“And that meant you had to listen in?”
Lifting one shoulder and elevating her chin, she said, “Sort of like you did earlier when I was talking with Laylee.”
Unable to refute that, he shut his mouth. But the small dog wasn’t appeased by her explanation.
Skye inched in close and took the seat beside him.
Very close.
Their thighs were pressed together.
How did she expect him to keep things platonic if she was going to go thigh-to-thigh with him? Awareness sparked all through his body, sending his thoughts on an erotic free-for-all.
She bumped her shoulder to his. “This little guy isn’t happy with my intrusion, either.”
“Those are his attack circles,” Ford explained. “He’s beyond unhappy. He’s enraged.”
Bending forward, Skye offered her hand, and the yapper pretended to nip her without doing any real damage. “My, you’re a fierce one.”
“He doesn’t like that you overheard our private conversation.”
A dimple appeared in her cheek. “I won’t apologize.” Turning her attention to Maybelline, she again offered her hand.
Big mistake. Maybelline’s tongue came out to lap from her fingertips to her elbow, leaving behind a trail of slobber.
Ford snickered. “That’s what you get.”
Hand held away from her body, Skye searched the area, likely hoping for a way to wipe off the drool.
Ford watched her with glee. “Use the grass.”
“Ugh.” She leaned farther forward to do that, swiping her palm across the lawn and giving him a stellar view of her backside in the process. “You could have warned me.”
Took a second for the words to sink in because his attention was firmly fixed on her derriere. “Fat chance, since you didn’t warn me.”
Now with her hand partially dry, she dug in her purse and found a tissue.
The yapper continued to complain until Ford scooped him up to Maybelline’s face again. Both dogs watched Skye, Maybelline with her usual friendliness, the yapper with furious suspicion.
When Skye finished, she stuck the tissue in her pocket, rested her hands in her lap, and smiled at him. “If I hadn’t listened, then I wouldn’t have come up with such a brilliant solution.”
* * *
Skye didn’t think she’d ever been so touched by a conversation. Hearing Ford share his feelings so openly with the dogs, knowing he was earnest, had her seeing him in a whole new way. A warmer, more affectionate way.
He’d literally had a heart-to-heart with shelter dogs, and his concern for them, his caring, couldn’t have been more genuine.
The slick salesman, the gorgeous neighbor, the die-hard bachelor and overachiever, was actually a kind, compassionate man.
“You’re staring at me,” he said.
“I’m sure I’m not the first woman to do so.” He was so sinfully sexy, looking had never been a problem. “Don’t let it spook you.”
“I’m notspooked.” A dull flush colored his cheekbones. Heat of the day—or more likely embarrassment at being found human. “I can tell you’re up to something though.”
The yapper finally settled down and even let Skye touch him without all the fuss and feigned outrage.
Maybelline, who truly had soulful eyes, dropped her massive head on Ford’s lap again, making him grunt with discomfort.
