“Barked at you? Have you had therapy?” The man’s tone is calm, almost soothing.
Usually, my friend would never be so transfixed by a man, but she continues to stare.
“I was late for my first day of school,” she says.
“Yeah, because she pissed her pants, and my aunt had to take her back home so she could change. We laugh about it at every family function still.” Selene snorts and giggles at the memory. The dog now rests its head on Selene’s stomach.
“What’s your name?” Cori asks.
“That’s not important.”
They continue to stare at each other. I clear my throat, but no one reacts. I check on Selene, who is scratching behind the dog’s ears.
“Um, please, put me down.”
The man slowly lets Cori slide down his body. Once she’s on her feet, the man snakes an arm around her waist and pulls her close. When he whistles, the dog leaves Selene and goes to him.
“No!” Cori says. She tries to climb the man again, but he holds her steady. The dog sniffs Cori’s hand, and she jumps on the man’s back.
“Down, Finch.” Finch walks back to Selene, who is now sitting on a bench.
“I won’t get rid of the dog, Bella,” the man says.
“I’m getting off your back now. Please keep that monster away from me before I call the pound.” Cori slides down and darts across the parking lot to her car, but Selene continues to talk to the dog.
“Selene, get your ass in here and leave that beast alone. It’s probably rabid,” Cori yells from the safety of her car.
Chapter 45
Rip
I pull on Eden’s wrist, eager to get away from everyone. I’ve been with Dax for two days, and I need my woman.
“Is that guy your friend?” Eden asks.
“Hm?” I pretend not to hear while we walk through the parking lot. I’m not worried about the question. At least not for the moment, because we’ve come to the surprise.
We stop in front of a black Audi Q7. I gesture at it. Eden nods in approval.
“It’s nice,” she says. “Did you just get it?”
“It’s for you, Thorny,” I say.
She freezes before she faces me. “For me?”
“Yup. That’s why I told you not to buy a car. I ordered this a few weeks ago. It has all the safety features and—”
“I can’t afford that car.” She shakes her head. “Well, I can, but I don’t want to use all the money at once. I found one I can finance.” Eden pulls out her phone and shoves it in my face.
I snatch it from her and put it back in her purse.
“Woman, please,” I admonish. “Stop with all that bullshit. It’s like you don’t know who your man is. You need a car. I got you a car.” I slap her ass. “I’ll drive you to work.”
“If it’s mine, shouldn’t I drive it?” she asks.
“What would I look like letting my girl drive me?” I open the passenger-side door and gesture for her to get in.
“Like a man who got hiswomana car,” she says.
