“Yep. Come on, Gavin. This is Seattle. There’s an entrepreneur born here every minute.”
“True.”
“Now let’s go feed Mauler and make sure his water bowl is full. Josh will be back later today. I volunteered for dog-walking duty and fun time with Mauler because Cleo was busy. You remember Cleo.”
“Your best friend, the cutie with the mouth. Yeah.”
“So glad you noticed.”
He smiled at the bite of jealousy he liked to believe he heard. “Hey, she’s cute. You’re gorgeous. Now tell me again why Officer Josh isn’t minding his own dog.”
“He’s working out of town at the moment. Helping a buddy in Idaho. Don’t ask. I don’t know the details. What I do know is Cleo and Matt, her other brother, have been caring for Mauler at Matt’s place. But Matt had to go away this weekend, so Cleo asked if I could swing by if Matt dropped him off here. Because Josh will be back today, and she’s busy with something else.”
“My head hurts from that convoluted explanation, but okay. So let’s go entertain Mauler. Great name for a dog, by the way.”
“I like it.”
“You would. What’s your nickname? Bruiser York?”
“Only at work.”
“And in bed,” he added under his breath.
“What was that?”
“Nothing, Mistress. Nothing at all.”
After she’d gathered the leash and a few dog treats, as well as some bags for any more of Mauler’s piles, they moved back into her car, with Mauler sprawled across her entire backseat, which she’d covered with an old blanket.
“I see you’ve done this before.” He sat in the passenger seat, hoping the dog wouldn’t drool all over him.
“Yep.” She smiled. “I don’t have a pet right now, but I’d like to get one someday, when I have more time.” She gave him a side-look. “Or when I get a boy toy to take care of him. You know, make love to me, rub my feet, cook my meals, take care of the dog. Maybe even clean the house for me. The important things.”
“Going down on you?”
“I said make love. Same thing.”
“That’s true.” He winked, amused that she constantly blushed when talking about sex. This from the woman who’d worn a boobless bustier. “And we all know how much I love making love to your fine, delicious, p—”
“Gavin,I get it.” She cleared her throat.
“I was going to say person. Geez, Zoe. Get your mind out of the gutter.” Mauler barked. “Now let’s get going. You heard the dog.”
They drove toward an off-leash dog park Zoe wanted to take him to.
“Gavin?”
“Yeah?”
“How did you sleep last night?”
He turned to her and smiled. “Better than I have in a long, long time.”
“No nightmares?”
“Not a one.” He paused. “Except when I saw your hair this morning.” She snorted. “I didn’t want to say anything, but a rat’s nest comes to mind.”
“I’m the nightmare?” She laughed, cheery, a spark in her eyes. “Try your breath, buddy. It was like Satan vomited in your mouth and then set it on fire. Burned my eyebrows nearly off when you rolled over and huffed agood morning.”
