That makes him laugh. “This is Hal’s poodle?”
“Yeah, all mended and ready to be loved.”
He takes the dog from me, gives him a stroke, then carries him over to one of the smaller crates and bends to place him in carefully. “He’ll be picked up in days. Smaller dogs never take long to rehome.” He straightens, then meets my gaze as he hitches up his shorts. His eyes sparkle, but he doesn’t say anything.
“Busy morning?” I ask, trying not to think about his tight ass.
“Not too bad. Ruby’s got the kids making Christmas decorations in the Fox’s Den and Max wanted to help. Then I think they’re going to make Christmas cookies this afternoon.”
“Oh, that’s him sorted for the rest of the day then.”
He grins. Then he says, “What are you doing for lunch?”
“Nothing much.”
“Archer and I are meeting the real estate agent at the farmhouse at one. You don’t fancy coming, I guess?” His tone is casual, but his eyes hold hope.
“I’d love to,” I reply.
“All right. Meet us in the Quad at 12:45.”
“Will do.” I smile and head along the corridor, feeling a glow inside that he asked me. I’m pretty sure he likes me.
My smile fades slowly, though. I can’t afford to get involved with someone when I haven’t sorted out my old relationship, especially with a man who looks unlikely to be around for very long. It wouldn’t be fair to Max, or myself. I need stability right now.
Or do I? I feel an unusual flare of impulsive rebellion. I dated two guys before I met Rob, both of them for over a year each. Maybe a hot fling would be just the thing I need.
I know myself, though; I have to be careful to keep my heart well out of this or I’m going to get hurt. But that doesn’t mean I can’t have a little fun. There’s no harm in enjoying a man’s company and being good friends. Not everything has to lead to sex.
I purse my lips as I go into the Hotel. Some hot, no-strings sex with a gorgeous guy who has a nice ass sounds rather appealing.
I couldn’t.
Could I?
“Isla!” Summer, the vet, beams at me. “Can you help me with this Burmese cat? She needs her bandage changed, and she’s fighting me a bit.”
“Of course.” A bit embarrassed to be caught thinking about sex, I put Cullen Reeve to the back of my mind and go over to help her wrestle with the cat.
We eventually change its bandage, and then it’s only another fifteen minutes before I ask Stefan if I can go to lunch. I wander out and spot Cullen and Archer coming out of the building into the Quad.
I’ve brought my sunhat today as the sun is super bright, and I pull it on and add my sunglasses as I walk over. Both the guys are wearing baseball caps to ward off the hot New Zealand sun.
“Hey,” Archer says. “All ready?”
“Yep! You sure you don’t mind me coming?”
“Of course not,” he says, “the more the merrier. I’m hoping you can convince this madman that the last we need is some farmhouse that’s falling apart and needs two years of work done to it.”
“I don’t think it would need that much work,” I reply as we set off along the drive. “Maybe a little bit of repair, but it’s surprising how much a lick of paint brightens up a place.”
“See,” Cullen says to him, “you’re being overly obstructive.”
“I’m not obstructive, just realistic.”
I chuckle as the two of them continue to bicker. It’s clear that they work together well. I wonder whether Archer is hoping that Cullen will stay on and help him out with the new center if they get it up and running? It won’t happen this year, that’s for sure, and Cullen told me he was leaving before Christmas. Well, there are only four days until Christmas Day, so Archer doesn’t have long to convince him.
We chat while we head down the hill and discover the real estate agent has taken the padlock off the gate, left it open, and parked her car in front of the farmhouse. We go through the gate and walk up the drive toward it.
