He leaves, and I watch him go, wishing I knew what would happen next with us—even though I shouldn’t want anything to.
28
DIRTY DEEDS
CHLOE
Answers don’t come the next day. There’s no time at work. Not that I’d ask Sawyer anything at Dog Tails. What would I even say to him? I want to bang you again?
You want more than that.
I’m too busy working with new clients. I took Sawyer up on his offer, and as soon as Captain scampers off into the daycare to hang out with his ten new best friends, I say hello to my first client of the day. A woman named Lauren who booked me for her grumpy Chihuahua after learning I was working on the show.
We get to work on the spicy old boy, and if anyone tries to tell you big dogs are scarier than little ones, they’ve never met a grouchy Chihuahua.
But spicy pups are one of my specialties, so I help her with some management skills for the tooth-baring tiny dog. When I say goodbye to the client after an hour, I peer over the counter at the daycareplay area. I’m not looking for Sawyer; I’m checking out Captain. I find Sawyer anyway though. He’s trying to get Captain’s attention, waving to my dog, who’s running in circles with…something in his mouth. “You stole my tie from my office,” Sawyer says to Captain.
Oh shit. My dog is supposed to do better than that. But he’s cavorting around the daycare with an emerald-green tie in his possession—a new prize. I swing open the gate, whistle, and say, “Captain, bring it.”
My boy jerks his snout to me, then trots over gamely, dropping the tie in my outstretched hand. He backs up and waits with a waggly tail. Like he was a good boy to listen to the command.
Shaking my head, I take the silky neckwear, give him a stern look, then point to the corner. “Go sit in the corner.”
With his head hanging, he heads to the corner, knowing he was naughty to take the tie.
“I’ll get this cleaned for you,” I say to Sawyer, apologetic.
Before he can answer, Levi calls out from one of the tubs, where he’s bathing a Bichon. “Hey, Captain. Can you take my sneakers? I need those cleaned too.”
“Oh, Captain, my headband needs a refresh,” Hazel says from her spot tossing rope toys to the pack.
“Captain, take my sandwich. I want a better one,” Zuri says as she toggles her mouse at the front counter computer.
“Don’t tempt him, especially with the sandwich,” I say, then return to the gate, waving the tie Sawyer’s way. I really want to make this up to him. “Really, I’ll have this washed.”
“Thanks,” he says evenly. “But it’s all good.”
As he scrubs nontoxic, cruelty-free shampoo into the white dog’s fur, Levi shakes his head, too amused. “Boss man, does nothing faze you?”
“A dog stealing my tie certainly doesn’t,” Sawyer retorts.
“Remember the other day? When a client was freaking out about whether her dog left his favorite lovey here?” Hazel recounts, and I must have missed that moment.
“Yep! And Sawyer was likewe’ll find his stuffed bear for you,” Levi puts in.
“And he did,” Zuri says proudly. “Found that lovey hidden in the back of a dog cubby.”
Sawyer just shrugs and scratches his jaw. “It’s the job.”
He’s so unflappable. It’s kind of hot. I’m enjoying watching him handle everything with so much chill. Even when Levi clears his throat and says, “Will you wear a tie at the fundraiser?”
Oh. Sawyer must have told them. I wonder how that went.
Sawyer meets Levi’s gaze straight on. “I haven’t decided yet. But glad you read the email about the fundraiser.” And that answers that—he emailed his staff. That’s so very him.
“I read email occasionally,” Levi says dryly.
“Good. Don’t forget we’re staying open that night to help with any performers or attendees who want dog daycare.”
