“I’ll have Barkingham Palace’s veterinarian prescribe something for anxiety for both dogs,” Ashanti promised her.
Puddin’ was not happy to leave and made his dissatisfaction known by planting his butt on the porch and refusing to move. Ashanti had to entice him with a Cheetos-type snack from Australia that Mrs. Frances grabbed from the box of snacks Thad had brought for her.
Once they finally got Puddin’ to move, Ashanti and Thad started down the walkway toward the gate.
“Is there any question as to why your grandmother is one of my favorite people on earth?” Ashanti asked. “I love that woman.”
“She’s a troublemaker,” Thad said.
“But she does it with such dignity and grace,” Ashanti said with a laugh. She bit the side of her lip as Thad once again opened the gate for her. “Although, it sounds as if she was trying to make more than just trouble. She’s not very subtle with her matchmaking, is she?”
“Frances Sutherland and subtle should never be mentioned in the same sentence,” Thad said. “I’m sorry about that. I’m used to her matchmaking. Don’t let her make you uncomfortable.”
“It didn’t,” she lied. “I just don’t want you to feel awkward. I mean, weareflying up to New York together. And, according to Kara, there has already been chatter online about the two of us.”
He stopped short. “What kind of chatter?”
“That we’re a couple.” The heat was back, but not just on her face. Every part of her body warmed as Thad’s gaze drifted over her. “You know how people are,” Ashanti continued. “Our dogs were caught necking and they automatically project the same onto the owners.”
“But how does anyone even know I’m Puddin’s owner? I didn’t do that midday newscast with you.”
“Remember the night you were late picking him up and you followed me to the playroom? There’s a twenty-four-seven livestream camera in there.”
Thad shook his head. “People really need to find a life outside of the Internet. Who sits around watching a doggy cam at eight o’clock at night?”
“You’d be surprised,” Ashanti said. She hunched her shoulders. “Like I said, I just don’t want either of us to feel awkward or pressured or anything like that. We both know that the thought of the two of us together is laughable.”
Her ego wanted to believe it was disappointment she’d glimpsed in his eyes, but it was probably just dust.
Still, she felt the need to clarify. “Not that there’s anything wrong with you. It’s just that you’re not at all my type.”
“Well, damn. Just come on out and call me ugly,” Thad said, an amused grin pulling at one corner of his mouth.
“I didn’t say you were ugly!” Ashanti protested. “My type loves dogs.”
They came upon her car and Ashanti used her key fob to unlock it. Thad reached for the door handle before she could and opened the car door for her.
“Thank you,” she said, sliding in behind the wheel.
He started to close the door, but then stopped. He leanedforward, resting his arm against the door frame. “So are you saying that if I learned to like dogs—” He stood up straight and shook his head. “Never mind. Forget I said anything.”
Her phone vibrated again. Ashanti fumbled trying to pull it from her pocket. She had to be the color of a fire hydrant at this point.
“That’s Ridley,” she said. “We need to get to her place before she gets in her car and comes looking for us.”
Thad blew out a breath. “Okay.”
“Um, I’ll text you the address, but you can also just follow me. She’s less than ten minutes away.”
“Text me the address, just in case I lose you in traffic,” he said. Then he closed her door and went to his truck.
Ashanti squeezed the steering wheel so tight she was surprised she didn’t bend it.
“Good Lord,” she whispered.
Was he about to ask her what shethoughthe was about to ask her? She’d had exactly two long-term boyfriends, and had not been on a single date since she broke up with Simon. Her ability to read between the lines when it came to men was a negative five hundred.
It was areallygood thing Thad wasn’t her type. Now if only she didn’t have to keep reminding herself of that.
