A few minutes later, panting and dirty all over again, she agreed. “Shower sex, definitely a yes.”
“Definitely.” He panted. “Now let’s clean up for real and hit the sheets. I think I’m too exhausted to dream tonight.”
“Me too.” She yawned, turned off the water, and stepped out of the shower. “But we need to be at Josh’s house tomorrow at nine.”
“Huh? Who’s Josh?”
“Some guy.”
She had a hard time focusing as they dried off, then stumbled into bed. She fit in his arms like the perfect piece in a puzzle. Zoe sighed and put her head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat. She felt the kiss on top of her head and snuggled into him.
“Josh?” he whispered.
She slurred back, “Cleo’s brother. You’ll see.”
* * *
Staring at the mounds of dog shit all over the guy’s lawn, Gavin wanted to strangle Josh Brewer, cop or no cop. No wonder he hadn’t locked his back fence. With the many minefields all over the place, the guy was in no danger of criminals underfoot. Because whatever made that yard mess had to behuge.
“This? This is what you tricked me into doing with you? Cleaning up the dog piles from a crappy lawn?”
“No. Our job is to take care of Mauler.”
He blinked. “Who?”
She opened the back door with a key, and a black Great Dane lumbered out. It had pointed ears and a white diamond on its chest. The damn thing came to Zoe’s sternum.
“Hey, Mauler.”
It woofed in a deep bass and rose to its hind legs, planting its paws on her shoulders while it licked her.
She laughed and stroked the thing’s huge head.
“Whenever you’re done dancing, want to introduce me?”
At the sound of his voice, the dog left Zoe’s shoulders and growled at him.
Whoa.
“Mauler, be nice. This is Gavin.” She drew the dog toward him, holding it—being dragged by it—by the collar.
Gavin did nothing to alarm it, holding out a hand to let the dog sniff. After a few moments, the dog licked his palm. Then, to Gavin’s dismay, it stuck its huge head in his crotch. Hard.
He moaned and clutched himself while Zoe laughed.
And she laughed a lot, not a soft hint of amusement, but a deep belly laugh.
When he could catch his breath, he scowled and said, “Glad you think this is funny.”
“S-sorry.” She wiped her eyes. “There’s just something about a nut shot I find really funny.”
“Nut shot?” He blinked, now able to focus past the pain between his legs.
Mauler had gone to add to the mess out back and returned with a happy grin.
“Appropriate, eh?” She watched the dog and shook her head. “I’m going to have to let Josh know his new guy isn’t doing his job. He hires someone to clean up his yard every few days.”
“There’s a business for that?”
