“You don’t want to give him up,” Cookie says with a smirk.
I scowl. “I can’t keep him.”
“Why not?” Cookie leans back on my couch and stretches his arms out. “You can afford it.”
“You know our schedule’s crazy.”
“Lots of guys have dogs.”
“They also have wives who look after them.”
“Not true. Brando’s single and he has a German Shepherd.”
I make a face and shrug.
“You can pay someone to look after him when you’re gone. You just did,” Cookie points out.
I could pay Lilly.
Wait! That’s a fantastic idea!
Or is it? She shot me down when I asked her out. Would it be weird? Stalkerish? I kind of thought she felt that attraction too. But we’re just talking about a business relationship here. “I like my freedom,” I say slowly.
“I get that. But a dog doesn’t tie you down as much as a kid.”
“Well, I’m sure as hell not having kids!”
Cookie laughs. “Yeah, yeah, we all know you’re happily single. But it might be good for you to have something you’re responsible for, besides yourself.”
I frown. “Are you saying I’m selfish?”
He shrugs, unoffended. “Naw, man. Just…closed off.”
I stare at Cookie. I haven’t known him that long, but we’ve gotten to be friends. “I’m not closed off.”
“Yeah, you are. You never care about any of the chicks you go out with. You bang women all the time and then dump them.”
“I don’t dump them! I’m clear about what we’re doing. No attachment.”
“Whatever. Also, you hang out with us, but you don’t share much.”
“There’s nothing to share,” I mutter. The guys all know my past but know better than to try to talk about it. “I hate dogs.”
Cookie laughs. Asshole. “You don’t hate dogs. You fucking love that mutt.” He nods at Otis.
“I do not! Jesus.”
“Whatever.” Cookie’s a laid-back dude. “Maybe if you had a pet, you wouldn’t get so pissed off all the time.”
My jaw slackens. “What the fuck?”
“Don’t get mad at me. You know it’s true.”
After a tense beat, I blow out a breath and let my shoulders sag. Everyone knows it’s true. “I don’t think a pet is going to help with that.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure.”
“I can’t just keep him, though. It’s like…stealing him.”
“You saved him. Someone abandoned him. You’ve tried to find where he belongs.” He shrugs. “Just keep him.”
Otis is asleep on the floor with the stuffed dog I bought him. He’s on his side, forehead furrowed, tongue hanging out of his mouth, a puddle of drool on the hardwood floor.
Charming.
Chapter 5
Lilly
I sit in my living room with my laptop on the table in front of me.
I got used to Otis’s presence over the last few days, and now this place feels empty. Quiet.
Normal.
This is how it should be.
Naw, dammit, I miss him. I miss his slobbery, sad face and his toenails clicking on the hardwood floor and his whines when he needs to go outside.
I focus on my computer.
I’ve set up a free website for my business. I paid a designer on Fiverr to come up with a logo for Walk ’n Wag. I’ve done research into scheduling and invoicing software. I’ve checked out other businesses in the area and what they charge. I may need insurance, especially if I go into people’s homes, and I’ll need a business license, but I don’t want to spend too much money up front until I know I’ll have some clients.
I tacked up a notice on the bulletin board in the lobby of Kent’s building, which is a big complex. I already walk Lola, but there are other dogs in the building, and I’ve put notices online as well. My phone’s not ringing off the hook. Wait, that’s a stupid expression. I don’t even know what a phone hook is. Anyway, no one’s calling me.
Yet. They will.
I keep thinking about Easton.
I shouldn’t have stayed for breakfast with him yesterday. He’s definitely hot. I can’t deny how attractive he is and the heated flutters I felt in my belly. But he’s also cocky and cynical. Not my type. I like guys who are…nice. Guys who won’t let me down. Easton is the epitome of the kind of guy I should stay away from.
My boyfriend, who I’d been with for two years, dumped me after I lost my job. For a long time after that, I wasn’t in any shape to date, and then when I tried, guys got scared away by my pathetic situation. Easton is clearly way out of my league.
When he asked me out, I damn near fell on the floor. He’s been flirty with me since we first met, but I figured that’s just who he is. That bad boy who loves women but doesn’t commit to one. I never expected him to actually ask me on a date.
So I turned him down and kept it professional, which is just as well. Men have been letting me down a lot lately, so I have no intention of getting involved with anyone. Especially a big, muscular, gorgeous man who probably makes millions of dollars. I’m definitely not interested in a relationship…although…some hot, athletic sex would be really nice.
And him calling after me to have a day “as nice as my butt” definitely isn’t cooling off the thoughts about a hot hookup.
* * *
—
A week has gone by and the only dog-walking jobs I’ve had are from Kent. I’m trying not to be discouraged by it. Another guy who lives in Kent’s building told me he’d use my services sometime, but that hasn’t turned into an actual job yet.
So when Easton’s number shows on the call display on my phone on Thursday afternoon, my head jerks back and my eyes widen. What?
I fumble my phone in my haste to answer the call. “Hello.”
“Lilly?”
“Yes.”
“Hi, it’s Easton. How are you?”
“I’m great, thanks. How about you?” I keep it cool. Chitchat. Gotta do it.
“I’m okay. How’s your new business coming along?”