“That’s right.” She reaches over to adjust my tie. “I’m just here to rehabilitate your public image.”
“Don’t touch me.”
Out of one of the little pouches on her travel cup comes a small vial. I’m cursing as she smears stuff all over my face.
“Don’t make that face. It’s just sunscreen with a tinge of bronzer. Youth is your biggest asset. You need to look nice for photos.”
The stuff on my face smells like watermelon.
“I’m not taking any photos.”
My driver takes one look at me, and the corner of his mouth twitches. He’s fighting the smile as he opens the door to the black SUV and offers Jenna a hand.
I stand there, that dog and me, watching as she, her hand resting on Sarge’s wrist, looks from the ground, to the seat, and down at her short hemline.
If I liked her or wanted to flirt with her or try to coax her into my bed, I’d pick her up by the waist and set her on the seat.
Instead, I stand there and wait.
Because I don’t like her.
Or think she’s cute.
Or want to settle my hands on her waist.
Her mind tries to work out how she’s going to get on the seat without flashing Sarge and me.
“Guess Mommy’s having second thoughts,” I say to the dog, Trumpet. No, Truman.
Sarge’s mouth twitch turns into a full-blown smile when Jenna turns around, sits on the floor of the car, and scoots backward inside.
“This is going to be a fun day, right, Mac?” he says, his grin splitting his face as I step in after Jenna.
The dog immediately hops up to perch on the back of the driver’s seat, wobbling slightly as Sarge sits down. He chucks the dog under the chin and pets the silky hair on his long ears.
“Where to, ma’am?”
“Just take me to the Soundview Hotel,” I tell him, holding up a hand to cut off Jenna. “I have another charity to kill, and Fitz says he’s got a lead.”
“The Soundview?” Jenna hmms. “While I’m glad you’re taking initiative, McCarthy, unfortunately, that’s not going to work for this next step. It’s too formal.”
“It… What?”
“Let’s head downtown,” she tells Sarge.
“Where are we going?”
“Anywhere. Lunch. Coffee.”
“A bar.”
“It’s ten in the morning.”
“There’s the corgi café,” Sarge says. “My daughter had her birthday party there.”
“I think that will work!”
“What the fuck?”
