“I’m surprised you’re not running for cover after Dina’s once-over.” She shook her head. “I love her, and Sherry’s a great kid, but Dina’s not what you’d call subtle.”
A long silence made him wonder exactlywhyDina might object to him being there.
Maggie added after a pause, “Any good-looking man and it’s like Dina forgets to blink and breathe. I apologize for her.” She moved back to the counter and sat, and he followed.
He ignored the warmth in his cheeks and teased, “Good-looking? I think you mean divine. Handsome. Gorgeous, maybe. Those fit.”Ha.And the guys called him a terrible conversationalist.
She laughed. “Sorry, Adonis. My mistake.”
He loved her sense of humor. “Macaroni and hot dogs and Shirley Temples. Man, did I luck out tonight or what?”
Maggie’s smile faded. “Yes to all that. But Reggie. I need to talk to you about Frank.” She cleared her throat. “I kind of have a plan, but it’ll involve your help. And you’ve been so helpful already with everything. I hate to ask.”
“Ply me with enough nonalcoholic drinks and I’ll say yes to anything.”
She smiled again. “You’re too easy.”
“That’s what they all say.” He grinned. Her blush made him laugh.
“Fair enough. Oh, and I almost forgot. I have whipped cream for the drinks.”
“Well, hell. Now I definitely can’t say no.”Toanythingyou might want, Maggie.
Chapter Six
Then get naked and wait for me on my bed.
Maggie cleared her throat, reminding herself there were minors present. Jumping the man who’d been so sweet to her would just be wrong. “Great. So, well, before we discuss Frank, I’ll only let you take me to the hospital tomorrow if you let me make it up to you. Let me make you dinner. Arealdinner, no hot dogs involved.”
“Hmm. You seem to have me pegged. I like to eat.”
“Whew. I was worried because you’re so small and skinny.”
He grinned.
Her temperature rose by several degrees. Good Lord, the man was sexy. “Right. So, um, Emily really wants Frank. And I think a dog would be a good way to teach her responsibility. But with my arm busted, and with the summer kind of on hold, I just need a little more time to get us ready for Frank.”
“So you want me to keep him for you?”
“If it’s at all possible. I know it’s a lot to ask,” she said in a rush, not sure what to make of his expression. “But I’ll pay for his food and care. I can reimburse you too.” She’d do whatever she could to make this easier for him. “I need to talk to my landlord to okay it before Frank comes to stay, in any case. Then I need to make sure we have a good potty route and to figure out how we’ll keep him once I go back to work.” She bit her lip, wishing she’d have thought the dog idea through before agreeing to home him. Cripes, why did wanting to impress Reggie take precedence over logic and sensibility? “Well, shoot. That might prove a problem.”
“A dog is a big responsibility,” he said. “But maybe we can work something out. I know the puppy was sprung on you pretty suddenly.” His voice gentled. “And you know, it’s okay if you can’t take him, Maggie. That doesn’t make you a monster.”
Then why did she feel like one at the thought of disappointing her daughter and letting poor little Frank down? She would not cry. “Thanks.” She coughed to cover her emotion. “It’s just that this means so much to Emily, and after all that poor little puppy has gone through, I’d feel guilty knowing he didn’t have a good home.”
“I wasn’t lying when I said my sister is in love with him. Heck, my dad is too. Trust me, no matter what, Frank will find a loving place to live.”
“Thank you.” She blew out a relieved breath and reached for his hand again. She squeezed it, aware of his immense strength. “You’re a good man, Reggie.”
“Aw, stop.” He sounded embarrassed, but he squeezed back.
She let him go, not wanting to dwell on how much she liked touching him. “So tell me about your dad and sister.”
“Sisters. I have two.”
“Oh, right. You did mention them in the hospital. How did your Sunday brunch go, anyway?” Was it wrong that she loved the fact his blind date had gone terribly? Or that she couldn’t stop thinking about the man who’d been so nice to her—because it washis jobto take care of people?
Talk about a bad time for her to start noticing men again. But something about Reggie had stayed with her since first meeting him. And that had nothing to do with the trauma she’d suffered, with Reggie’s astonishingly good looks, or with his strength. She saw something in his eyes when he looked at her. When he looked at Emily and even Frank. The tenderness there, and that strong wit and warmth, had her wanting to know all about him. For some odd reason, she just knew they’d have a lot in common.
