“Where’s he gone?”
“Oh, he got bored. Don’t take it personally. Dogs have limited attention spans.”
He couldn’t get annoyed at that. “So something happened.”
“The video? Mia sent it.” Okay, that was a relief. She didn’t seem upset. “Mia also told me that you’re worried I’ll throw a frat party or burn cigarettes into your coffee table.”
“I had to check, but she gave you a good reference. She adores that dog of hers so I figure she wouldn’t take a chance on his care.”
“I am trustworthy. And I only had five guests over—hardly a party.”
He squinted at her. “I know you think I’m completely humorless but I understand that’s a joke.” He hoped.
“Hmm, maybe. You’ll have to trust me, Reid.”
Trust me. Only so far as was necessary.
10
Reid slipped inside the apartment, dropped his away bag in the hallway, and listened for the patter of doggy feet.
Nothing.
Disappointment rocked him. He was certainly playing the fool, living in far too much anticipation of his new friend’s affection. The press got a kick out of asking him stupid questions about the rescue, though they were more interested in Kennedy. No surprise there, they were always looking for an angle. Kershaw had taken to calling him Aquaman on the plane ride back, which everyone thought the height of comic genius.
Henri called multiple times while Reid was flying back to Chicago. He had a feeling he knew what that was about.
Perhaps Kennedy and Bucky were out walking. She had other clients, and hopefully Bucky was getting along with them. Socialization, she had called it. Something that Reid could do with a little bit more of.
He rolled his bag toward the bedroom, eager to change and take a shower. Maybe he’d check the GPS tracker first, see if they were nearby. In his room, he found his dog, sitting at the entrance to the en suite bathroom.
“Bucky!”
The little guy cocked his head and raced toward him. Thank God he was safe. Reid hugged him and let his face be thoroughly licked. He pulled a dog biscuit from his pocket and held it out for him.
“A little something for you.”
Bucky snatched it up and wolfed it down so fast Reid worried he might choke. But no. He had it under control like the excellent dog he was. His bright eye—looking even brighter than three days ago—was filled with joy.
“Hi, there.”
He looked up to find Kennedy standing at the entrance to the bathroom in a towel. He had a flash of ink on her upper arm before his grasping eyes realized he was about to turn into a creeper if he continued.
“Hi. I’m sorry—I should let you get … why are you showering in my bathroom?”
She giggled. “Okay, Papa Bear. Your shower has the extra jets so of course I’m going to use it before the guest one. Well, I won’t again because you’re giving me that look that says I’ve overstepped.”
“No, it’s fine. I just didn’t expect to see you.” He bent down again and rubbed Bucky’s head. He couldn’t look at her in that towel, not when he’d gone without sex for four months. Instead he spoke to the dog. “Were you spying on Kennedy?”
Spying? Why had he used that word?
“He was, the cheeky devil. I tried closing the door but he just scratches at it. Clearly has voyeuristic tendencies or abandonment issues.” She waved that off. “Sorry, not a dig. I know you have to go out of town to earn a crust.”
“Has he been for a walk yet today?”
“No, but I can get dressed and take him out.”
He held up a peremptory hand. “No, I’d like to go out with him.” He certainly wasn’t asking permission, yet somehow he felt as though she was in charge of the dog’s welfare.
“Sounds great. I’ll start the coffee and we can chat about how it went when you come back.”
She headed back into the bathroom and shut the door.
Kennedy might have misjudged Reid. When he spotted her in a towel, he’d almost looked shy and somewhat apologetic to have encountered her half-dressed, even though she was the one who had taken over his bathroom. The shower was that much better.
Just seeing Reid with Bucky warmed her heart. The big grump turned into a total cinnamon roll around that puppy. Animals, the great levelers.
Fifteen minutes later, the door opened and both of them came into the kitchen. Reid’s cheeks were flushed and his eyes were bright, making him look like a windswept, romantic hero just back from a walk on the moors. Very Heathcliff.
If Heathcliff wore a suit. They must have to dress nice for travel, which was weird. Dress codes for sports people made no sense, though she approved because Reid Durand looked amazing in a suit.
Dragging her eyes away from how the those pants clung fondly to his thighs, she managed to eke out, “How did it go?”
“Fine.” He went to the sink to wash his hands. His gaze fell to the counter. “You moved things around.”
“Oh, yeah, the mugs. That cupboard is kind of a stretch for me so I put a couple on the counter so I can just reuse them. Easier than having to grab a stool.”
He nodded, but his eyebrows formed a frustrated V. Drinking vessels out of sync. Does not compute. He was welcome to put them back as soon as she was gone …
… or right now. The cups were restored to their original location.
“Is there anything I need to know?” He poured coffee, asking this with his back to her. When he turned, she got the impression he was trying to school his expression to calmness. That cup move must have really pissed him off.
He was probably not going to love what she said next.
“So don’t freak out but yesterday, I had to take him to the vet—”
He slammed the cup down, splashing drops of coffee on the counter. “The vet? What happened?”
She held up a hand. “No big deal. He vomited yesterday afternoon and I was a bit worried that he might have swallowed something toxic because the cupboard door under the sink was ajar. That’s where the dishwasher packets are and the box was open.” She waved quickly. “But he was fine! The doc took a look and said that the food we’re giving him might be too rich. He’s not been fed so well for months, so it’s playing havoc on his stomach. That’s all, I promise. I moved the stuff from under the sink to the utility room for now until we can figure out how to dog-proof the apartment.”
He did not look appeased. “You should have told me when I called last night.”
“I could have but you would have just worried, maybe tried to get home sooner. It was all under control. You seem to be a bit, uh, emotional about this puppy so it was better this way. Trust me.”
“Trust you? Not sure I can if you’re lying to me. You should have told me the minute I got in.”
“And ruin your reunion? You guys needed to have some tension-free alone time. Now you have, and I’m filling you in on what’s transpired. No secrets, just timing, okay?”
His stare burned into her and if she wasn’t so sure he was absolutely pissed, she’d be getting a tad turned on. Her nipples tightened along with the muscles between her legs.