If I never heard the term “dicked down” again in my life, it would be too soon. And now I had to worry that one of my very unprofessional co-workers would let it slip in front of the dicker down in question because Kyle was at the clinic.
I’d asked Darla to schedule patients well into the evening for my first day back. Fortunately, the newspaper article had made it clear that I had only been at the police station for hours, not days, and that neither I nor the clinic were implicated in anything nefarious. But I still needed to fit in as many clients as possible to make up for last week’s absence and to set the minds of pet owners and my staff alike that I was running a respectable business. Since I would be working late, Kyle had offered to bring me dinner. He and Bella had arrived at six p.m. with takeout. Hero that he was, he’d bought enough food for the whole staff.
“Oh my God,” Darla said as he laid out the haul in the break room. “Cami, we’re all in love with your boyfriend.” From behind him, she mouthed the infamous phrase.
He grinned and I blushed.
“Dar, he’s right here,” I said.
“And he’s shamelessly open to compliments.” Kyle winked at her. That was not going to help my situation at all.
“What’s going on here?” Gina asked as she joined us. “Welcome, Mr. Hottie who brings dinner.”
I shook my head. “You people are a sexual harassment lawsuit waiting to happen.”
Ally popped her head in. “That smells great.” She did a double-take when she saw Kyle. “Ooohh, heishot.”
“Gina, stop corrupting the minor.” I crossed my arms over my chest and glared at my best friend.
“I’m Ally,” she told Kyle. “I’m not a minor, but I am leaving for the night.”
“Nice to meet you Ally, and goodnight,” Kyle said.
“I’ll walk her out to lock the door behind her,” Darla said. She flashed Kyle a dimpled smile. “We can catch up later.” She linked her arm in Ally’s. “Kyle and I worked on the security system together last weekend,” she told Ally, as if they hadn’t been discussing him all day—hell, all week.
“I like your co-workers,” Kyle said.
“Of course you do,” I said. “The women all flirt with you.”
But Gina’s attention had shifted to Bella. “Hi, pupper!” She went down on one knee to pet the girl and to get kisses. If Bella remembered that Gina was the woman who’d poked, prodded, and shaved her a week ago, she wasn’t holding a grudge. “I can’t believe you’re the same dog. Look at your shiny coat. And you must have gained five pounds.”
“Three,” I told her. “And she’s a fast healer. She got released from the cone yesterday.”
Gina took Bella’s leash. “Bella and I will make the rounds to let everyone know there’s dinner in here. And I bet there will be some treats in it for some lucky girl.” Shebeamed at Kyle. “Speaking of lucky girls, maybe you can help Cami pack up those things she needs from her apartment.”
“What things?” I asked.
“Thosethingsyou need help with.” She looked at Kyle. “Upstairs in her very private apartment. And her next patient appointment is in twenty-five minutes, in case anyone needs to know.”
When she left, we were alone.
Kyle pulled me into his arms. “Why do I get the feeling something’s going on here?”
“Because my friends are practically panting after you and my bestie wants you to...”
“To dick you down?” he whispered in my ear.
Hearing him say it made my panties melt. “How...?”
“They’re not that subtle, and I’m trained to be pretty observant. And what about you? Anything you want from me? I hear you have twenty-five minutes free.”
“I’m not usually a fan of quickies,” I said, “but right now, I can’t think about anything else.”
“I do love a good, long packing session,” Kyle murmured, backing me gently into the wall, “but quickies do have their charms.”
“Nice way of using Gina’s euphemism. The woman is incorrigible.”
“She’s just trying to get her best friend laid.” He kissed my neck in the sensitive spot below my ear. “Best wing woman ever.”
