Page 23 of Above ’N’ Beyond

He’d shaved off his beard. The face staring back at her was still brutal in its masculine intensity yet at the same time breathtakingly handsome. Full lips, high, sculpted cheekbones, and a square jaw so chiseled he could have been a statue, and whoa. Can anyone say ab-o-licious? More sweat trickled down the light smattering of dark hair covering his thick pectorals, continuing to a seriously undulated set of abs.

He arched a brow. “Something wrong?”

“No, I, uh. Hardly recognized you without the beard.” Good recovery.

Jimmy massaged his chin. “I was getting a little hot.”

I can see that, she nearly quipped.

“I think I’ve got this fixed.” He picked up a silver cylindrical object. “You needed a new capacitor. I replaced it, so it should work fine now.”

She stepped closer to look at the device. “What does it do?”

“The AC’s got two capacitors. One to start it, and one to keep it running. The run capacitor was about to fry out. That’s why the AC was making all that noise.”

He picked up the cover and began screwing it back around the unit. With every twist of his wrist, the muscles in his forearm, biceps, and shoulder flexed and danced, and she couldn’t tear her gaze away.

“Um.” She cleared her throat. “What do I owe you?”

Much as he’d done when she’d offered to pay for the dog crate, he shrugged, looking decidedly uncomfortable. “Forget it. The part cost twenty bucks.” He continued screwing the top back on, then grabbed a towel and wiped it over his chest, abs, and arms.

“No, I’ll pay you back. But thanks.” Admittedly, what he’d done was thoughtful. Again. But being beholden to him, a man she barely knew, sent a sliver of apprehension up her spine. Maybe he’d only fixed the AC because he thought it would help him get in good with Tony and her aunt.

He watched her a moment longer. “Suit yourself.”

Gnocchi yipped, his tail thumping on the grass.

“Hi there, little Gnocchi.” Bella crouched next to the puppy, who rolled over so she could pat his belly.

“You like the name?” Jimmy asked, giving his pecs another swipe with the towel.

“It fits him.” She continued rubbing the pup’s belly, wondering what he would look like all cleaned up and groomed.

“I pulled the ticks off.” Jimmy crouched beside her. For a man who’d been sweating in the hot sun, he managed to smell good anyway. Spicy and clean. “But he still needs a bath. I can give him one.” He hitched his head to the hose reel attached to the siding.

Warning flags whipped inside her head. In her experience, when people offered so many favors, they had a hidden agenda. First, it was the dog crate and supplies, then the AC, and now bathing Gnocchi.

“Well?” he prodded.

She glanced at her watch. There was barely enough time in her day to breathe as it was, let alone bathe a dog. Luckily, she always had a spare set of clothes in the Bistro’s office. Besides, Gnocchi was her dog and her responsibility. And he did need a bath. “I’ll get the shampoo.”

Minutes later, Jimmy wet Gnocchi down with the hose while Bella massaged in the shampoo he’d bought at the pet store. The pup twisted, trying to run away.

“Easy, Gnocchi,” Jimmy crooned, holding the puppy in place while Bella continued rubbing in shampoo. “Easy, boy. There you go.”

Gnocchi settled down, allowing her to scrub his legs.

“You’re really good with dogs.” Her hand brushed against Jimmy’s large, callused fingers. The brief contact sent a shiver through her body that she tried to ignore but couldn’t.

Jimmy smiled. “It’s a gift.”

She began working on the puppy’s head, being careful not to get shampoo in his eyes and ears. “Do you think he and Jax will get along?” Living in the same house, the two dogs were bound to cross paths.

Jimmy nodded. “Jax likes other dogs, especially puppies. He’s a real father figure to them, likes to show them the ropes.”

“What kind of ropes?” As Jimmy adjusted the nozzle, Bella used her hands to squeegee the sudsy water off Gnocchi’s back. “Barking at mail carriers?”

“That and other important things, like lifting their legs on fire hydrants.”