Shit. I hesitated. If I decided to risk my assignment, and this new opportunity, by telling Sebastian about my meeting with Vance, it would also end the date immediately. And I didn’t want that. What I wanted was to see if there might be anything more worth exploring betweenus.
“Not too late to dispel the rumors,” I said. “Fix your rep. Admit you were wrong. You and I have made a lot of progress, and my assignment’s almost over. It’s time for me to take a back seat and let you run the show. There’ll be no question ofrespect.”
“What do you think, Opal?” he asked, playing with herears.
“She likes you,” I said when he didn’t respond, wondering if the topic was closed to furtherdiscussion.
“I likeher. I don’t know if I want to return her.” He glanced at me. “Maybe I ought toadopt.”
It was, perhaps, the sexiest thing he’d ever said. He was already verging on the perfect date—chivalrous, vulnerable, handsome . . . but adding dog dad to the list? That was nextlevel.
Still, I knew firsthand that owning a pet wasn’t without its rough spots. It hadn’t been convenient for Neal. “It’s a lot of responsibility,” I warned. “With a dog at home, you can’t stay out all night. They need potty breaks and training and lots of exercise. They’re expensive. And you can’t pick up and leave town whenever the urgestrikes.”
“A year ago, I would’ve said I liked my freedom.” He tilted his head at Opal, and she cocked her head back. “Lately, I’ve been questioning whether having some attachments would be sobad.”
Despite the fact that the two of them seemed to be having their own conversation, I got the feeling we were no longer talking about adopting a dog. “What happened a yearago?”
“Hmm?” He didn’t look as if he planned to answer, but he never got the chance to anyway. His phone chimed, and he got up to check the screen. “He’shere.”
“Who?” Iasked.
“Get your things. We’re on to the nextstop.”
“I thoughtthiswas the date,” I said, standing to bundle up thethrow.
“I told you, you’re stuck with me until dinner. Unless things go south, in which case I have Justin on standby to call me with anemergency.”
If I hadn’t been tossing the water bowl in a nearby trashcan, I would’ve smacked his arm. “You’re not supposed to tell your date that. What if there reallyisan emergency? I’ll think you don’t likeme.”
“You already think I don’t likeyou.”
He had a point there. With both leashes in hand, Sebastian started back the way we’d come. When we reached the street, a car with dog ears on the roof honked from the curb, and a young guy waved at us over the hood. “I’m Kenny, your Ruff Ridedriver.”
“Our what?” Iasked.
“Your wagging wagon,” Kenny continued, “your pet-ty cab, crate on wheels, driving miss doggy, muttmobile.” He took a breath. “I’ll be your chauffurthis afternoon, your pupp daddy, DavidBarkham—”
“We get the idea,” Sebastiansaid.
“You ordered this?” I askedhim.
“While waiting for our drinks.” Sebastian opened the car door for Opal and Bruno. “After you, Lindsay Lohound and ShiaLaBowow.”
The dogs just looked athim.
“Who wants to go for a ride?” I asked. Bruno perked up. He knew what it meant considering we regularly took a Zipcar out of town to see my parents, but if I’d asked if he wanted a colonoscopy in the same tone, he would’ve been equally as excited. Bruno and Opal hopped in and each one took a seat by thewindow.
I bent at the waist to look inside. “Where do the humansgo?”
Kenny opened the driver’s side door. “Usually backseat with the pups, or you can sit up front if youlike.”
Sebastian stuck his head through the other window to look past the dogs at me. “We could always do the lapthing.”
I scoffed. “I’m not sitting on yourlap.”
Sebastian grinned. “I meant thedogsgo onourlaps.”
I tried to look indignant as I squeezed in, forcing Bruno to give up the seat he’d already claimed. He stepped on my thighs, and I gnashed my teeth under his weight to keep from howling. Opal was small enough to curl up on Sebastian’s lap, but Bruno sat his haunches on mine and stretched his front legs towardSebastian.
