Jaxon laughs. “So go back next weekend. Same time, same place. Bet she’s there.”
“That’s kinda…logical. But is it too much? It feels stalker-ish. I don’t wanna scare her off.”
“Nah. A guy determined to track down a cutie he connected with? Girls eat that shit up. Plus, if you felt something, something that might be real…” He shrugs again. “You don’t wanna lose that chance. Chase it.”
I watch him quietly for a moment, casually drinking his beer as he stares out at the mountains. “You don’t have a soft spot, Jaxon, do you?”
“Nah, fuck that.”
“Sounds like you’re a softie for love underneath that tough exterior.” My grin grows as he shakes his head. “Sounds like you might know how to actually court a woman, not just sleep with her.”
“All right.” He yanks my beer out of my hands and strides toward the house. “You’ve had enough. I’m making you a coffee.”
I chuckle as he heads inside, and Bear cracks his sleepy eyes, looking up at me beneath the setting sun.
“What do you think, Bear? Do we give it a shot?” I blow out a breath as the sun does its final dip and the stars begin to paint the sky. “Maybe she’ll like us for exactly who we are.”
Did I really let Jaxon talk me into this?
“What am I doing here?” I look down at Bear, where he waits patiently, then back at the small building in front of me. I throw my arms up. “Let’s go. This is stupid. It’s probably not even the right shelter. And she probably won’t even remember us.”
Bear gives me an angry woof , like he’s disagreeing about how memorable I seem to think he is. He takes his leash in his teeth and tugs, trying to lead me toward Wildheart Animal Sanctuary.
“C’mon, buddy. Let’s go. If we’re meant to see her again, then—”
The sound of soft laughter steals my words when the front door opens, and a German Shepherd leaps outside, all but dragging a little thing with honey blonde and rose gold waves tumbling from the messy bun on top of her head.
I watch as Piglet trots forward three quick steps before jumping into the air, like she’s never been so excited, and Rosie can’t get enough of it.
Bear whimpers at the sight of them, those two girls who might have stolen a spot in our hearts a week ago, and two pairs of eyes snap to us. Piglet cowers, hiding between Rosie’s legs until she recognizes us. Slowly, she steps back into the sunshine, looks up at Rosie, back to us, and starts wagging that tail of hers.
Rosie’s eyes flash with recognition, surprise, and the knots in my stomach tighten as I battle between the urge to run and the desire to stay.
“Adam?”
“Hi, Rosie.” It comes out super fucking croaky, and I palm the back of my clammy neck as she approaches me slowly, curiosity dancing in her soft, jade eyes. “I, uh…I wasn’t sure if this was the right shelter, but it’s the closest one, and I figured maybe you normally go at the same time every Saturday, and…” I clear my throat into my fist. “I thought it would be nice if the dogs could hike together again, since they seemed to really like each other. You know, for the dogs.”
That grin grows, so huge, so dazzling, and Rosie bobs her head in agreement. “Oh, yes. Definitely. For the dogs.”
“And maybe me too,” I admit. “I, um…I liked walking with you. And talking with you. And eating you. No, fuck.” I squeeze my eyes shut and shake my head. “Fuck, no, that’s not what I—eating with you. Your sandwiches. Not your…” I gesture at her crotch. Holy fuck, I gestured at her fucking crotch. I’m turning into Garrett.
I need help. I need an intervention. I have a crush, and I don’t know what to do with it. It’s been way too long. Should I call Carter? Is he really my best bet for advice? No, I’ll call Olivia. She’s sensible. She can help me through this. Maybe she can gather the girls.
I point down the sidewalk. “I’ll just go now.”
A burst of laughter chases behind me when I turn around. Everything inside me settles at Rosie’s next words, at her hand wrapping around my wrist, stopping me.
“We’d love to walk with you.”
CHAPTER 5
TROUBLE WITH A CAPITAL T
ADAM
She’s so pretty. Does she know how pretty she is? Her hair looks so soft, I just want to touch it. She’s got these freckles, like liquid gold, dotting the bridge of her nose and sweeping over her cheekbones. Her chin has the tiniest dimple in it, right there in the middle, and when she smiles, I—
“You’re making me nervous.”
I trip over my feet, jolting forward. “What?”
Rosie snickers, and when she does, her nose does this cute little scrunchy thing. “You haven’t said a word in ten minutes, Adam. You’re just walking in silence, staring at me.” She swipes at her chin. “Do I have something on my face? I had a peanut butter and jam sandwich earlier and I tend to be an incredibly messy eater.” She swings her head over her shoulder, trying to look at her butt. “Or did I sit in something? You wouldn’t believe how many times I’ve done that , only to find out hours later when I take my clothes off.”
I chuckle. “No, you don’t have jam on your face, and you didn’t sit in something. Your butt is per—” I halt. Rosie blinks at me. I blink back. “Pur ple.” I gesture at her butt in her skintight lilac leggings. “Your pants are purple, so your butt is also…purple. Not that I was looking.”
I was totally looking.
Rosie tucks a short petal-pink wave behind her ear. “Thanks…I think?”
I nod. “Yeah, they’re nice leggings.” I do love the leggings, almost as much as I love the ass, and not because of the color.
Because her hips are full and round as fuck, and I’m not proud to say every single time she skips ahead of me, my eyes zero in on that perfect ass in those sculpted pants. Who had any right giving her an ass like that? It lures my mind to dark, forbidden places, like what it would feel like to grab it in my hands, lift her to me and press her against a tree.
I want to feel her. Touch her. I want to brush my thumb over that tiny dimple in her chin, skim my hand over the flare of her hip, tangle my fingers with hers, and just feel . I want to fucking feel something, anything, and I just want it to feel right .
“I’m sorry,” I finally say. “I’m in my own head today. Every day, really.”
“That’s okay. I live in mine. It’s an overwhelming place to be sometimes. Oh!” She claps my shoulder and turns, walking backward in front of me. “Do you ever do that worst-case-scenario thing?”
I lift a brow. “Worst-case-scenario thing?”
She lays a hand over her chest. “I’m a worst-case-scenario expert.” She flips back around and joins my side, clutching my elbow as we walk. “So I start by thinking about one seemingly insignificant thing, and then I accidentally think of something bad that could happen because of it, then another something bad, and before I know it, I’ve got a list of all the horrible, terrifying things that could go wrong if I wade too deep in the water, or if I go for a walk at night time, or if I grow a backbone, open my mouth, and finally tell somebody no.” She watches my blank face for a moment, then cringes. “Sorry. My level of anxiety is almost always unmatched.” She points at Piglet, roaming up ahead with Bear. “Except with Pig. And see, now I’m doing that worst-case-scenario thing where I’m thinking you suddenly wish you hadn’t asked me to walk with you, and now you’re thinking of ways to end this, and what if you’re desperate enough to roll me right off the cliff?” Wide eyes stare up at me. “Please don’t kill me.”