide I’m not the proper sort of pet owner, you’ll have all the control. ”
New interest glowed in his eyes. “I like the idea of having control with you.”
Wow. Okay, yeah, heat just scorched her clear down to her toes. Wasn’t easy, but she forced a careless smile. “Was that a sexual innuendo? If so, that kind of thing can cause confusion.”
The corner of his mouth hitched. “Sorry. It comes naturally.”
“I’m sure.” He really was slick, making it tough to tell what he genuinely thought and felt. “If you’re ever serious, you might have to spell it out for me.”
He did a double take, his gaze searching hers. “Fair enough.”
The back door of the shelter opened, and Nikki leaned out. “Sorry to break up the visit, but we’re closing in fifteen minutes.” She looked at each dog, and then, with obvious hope, at Ford and Skye. “So, um, any decisions made?”
Pitching her voice low, Skye said, “I’ll even pay to have the yards fenced.”
“No, you won’t,” he said just as low. “And we’ll each adopt to keep it fair. I’m trusting you.”
Her heartbeat went into overdrive. “I’m trusting you, too.”
Somehow, his smile added to his already devastating appeal. He shifted his gaze to Nikki. “We’ve come up with a solution.”
Incredibly happy, Skye said, “I’d like the little ruffian.”
“And I’ll take Maybelline.” He grinned at the dog. “This way, they’ll still be able to visit.”
Bursting into a loud cheer, Nikki danced out to the yard. “That’s incredible! Such great news!” She twirled, which got Maybelline and the little dog doing the same.
Ford laughed, and because the excitement was contagious, he caught Skye’s hands and pulled her up to dance her around the yard, too.
The reason didn’t matter; she liked seeing him so happy.
She also liked touching him.
Huh. When was the last time that had happened to her? Forever ago. Maybe never. She honestly couldn’t remember being so drawn to a man.
Laughter got the better of Skye. Today had been a terrific day, and even facing her overwhelming twin wouldn’t dent her happiness.