They entered the small dog play area and Ashanti headed straight for the ball pit. It was Puddin’ and Duchess’s favorite. Colorful plastic balls popped up in the air like kernels in a popcorn maker as the two frolicked around the pool.
“These two are probably the only ones who aren’t upset that you’re late, but I can tell you whoisupset with you.”
“Besides you?”
“Besides me,” she said. She looked over at him. “Your grandmother is pissed. How could you not call to let her know Puddin’ would be making his television debut?”
Thad threw his head back and let out a sigh. “I should have,” he said.
“Did you even watch the news segment?”
“I was planning to watch the replay on the evening broadcast.”
She wasn’t buying that for a minute. She was raising teenagers; she knew fake earnestness when she saw it.
“You are so lying right now,” Ashanti said.
A slow grin played across his lips. It did things to her. Adult things. Very specific, very indecent adult things.
Lord, save me from fine men with nice smiles.
“Okay, no, I wasn’t planning on watching it,” Thad admitted. His grin turned sheepish. “You’re judging me right now, aren’t you?”
“Harshly,” Ashanti said. She walked over to the right side of the room and grabbed the dog leashes from the wall pegs, keeping her back turned so that he couldn’t see her smiling. “Do you know how ironic it is that everyone in the country loves Puddin’ except for the person blessed with the opportunity to care for him?”
She turned back to find Thad rubbing both dogs underneath their chins. Her heart melted then and there.
This wassonot good.
“In my defense, I was busy all day,” Thad said.
Ashanti held up a hand. “Please, spare me. I can’t handle hearing about whatever it is you’re doing to my house.”
“Still calling it your house, huh?” He took the leash from her and fastened it to Puddin’s collar.
“I did promise myself I would stop thinking of it that way,” Ashanti admitted, hooking Duchess to her leash.
“That sounds like a healthier way to cope.”
She rolled her eyes. “Thanks for the tip.” She turned out the light in the play area, and she and Thad made their way back to the lobby. “You’d better have your apology ready foryour grandmother,” Ashanti said as she gave the reception area a final once-over.
Thad held the front door open for her. “I know how to win over Grams,” he said. “But I guess I need to watch the news story, just in case she asks me about it.”
“I’ll text you a link to the segment.” Ashanti stopped with her hand on the door. “That is, if you don’t mind me texting. I don’t make a habit of sending personal texts to clients. I usually only contact clients in cases of emergency, but I figured since—”
“Ashanti.” He cut her off.
She met his eyes. “Yeah?”
“I don’t mind getting texts from you,” Thad said.
She sucked in a breath and begged herself to stop staring at his deep brown eyes.
“Okay.”
God, why did her voice sound like she’d just hiked a mile through mud?
She locked the front door and Thad gestured for her to go ahead of him down the stairs. At first, Ashanti thought it was his truck parked at the curb in front of Mrs. Short’s house, but the closer she got to it she realized that truck was dark green, not black.
