Cal rolled his eyes. “Great, so now every joke will be at my expense?”
Josh put a finger to his mouth. “No, this is a good idea. We could have a bit with picking up their poop in the park.”
“And maybe come up with ridiculous names for them that we have to convince strangers are real,” Dom chimed in.
I grinned. It was a good bit. Granted, just a start, but I felt better and stronger that we could do this within Nina’s guidelines. Now, if only Nina would talk to me. Ever since I laid it all out for her, she was doing what Nina did best… avoiding me. Which was understandable. I was learning that this was how she processed her feelings. She needed time. And I was willing to give it to her. As much as she needed.
Speak of the she-devil, Nina popped her head into the tent. “Hey guys,” she said, her gaze flicking to me briefly before scanning my other brothers. “Everyone ready for today?”
Josh and Dom nodded. Cal grumbled an answer. And when she finally looked at me for confirmation, I gave a single nod. “We are.”
“Ava said she’s ready for you in the makeup chair, Sam,” Nina said.
I pushed my way up as Cal snorted. “Don’t expect me to walk that dog of yours.”
Josh rolled his eyes. “I can do it.”
“They need you for a sound check,” Nina said.
I grabbed Harley’s leash from the corner and gave a whistle. She trotted over to me and sat like the best girl ever. “I’m sure Ava can wait a few minutes.”
“Here,” Nina held out her hand. “I can do it. I’m not really doing much except supervising today, anyway.”
“You?” I asked. Her eyes looked more lavender than blue today and they flashed at my question.
“Yes me. I litigate millions of dollars in negotiations, I think I can handle a walk around the park.”
I shook my head. Shit. “That’s not how I meant it,” I said. “I’m just surprised. I didn’t think dogs were your thing.”
She tilted her chin higher in defiance, squaring her shoulders. “I had a dog growing up. Granted, she was smaller than this… but I don’t mind taking her.”
What was this? A peace offering? Was she working out her feelings for me? Or was this simply as it seemed… a company employee helping out in order to keep us on schedule? “Okay.” I handed the leash over to her, and as her fingers wrapped around the nylon strap, they brushed over mine.
Electricity jolted from her touch up my arm, and my heart beat faster at that single touch. The glossy way her eyes blinked up at me and she sank her teeth into her bottom lip caused my dick to stir. For the first time in days, hope sprang. This was a peace offering.
I released the leash and held the tent door open for her. “I’ll walk with you on my way to makeup,” I said.
A smile spread on her face. “That’d be great.” Her eyes shifted to my brothers before that smile tightened, and I saw her expression shift from that of my lover to my boss. “Just to make sure Harley is okay with me.”
I nodded. “Yes. For Harley’s sake.”
With a glance back at my brothers, all of their expressions were different shades of what the fuck is going on? But I completely ignored them and followed Nina out of the tent. It was completely unlike me to keep any secrets from them… especially from Josh. But this wasn’t just my secret to keep. Nina needed time, and if she wasn’t ready for anyone at the company to know, I respected that.
When we were alone… or mostly alone, because there was always crew running around doing something, Nina took a deep breath, wrapping the leash around her wrist as Harley tugged, pulling her deeper into the park. “So,” she said.
I waited for her to add to the thought… but she didn’t. “So?”
She cleared her throat. “You, um, you haven’t come by this week at all.”
I nodded, shoving my hands into my pockets to keep myself from touching her—from reaching out and stroking the back of my knuckle against her soft arm or linking my fingers with hers. “That’s right. I said I’d give you space.”
“Right, right,” Nina said, looking at the ground. Her black stilettos were even higher today, and I swear, I’d never understand how women could walk in those things… but thank God they could because Nina’s legs had never looked sexier. “I guess I, um, kind of missed seeing you around.”
I knew Nina… even though we hadn’t had much time together, I knew what she responded to. She loved being the mouse, even if she was the top dog in the office. She wanted to be chased, captured, then deliciously, slowly tortured… by me. And not having me pursuing her was the best thing I could have done to help her realize what she wanted.
“So, you missed me?” I asked. “Is there anything you want to do about that?”
She squirmed, and I could see in her body language that she was searching for the courage to answer. Harley tugged again and I reached for the leash, giving her a quick pull back into Nina’s side. “You have to be firm with her,” I said, leaning in. “She’s pretty headstrong, so you need to let her know who’s boss.”
I looked down, now dangerously close to Nina, and our mouths were nearly lined up as she exhaled. I became acutely aware of her breath, shallow little pants that caused her breasts to heave. Her eyes, pupils dilated and eyelids hooded, dropped to look at my lips. She wanted me to kiss her… she wanted me to take her.
But I needed her to say it. To admit she had feelings for me too. She didn’t need to be in love with me yet… that could come later. But, step one: Nina, tell me you want me. “Just say it,” I whispered. “Say the words and we’ll go to HR right now.”
“Sam, I… I love—oh!” Harley yanked free of Nina’s hold and took off running into the park.
Chapter 8
Nina
No! This couldn’t get any worse. Just as I realized how much I ached for Sam, missed him, maybe even loved him… I lost his fucking dog!
“Harley!” I yelled, taking off behind Sam who was already several steps ahead of me, running. He was a hell of a lot faster without these stupid stilettos. I paused, hopping to take them off, and tossed them aside before running faster to catch up with Sam and Harley.
“Harley, come! Come here, girl!” I shouted.
I finally caught up to Sam where he had paused in the middle of the wooded area of the park. No one else was around, most people opting to sunbathe in the grassy lawn area. “Fuck!” Sam shouted. “She’s never done that before. What the hell got into her?” He cupped his hands around his mouth and called for her again.
Emotion clenched in my jaw as a tear spilled over my cheek. “I’m so sorry.”
He didn’t turn to look at me, but I felt as his hand snaked behind him and clamped onto mine. “It’s not your fault.”
“I’ll find her. I’ll stay out here all day and night if I have to—”
Wait. I dug in my purse, tugging free the to-go meat and cheese plate I had put together for my lunch and tore open the sandwich bag, holding up a piece of cheese. “Treats,” I said, handing one to Sam. “Dogs like cheese, right?”