Page 4 of Puppy Love

“What? Bubbles?” Laughter welled up in her throat. He wastotallyafraid of her adorableness. “Or precious little ball o’ fluff?”

His only answer was a snort. Well, that and another one of those wary looks at the puppy.

“What’s wrong?” Sophie asked. “She’s just a honey-bunny banana muffin.”

“What?”

“The fluffiest lady in fluffy town.”

“Now see here,” he commanded. “You might be able to force this animal on me, but you can’t make me say any of that.”

No, she couldn’t. Sophie couldn’t make anybody do anything. She couldn’t even get rid of those pushy satellite TV salesmen who still tried door-to-door tactics. The last time someone had asked her to switch cable companies, she’d ended up serving him lemonade and buying 230 sports channels that she and her sisters never watched.

None of that seemed to matter to this man. He was a good head taller than her, outweighed her by the size of the Great Dane puppy, and wore a scowl that could have stripped paint from the walls. But as she took a step closer, he only shook his head in a frantic effort to keep her at bay. It made her feel unexpectedly powerful. Unexpectedlygood.

“Don’t say any more,” he warned. “I can’t be held responsible for my actions if you do.”

“It’s all right,” she said, feeding off that sense of power, feeling herself coming alive under it. “I can take it.”

And then he smiled—for real this time.

Her heart suddenly felt three sizes too big for her chest. She’d known smiles to change a man’s appearance before, but not like this. This wasn’t a charming smile or a kind smile or even a dashing smile. It wasdevastating, plain and simple. All those lines and creases, the well-worn care that was etched so deeply into his skin—they disappeared only to be replaced by an expression so startlingly warm and inviting that Sophie had no choice but to fall right in.

“Sweet, soft snookums,” she said somewhat breathlessly. She could have stopped there, but the urge to babble overcame her. In all honesty, it was a wonder that she was able to speak at all. “Plush princess paddywinkle. Beautiful bitty baby Bubbles.”

That last one broke him. The smile vanished, but only because it lifted into a laugh.

“Oh, hell no,” he said. His voice was no less gravelly than it had been before, that deep sound rumbling throughout the kennel, but Sophie detected something new—somethingalive—underscoring it. “If you think I’m going to stand here and let you make a fool out of me, you’re sorely mistaken. I’m taking that goddamn Great Dane home with me, and nothing you do or say will stop me.” It was said like a dare—almost as if he wanted her to try. Were they…flirting?

Unfortunately, there was no time to find out. Just as she was about to gamely rise to his bait, a voice spoke up from behind them.

“I beg your pardon?” Her sister Lila’s voice, normally so polished, acted like a shock of cold water over the proceedings. Sophie turned to find her standing at the top of the steps leading from the kennel to the house they shared. “Is there a problem out here?”

Sophie did her best to put on her usual bright smile, but Lila wasn’t looking at her. Her oldest sister—a tall, statuesque beauty who could command the attention of an entire room simply by walking into it—was staring at Harrison with a look that would have done their mother proud. It told Harrison that if he said one more word, goddamned or otherwise, he’d risk the full weight of her wrath.

Of course, when she spoke, her words were nothing but professional.

“I’m terribly sorry if there’s been a misunderstanding,” she said, and moved elegantly down the steps. Each click of her heels on the cement carried its own warning. “Perhaps I can be of assistance.”

“Assistance?” Harrison echoed. All signs of laughter and friendliness had been wiped from his face, replaced once again by the hard wall that he had carried in here.

Lila inclined her head in slight acknowledgment. “Yes. Did I hear you correctly when you stated your preference for the Great Dane over Sophie’s selection?”

“You mean Rock?”

Lila nodded.

“Rock. Yes. Rock.” Harrison swallowed heavily, glancing back and forth between the sisters. “That’s the one I want. The one that’s too big to squish.”

Lila smiled, but it didn’t touch her eyes. She tsked softly. “You have good taste, but I’m afraid he’s not available. He’s already been assigned to another case. I’m sure Sophie explained that to you already.”

“Actually, I—” Sophie caught Lila’s eye and clamped her mouth shut.Of course.It hadn’t even occurred to her to try a discreet lie. When a client wanted what they couldn’t have, you were supposed to redirect them, not antagonize them.Why didn’t I think of that?“Um, no. I hadn’t gotten around to it yet.”

“So it would seem. Mr. Parks, why don’t you come inside with me and we’ll work it out? There’s no need to upset the puppies with all this arguing.”

“He wasn’t arguing.” Sophie tried to explain but was once again quelled by a look from Lila. What else could she do? Technically, hehadbeen arguing—and she’d been egging him on. She’d beenloving it.

What is wrong with me?