“But you kept talking to him,” she said hopefully. “He told me that you bugged him until he finally just gave up and started talking to you.”
“Well, I’m friendly. There’s a difference. And, in all fairness, Milo had fallen in love with him. I couldn’t let the poor dog starve.”
Sighing, she slumped back in her seat. “So, that’s it?”
“There’s nothing else left.”
Yes, it felt horrible to admit that I liked JR but knew I would get nothing in return, but reality was a bitch like that, and there was no point in hiding from her.
33
JR
“No,”I said as the dog jumped up into my truck on the way to work.
Moving over a seat, he barked at me, waiting for me to get in and drive him wherever the hell he wanted to go.
“Listen, I put up with you because Josie seems to really like you, but you can’t get in my truck and go with me everywhere. I have to work.”
Whining, he wagged his tail at me, seeking sympathy where I had very little to give. But the longer he sat there, the more I felt myself giving in. Those sad little eyes watched me, begging me to take him with, and I just couldn’t say no.
I’d held out as long as I could.
“Fine, but you have to promise to behave yourself.”
Yipping excitedly, his tail went crazy as I climbed in the truck.
“I can’t believe I’m doing this. You should be ashamed of yourself, you know.”
He let out a single bark in excitement.
“Seriously, it’s terrible the way you manipulate people to get your way. But I’ll have you know, I’m not getting you special dog food or treats. You’ve pushed me as far as I can go.”
Ignoring the happiness on the dog’s face, I backed out of the drive and headed to work. The damn dog seemed so happy to be out with me that it actually brought a smile to my face.
And that was really fucking dangerous. He was creeping under my skin just like Josie.
But I had no room in my head or my heart for anyone else. Alyssa was the only person I could afford to care about, and that was because she had been part of my life for so long.
“Shit,” I muttered as I pulled into the parking lot and found Lizzy’s truck parked outside. “What the fuck is she doing here?”
Stomping to the door, I flung it open and nearly stopped in my tracks when I saw her sitting at one of the tables with her feet up while she ordered her brothers around.
“No, that doesn’t go there, Liam.”
“But I like it there,” he argued.
“I don’t care if you do. This is my bar, and we agreed that you would be a silent partner. Nothing more.”
Grumbling, he moved the liquor back to where it had been, grumbling under his breath.
“Michael Benjamin Parker, I know you didn’t just sweep that dirt into the corner of the room.”
I smirked as he rolled his eyes at her. “It was the smallest amount of dirt.”
“And it’s a health code violation for it to be on the floor. Do you want me to be shut down? Do you want your future niece or nephew to be left with no inheritance because you decided that small amount of dirt was just too much for you to sweep up?”
“No,” he grumbled, walking back over with the broom and dust pan to sweep up the mess.
