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Followed by more silence.
Pressing my lips together, I fought to hold in my laughter.
“I hate you,” Dodge whispered as the line went dead. Dropping my head back, I laughed my ass off. Right about that time, my text message beeped. Reaching for my phone, I pulled up my messages. I had a picture from Kacey.
Oh. My. God. I was going to buy her the best wedding present ever!
Blowing up the picture, I studied Dodge’s surprised face as he held up the twelve-week-old Golden Retriever puppy. Fist pumping, I jumped out of the car and did a victory dance.
Damn. Sometimes I even surprised myself. Spinning on my heels, I smoothed out my dress, pulled my hair down from my ponytail and headed toward Sullivan’s Steakhouse. Walking up to the hostess, I smiled.
“Good evening. How many I help you?” Just as I was about to say something, a hand was placed on my lower back. Smiling, I turned to see Elliot standing there. Oh my. He looked even more handsome out of his scrubs.
“Dr. Emmerson,” I purred.
Winking, Elliot whispered against my ear, “Cute, Sierra. Let’s eat, I’m starved.”
Allowing Elliot to guide me into the restaurant, I smiled bigger knowing Dodge’s plans were most likely ruined because he had to stay home and tend to a puppy while I spent the evening with Elliot. Probably the most handsome OB/GYN I’d ever laid my eyes on. Elliot had been asking me out for the last four months. Running into him at the grocery today was pure luck. When he asked me out to dinner, I was all too happy to say yes.
Operation: Move On From Dodge, had officially begun.
OPENING THE DOOR, I STARED at her. “What took you so long?”
Em pushed past me carrying about ten bags from PetSmart. “I had a long list of stuff to get for the sweet little baby.”
Rolling my eyes, I slammed the door shut. “You want her?”
Em started laughing. “Aaron, you know I can’t have dogs in my dorm.”
Flopping onto the sofa, I watched as Em dropped the bags onto the floor and sank to her knees as one very fluffy . . . and cute . . . puppy ran into her arms.
Jeez. I hate Sierra so much right now.
“I’m sorry our dinner was ruined,” I said as I ran my hands up and down my face.
Em looked at me with the most adorable face. “It’s okay, big brother. I forgive you. Mom and Dad got a kick out of you getting a puppy for your birthday by . . . who was it again who gave you the puppy?”
Standing up, I let out a frustrated sigh. “No one. She’s nothing but a pain in my ass.”
Em stared at me with a goofy smile. “In other words, you like this girl.”
My mouth dropped open as I stared at my sister. How do women do that? How do they pick up on this kind of shit?
Turning, I headed into the kitchen. “It’s complicated, Em. Let’s just drop it.”
Laughing, Em jumped up and followed me into the kitchen. “Oh my gosh. Aaron Matthew Walker. You have fallen for someone. Admit it!”
Rolling my eyes, I picked up my home phone and began dialing the number to Home Slice. It was my sister’s favorite pizza place.
“You’re insane, Emily. Sierra is just a friend. She is a smart-mouthed pain in the ass. That’s all.” Of course there was her smile that made my heart skip a beat. The fact that I wanted nothing more than to hold her in my arms and tell her everything was going to be okay. Let’s not forget her body that had been in my dreams practically from the moment I laid eyes on her.
Letting out a sigh, I pushed my crazy thoughts of Sierra out of my mind. I needed to stay focused.
Resting her hands on her chin, Em watched me intently while I placed the order for our pizza. Hanging up, I stared at her. “Why are you staring at me?”
Shrugging her shoulders, Em sat up and smiled. “I’m just taking this all in. I’ve never seen my big brother in love before.”
Busting out laughing, I shook my head. “In love? Ha! Em, you know nothing.”
Raising her eyebrow, Em tilted her head. “Really? If you can look me in the eye and tell me you have zero feelings for this, Sierra, I’ll believe you.”
My heart began pounding in my chest. Did I love Sierra? How could I love her? We’ve pushed and pulled each other pretty much since the day we met.
“I’m waiting, Aaron.”
Brushing her off with my hands, I looked down at the puppy. “Sierra clearly hates me, Em. Who buys a single guy a puppy?”
Giggling, Em reached down and picked up the ball of fur. Jesus, I’m going to have dog hair everywhere.
Grabbing my cell phone, Em took a selfie with her and the nameless mutt.
“What’s her name?”
Leaning back against the counter, I smiled. “Sierra.”
Gasping, Em held the puppy closer to her. “Aaron! You can’t name the dog after the girl who gave it to you.”
Shrugging my shoulders, I asked, “Why not?”
“You just can’t!”
Pushing off the counter, I grabbed my cell phone and smiled as I looked at the picture. Damn, it sure was a cute dog.
“The dog is a bitch, Sierra is a bitch. It’s perfect!”
Shaking her head, Em moved toward the door. “Let’s put her collar on and take her with us to dinner.”
“What? Take her to dinner? They aren’t going to let her in Home Slice.”
Em stopped adjusting the collar and stared at me. “How did you make it through law school, dude? We can eat outside. Maybe take her for a little walk while we are at it!”
Moaning, I grabbed the leash and pulled the price tag off.
This was going to be a long night.
I hated Sierra so hard.
“You need a crate,” Em said as we walked . . . or attempted to walk . . . along the Town Lake trail.
“What for?” I asked.
“Puppy needs somewhere to sleep. She’ll be safe in a crate.”
Smiling, I thought more and more about this crate idea. “Sierra locked up in a cage. Where she can’t bug anyone. I love it!”
Clearing her throat, Em asked, “Are you talking about the dog or the girl you love?”
Snapping my head over to Em, I shot her daggers. “I don’t love her. Stop saying that!”
“You do.”
“I don’t, Em.”
“Do.”
“Don’t.”
“Okay, if you say so.”
Nodding my head, I looked straight ahead. “I say so.”
Smiling, I watched a blonde-haired girl making her way up the trail. She stopped almost on a dime when she saw the puppy. Leaning down, I got a perfect shot of her tits. Huh. Maybe this whole puppy thing was a good thing after all.
“Oh my goodness! What a precious little puppy! Boy or girl?”
Pulling my eyes from her tits, I smiled. “Girl.”
The jogger picked up the puppy and held her against her chest. Fucking lucky dog.
“What’s her name?”
Em poked me in the side. “I haven’t decided yet; my sister isn’t being much help.”
The jogger glanced at Em and smiled. When she turned to me, her lips parted open. “Well, if you need help naming her, I’d be more than happy to help you brainstorm.”
I fucking love Sierra.
Smiling, I said, “A brainstorming session. I like the sound of that.”
Running her tongue along her upper lip, the jogger set the puppy down. “Well then, let me give you my cell phone number and let’s plan it.”
