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“Well, that’s too easy, Pipe. I was already going to do that.”
The Paws & Claws parking lot had nearly emptied out by the time I arrived to meet Joey. I got out of my car and headed in through the automatic doors.
Joey was standing at the checkout counter with his boss, Pauline, a receipt held up for her to see. He glanced over. “Hey, Kit. I need five more minutes.”
“Sure. Take your time.”
Pauline raised her eyebrows. “Are we going to have any trouble with you today, Kit? Maybe I should kick you out of my store.”
My face heated. I’d been shopping at the pet store for years, though recently Dakota had taken to coming by more often, so I’d known Joey’s boss for years. “No trouble. I’m sorry for making a scene the other day. Joey is, uh, important to me, but I’d never want to interfere with his work here.”
She chuckled. “You’re too easy. Don’t worry about it. Joey explained everything.”
He ducked his head, the tips of his ears red. Hmm. Just how much had he told her?
“I gave old Walt a call and told him he’d either respect my employees or find a new place to buy his cat food.” She leaned in and whispered conspiratorially, “Since I order a special brand for his arthritic cat, I’m not worried about losing his business.”
“Well played,” I said with a smile.
Pauline plucked the receipt from Joey’s hand. “I can finish up here. Why don’t you take off?”
“Are you sure?”
“Of course I am. Don’t keep your handsome boyfriend waiting.” She winked at me. “You’re only young once.”
Joey smiled tentatively. “Okay. Thank you.”
He took off his store vest and rounded the counter to walk with me to the car.
“I hope I didn’t make things too awkward at work,” I said.
“Nah, it’s okay. I have a pretty cool boss,” Joey said. “So, what’s this big surprise for tonight?”
“You’ll have to wait and see.” I dropped a kiss on the tip of his nose and opened the passenger door. “Hop in.”
He slid into the seat, and I jogged around the car to get into the other side.
“Am I dressed okay?” Joey asked, glancing down at his work outfit of dark jeans and blue polo. “I wasn’t sure what to expect tonight…”
“There’s no dress code,” I said. “You look great.”
He swept his gaze over me. I’d dressed casually in jeans and a T-shirt layered with a fleece pullover.
“You look great, too.” He slid a hand up my thigh. “I haven’t seen you in jeans since Omaha. It’s strangely hot. I mean, your athletic wear is clingy and shows me all those nice muscles of yours. But this…”
I swallowed hard, my blood beginning to pump south. “Yeah?”
“It leaves a little mystery to discover later,” he murmured. “When you let me peel these off you.”
I turned and pulled him into a kiss that left us both breathless when we parted. “If you don’t behave, I’m likely to break my dick on this zipper.”
Joey laughed, his whole face lighting up. “Okay, drive. I can’t be responsible for ruining one of your cutest features.”
I started the car. “Cutest? My dick is cute?”
“Mm-hmm. It’s all those freckles.”
“My dick sure as hell better be more than cute,” I grumbled as I reversed out of the parking spot. “Fucking freckles.”
