I leave out the part where being with him was much better than my plan to watch tv alone. With a bag of chips. Maybe some dip.
Spencer clips his bright pink leash to Frankie’s matching collar and tugs her to the door. He stops at the entryway but doesn’t say anything.
The silence freaks me out. What are we supposed to do right now? Kiss? Make out? Ask him to stay the night? All of them might be activity I'd like to do, but none of them are things I actually would.
"I already have Frankie out the door, so if you want to keep her out of your house, you need to come over here for a good-night kiss.”
Oh.
Well then.
I slowly make my way from the kitchen to where he leans against the doorframe. If only I had a cell phone so I could text him something funny at this moment, rather than the nonsense blabber that will exit my mouth should I open it right now.
"You made it." Spencer says.
"Well…you know."See!I’m worthless.
He chuckles, a deep, throaty sound that makes my body tight in anticipation.
"Well, are you going to kiss me or just talk about it all night?" I gasp and my eyes widen.Holy shit. I made a witty comment at an opportune time in front of a cute guy.
Spencer doesn't need any additional coaxing. His arm latches around my middle, and he pulls me to him until we’re chest to chest. With me on my tippy toes, his lips smash against mine in a frantic movement, but he pulls back enough for the second kiss to be smooth and slow.
My eyes close, but Spencer surrounds me. His cologne soaks into my clothing and assaults my nose with his heavenly, manly, musky scent. His tongue caresses my upper lip, and I open, allowing him entrance into my mouth. Our tongues duel, and Spencer tugs his fingers through my long blonde hair.
It's a kiss I want to go on forever, but eventually, he pulls back slowly, taking my bottom lip with him for a few millimeters, continuing to lavish me with small, sweet, short kisses. Both of us are reluctant to let go. Our current kiss begins to deepen, and I tighten my grip on the hem of Spencer's polo shirt, but his lips are ripped away from me in one quick jerk. My eyes follow his, looking at his outstretched arm where Frankie pulls on the end of her leash.
Spencer flicks a hand through his hair nervously. "I guess she’s ready to go after all." His arm’s tugged hard again, and he works to keep his upper body straight to continue facing my direction. “Can I see you again?”
What a silly question. Like I’d say no after a kiss like that. "Sure. When?"
"Is tomorrow too soon?"
"Tomorrow? Tomorrow would be good. I'll be out of work after three."
Spencer takes a step or two toward his truck. "I'll call you then."
The cold wood of the front porch soaks through my socks while I wait for Spencer to load Frankie into his truck. He closes his door and begins to back out before I wave good-bye. Turning back to the house, ready to lock up for the night, I look down and see the gnaw marks on the edge of my wooden door. Frankie’s most recent victim to entertaining herself while she waited.
CHAPTER FIVE
"I can't believe you work at the hospital but have never been to Spuds.”
The county hospital is set between the towns of Pelican Bay and Whitecap. "During a shift, there’s only time for delivery. I'm always too tired after to eat at a sit-down restaurant.”
"Shit, I keep forgetting you finished a long shift. Are you sure you're awake enough for this meal?"
"I'm fine. Working tens is a standard. I’ve been doing it for years." His concern is cute but totally unneeded.
"Well, if you get too tired and want to head home, let me know."
"Spencer, I'm fine." I reassure him for probably the fiftieth time tonight. I’m not going to fall over and pass out from exhaustion. Maybe I should find his persistence annoying, but it’s actually nice to have someone looking after me for a change.
I haven’t had a night out on the town in forever—since my last boyfriend, Thatcher, and I broke up over a year ago. Dating an EMT who reported to the same hospital I did was difficult. When we both had the same night off, we made sure to go out and do something together. I didn’t realize how much I’ve missed it until right now.
Plus, Spuds doesn’t allow dogs, so we don’t have Frankie here to distract us. Although, I kind of miss the big, hungry baby. "Do you think Frankie is okay alone? You were at work all day, too, right?"
"She'll be fine. There is absolutely nothing left for her to eat at my apartment."
