He’s kneeling in front of a golden retriever whose tail is going a mile a minute, who can’t stop licking Nico’s face long enough to let the man get his balance. Sure enough, he goes down with a loud laugh, disappearing behind a cloud of yellow fur.
My breathing slows. So does my heartrate.
“Thank you,” I tell the driver, passing some cash over his shoulder. “Keep the change.”
My feet carry me to Nico before I can think better of it. I stop thinking about how I should be questioning why a client is in the same space as I am, or that I need to check in to do the job I signed up for—I just need to be around him. Just for a second.
Nico’s managed to right himself to a somewhat standing position, still bent over and petting the golden, when he spots me. His eyes go wide.
“Red,” he says, straightening. “You’re… You’re here.”
“You’rehere,” I say in an accusing tone. But it’s playful. “Should I be worried you’re stalking me?”
His eyes go wider. “What? No!”
I gesture around the parking lot where there are two dozen dogs and their foster parents. “So dropping a foster idea last time I saw you was pure coincidence?”
He’s adorable when he blushes.“It is. I swear. My brother set this up as a PR thing.” That blush deepens. “Not that I don’t do this at home, too. I love dogs. I help rescue organizations all the time. This has nothing to do with you.”
I give him a small smile to let him know I don’t actually think he intended for this to happen. “I believe you. But itisa funny coincidence.”
Something occurs to him, and he frowns. “Wait. Have you done this before? Or did you really come here because of what I said?”
Now it’s my turn to blush. “I really came here because of what you said,” I admit quietly.
He practicallybeams. “Amazing. Are you planning to foster? Because if so, I’ve got the perfect good boy for you right here…”
I let out a laugh at that. “I should’ve known you’d be good at this. That dimple is far too persuasive.” Proving my point, he flashes me a crooked smile. “But no, that’s not why I’m here. I signed up to help.”
“Ah. Well, that’s good, too. Do you know where you’re stationed?”
I shake my head. “I just got here. I need to check in.”
Nico looks around the parking lot. “I think the organizer is at the front desk inside the shelter. I can come with you to—oh, here she comes.”
I turn to see the woman whose face is plastered on every post for the rescue organization. When our eyes meet, she smiles.
“Hi, there. Are you here as a foster parent, adoptive parent, or volunteer?”
“Volunteer,” I tell her. “I’m?—”
Suddenly, my gaze shoots to Nico.
I registered under my real name for this. The name Nico doesn’t know.
I could probably pull the lady aside, make up some lie about needing to change my name for security reasons. I doubt they’d care, or even ask any questions.
Or I could give her my real name. With Nico standing right here.
I’ve never given a client my real name. It’s always been an easy level of protection, one I’ve never even thought to reconsider. But with Nico…
Do I want to keep hiding myself from him?
The answer comes in the split-second it takes these thoughts to fly through my head. I hold Nico’s gaze as I tell the organizer, “My name is Scarlett. I registered as a volunteer.”
Nico’s eyes widen as understanding dawns.
Then...he grins.
