against Sarah and her bike.
Rocky jumped up and licked her face as his tail wagged furiously, making his whole body shake. At the look of pure joy on her face, all barriers down, Grant felt a twist in his gut. Over time, he’d begun to draw her out; finding out she loved chocolate, hated cold weather, and tolerated comedies, though she still kept him in the dark about anything regarding her past, which disappointed him.
She clammed up when he brought up the subject of her childhood, though he noticed a look of longing on her face when she stared at the poster of a smiling family on the wall. An idea formulated in his brain. He should know better but he couldn’t change who he was.
“Hi. How was your day?” he questioned evenly, not wanting her to recognize how happy he was to see her. Not that she would notice since Rocky had thrust himself into her arms and was in the process of licking her.
“Down, Rocky.” She laughed and pushed the dog off so she could dismount. “My day was fine. Sorry I’m late. Mabel was sick again, so Veronica came in. I really like her.” She looked up at him with a smile. “How was yours?”
“Pretty calm…so far.”
That changed the minute Sarah brushed the dirt Rocky’s paws had left on her powder-blue sweater. The color suited her, as did the lightweight material, which clung to her curves more than Grant wanted to think about.
For a moment, Grant stared at his assistant, lost in the mystery of her blue eyes. The secrets that lay hidden behind their translucent color drove him mad, but there was nothing he could do for now. He’d seen her shut down too many times, erect to many walls the moment he pried too deep. But with any luck, that would change.
She’d pulled her hair back into a bun as usual, but a few wisps had escaped, enhancing the softness of her face. Grant noticed several freckles graced the bridge of her upturned nose. They appealed to him, like tempting pieces of candy, and beckoned him to plant a tender kiss on each one. He took a step closer, and then caught himself as he started to lean in. He cleared his throat and fought for something to say.
“Speaking of Veronica, how about going out for pizza tonight?” There hadn’t been time lately and he missed his usual pie, but he knew it wouldn’t be the same without Sarah.”
“Oh, thanks. I already have plans. Rocky is…” She held a hand to her mouth and whispered, “He’s getting a B-A-T-H. Aren’t you, boy?”
“A B-A-T-H?” Grant mimicked her. Memories flashed back to the other time Sarah tried washing him. There was nothing sexy about giving a dog a bath unless you included a curvaceous blonde a tiny bathroom and one wet, clingy purple T-shirt. “Need any help?”
“Thanks, but I think I can do it this time.” Sarah answered coolly. Heat rushed to her cheeks as she turned away. Leave it to Grant to remember that embarrassing incident.
She headed into the clinic before taking Rocky off his leash. Even with his training, she didn’t quite trust her dog not to sniff out that stray cat or any other animal.
“I’m sure you can.” Grant followed her. “It’s been quiet today, there’s not a lot to do. Why don’t you take Rocky to the park or give him his B-A-T-H now?”
Sarah stopped in her tracks and she felt a bit light-headed. Her bill couldn’t be paid off. Sarah had figured on at least another month at the rate she was going with all the added expenses. The neutering, the chew toys, even the new bowl and leash cost money. Money Sarah didn’t have but was more than willing to work for. Grant had offered to pay for them all, but she refused to accept his charity. She couldn’t.
“Hey.” He moved around in front of her and gently lifted her chin, forcing her to gaze into his eyes. She didn’t flinch. “Just because there’s nothing to do right now doesn’t mean your job is done. I thought you’d like some time off. Play time. I don’t think you get enough. That’s
Rocky jumped up and licked her face as his tail wagged furiously, making his whole body shake. At the look of pure joy on her face, all barriers down, Grant felt a twist in his gut. Over time, he’d begun to draw her out; finding out she loved chocolate, hated cold weather, and tolerated comedies, though she still kept him in the dark about anything regarding her past, which disappointed him.
She clammed up when he brought up the subject of her childhood, though he noticed a look of longing on her face when she stared at the poster of a smiling family on the wall. An idea formulated in his brain. He should know better but he couldn’t change who he was.
“Hi. How was your day?” he questioned evenly, not wanting her to recognize how happy he was to see her. Not that she would notice since Rocky had thrust himself into her arms and was in the process of licking her.
“Down, Rocky.” She laughed and pushed the dog off so she could dismount. “My day was fine. Sorry I’m late. Mabel was sick again, so Veronica came in. I really like her.” She looked up at him with a smile. “How was yours?”
“Pretty calm…so far.”
That changed the minute Sarah brushed the dirt Rocky’s paws had left on her powder-blue sweater. The color suited her, as did the lightweight material, which clung to her curves more than Grant wanted to think about.
For a moment, Grant stared at his assistant, lost in the mystery of her blue eyes. The secrets that lay hidden behind their translucent color drove him mad, but there was nothing he could do for now. He’d seen her shut down too many times, erect to many walls the moment he pried too deep. But with any luck, that would change.
She’d pulled her hair back into a bun as usual, but a few wisps had escaped, enhancing the softness of her face. Grant noticed several freckles graced the bridge of her upturned nose. They appealed to him, like tempting pieces of candy, and beckoned him to plant a tender kiss on each one. He took a step closer, and then caught himself as he started to lean in. He cleared his throat and fought for something to say.
“Speaking of Veronica, how about going out for pizza tonight?” There hadn’t been time lately and he missed his usual pie, but he knew it wouldn’t be the same without Sarah.”
“Oh, thanks. I already have plans. Rocky is…” She held a hand to her mouth and whispered, “He’s getting a B-A-T-H. Aren’t you, boy?”
“A B-A-T-H?” Grant mimicked her. Memories flashed back to the other time Sarah tried washing him. There was nothing sexy about giving a dog a bath unless you included a curvaceous blonde a tiny bathroom and one wet, clingy purple T-shirt. “Need any help?”
“Thanks, but I think I can do it this time.” Sarah answered coolly. Heat rushed to her cheeks as she turned away. Leave it to Grant to remember that embarrassing incident.
She headed into the clinic before taking Rocky off his leash. Even with his training, she didn’t quite trust her dog not to sniff out that stray cat or any other animal.
“I’m sure you can.” Grant followed her. “It’s been quiet today, there’s not a lot to do. Why don’t you take Rocky to the park or give him his B-A-T-H now?”
Sarah stopped in her tracks and she felt a bit light-headed. Her bill couldn’t be paid off. Sarah had figured on at least another month at the rate she was going with all the added expenses. The neutering, the chew toys, even the new bowl and leash cost money. Money Sarah didn’t have but was more than willing to work for. Grant had offered to pay for them all, but she refused to accept his charity. She couldn’t.
“Hey.” He moved around in front of her and gently lifted her chin, forcing her to gaze into his eyes. She didn’t flinch. “Just because there’s nothing to do right now doesn’t mean your job is done. I thought you’d like some time off. Play time. I don’t think you get enough. That’s
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