Page 47 of Dr. Sexypants

They were nice and cool.

“Hmph,” I grumbled as I sat up. “So much for pillow talk and Round Two.”

Wasn’t it considered bad form to just leave in the morning without saying goodbye?

I purposefully didn’t acknowledge how many times I’d been guilty of doing just that. This wasn’t about me and my past indiscretions.

As I walked to the bathroom, I noticed that the rolling board by the bed and the items he’d put on the nightstand last night were still there.

So maybe he hadn’t left-left.

Dora was also suspiciously missing from her bed.

When I came out of the bathroom, I quietly opened the door to the hall and made my way downstairs.

The smell of coffee hit me when I reached the landing, and I found myself relieved to know Justin was still there.

“Morning,” came his deep voice from the living room, and I jumped a foot in the air as I gasped out loud.

I wheeled around to exclaim, “Oh my gosh, you scared me!”

There was Dr. Sexypants on the couch with a mug of coffee in one hand, his phone in the other, and Dora’s head in his lap.

“Sorry!” He set the mug down on a coaster on the end table next to the couch and moved to stand, but my dog was comfortable and not cooperating.

That elicited a laugh from both of us.

“Beagles are notoriously stubborn,” I told him. “You’re stuck until she decides to move.”

“I guess you’ll have to come to me for a good morning kiss then.”

I stayed rooted in the doorway and eyed him suspiciously. “Did you brush your teeth?”

“What am I? A Neanderthal? Of course I did. Did you?”

Even though I had, I told him, “Nope,” popping the “P” as I walked to him, then planted a soft kiss on his lips.

Dora didn’t even acknowledge me other than sighing like she paid bills to let me know I was bothering her.

“Minty fresh morning breath,” he murmured against my lips. “Your farts probably smell like roses, too.”

“Pffft,” I scoffed. “I don’t fart.”

“Of course not, what was I thinking?”

I kissed him again before I said, “I’m going to get some coffee. I’ll be right back.”

He gestured to the beagle in his lap. “I’m obviously not going anywhere.”

“That’s good. Because you owe me Round Two.”

****

Justin

That got my attention—which I suspected was exactly what she was aiming for.

“Sorry, pup,” I murmured as I lifted Dora’s head and slipped out from under her. “I need to go help your mom.”