“What the hell is happening down there?” I shout.
Dozens of eyes look up at me in the window.
“I told you I was going to have a few of Archie’s friends over. Remember? It’s a meeting of the corgi club,” Daisy yells back. “It’s important for Archie to make friends.”
“A corgi club?” I mutter.
A group of older women whisper to one another, giggling.
“Ryder, say hi to everybody. And everybody, say hi to Ryder. He’s Archie’s dad.”
“Hi, Archie’s dad,” the group parrots in unison.
“Your dog is awesome!” a short, silver-haired woman calls up to me. “He’s being very gentle with my Lucy.”
I’ve been a celebrity for more than half my life, so being recognized for my dog’s accomplishments, not my famous name, is a surprise.
“Um, thanks?” I call awkwardly. I run a hand over my stubble.
Daisy wears the smallest of faded denim shorts.
“Come down and join us!” she urges again.
I’m about to decline when I see the guy she was smiling at casually put his arm around her and whisper something in her ear. She giggles.
My jaw clenches and one word echoes through my mind—mine—along with the memory of the scorching kiss we shared.
That image is imprinted on my brain. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it, the feel of her lips, her tongue in my mouth, her needy groan, and the way she ground her body against me. The gentle but determined way she whispered the word, “Stay.” God, I’ve never been more tempted in my life.
She’snotmine, though. Not even close.
But even if she’s off-limits to me, it doesn’t mean I don’t care what happens to her. I should meet this stranger she’s obviously flirting with down there. She’s too good to be with just any dude. She has the worst taste in men. Me being a case in point. She needs someone respectful. Respectable. Someone who makes her laugh. Someone who will treat her like a queen.
My mood darkens further, though, as I imagine her with someone like that. With anyone else.
“I’ll be right down,” I say gruffly, needing, on a visceral level, to remove the dude’s hands from her body.
A few minutes later, I take the stairs two at a time. It’s comforting the way the eighth step still creaks after all these years. There are few things that have remained constant in my life, but this old house does.
I’m about to walk outside and meet the jerk getting handsy with Daisy when my phone rings.
The name Emma pops up. I’ve been trying to get in touch with her since I arrived in Rockhaven, but we keep missing each other’s calls. I found a new assistant. So Emma technically isn’t working for me anymore. However, I’ll bet my gold records she’s been avoiding me on purpose.
“Emma,” I bark. “What the hell?”
“Is that an existential question? A theological one?” Emma says in a sugary-sweet voice.
“Don’t act like you haven’t been avoiding my calls. You hired Daisy to pet-sit, really?”
“You needed a pet sitter, and Daisy needed a job. It seemed like a win-win.”
“So why didn’t you tell me about this win-win?”
“Daisy didn’t want anyone knowing about her unemployed status. And it’s not like you asked the name of the applicant. Youneeded me to hire someone and told me not to bother you with the details. That’s what I did.”
I sigh. “Dammit, Emma. Daisy being here with me complicates things.”
“What does it complicate? Besides, it was never on your schedule to visit Rockhaven. Daisy was supposed to be alone in the house. How was I to know you’d change your plans? If it’s that much of an issue, just leave. You have houses in LA and New York.”
