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“Don’t think I’ve forgotten what we were talking about.” He continued to rub Bandit but his attention was fixed on her. “About a repeat performance of our Netflix and chill without the Netflix. Modern definition.”
“I haven’t forgotten either.”
Dex grinned, charmer of dogs and moms alike. “Excellent.”
25
Jasper
Part pug, part divo
Likes: Outside
Dislikes: When I don’t get to go outside
Dex wasn’t looking forward to his shift at the shelter today. Not because he didn’t want to be there with Ashley and Bandit and Mittens, but because it was about to be tainted.
Today was photoshoot day.
Sophie was bringing her PR team to gather evidence of his do-goodery. Now that he’d had a good game, and the heat was off, it was an appropriate time for him to go Insta-official on the volunteering gig.
“This sucks.”
“It hasn’t even started yet.” Ashley rubbed his arm, and just having her near made him feel 1000% better. She looked especially hot today with those tight jeans he loved and a cute pink blouse that fell off her creamy shoulders. “It’ll be a couple of nice photos and a little promo for you and the Empty the Shelters event. No biggie.”
“You’ll have to be careful. Don’t look at me with lust or anything.”
She rolled her eyes. “You think I can’t resist you?”
“I know you can’t.” He checked behind him and pulled her in for a kiss. “But that’s okay. I’ll give you the cold shoulder and we should be good.”
She scrunched up her nose. “I thought you were okay with this. The way we’re handling it.”
“I am.” But he didn’t sound like he was okay, and he didn’t feel like he was okay, and the lie was no better than acid in his mouth. He was a little bit crazy about Ashley and he wanted other people to bear witness.
“Helloooo!” Tara’s voice carried from the reception.
“Oh, I didn’t know Tara was coming.” Ashley sounded a little off there, maybe a touch jealous.
Shouldn’t like that idea. No, I should not.
“Neither did I.” His fake ex was sticking her nose in, looking for gossip. He headed out to find not just Tara but Fitz and Esme, too.
“Esme really wanted to visit with the kittens.” Tara waved at Ashley. “Hello, great to see you again!”
Ashley was already zeroing in on Esme. “She’s even more gorgeous in person!”
“We’re pretty proud,” Fitz said.
Dex wanted to begrudge the guy’s smug expression but couldn’t. After all, that wasn’t what he wanted, was it? Dex’s life was fine the way it was. He had a woman who was happy to treat him as fling material while he worked on playing a good boy for the press. That nagging feeling of discontent was probably indigestion.
Sophie breezed in with her minions carrying lighting and photography equipment. Dex was a little hung up on watching Ashley as she held Esme to her warm, curvy body.
She looked like a mom when she was with Willa, but with Esme, it was like a bomb went off in Dex’s head, one that said: Me Want!
But what exactly? Not a kid. He didn’t want to be married or to be tied down. But seeing Ashley and Esme all cozy and cute had him hankering after something.
Community. Belonging. All that junk he’d pushed down deep since he’d become that transient kid with a transient life, who grew up to be a transient adult.
