Decker sits on the floor in front of the couch… holding a puppy. A wiggly golden retriever puppy.
“What’s this?” I ask, smiling despite myself.
“A puppy.”
I walk over and crouch down in front of them. The little furball waddles over, climbs onto my knees, and licks my chin. “I see that. Why do you have a puppy?”
“You said you always wanted a dog. My buddy’s re-homing his dog’s litter.”
“So you bought a dog?”
“I bought you a dog.”
“Decker, I don’t know—”
“If we have to, I can keep him. But I doubt you’re going to have an issue with an apartment that doesn’t accept dogs. As soon as I saw him, I knew he was perfect for you.”
I scoop the little guy into my arms, his fur so damn soft, and he rests his head on my shoulder and sighs. “You bought me a dog?”
“I figured, at the very least, he’s a dude magnet.”
The puppy lets out a soft whimper, then starts snoring. Yep, I’m keeping him. “I think he likes me.”
“I think so, too.”
“And the whole ‘picking people up with a dog’ thing works better for guys.”
“Maybe that’s what I’m aiming for right now.”
That damn smirk. Desire coils low in my belly, and I wish I could see the future to know if Decker really is serious. “Is that so?”
“I’m not a flowers guy. Any man can buy flowers. But knowing a woman well enough to get her something she’s always wanted? That’s me.”
I believe him. I believe it so much I almost moan. “Thank you, Decker.”
“Are you in a hurry to go somewhere?”
My body aches, and I just shake my head. I pray he asks me to strip down naked and let him take me right here, right now.
“Tell me about your last few dates. I know about your BDSM guy, but I know you’ve been on others. Mona said as much.”
“You want to hear about my dates?”
His smile lights up his entire face. “I hear they’re real doozies.”
“Vampire.”
“Pardon?”
“I went on a date with a man who legitimately thought he was a vampire,” I say, petting the puppy’s fur as he continues to sleep on my shoulder.
He covers his mouth as he laughs. “Do you avoid sunlight now? Does he sparkle? See, I’m aBuffyfan myself, and I’m not big into the sparkling vamps.”
Rolling my eyes, I shake my head. “Shut up.”
“He sparkled, didn’t he?”
“And smelled like vanilla and strawberry. It was stripper glitter. He wore plastic fangs, and he poured real blood into his drink.”
