Jannie headed toward the staircase behind the kitchen. The black wrought-iron baby gate she always kept closed to prevent him from going to the upstairs guest room was wide open.
She scowled. “Are you up there?”
The next second, her eyes widened, and her lips parted.
Because Nick appeared at the top of the steps.
Shirtless.
A black towel was wrapped around his waist, and even from this distance, she could see that his chest glistened with drops of water. His damp hair was mussed, sticking up in spikes.
She had glimpsed what he looked like shirtless, but the reality of seeing him …
Damn.
“Good morning. I used your shower.”
He said it as if showering at her house were the most natural thing in the world.
“I hope it’s OK,” he added.
Jannie nodded, aware that she should look away but unable to tear her gaze from his half-naked body. Many men had nice torsos; she knew this from countless trips to the beach. Nick’s was well-defined and rippled, just as she had expected. But it was his legs that shocked her, calves so thick and muscular, they looked like sculpted tree trunks. Briefly, she wondered if what was underneath that towel was as thick as—
A joyful “Boof!” interrupted her rogue thoughts. Rolf raced past Nick and bounded down the stairs. Tail swishing, he jumped the last three steps, nosed Jannie’s thigh, and ran a lap around the kitchen.
“Well, aren’t you in a stellar mood this morning,” Jannie muttered. Lately, he had done nothing but mope. A stab of guilt speared her. These dogs were mood sponges, and she knew his state of mind had everything to do with hers.
“I kept him with me so he wouldn’t bother you. He’s already been out. I took him to the front yard on a leash. And there’s coffee. I hope you like it strong.”
“Thank you,” she uttered, not knowing what to say. She wasn’t used to anyone else making coffee, doing her chores, or even helping, for that matter, and Rolf had been solely her responsibility.
“Uber Eats should show up soon,” Nick said.
“Again?”
“Yeah, I was hungry. Thought you might be too. I looked in your fridge but didn’t see much. Even if I had, trust me, you don’t want me cooking.”
He stood there, looking down at her, and she stared back. It was surreal to have him here.
“Full disclosure.” A tiny smile played about his lips. “I, uh, used some of the stuff you had in the basket. A toothbrush, toothpaste, and the deodorant.”
“Use anything you need. That’s what they’re there for.”
He nodded, then motioned toward the guest room to his right. “I’ll just go put my clothes back on.”
Good idea, that. She’d seen enough, thank you very much.
Nick disappeared from view, but not from her mind. Jannie’s gaze lingered at the top of the stairs as she closed the baby gate, making sure it clicked. “No more going up there, Stinker.”
Beside her, Rolf wagged his tail and made eye contact but suddenly whipped his furry head around and came to attention, ears pointing straight up. He tilted his head to the side, unmoving, listening intently.
“Boof.”
Ah. Probably the Uber Eats delivery person. Rolf could sense people driving up the street long before they reached her driveway.
She double-checked the gate to make sure it was latched. The next second, Rolf left her side, running through the kitchen toward the entrance.
Strangely, he wasn’t barking.
