“It’s fine,” I say.
When Rex has a ball, all he cares about is that ball. We’re all safe here with a ball around.
Caleb unhooks the leash and flings the ball through the air. The happy German Shepherd takes off after it.
“The heartbreak sucked but the worst part is that the ring is now tainted. She gave it back, but it used to symbolize my grandparents’ fifty year marriage. Now it’s the symbol of a broken engagement by a teenage idiot.”
“I’m sorry,” I say.
“It is what it is,” he says, peering at me in the moonlight. It’s magical how quickly the sky goes from a sunset to pure darkness. Rex brings the ball back, dropping it at Caleb’s feet.
“Can I throw it?” I ask.
“Be my guest.”
I pick up the ball. “Ew! This thing is covered in slobber!”
“That’s why I typically use the ball flinger thing.” Caleb laughs.
I pull my arm back, then toss the ball as hard as I can. Rex takes off after it, passing it up and having to screech to a stop and turn back around.
“I guess I don’t throw as far as you do,” I say, holding up my hand. “And now I’m gross.”
Caleb takes my hand and presses my palm to the side of his jeans. He drags it down his thigh. “All better.”
My heart does a backflip.
Rex drops the ball again. “All yours,” I say, letting the experienced K9 handler take back over the game of fetch. This time he leans back, doing a windup like a professional baseball player as he pitches the ball further than before. Rex charges across the open field, nothing but a shadowy blur in the moonlight.
“Thanks for letting me come over here and freak out on you,” I say. “I swear I don’t do this with all my clients.”
“Just the hot ones?” he says playfully.
“Yep. Just the hot ones,” I agree.
The look on his face is so hard to make out in the darkness. Is he smiling as he steps closer to me? I hear Rex’s heavy breathing before I feel him. He drops the ball then crashes right into the back of my legs, sending me stumbling forward. Caleb’s steady hands catch me—almost as if he and the dog planned this little trip and fall situation.
“Careful, Rex,” he says softly, just inches away as his hands slide up my arms, resting on my shoulders. “We wouldn’t want Miss Charlotte to fall on top of me. Not out here in the romantically dark field, underneath the glittering starry night sky.” He’s so close I can smell the toothpaste in his breath.
“We wouldn’t want that,” I breathe.
“Of course not,” he whispers.
Chills prickle across my skin, and in this stupid skimpy tank top, I’m sure he felt every single one on my shoulders. His warm hands slide up my shoulders, thumbs caressing my collarbones. We definitely should not be doing this, but every part of me wants to. His hands slide down my back, resting on my hips.
Rex barks.
I startle, jumping backward. For the first time in what feels like ages, I breathe.
“I should probably go,” I say over the sound of my heart pounding in my ears.
“I’ll walk you to your car.”
I don’t remember my dreams, but I wake up feeling euphoric. My coffee tastes sweeter this morning. My outfit looks incredible as I stare at myself in the mirror, all rosy cheeked and bright eyed. I practically float to the office, no longer bitter about Jenny’s promotion. I’m no longer bitter about anything.
Jenny calls my name the moment I set my purse down on my desk.
“Yes?” I say.
